D.J.C. WINTER MEETING

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23830, 9 June 1939, Page 13

D.J.C. WINTER MEETING

CONCLUDING DAY TO-MORROW

EXCELLENT FIELDS ENGAGED

NIGHTCALM AMONG FAVOURITES

The concluding card of the Dunedin winter meeting should produce some really good racing. At the present moment the actual strength of the fields looks rather different from what may be the case when the horses line up to the barrier. A rather interesting race should be the Dunedin Steeplechase, in which a small but interesting field promises to provide the best cross-country contest seen at the meeting Black Banner dropped out on the first day because he had received a rather too flattering opinion from the weight adjuster. In the Dunedin Steeplechase, Black Banner meets El Caballo, second to him in the Autumn Steeplechase at Rivorton, on 141b’ better terms. Gold Wren, who finished third after a fall is met on 91b better terms. In the meantime, Gold Wren and El Caballo have shown improvement, but there is no reason to assume that Black Banner has stood still in that respect. The betting may run as the top-weights rank in the field. Nightcalm, the top-weight in the King George Handicap, is at present booked to run under a 71b allowance, and no doubt some of the others may make a claim in the same direction. There is. of course, always the danger that an allowance in weight may be more than counterbalanced by lack of knowledge on the part of the novice and lack of vigour if it comes to a hard, fighting finish, when a welltimed final effort may make all the difference between winning and losing. At present, the King George Handicap reads rather open. Nightcalm, who has been a winner at the meeting, meets Roy Bun on 71b better terms than when the latter beat him at the Ashburton meeting over seven farlongi in Imin 25 l-ssec. The} now meet at a stone highe.* scale. Thermidor acts well at Wirtgatui, and meets Spanish Lad on the same terms on • the handicap, but allowance may be claimed for the latter. Second Innings has come in on 41b better terms with Thermidor, Passaform meets Second Innings on 101 b better terms than in the Birthday Handicap, wnen the former won in the last stride. Araboa did not show up in the Provincial Handicap, but he and Valantua

may show improvement. The most dangerous of those under 8.0 may be Sir Hugh and Petersham. At present Nightcalm, Sir Hugh, and Spamsn uad may De in favour, A good field is engaged in the Empire Handicap, and it appears to be dominated by Skyrena, who won with 8.4 on the first day in. Imin 14 l-ssec, on a par with the form of Nightcalm over the same distance. If Skyrena runs to the book she should keep the top-weights busy. The balance of the card should help to contribute to a good day’s racing. Wipgatui Track Work The outside of the course proper at Wingatui was closed yesterday morning and the fast work took place on the inside grass or on the sand track. The inside grass is firm and fast, and some smart work took place. A fairly large number of horses that raced on the first two days of the meeting were let off with lenient tasks. Passaform worked twice round on the sand at half pace. Roy Bun led home Astral Flash and Valantua on the inside grass at the end of five furlongs in Imin 1 4-ssec. New Note was following them at the finish. Lazybones and Neptune covered six furlongs on the sand in Imin 20sec. Nightcalm and Night Hawk came over the last five of six furlongs in Tmin 2 l-ssec on the grass. Monipere and Spearthrust galloped seven furlongs on the sand in Imin 34 2-ssec. Second Innings covered the same ground at a solid pace. Pol Roger led Vanity Queen and Bow Street over six furlongs in Imin 17sec—the last five in Imin 4 3-ssec. Royal Style drew out a couple of lengths from Half and Half at the end of five furlongs in Imin 5 2-ssec on the sand. Silver Streak cantered and finished with a sprint down the straight. Doctor Duthie travelled over six furlongs on the sand in Imin 10 2-ssec Strathalbyn and Freecourse concluded their task by sprinting three furlongs in 39sec. Elegy and Balmentor left six furlongs behind in Imin 19 4-ssec on the grass. Mount Val led Top Row home when concluding five furlongs on the sand in Imin 4 3-ssec. Epic and Petersham reeled oil five furlongs on the grass in Imin 1 2-ssec Kippen sprinted half a mile in 50sec. Black Banner. El Caballo, Gold Wren, Astaire, Vantoon, On Call Straightdel, Silver Choir, Disband. Travenna. La Boca, and several others got through useful tasks. Red Terror shaped well when schooled over the sod wall and brush double with a Crusader gelding a couple of times, and they were also sent over the water jump. Drink Up and Ballad were schooled over hurdles.

Disband Disband has shaped disappointingly in recent engagements, but on his best form would be dangerous in the Domain Handicap. Spanish Lad Spanish Lad would have been hard to beat at a mile in the Provincial Handicap. and in consequence is in favour for the King George Handicap. Pandine Pandine is a brilliant jumper and inclined to hurdle his fences. It was intended to race him at Wellington, but owing to a damaged leg the Panmure gelding may not be seen out for some time. Still Strong Although a small exodus took place after the second day at Wingatui, the course presented a busy appearance yesterday morning, with a large number of horses on the scene. The fact suggests that satisfactory fields will be on hand for the final dry. Vightcalm According to present intentions. Nightcalm will run in the King George Handicap with a 71b allowance He Is favourite for dhe race, and Rebel Mate and Strip appear to be most in demand for the Empire Handicap. Difference Without Distinction It savours of careless control when colours the same in appearance but different in name are continuously allowed to appear. The fact has been referred to on previous occasions. On the final day at Wingatui Ballad is on the card with “ Dark blue, red sash, black cap Rebel Mate with 11 royal blue, deep rose sash Top Row with “gold, light blue band”; Night Hawk with “ gold, royal blue band, and white cap." The same state of affairs exists at other meetings, and the Racing Conference should exercise more control over the colours allowed to be In use. •n Doubt Those endeavouring to anticipate the judge’s placings on the final day at Wingatui are in a bit of a quandary. At the present moment so many horses hold dual engagements that it appears as if owners and trainers are in doubt as to what their horses will start in. They may have definite ideas, but, if on the contrary, as the acceptances suggest, they are in doubt then the public will be in the dark until the horses are on the way to the post. Some trainers may, of course, be ambitious and intend to chase after a double in the concluding ••ard.

RACING NEWS By Sentinel FIXTURES June 30.—Dunedin J.C (concluding day) June 10.—Hawke's Bay J.C. June 17.—Bay of Plenty J.C, June 37.—Hawke’s Bay J.C. June 17.—Greymouth J.C. June 24.—Ashburton County R.C. June 24.—'Waipa R.C. June 24.—Otaki ..laori R.C. July I.—Dannevirke Hunt Club. Jub' I.—Oamaru J.C July 4, 6. B.—Wellington R.C. July 15.—Hawke’s Bay Hunt Club. July 15.—Waimate District Hunt Club July 22,—Rangitikei Hunt Club July 22—South Canterbury Hunt Club July 29.—Christchurch Hunt Club. Tuly 29—Manawatu Hunt Club. Classic Events Nominations are due to-day for coming classic events. The John Grlgg Stakes Nominations for the John Grigg Stakes are due to-day. Disdain The speedy Disdain, who trained off when in Australia, is again in work after a spell. A Newcomer A. E. Ellis may be riding at Wingatui on the final day of the winter meeting. Auctor Auctor was struck out of his engagement in the King George Handicap at 12.55 yesterday. Fleet Street Fleet Street is one of the popular picks for the Empire Handicap. A New Pilot G. Ridgway may have the mount on Black Banner in the Dunedin Steeplechase.

TROTTING NOTES «t Sentinel U. Scoti The imported horse U. Scott, who had been laid aside for some time owing to unsoundness, shaped well at Ashburton. He may be on the improve, as he seems sound again. At Gore The opinion that more than one aay’s trotting should be held at Gore was expressed by members at a meeting of the committee of the Gore Trotting Club and it was decided to apply to the New Zealand Trotting Conference for an extra permit, when an application for December 26 as the date for the club’s annual race meeting. Colonel Grattan Colonel Grattan was got by Grattan Loyal from Erin’s Pointer, by Travis Axworthy—Erin’s Logan, by Logan Pointer —Innisfail, by Rothschild — Ruahine. by Prince Bismark—Fidget, by Dexter, a son of the thoroughbred Talisman. Gentle Annie, the dam of Dexter, was a three-quarter-bred mare who also produced Spot, Duchess of York and Southern Queen

The Best Some of the claims put out anout world’s records being established in New Zealand and over distances not on American programmes reminds one of the two cobblers. Two cobblers had their business premises in the same street. One had a sign painted, “I am the best cobbler in the world.” The other came out with, “ I am the best cobbler in this street.” A world’s record over a distance that is not in general use in other parts of the world holds little value. America still leads the way for speed over a mile, but her tracks are much superior to those in Australia or New Zealand. Van Derby Mr E. Tatlow, owner of the grass track record holder. Van Derby, 2min 0 2-ssec, has cabled his trainer to offer to give an exhibition with Van Derby at the benefit trotting meeting to be held at Addington to-morrow. It is Mr Tatlow’s intention to send Van Derby after fresh records with a view to enhancing his value for stud purposes. Van Derby has already shown great speed in his attempts on grass track records, and to-morrow his effort to establish a new ■ record over a mile and a-half will create considerable interest. In his private trials (says the Star-Sun) Van Derby has shown that he is capable of pacing 12 furlongs in the region of the world s record of 3min 12sec. which is at present held by Greyhound. The present record for New Zealand is held by Fine Art. 3min 12 l-ssec, when he won the Winter Handicap at the Canterbury Park Trotting Club’s meeting at Addington last month. The Safe Voyage Case The official finding of the Judicial Committee which heard the protest of P. P. McKay of Wyndham owner of Royal Chief, who ran second to Safe Vovage in the Invercargill Harness Trot at the Southland Racing Club’s winter meeting, against the first stake being awarded to Mr R. Mee of Becks owner of Safe Voyage, on the grounds that Safe Voyage was not trained by J. Docherty as stated in the nomination form, is, as follows: —(1) That the horse Safe Voyage was in point of fact trained by J. Docherty: (2) Thai the owner of Safe Voyage was a P^ r " fectly innocent party, and that if the committee’s finding set out in the oreeeding paragraph should be reversed by a higher tribunal, no blame what ever is attachable to Mr Mee: and (3) That the protest cannot be regarded in any way as frivolous and that when the protest was lodged Mr McKay as the result of information conveyed to him. had ample grounds for a bona fide belief that Docherty had not been the trainer of Safe Voyage, and the committee strongly recommends that the protest deposit fee of £5 be refunded to Mr McKay.

Stamboul Recovers Stamboul, who was injured by a fall at the Forbury Park winter meeting, has made a good recovery and was railed through to Christchurch yesterday. FORBURY PARK TROTTING CLUB MEETING OF COMMITTEE A meeting of the committee of the Forbury Park Trotting Club was held last night, the president (Mr B. S. Irwin) occupying the chair. Profit at Winter Meeting “ This was a definite test of the methods of betting so far as the public is concerned,” Mr Irwin stated when the balance sheet covering the winter meeting was presented. "The profit of £252,” he said, “is less than the £557 profit at the same meeting last year, but stakes were up £550. This more than accounts for the difference. The gate takings were less, but the totalisator showed an increase of over £5000.” Trotting Dates It was decided to apply for the following trotting dates next season:— Soring meeting, November 23 and 25; summer meeting, January 25 and 27; winter meeting. May 9 and 11. Remit to Conference It was decided to forward a remit to the annual conference of the New Zealand Trotting Conference providing in the rules of trotting for the optional use of the “Fosbury” system of betting by clubs. Mr Irwin was appointed as the club’s delegate to the conference. Finance Account amounting to £IOB9 were passed for payment.