RACING AND TROTTING

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24620, 30 May 1941, Page 3

RACING AND TROTTING

RACING NEWS By Sentinel FIXTURES May 31, June 2, 7.—Dunedin J.C. June 2.4, 7.—Auckland R.C. June 7.—Hawke’s Bay J.C. June 14.—Bay of Blenty R.C. June 14. —Hawke’s Bay J.C. June 14.—Greymouth J.C. June 21.—Waipa R.C June 21.—Ashburton County R.C. June 21. 23. —Manawatu R.C. June 28.—Dannevirke Hunt. June 28.—Oamaru J.C. An Early Start.—The first race at Wingatui is timed to start at 11.30 a.m. A Bracket.—Surcoat and Pride o’ Central form a bracket for the Otago Steeplechase. The Khurja Appeal.—The appeal In the Khurja case was to have been held in Wellington on Wednesday. Standing or Moving.—The question of standing or moving starts is again booked for discussion at the Racing Conference. Attire.—The Silk Garter gelding Attire (Hunt) was schooled over a round of the schooling fences at Wlngatui yesterday. The Schooling List.—Tatting, who has been nominated for the Dunedin winter meeting, figures on the schooling list. Spectators.—Although there was hostile weather at Wlngatui yesterday morning, a fairly large number of spectators appeared when»any schooling took place. Royal Lancer.—There is ns doubt about Royal Lancer being a good horse, and the best that has raced In Southland for many years. The best that ever raced there Is Amythas, one of the real champions of New Zealand. Parchment.—The imported horse Parchment has proved costly up to date, as he has been backed and beaten on se v® ra ' occasions. Apparently his track work supplies reason to back him, but his races ssa Siia s asssjt' TROTTING NOTES By Sentinel FIXTURES June 2.— Canterbury Park T.C. June 7 and 9.— Nelson T.C. June 14. —Greymouth J.C. (two events). June 21.— Ashburton County R.C. (two events). . . June 28.—Oamaru J.C. (two events)

The Winter Handicap.—ln Christchurch those in favour for the Winter Handicap, of £7OO (4.27 class), are Great Divide, King Potts and Nelson Eddy. An Innovation.—The introduction of the false rail on a New Zealand trotting track will be the responsibility of the Canterbury Park Club on Monday, and visitors will be keenly interested in its operation. With the exception of a few “ the innovation is warmly welcomed by trotting enthusiasts, and especially by drivers and trainers. If the new idea proves the success it is generally expected to be (says the Press), it is likely to be adopted by most of the leading trotting clubs In the Dominion. Bred to Win—Rangefinder, a winner at Auckland, is a six-year-old gelding by Frank Worthy from Mavis Bingen, a useful pacer In her day and the dam of Cyone, 4min 27 2-ssec, who in turn produced Toceetie. Mavis Bingen is a very well-bred mare by Hula Dillon from Bell Bingen, who was bred in America. She Is by Bingen from Bertha Bell, one of the best producing mares in New Zealand. Rangefinder has done little racing, but is regarded as a trotter of distinct promise. Sporting Action.—As the result of a very sporting action by one of the part-owners, Dr M. G. Pezaro, the gold cup won by Josedale Grattan when he scored In the Adams Memorial Handicap at Epsom, becomes the sole property of the other partowner. Mr E. G. Bridgens. After Mr IGoldstine had presented the cup to the winning owners. Dr Pezaro remarked that horses owned by Mr Bridgens had been second in the Adams Memorial Handicap on four occasions. “ I will not toss him for the cup, or he will be second for the fifth time. I am going to give It to him,” said Dr Pezaro. A Presentation.— As a recognition of the higji esteem in which he is held and also as appreciation of his good work as secretary at Ashburton, Lieutenant J. B. Nlcoll was recently made a presentation by the Canterbury Owners and Breeders’ Association. Amongst those who paid tributes to Lieutenant Nlcoll were Mr T. G. Fox, president of the association: Mr B. McKenna, president of the New Brighton Trotting Club; Mr A. L. Matson, president of the Metropolitan Trotting Club; Mr A. Rose, president of the Canterbury Park Trotting Club; and Mr H. Larcombe, secretary of the New Zealand Trotting Association. In returning thanks for the gift, Lieutenant Nlcoll said defeatists would stop racing, dancing and all other forms of amusement if they had their way. That would be the very worst thing that could happen The morale of the people was high, but might not continue so if all forms of sport were abandoned. He urged the owners and trainers to keep the sport going during the war.

DUNEDIN WINTER MEETING THE PRINCIPAL EVENTS The Birthday Handicap will be decided at an unusually light scale of weights and in marked contrast to what some previous winners have carried. Weight-carrying honours rest with Rorke’s Drift, who won with 10.0 in 1916, 9.8 in 1918, and in 1921 with 8.4. Palestrina won with 9.2 in 1924 and Listening Post with 9.6 in 1925, and since then the 8.5 carried by Last Refrain is the highest weight carried by a winner. Airline, who is top-weight this year with 8.2, won on the second day at Tlmaru with 7.1 from Prudent Prince 7.4, and the unplaced lot included Aravane 7.10 and Cherokee 7.7. Aravane got a bad run on each day of the meeting, and Cherokee did not repeat her first day’s form when second to Royal Lancer. On the second day’s form, Airline meets Prudent Prince on 81b worse terms for half a length beating, and Prudent Prince meets Aravane and Cherokee on 31b worse terms. The figures point to Prudent Prince starting favourite, but to justify the position he will require to shed the mantle of bad luck that he has worn in some of his efforts this season. Prudent Prince has not failed on the score of fitness, and the " long lane ” may find a turn of luck at Wingatui. Straightdel is really one of the examples of the “ all heart and no peel ’’ sort of a horse, as he generally puts up a good battle. He won the Otago Handicap with 7.8 and has 7.10 in a weaker field. Heidelberg 7.11 won the Winton Cup in 2mln 6sec, beating the subsequent winner of the Dunedin Cup in Doubleack, and Sparkle, a previous winner of the big race at Wingatui. Heidelberg afterwards won the principal flat race at the Birchwood Hunt meeting. He was fourth in the Rjverton Cup with 7.11 to Royal Lancer 8.2, Aravane 7.12, and Cherokee 7.6, and third in the Easter Handicap won by Royal Lancer and third to Aravane and Peony Rose in the Awarua Handicap. Heidelberg meets Aravane on 81b better terms for a little over a length beating in the Awarua Handicap. Prudent Prince may start a better favourite than Cherokee and Heidelbeig The Winter Handicap

The field of 19 engaged in the Winter Handicap makes a fairly open race Boaform easily beat Phalanx at Riverton, and now meets him on 31b worse terms. She meets Nightcalm on 41b. Strip on 131 b, and Top Row on 81b worse terms on form in the Aparima Handicap. Rebel Mate won the Publicans' Handicap with 8.13, and with a 141 b higher minimum has been sent up to 9.10. The only horse who was engaged in that race is Master Hotspur, whom he meets on 61b better terms at the higher scale of weights. Rebel Mate was afterwards third to Hearth and Don t Forget in the Doncaster Handicap, but Master Hotspur beat him In the Seadown Handicap at 16Jlb, and now comes in at 211 b Master Hotspur goes fast, but not quite far enough. St. Cloud may be regarded as the pick of the top-weights. She won the August Handicap In soft going, beating Sleeveless and Black I bread. She was third with 8.5 to Black Thread 9.13, and Paper Note 8.1 in the Selwyn Handicap, and at Wingatui meets the last-named on 111 b better terms. In her last two performances St. Cloud won with 9.12 at Greymouth in heavy going and was third with 9.13 at Reefton. Gold Flight won In good style on the first day at Timaru, and got a bad run on the rails on the second day. She meets Secret Flight On 3ilb better terms for beating her in the Seadown Handicap. Gold Flight was amongst the beaten lot at Gore, When Boafonn won, and the latter comes in on Ulb worse terms. In the same race Boaform beat Nightcalm by three lengths and a-half In Imln 13sec. and now meets him on 4Jlb better terms. This, of course, only refers to the best form displayed by Boaform A good light-weight may be Withdrawal. In her only win this season she won the Abbotsford Handicap with 8.11 from Secret Plight 8.0, who lost ground at the

start. Secret Flight has improved considerably since then, but Withdrawal meets her On 231 b better terms. The ordei of favouritism may be: Boaform, St. Cloud, and Gold Flight. The Brighton Handicap

In the Temuka Hack Handicap run over a mile at Tlmaru, Good Health iJ was second to Eulogist 8.10, both getting badly away. Big Joe 8.6 was two lengths away third, and the unplaced lot included Sheeny 8.10, Islay Downs 7.13, and Parlance 7.11. In the Brighton Handicap, Good Health meets Big Joe on 61b worse terms, Islay Downs comes In on only 11b better terms. Sheeny on 71b and Parlance on 61b better terms. Islay Downs has the worst of the deal. Taxpayer comes in on 81b better terms than his handicap with Good Health at Timaru Good Health was unplaced behind The Joker when he won the Addington Handicap, run over nine furlongs, and the Wlngatui gelding should account for thn former at 71b worse terms. The Joker. Gay Lancer, and Taxpayer may be most in demand. The Otago Steeples A field of 10 is engaged In the Otago Steeplechase, and two in Superex and Pride o’ Central are also engaged in the Tahuna Steeplechase. Bally Brit, following previous good form, won at Riverton, and now meets La Boca on 111 b, Superex on 151 b, Trisox on 111 b, Gay Boa on 111 b, and Pride o’ Clutha on 41b worse terms. Surcoat won the Autumn Steeplechase, and Pride o’ Central beat Spendthrift at Invercargill. Spendthrift now meets Pride o’ Central on 711 b better terms. Spendthrift may race better than he schools, and his chance would appeal much more if he had shaped with a bit more dash since arriving at Wlngatui. Whirr shaped well In a school last week, and displayed evidence of improvement. Last season Surcoat beat him in the Otaitai Steeplechase at Riverton by three lengths, and he now meets his victor on 251 b better terms. Bally Brit, Surcoat, and La Boca may be supported, arid Whirr regarded as nex best.

YESTERDAY’S TRACK WORK The storm that broke yesterday morning called a halt in training operations at Wingatui and interfered with the Interest usually surrounding the final gallops for a meeting. As the rain threatened to continue, several horses were sent out, and given more or less strong work, but times were not taken. The outside of the course proper was open, and work also took place on the sand track and the inside grass. The weather cleared about 10 a.m., and some interesting schooling took place. Kippen was schooled over four hurdles, and covered them in good style. Monipere (H. Anderton) was schooled over six flights, and shaped well. La Boca (W. Shand) and Astral Flame (T. Boyle) were schooled over the brush double on the schooling course, and then went over the brush fence at the top of the straight, the sod wall, post and rails, and sod wall and ditch. La Boca gave the most pleasing display, but Astral Flame also shaped satisfactorily. Panara (A. Leckie) and Young Squatter (P. Boyle) jumped the brush double and then crossed the same jumps as La Boca and Astral Flame. Panara shaped rather better than Young Squatter, who dwelt at the post and rails. A large number of horses were worked on the flat, and, judged by the busy aspect of the course, fields promise to be of good numerical strength throughout the meeting. Before the conclusion of the work the sun broke through the clouds, and a decided improvement took place in the weather. RICCARTON NOTES (Special) CHRISTCHURCH, May 29. The Riccarton trainers with engagements at the Dunedin meeting went south with their horses to-day. Those who made the trip were H. Nurse, St. Cloud and Good Health: F. A. Roberts, Mungatoon and Llane; A. McMullan, Flame Queen and Lights Out; A. S. Ellis, Waka and Thoraide; C. Emerson, Prudent Prince: R. Register, Paper Note. The West Coast mare Adina, accompanied the local contingent. G. A. Withers may travel next week with The Sandwichman and Donadea, who are engaged only on the third day. In the absence of so many horses there was not much work of interest this morning. ' The weather was mild and the No. 6 grass track was in good order, but there was not much in the way of serious gallops, though useful tasks were allocated a number of horses In preparation for racing at Greymouth and Ashburton next month. F. D. Jones, who was absent for a few days on a shooting trip to Central Otago, was back at the track this morning. Among the horses he worked was the two-year-old Lord Dundas, by Myosotls from a sister to Studley Royal. He has made good progress lately, and he moved along freely in a three-furlong sprint. It Is probable he will have his first race at Ashburton, and he may be a smart performer next season. J. B. Pearson has decided to try Greenbank out as a jumper, and he shaped satisfactorily in his first experience over the pony hurdles. He may make a useful candidate when he gains Jumping experience, as he is a good galloper. J. W. Pankhurst has had Garonne in strong work for some time, and it was hoped to have him ready to resume hurdle racing soon. Unfortunately he walked off very lame after doing useful work this morning, and he will need a SP Wardress is being kept to light exercise just now, and she is doing well on the treatment. She has had some hard racing this season, and Mrs J. Campbell hopes to have her ready for another trip to Trentham In July, when the Parliamentary Handicap should provide a suitable engagement.

AUSSIE RA SCRATCHED ( p a ) AUCKLAND. May 29. Aussie Ra was withdrawn from the Great Northern Hurdles and the Great Northern Steeplechase at 3.50 p.m. to-day. TROTTING CLUB FORBURY PARK COMMITTEE A meeting of the committee of the Forbury Park Trotting Club was held yesterday afternoon, and was attended by Messrs B. S. Irwin, president (in the chair), D. H. Blackie, C. R. Halliday, A. H. Todd, James Black, James Samson, H. Archbold, James Mitchell, H. Halliday and A. Ferguson. Wln-and-Place Totalisator Mr J. S. Shaw, the stipendiary steward at the club’s recent meeting, submitted his report to the committee. He pointed out that as a result of the club’s totalisator not selling wln-and-place tickets at the same window and not paying win-and-place dividends at the same window investors were Inconvenienced, and that many hundreds of pounds had been shut out at the totalisator through the loss of time which had resulted. He also made a complaint regarding the lack of a late pay-out window. The chairman said that this was the first occasion such a tag had been attached to a stipendiary’s report to the committee. He thought that in fairness to the totalisator stewards the report should be submitted to them for their views, and it was decided to adopt this course. Trotting Association It was decided to nominate the three retiring South Island members of the New Zealand Trotting Association—Messrs W. Hayward, M.L.C.. and W. H. Kitchingham and J. B. Thomson—for re-election to the Conference. Mr Irwin was appointed the club’s delegate to the annual meeting of the conference. which is to take place on July 9. False Starts A letter was received from the New Zealand Trotting Conference dealing with a method of recalling horses in the case of a false start. The chairman said that the letter was no doubt a result of what had happened at Gore in the Trevathan case. It was decided to refer the matter to the club’s starter (Mr A. J. Hastings) for suggestions as io a suitable method of recall. A Profitable Meeting The chairman said that Hie balance sheet of the recent winter meeting allowed a profit of £625 6s Id, whereas at the corresponding meeting last year there had been a loss of £384 15s 7d. He thought that the result was very satisfactory. Mr Archbold: And we gave another £560 in stakes this. year. The profits from the club’s meetings are devoted to the patriotic funds Future Race Meetings The chairman said that the club had applied for Saturdays and Mondays for its meeting during the incoming season Accounts Paid On the recommendation ol Mr Black, chairman of the Finance Committee, accounts amounting to £409 15s 3d were passed for payment.