RACING NEWS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25661, 9 October 1944, Page 3

RACING NEWS

By Sentinel

Sister Sal gave signs of coming back to form by her fourth In the Telegraph Handicap. Bonny Flight was patiently handled In the Dunedin Guineas, but was not seasoned enough to run out a fast mile. The stallion Master Hotspur was not sold when sent under the hammer last week. Some of his stock bear a promising appearance. Air Ace, the winner *of the Dunedin Guineas, was got by Leighon from Gay Sonnet, by Gay Lad—Elocution, by Demosthenes—Ranglao. by Gold Reef, a son of Bend Or. A field of 10 went to the post for the Dunedin Guineas, but when it came to business over the final furlong only ,the placed lot were in it. Joygiver went well tor about seven furlongs, but then, began to fade. Tring, the winner of the Tally-Ho Handicap and the Ranfurly Handicap, was bred by D. P. Wilson, and was got by Salmagundi—Assemble, by Tractor—Take, Down, by Downshire—Decoy, by Medal-lion-Siren, by St. George. The racing at the Otago Hunt Club’s meeting cut up the course at Wingatui, and it became necessary to top-dress parts of the track and fill up hoof holes. The top-dress'.ng is said to have unbalanced some of the horses owing to the silt shifting on impact. The Telegraph Handicap developed into an interesting duel between John Gay and High Play, and after a battling finish they could not be separated. John o’ London proved to be best of the others engaged, but he could not threaten danger to the dead-heaters. The draw for positions at the barrier in the McLean Stakes was as follows: Amicus 12, Deep Harmony 8, Douglas Haig 16, Erin's Pal 23, Hansel 4, Knight Crusader 14, Loyal Pal 9, Major Argosy 3, Superlative 11, Eudora 7, Victory Flight ,18, Western Front 6, Goldspur 2, Belle Leonne 1. Loyal Lady 10, Montezuma 15. Princess Anne 19, Patmos 17, Penfold 20, Psalm 5, Racilla 22, Sword Dance 13, Te Anau Lady 21. Psalm, the winner of the McLean {Stakes, traces to the Hammock taproot, which has produced such brilliant performers as Conqueror, Day Dream, Sommeil, Siesta. Dundas, and others of laterday note. Conqueror held the four-fur-long record of 46sec at Riccarton, which stood for many years. Day Dream was the first, or one of the first, > New Zea-land-bred horses sold to go to England. She was sold at 1500gns to Captain Guthrie, aide de camp to Lord Onslow, when the latter was acting as Governor of New Zealand. Air Ace scored a meritorious win in the Dunedin Guineas as he set a solid pace from the rise of the barrier. He was, however, a bit lucky to beat Pansacola. who got badly placed on the rails in the final stages of the race. Racing round the bend Air Ace was in front with Joygiver and Bonny Flight running on the outside of Pensacola. Joygiver held his position with Air Ace until reaching the straight, and then gave way to Bonny Flight. Pensacola remained boxed on the rails, and did not get an opening until too late. They ran the first halfmile in 50 l-ssec, and Pensacola was going well all the way. With a clear run he would probably have beaten Air Ace.

The manner in which Sal's ,Pal was handled in the Ranfurly Handicap created a good deal of criticism. Sal's Pal got well away at the start, and was one of the leaders out of the straight. His rider then commenced to fight with his mount and eventually got him back to the ruck. Sal’s Pal moved up coming round the top and finally finished fourth in a race which he might have won if allowed to stride along and hold a good position instead -of losing ground. It is understood that the rider was instructed to keep Sal’s Pal back in the field until reaching the straight, but he overdid the orders and so lost whatever chance he had in the race. Some three or four years ago the Racing Conference, after a discussion on starting, decided that the starter should, operate from a stand This decision was never enforced and at some meetirgs the starter acts from the ground, with a consequent risk of missing a horse' that backs out in a big field. At Wlngatui Mr C. Gieseler uses a small stand, but it is not nearly high enough. Mr Gieseler apparently did not notice that Arctic Dawn was side on when, he started the field for the Ranfurly Handicap. Arctic Dawn was hopelessly left. He was alsd left at the start of his race at the Hunt Club meeting.