RACING NEWS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25964, 3 October 1945, Page 7

RACING NEWS

By Sentinel

Jottings Boulder Dam is in work again at Wingatui He won at Waikouaiti on New Year s Day, but has been unplaced In nine subsequent starts. ... a , , Owners have bestowed very liberal patronage on the Gore Racing Club s spring programme for the meeting to be held on Labour Day. Some of the horses worked at Wingatui yesterday bore the appearance of having been smartened up by their racing at the Otago Hunt Club’s meeting. It is understood that A. E. Ellis has become " mine host ” of an hotel at Little River. His knowledge of sport should make him a great success as a host. Strong support was accorded Sir Bernard for the Vauxhall Handicap last Saturday. He failed to finish near the money, but was probably short of fast work owing to having been galloped on in his race at Ashburton. A Stayer Pride of Mossburn was finishing on at the end of the Tally-Ho Handicap. He won. over a mile and a-quarter at Riverton last season, and finished third in the Birthday Handicap at Wingatui to Amorlad and Sir Saladin, and second to Platform in the King George Handicap at Wingatui. A Promising Sort Court Talk, who was close up third when he came down at the last fence m the Hunt Club Cup Steeplechase at Wingatui last Saturday Is a six-year-old ge ding by Prince Warden—Converse, by Polazel—Controversy, by Gay Prince Warden, the sire of Court Talk, was got by Lord Warden —Flrestick, by Sanquhar or Antagonist—Heatherbrae. by Treadmill. An Obvious Error The Randwick track was apparently in very fast order on Saturday. The Metropolitan Handicap was reported to have been run in 2min 35Jsec, but the correct time was orobably 2min 45Jsec, as the race record is 2min 41Jsec. The winner, Murrav Stream, is trained by F. McGrath, and is" a four-year-old by Midstream from Hall Mark's Sister, by Heroic—Herowinkie, by Cyklon—Denet, by The Welkin— Teppo, by Ladas. Prospect of Good Going Part of the course proper at Wingatui Is on the soft side. Favourable weather, with the assistance of a breeze, would, however, bring about satisfactory going on Saturday. At Wingatui As the result of the heavy /ain which fell or. Monday the Wingatui tracks were on the sloppy side in. places yesterday morning. A large number of horses were worked during the morning on the sand track and the inside grass track, but most of them were restricted to strong work. The going was pulling up some of those who did fast work. The course proper was closed, but it will be opened for two-year-olds this morning. Commendable Promptitude The delay in getting the two-year-olds out for rhe parade at Wingatui on Saturday was partly responsible for the tune lost in completing the card. Complaints have been lodged against delays in eluding some meetings, but at times this cannot be avoided, particularly when division races are on the card. The Kiccarton and Trentham meetings are favoured by tire prompt handling of investments by the electric totalisator, but it. must be said that the totalisator at Wingatui has been closed and the races started with commendable promptitude during the past season. The investments have been smartly balanced, and there is no reasonable ground for complaint m that direction. Latterly, the starter has marshalled the fields to the barrier after allowing two or three minutes to elapse for the balancing of investments after the signal has been given. This has been the practice at Riccarton, and has been I adopted with success at Wingatui.