FINDON SLIGHTLY INJURED

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25881, 27 June 1945, Page 3

FINDON SLIGHTLY INJURED

LIKELY STARTER AT TRENTHAM (Special) WELLINGTON. June 26. The scratching of Findon. in the Havelock Handicap at Hastings on Saturday was due to the horse slightly injuring a hind leg when he kicked a fence in his yard on the day before the races. The trouble is not serious, and present intentions are to rail him to Trentham early next week. All going well, he will go on to Riccarton for the Winter Cup in August. Indian Sport ran prominently in the Winter Handicap at Hastings, making the pace from barrier rise to the home turn, but stopped very quickly. It transpired that he damaged a ligament. He has since been blistered, and is not likely to race again for some time. Khurja slightly opened his stifle wound in the Hawke’s Bay Steeplechase, and though he is coming to Trentham there is some doubt about his immediate programme. He has become a problem for his trainer, because he is a gross type of horse, and it takes more than track work to bring him to the pitch of condition. In winning the Hawke’s Bay Hurdles, Takrouna flew every obstacle in her stride and gave as polished an exhibition as has been seen for some time. She gained lengths on her opponents at several fences and won with something in hand. Takrouna shows her best form when the foothold is good, and no engagements were made for her in the hurdle races at Trentham, but she will be on hand for the Grand National meeting at Riccarton. Though he has shown, improving form of late, and was a close second in the Winter Handicap at Hastings on Saturday, Catterick Bridge is to do no further racing this winter, as he does not handle heavy ground well. He is to have a spell for a month, and then will be prepared for racing in the spring. The Aucklander Babrow ran prominently in the Winter Handicap, but had his prospects ruined by being galloped on and losing a lot of skin from a hind leg. Da Vinci has shown first class form to win at his last two starts, and he is now out of hacks. He is engaged in the Whyte Handicap at Trentham, and a good opinion of his form is expressed by the W.R.C. handicapper, who has given him 91b above the minimum, equal weight with Air Ace and giving weight to Hormuz, Ramicourt and Bridge Acre. The immediate programme for Da Vinci has not been settled. At present his owner favours reserving him for the Grand National meeting, where the ground is usually less trying than at Trentham in July.