RACING NEWS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26228, 12 August 1946, Page 3

RACING NEWS

By Sentinel August 17 .. .. G. National meeting. August 17 .. .. Pakuranga H.C. August 17 .. .. Dannevirke H.C. Jottings Frances started favourite for the Woolston Handicap. She won, but had to run a really good race and stand up to a hard finish to win by a narrow margin. Soneri is one of the best of her age and sex seen at Riccarton. Just how good she is remains to be seen, but a good handicap seems sure to come her way during the season. A. McKerrow suffered concussion when Night Prince fell with him in the Beaufort Steeples. He was admitted to the public hospital, and his condition was reported to be satisfactory. Brantome helped Prize Ring to do the pacemaking in the Grand ' National Hurdles, and, like the Dunedin gelding, beat himself by pulling hard. Bramble Song is the second horse t 6 win the Great Northern-Grand National Hurdles double in the same winter, the first being his stable mate Town Survey (1943). The pair have been trained by the Te Rapa trainer. A. Winder, who is also the owner of Bramble Song. There are not ■ many of Kincardine's stock about, but in Lord Elgin he got one that should be a good winner over a distance. Lord Elgin will be in open company, and should capture a good handicap. Findon is another Kincardine, but his chief laurels as a sire were gathered by Kindergarten. Foxchase ran a good race in the Islington Handicap under difficulties. He drew 15 at the barrier, a bad position at the 10-furlong post, and was well back on the outside of the field at the mile post Foxchase could not have beaten the winner, but would have extended Findon with a better run in the race. Prize Ring beat himself by pulling in the Grand National Hurdles. He helped to set the pace in a fast race because he could not be steadied, and in consequence became a beaten horse a long way from home. He is still a young horse at six years old, and may yet be educated to drop his self-beating habit of pulling. Unlucky Mr F. C. Christie came close to landing a good win with Boolamskee in connection with the Grand National Hurdles. He bought Boolamskee at a substantial figure about 12 months ago, and did not produce him in a hurdle race until the Grand National Hurdles, which he lost more through bad luck than lack of a race over hurdles. Hunting Mac fell at the first hurdle and interfered with Boolamskee, who had in consequence to make up a lot of ground to get a good second to Bramble Song, who won with very little to spare. After the race statements were heard that Boolamskee would have won if he had been given a couple of races over hurdles. That is a good theory, but Boolamskee proved that it does not always work out in practice, as his defeat was due more to bad luck than lack of a race over hurdles. It is on record that the winners of the Liverpool Grand National Steeplechase include a horse that was never asked to jump a fence during the 12 months preceding his win. Mr Christie is really an amateur trainer, and can obviously produce a horse to run a hard and ..trying race without racing him into condition as a necessary part of a preparation.

A Popular Sportsman It came as a great shock to his many friends when It was learned that Mr W. Quirk had collapsed and died suddenly on the course at Rlccarton early In the afternoon He was apparently In the best of health and In his usual bright and buoyant spirits right up to the moment of his collapse. Mr Quirk was a particularly popular personage in the sporting world. He was for many years a resident of Dunedin and was licensee of tire Excelsior Hotel and the City Hotel. At different times he raced both trotters and gallopers, and for several years acted as a steward of the Forbury Park Trotting Club and always held progressive ideas in connection with • programmes. Sincere sympathy will be extended to Mrs Quirk and her two sons, who both did lengthy service with the overseas forces.