RACING NEWS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25301, 11 August 1943, Page 5

RACING NEWS

By Sentinel

'Nominations for the Ota'go Hunt Club's meeting are due on Tuesday of next W ]Platform made such a good showing in the Paparua Handicap that he is sure to be in favour when racing over more among the horses worked at Riccarton yesterday. They both look in good shape and may soon improve on their first race in their second season. , _ Judged by the. manner in which Foxleap finished on to win the Avonhead Handicap, she will not be troubled when asked to race over more ground. ' Paper Lily shaped well in the Cashmere Plate to gain a place, as she drew 24 at the barrier. She is a three-year-old half-sister by Paper Money to Platf°When Prize Ring finished fairly close to the placed lot in the Cashmere Plate he carried 31b overweight. He is a three-year-old by Ringmaster from Kerbside, and so ranks as a close relative to B A h>°t P 'of money came for Manakore in the Cashmere Plate on Saturday, but he was never dangerous. Anything can happen to a horse in such a big field, but apparently some good track work must have inspired the support. • Wexford Bridge, who finished third in the Enfield Steeplechase, was the oldest horse at Riccarton on - Saturday, now ranking as 15 years. Prudentia was a strong fancy for the Paparua Handicap, but she got lost ’on the journey. Her record last season was two. starts, two wins. She won the Courtenay Handicap with 8.1 in lmin 25 3-ssec and the Gimcrack Hack Handicap With 7.8 in lmin 11 3-ssec—two of the smartest gallops put up during the meeting. On that form Prudentia should not be long in re-entering the winning list. Catalogue won the Winter Cup three times in succession, but until Bashful Lady led the field home this year no other horse had claimed more than one victory. , • The stake for the Auckland Cup this year has been fixed at £4250 and the Railway Handicap at £ISOO. In connection with the Auckland Cup, it has been decided that only winners of a race or races*, exceeding the collective value of £SOO to the winner after the declaration of the weights shall be subject to a re-handicap. , The Mr Standfast gelding Banco is at present being treated to a spell. He has plenty of size and will benefit by the spell, which should help to strengthen up a big frame. The. Paper Money mare Socks met with injuries last week at Sockburn as a result of taking fright at a low-flying plane. She broke away from, her attendant and collided with a post, and got so severely cut about that she had to be destroyed. Rockery ran a good race in the Sydenham Hurdles, in which he supplanted Black Musk as pacemaker after going about a mile. Rockery led into the straight, but in a hard fighting finish failed to resist a strong challenge from Nightcalm, who was kept up in a handy position with the leaders all the way and finally owed his success to the vigorous riding of R. Register. Nightcalm Will have to travel about an additional five furlongs in the Grand National Hurdles, but must be granted a chance. The Solicitor General colt John o’ London has been doing well during the winter and has furnished out and grown up pleasingly. He is now in fine robust condition for a preparation. It is intended to race him at the Ashburton spring meeting, and all going well he will be sent over to race in the A.J.C. Derby. On appearance John o’ London fills the eye as one likely to earn classic distinction. His trainer, C. McCarthy, is very pleased with the colt and with the manner in which he has thrived under his charge.

Erination, who had to be destroyed on Saturday, won the Great Northern Hurdles, the Wellington Steeplechase, the Lincoln Steeplechase, and the Riverton Steeplechase. Prior to winning the Lincoln Steeplechase, he had finished fourth in the Sydenham Hurdles, run three races earlier on the card. He ran in the Great Northern Hurdles four times, the Great Northern Steeples once, the Grand National Steeplechase five times for a second and a fourth, the Grand National Hurdles four times, and the Wellington Steeplechase twice for a win. In 104 starts Erination won 14 times and was placed on 24 occasions. He won over £6OOO in stakes and was a popular horse with the racing public. Rex Beale, the rider of Anglo-Frencn, the winner of the Grand National Steeplechase, was originally engaged to ride Valens, but his owner and trainer, J. Mitchell, sportingly released him to take the mount. Beale was on Royal Limond in 1936. The owners of Anglo-French previously won in 1941 with Astral Flame, and incidentally have supplied two of the winners and a runner-up with two of the youngest horses to achieve success. Astral Flame, Anglo-French, and Noko are six-year-olds. Previous winners at that age are The Guard (1900), Enniskillen (1905), Wiltshire (1928). and Aurora Borealis (1930).