RACING NEWS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26226, 9 August 1946, Page 7

RACING NEWS

By Sentinel August 10, 17 .. G. National meeting. August 10 Hawke's Bay J.C. August 17 .. .. Pakuranga H.C. August 17 .. .. Dannevirke R.C. Jottings The selected race for Soneri will decide the favouritism for the Islington Handicap and the August Handicap. Golden Souvenir looks ready to race. He has a big weight in the August Handicap, but is not regarded as harshly treated.

If Frances is produced for the Woolston Handicap, she may find her strongest opponents in Knight Crusader and Special Flight. Alamode was given walking exercise at Riccarton on Wednesday. He has always been a light-fleshed gelding and on the leggy side, and his appearance did not impress those who made his acquaintance. The Grand National Steeplechase winner. Dumbo, looks none the worse for his race in the big event of the meeting, and has since been working freely on the Royal Chance scored two wins last season, and now looks In good shape. He has been working well with Lancewing since his arrival at Riccarton. Starting second favourite at Caulfield on August 3, First In won the Balaclava Stakes, of £750, one mile and a-halt, in 2min 32|sec, with A. E. Didham in the saddle. She carried 8.10 and beat 18 others rather comfortably. She will come into favour for the Caulfield Cup and the Melbourne Cup. One of the most attractive looking young horses at Riccarton is Desert Fox, a well-developed three-year-old gelding by Foxbridge from Oragan, one of the Desert Gold family. He started once as a two-year-old, and on looks may develop good form. Eclipse Stakes

The Eclipse Stakes, one of the big weight-for-age events in England, was run at Ascot on July 19, and the winner was Lord Derby’s three-year-old colt Gulf Stream, who earlier in the season had finished second to Airborne in the Derby. There were only five runners for this famous race, which was established in 1886, and Gulf Stream won comfortably by three lengths from Edward Tudor, with Khaled two lengths further back in third place. Gulf Stream is considered to have improved a lot since he ran in the Derby, but he did not win as easily as he was expected to do. The third horse, Khaled, has evidently become affected by a wind infirmity, and he has been scratched from all further engagements. The three placed horses are all by Hyperion. Normally the Eclipse Stakes is run at Sandown Park, but that course has not been In use since 1939. Memory of Sir Modred

Mr Henry Dent, whose funeral took place at the beginning of the week, was it) his young days associated with racing stables in Dunedin. It was he who took July, the brother of the famous Sir Modred (Traducer—ldalia) to the also famous J. B Haggin stud ranch. July, who became a yearling a day or two after his birth—he was born before the recognised Gate of August I—was no doubt bought for the United States because of the success his brother, Sir Modred, had achieved at the stud, but he.failed to live, in the stud records of his new land. Very little, indeed, was heard of July afterwards. Mr Dent stayed on Mr Haggin’s ranch for several months He used to tell of the practice at the sales of yearlings in those days, which were attended by large crowds, A yearling having been purchased, it would be given a sprint or two over a furlong. H R showed promise it was persevered with Tf it failed to show promise, it was disposed of at once. It was not given a second chance.