RACING NEWS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25456, 10 February 1944, Page 3

RACING NEWS

By Sentinel

Nominations for the Win ton Jockey Club’s meeting are due on Monday. The Salmagundi gelding Steward is now in R. E. McLellan’s stable, and will be tried over fences, Mr A. Chisholm has sold Cruden Bay to a North Island owner. She was got by Salmagundi from Lochlaggan, by Woodend —Glentruin. From what has been seen of Old Glory at' Wlngatui, the impression has been formed that he would possibly benefit by being schooled over hurdles. He is a big handful on the track, and hurdling might help to steady him. The Matamata Cup provided a fine race and a close finish. Water Vixen made the running to the straight, where Corot put in a claim. Corot had Wafer Vixen beaten when Raurimu challenged. In a hard fight Raurimu beat Corot. Water Vixen. La Fillette, Full Hand, and Gay Lally were next. Bonny Pay, who won at the Matamata Cup meeting, was a good winner as a two-year-old in the 1941-42 season. He won five times in seven starts, but failed to win in 10 starts as a three-year-old. This season Bonny Pay has won twice and run second in nine starts. It is reported that in the Novice Stakes, run at the Marlborough meeting, the judge placed Home Rule, Baracha, Retainer, and Sherwood Forest in the order named. The judge was requested to amend his placings, but declined. A dividend was paid out on Baracha, who actually finished seventh. The correct order at the post was Home Rule, Sherwood Forest. Retainer, and Sally Lux.

The death occurred recently of Gustavo, a brother to the very well-performed Count Cavour, one of the stoutest stayers ever raced in New Zealand. Gusta -o was foaled in 1927, and promisingly in the early part of his racing career, when his wins included a success in the Dunedin Guineas. He won once as a four-year-old, and subsequently some minor events, but never ran up to his early promise. He sired nothing of any great note, but his daughters may prove valuable at the stud. Gustavo was got by Solferlno from Bon Bard, by Boniform (half-brother to Martian) from Ormolu, by Orme (son of Ormonde) from Hey Presto, by Sanfoin, winner, of the English Derby in 1890, and sire of Rock Sand, winner of the Two Thousand Guineas, the Derby, and -the St. Leger, from Miss Preston, by Preston,pans. a son of the famous Prince Charlie, the sire of Lochiel. Orme’s dam, Angelica, ranks as a sister to St. Simon- Orme got Flying Fox, who won the " Triple Crown,” and another Derbv winner in Orby. It will be seen that Gustavo had a pedigree well-endowed with very successful strains. It was recently announced (says the Press) that the well-known apprentice rider, N. Holland, had been suspended for two years bv the Taranaki District Committee for 'foul riding at Stratford on January 1. He rode Prince Plato, winner of the Douglas Handicap from Mihinui, and it was alleged that he caught hold of Mihinui’s bridle and bored out on that horse. Holland’s defence was that he had lost an iron and had to grab Mihinui’s reins to save him from falling. ‘The evidence adduced at the inquiry into the incident has its amusing sidelights. Mr C. B. Webster, secretary of the District Committee, said the iron was brought to him by a member of the Women’s Auxiliary Air Force, who stated that with a party of girls she attended the Stratford race meeting. During the day they picked up a stirrup Iron and leather. Statements made by the girls were read. On the day of the race meeting, the statements said, the girls were having lunch in the bush beside the track where the horses pull up after the race. After the Douglas Handicap the horses pulled up immediately opposite the party, and a jockey on a light chestnut horse was seen to remove his leather and stirrup iron and throw it towards the fence, where it fell in the long grass. One of the girls put her hand through the wire fence and picked it up. It was submitted by Mr H. Knight, deputy stipendiary steward, who had examined Holland’s saddle, that the iron, if it belonged to the rider, could not have come off unless it had been taken off, Holland subsequently admitted to the committee that h£ was in front on Prince Plato when halfway down the straight Mihinui came alongside him. When he realised that Mihinui was overtaking him he seized

the other horse s rein and held it J until just before the post without thinking what lie was doing. When he realised What he had done he pulled the iron and leather out and threw them away. He said he could not account for his actions, as he was offered no wager to win the race.