RACING NEWS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25736, 6 January 1945, Page 6

RACING NEWS

By Sentinel

The four Southland holiday meetings contributed £13,806 16s lid in taxation. Irish Note got his tongue over the bit when running in the Wairarapa Cup. Kevin and Gamble will make a good bracket If both start in the D.J.p. Handicap. Royal Lancer struck himself when run-

ning in the Invercargill Cup. All Night has been scratched for the Flying Fortress Handicap and Divorced for the Abbotsford Handicap. A rumour was circulated yesterday that Benbecula showed signs of trouble after working at Wingatui. Wantwood, who is • engaged at Wingatui to-day, is a gelding by Salmagundi from Pink Bond, by Pink Coat. Western Front met with interference in the Champagne Stakes at Wingatui on Boxing Day, and in consequence did not show his true form. , ~ Recent racing will probably improve Monetary, who, in the Flying Fortress Handicap, meet's High Play on 51b better terms than in the Publicans’ Handicap. Chicago holds two engagements to-day. His second to Bath Slipper suggests that he may run up to his track reputation In his selected race. . _ It is interesting to note that Palfrey, Night Robe, Sascha, First In, Fair Trial, and Amorlad, who are engaged at Wingatui to-day, are entered for the Wellington Cup. Boulder Dam put in a strong finishing run when he won. at Waikouaiti. He set the pace in the Dunedin Cup, and similar tactics will probably be followed in the James Hazlett Gold Cup. Wise Girl, who won a double at Greymouth, was got by Irish Lancer—Sapient, by Kilbroney. Wise Girl was ridden by A. M. Ellis, a son of A. S. Ellis, the Riccarton trainer. A. M. Ellis had his first winning mount on Rawhamai in the Greymouth Cup. Palfrey pulled up a rather tired horse after his race in the Dunedin Cup, and in consequence was not fancied in the Waikouaiti Cup. He ran a moderate race, and although he is well handicapped on form, he will have to improve to have a chance in the D.J.C.-Handicap. Listen In won the Berwick Handicap on Boxing Day with 8.1, and has been sent up to 8.11 for the Abbotsford Handicap. She meets Grand Forest (fourth in the Berwick Handicap and a winner at Waikouaiti) on 41b worse terms. Moneybird showed indications of a return to form at Wyndham, and he meets Listen In on 111 b better terms in the Abbotsford Handicap than when they met on the first day at Wingatui. Bridgehead, a winner at Waikouaiti. was giving Listen In 21b in the Berwick Handicap, and now meets her on 31b better terms. Other winners engaged are St. Nattar, Desert Strife, Bath Slipper, and Peter Gazelle," who won comfortably at Waikouaiti with 8.8 in Imin I7sec, and will have 141 b less to carry at Wingatui. It reads a rather open race, but Grand Forest will probably start favourite. Golden Souvenir had 8.10 in the D.J.C. Handicap, and would have received support. Sascha, who was finishing strongly when she got up to make a dead-heat in the Waikouaiti Cup, represents a good chance on paper for the D.J.C. Handicap. She was going away from Gamble at the finish of the Waikouaiti Cup, and meets him on 91b worse terms over an extra furlong at Wingatui. Palfrey was not seen at his best at Waikouaiti, where the turns do not help the chance of a slow beginner. He meets Sascha on 71b better terms at Wingatui. The greatest danger \to Sascha may come from Benbecula and The Raker, who both shaped well in the Invercargill Cup. Benbecula carried 8.7 in the President's Handicap at Wingatui, and won in 2min 24sec. He will have 161 b less to carry to-day. The Raker meets Benbeculh on the same'terms as in the Invercargill Cup. A repetition of First In’s form in the Metropolitan Handicap would make her very dangerous, as she was only caught in the last stride at Riccarton on a slow track.

There was an exciting finish between the first five horses in the Great Northern Derby, Coronaire winning by a short head from Colais, with Hormuz and Pensacola another half-length away, a dead-heat for third. The favourite, Artificer, was right up fifth, and was followed by Bridge Acre, Gay Chat, Master Ted and Ramicourt. Pensacola went to the front quickly and was joined after three furlongs by Master Ted. Together they carried on the running till Master Ted began to lose ground at the three furlongs, where Coronaire. Bridge Acre, and Artificer were together behind them, and Colais was next. Pensacola held on gamely after leading into the straight, but the task of winning from end to end was just beyond him, Coronaire and Colais both outstaying him in the last furlong. Colais made a very determined effort at the distance, but weakened slightly in the last stride or two. Hormuz finished solidly. Artificer did not have the best of the running in the straight, otherwise he may have been a little harder to beat. Coronaire was well ridden by T. Green, who moved him up past several horses when the pace was slack in the middle stages, and then waited behind Pensacola to make his effort, which he timed to a nicety. The first and second horses are botli by the imported sire Coronach.