RACING NEWS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25393, 26 November 1943, Page 4

RACING NEWS

By Sentinel

Gladynev and Don Quex form a bracket in the New Zealand Cup field. Lord Roland and Lady Silvia form a bracket on the card for the Welcome Stakes. Poutatau’s chance in the Stewards’ Handicap would be improved if the sting was out of the going, as he acts best under such track conditions. Lord Advocate has been putting up some brilliant track work, but making records two or three times a week may tire a horse. He would be more in favour with less fast work. A glance through the track reports from Riccarton suggests that the majority of the horses galloped are out on watchsmashing expeditions. That is the reason why some horses go better on the track than in a race. The Cup favourite Representative has been kept well up to the collar since his arrival at Riccarton. It was a good move to make an early arrival in order to accustom the son of Nightmarch to the lefthand track. , , , . The nominations for the principal events to be decided at the Dunedin Cup meeting are a good augury for success, because if only half the horses engaged reach the post they will make attractive fields. Tlie liberal patronage by owners of the principal events will no doubt mean big fields for the minor races and plenty of material to furnish good sport. Sir Bradbury has been seen out this season in three rac.es. He began with a fourth and followed with a second witn 7.41 to Beau Vaals 8.8 at Wellington, being beaten by a head in lmin lllsec. The unplaced lot included Poutatau 8.8, Lord Advocate 8.3, John Gay 8.0, and Tutere 7.13. Sir Bradbury won over seven furlongs with 7.9 on the second day on a heavy track. He has been sent up 1511 bon his first day’s form and 111 b for his win, and seems to have received his full share of weight. . „ , . .. A field of 21 Is on the card for the Welcome Stakes, and, although some may drop out, it will still leave a field spread right across the track. It has been noticed that some riders beginning wide out bend over to the rails and so lose ground. It may not be much, but just sufficient to make the difference between winning and losing. At the four or five-furlong start at Riccarton a rider should' pick up a landmark—a tree or something conspicuous—at the turn out of the straight, and make the shortest way home by steering straight for it. , , . A comparison between present-day gallops 'over a mile and a-quarter by New Zealand Cup candidates and the final tasks set by old-time trainers makes interesting reading. It is said that Euroclydon’s final gallop prior to leaving for Riccarton was once round Forbury Park (over a mile) at half-pace, once round at threequarter pace, and another circuit at nearly top. Euroclydon won the New Zealand Cup, the New Zealand Derby, and the Canterbury Cup. Occident’s final gallop for the Dunedin Cup, which he won in 1893, was once round Forbury Park about the middle of the track at top and another in about equal time. The gallop would be about the full distance of the racetwo miles and a distance.