RACING AND TROTTING

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24738, 15 October 1941, Page 3

RACING AND TROTTING

RACING NEWS By Sentinel FIXTURES October 18.—Otaki R.C October 18.—Stratford R.C. October 18.—South Canterbury J.C. October 18.—Rotorua R.C. October 23. 25, 27.—Wellington R.C. October 25.—Poverty Bay H.C October 25. 27.—Gore R.C. October 27.—North Canterbury J.C. ... Alpine.—A likely-looking colt in Alpine could not be produced at Wlngatui. owing to knocking a leg. He was on the course but was wisely kept out of a race. The Starter.—There is a fairly unanimous opinion that every club should provide an elevated platform at every starting post, and Insist on the starter staying there. A starter should also exercise his authority and consider the majority instead of the minority in a field. The Weather.—The Dunedin spring meeting would have been more enjoyable with more favourable weather. For a few days prior to the meeting the weather Interrupted training operations and robbed one of the pleasure of watching the horses at work in their final gallops The weather on the morning of each day was not conducive to attracting the casual racegoer to Wlngatui. Transport.— The restrictions on transport were the cause of horses arriving at Wingatui on the eve of the meeting. Horses, particularly two-year-olds, should be brought to Wingatui two or three days before a meeting in order to accustom them to the track, which means a change from the dead level ground at Rlccarton and other training tracks. An early > arrival Is also welcome because It ehhances the Interest In training operations and give* publicity to a meeting. At the Post—The starting at the Ashburton, Geraldine and Wlngatui meetings Tras been the subject of criticism. Different starter* acted at each meeting, and the fault is due to each starter endeavouring to give fractious horses a chance to get out on good or really better terms than well-mannered horses standing up flatfoot at the barrier from the moment they are called Into line. A horse playing up at the post has a better chance of getting out well than one standing flatfoot while others have been " backing and filling ’’ at the line-up. The moving start is the remedy—get In line or get left. It is the trainer’s job and not the starter's to teach a horse to behave at the post. This opinion does not, of course, include the rider who is obviously playing for a break or one not In a hurry. Some starting puts a premium on apparent tractlousness. Salutation.—The records show that not • great deal of success has fallen to the lot of grey or roan horses on the New Zealand turf. Salutation is the second grey to win a classic event in New Zealand. Scots’ Grey won the New Zealand Derby in 1889 and fills the list. Other notable winners that were grey include Canteen (New Zealand Cup) Red Cross (CJ.C. Stewards' Handicap) and Grand Sport (CJ.C. Stewards’ Handicap). Son of a Gun, second to Tirailleur in the New Zealand Cup of 1889, was a roan, and Admlnlatrator. another of note, was also a roan; but the list of Important winners outside the common colours are few and far between. Three Star and Tauhei. who were grey, belonged to the same family as Canteen. Salutation inherits her colour through her sire, who is a son of The Tetrarch, the most famous grey in racing history. Salutation was got by Theio from Queen’s Salute, by Chief Ruler —Soot, by All Black—Salute, by Soujt —Lady Musket, by Blairgowrie—Muskerint, by Hippocampus—Vatterina, by Yattendon. An interesting, point about Salutation’s pedigree consists in. the fact that she Is Inbred to the Herod line through her sire. ’ rrancolln.—'The dam of Winning Flight has a Ally foal at foot to Salmagundi and has been on a visit to Man’s Pal. She has produced only one colt in Dark Flight, and it is to be hoped she .produces another to Man’s Pal.

TROTTING NOTES By Sentinel FIXTURES October 25, 27.—Greymouth T.C, October 25. 27.—Auckland T.C. October 27.—Oamaru T.C. Improvers.—Winners at the New Brighton meeting improved on handicaps as follows:—Acuity 4sec, Westcliff 12 4-ssec, Battle Colours 14 2-ssee. Loyal Friend 14 4-ssec. Black Surprise 7 l-ssec, Within 7 3-ssec Springfield Globe 10 l-ssec, and Scapa Flow 8 4-ssec Bright Prospects.—Loyal Friend secured his fourth win in six starts,since he began racing in April last, when he led the field home in the Members' Handicap. He is a capable pacer, with excellent prospects of winning his way to top class later on. Tactics Nullified.—Gold Bar was beaten in the A. I. Rattray Memorial Handicap at tiie New Brighton Trqttlng Club’s meeting on Saturday because he could not employ his usual tactics. Springfield Globe was able to begin as quickly as he did and kept up with him. Gold Bar has won many races by dashing away from his opponents in the first two furlongs Returning to Form.—Passing By, who finished second to Battle Colours in the Shirley Handicap at New Brighton, is a six-year-old mare by Wrack from Doll Dance, and is trained by A. Henderson. She paid a good double-figure dividend tor a place, and had she won she would have returned her few supporters a dividend of more than half a century Her racing in the early part Of last season was full of promise, and she appears to be right back to form. Matinee Trotting.—The spring matinee of the Auckland Trotting Owners and Trainers’ Association will be held at Alexandra Park, Epsom, on November 1. A good programme, including races for novice drivers and women riders, has been arranged. A departure from previous matinee events has been made In regard to maiden classes, which will be handicap races.

Making the Pace.—Unless an outstanding performer, a horse that sets out to make the pace from the start seldom wins, and this Is •a very good reason why some of the better-class races are not run as fast as they should be. As in athletics, and especially in cycle racing, the trailer has all the advantage. This was shown in the A. I, Rattray Memorial at New Brighton, says the Press, when the brilliant Gold Bar was beaten by Springfield Globe. Gold Bar attempted to put a big break on the field, but R. B. Berry behind Springfield Globe, was prepared for the move, and was quickly on Gold Bar s wheel. Had it been a cycle race Berry would have been advised by the crowd to " take a lap.” He stayed In behind, and when Gold Bar slackened or accelerated Springfield Globe did the same. The latter was full of running at the end, but Gold Bar had had enough and had some of the other drivers made an earlier attempt to reduce the gap he might not have been second. Many early speculators who have backed Gold Bar for the New Zealand Cup are apprehensive as to whether he will start, He is still on 4min 28sec for two miles and the connections of even such a great pacer are not likely to throw away two seconds to win a valuable prize. A minor placing wou.d mean a severe penalty. RICCARTON NOTES COURSE TRIALS (Special) CHRISTCHURCH, Oct. 14. The conditions were ideal for training work this morning, the sun shining brightly after breakfast to disperse the early dew. A few horses sprinted on the plough, still on the heavy side, but most of the galloping was done on the No. 8 grass track. The work here was not exciting. The number of horses out was restricted, owing to the absence of many trainers at the Dunedin meeting, while other trainers had part of their teams in reserve till to-morrow, when the five-furlong barrier will be at their disposal, providing an opportunity for smart sprints down .the straight. Several of the trainers made arrangements to give their horses special gallops o» the outside of the course proper, in preparation for engagements at Washdyke or Trentham, and these provided the main Interest in the morning’s proceedings. Not Out and Penny Whistle went well In a half-mile sprint up the back in 3osec, with Not Out going comfortably alongside his mate at the finish. Atreus and Lunaria broke away slowly from the slx-furlong post, running home the last half-mile in Slsec—a useful effort, that part of the course being slower than along the back. . .. . • . Monetary was given a similar task, his last half-mile being done in 50 3-ssec. He came home resolutely. Renarde covered a mile in Imln 46sec. with an even pace all the way. and she looks In good order. Wardress and Dictate were mates over a mile, the first half being run in 52sec and the full journey in Imin 43 3-ssec They were together throughout, and they finished strongly. These two are likely to race well In early engagements—Dictate at Washdyke and Wardress at Trentham. . „ Scarteen. Good Scout, and Myralct Jumped off at the seven-furlong post, and after registering 38 3-ssec for the first three furlongs, they completed their task in Imin 30sec. Myraid failed over the final furlong, Good Scout finishing on resolutely to get on terms with Scarteen a couple of strides before the winning post was reached. Frontiersman (M. P. Reilly) went well In a school over two hurdles. Great Flight (C. Stokes) jumped In good style over three hurdles, but tried to run off at the fourth, where she fell, without injury to horse or rider. Shikari has made a good recovery from a bruised foot, but he will not be sent to Trentham, where the team of H and A. Cutts will consist of Wild Talk and Wild Fox. both of whom are very well. Mr G. R. Macdonald has sold the four-year-old Pleading, by Solicitor-General from Eulali. He developed trouble In a tendon recently, and it seemed unlikely that he would stand up to training. His new home will be in the Auckland district, where he may go to the stud.