RACING NEWS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26229, 13 August 1946, Page 7

RACING NEWS

By Sentinel. August 17 .. .. G. National meeting. August 17 .. .. Pakuranga H.C. August 17 .. .. Dannevirke R.C. Jottings The going was too hard to suit Sphere in the Grand National Hurdles. Platform was showing long-priced dividends in his races at Riccarton. Findon is the best grey horse raced at Riccarton since Canteen won the New Zealand Cup. Page’s Raid may train on to win in better company than he defeated at Riccarton. Montello d’Oro bolted once round when she broke away at the start of the Woolston Handicap. Piccolo carried good support for the Islington Handicap but settled his chance by misbehaviour at the start. Frances put up a good performance to win the Woolston' Handicap with 8.13 in lmin 27 2-ssec. Tamerlane showed Improved form by being in the picture all the way in the Spreydon Hurdles. He suffered defeat by a short head. Brantome ran like an over-weighted horse in the Grand National Hurdles. The same remark applies to The Monarch. Stromboli can go fast over fences, but fades at the winning end of a journey. Although Desert’ Fox failed in the Aylesbury Handicap he is .one ot the most promising young horses seen out at Riccarton.

One of Lancewing’s legs filled on Friday and hence his absence from tije Islington Handicap field. The trouble may not be serious.

Hart Royal, who won a division at the Haldon Stakes at the Christchuruh Hunt meeting did not get a chance to repeat success in the Woolston Handicap. He drew the rails position and was chopped back at the start.

Beneve won the Spreydon Hurdles In one of the best finishes ever seen in a long distance race at Riccarton. The first

four flashed past the post with very little between them and C. A. Bowry rode a fine race on the winner. - F. C. Cleaver, who won the Grand National Steeplechase on Dumbo, reduced the risk of running off by taking his mount to the middle of each jump. The number of-horses that ran off at the Riccarton fences is worthy of consideration by the stewards. Too much use was made of Leigh Barton in the Islington Handicap and the commenced to tire in the last half furlong. He may crack up at any moment, but will be a good winner if he stands training. Page’s Raid has trained on under H. A. Anderton and the success of the Night Raid gelding makes some compensation for his bad luck., with Arabian Night, who on form would have been up with or in front of Boolamskee In the Grand National Hurdles. The firm going for the second day of the Grand National meeting was held to be . against Findon’s chance in the Islington Handicap, but when it came to business the big grey won in impressive style. Soneri

Within the space of 11 • months Soneri has won £3297 for her breeder, Mr C. Cunningham. The high-water mark in her form came at Riccarton when she outclassed the big field opposing her in.the Winter Cup. Soneri is a shapely four-year-old brown mare by Bulandshar from Lady Lyric, by Defoe from Lyrical, by Llmond from Anthem (imp.), by Royal Canopy Anthem was bred in England and imported by Mr V. Riddlford. She was raced in New Zealand, but unsuccessfully, and was retired early to the ■ stud. Anthem did little to enhance her reputation at the stud, while the only foal Lyrical, produced was Lady Lyric, which is reviving interest in the family through the deeds of Soneri.

A Probable Visitor i Winterset would be an attraction at any race meeting in New Zealand, and it is to be hoped that plans to race him in the Dominion are carried out. Winterset is banned from racing in Melbourne because of bad behaviour at the barrier The owner of Winterset, Mr “ H. J. Ascot," was reported to be negotiating with Mr T. W. Durant, California, with a view to sending Winterset to America, but owing to quarantine regulations it was doubtful if he would be allowed to return to Australia, and the idea has apparently been dropped. Winterset has bOen outstanding as a steeplechaser in Australia in recent years, and in race after race has had to carry big weights, but he, has proved equal to it. A race like the Grand National Steeplechase, with a fixed maximum, would suit the 12-year-old Son o’ Mine gelding, which has now won £11,033. Before graduating to steeplechasing, Winterset showed useful form on the fiat and as a hurdler. Dead Heats

The method of computing place dividends when more than three horses finish in dividend-bearing places has come in for a good deal of criticism since Dash o’ Dink and Whitley dead-heated for third place in the Brabazon Handicap at the Christchurch Hunt Club’s .meeting at Riccarton. Some investors contended that those who backed the winner, Soneri, and runner-up, Leigh Barton, should not have had their dividends cut down because there was a dead-heat for third The Rules of Racing provide that the amount of the place pool available for dividend computing purposes shall be divided into as many equal parts -as there are horses placed in the dividend-bearing places and allotted accordingly, notwithstanding that by reason of any dead-heat the number of such horses may exceed the number of such place. If four horses deadheated for third the place pool would be divided into six equal parts. In the case of the Brabazon the pool was divided into four equal parts instead of the normal three had there not been a dead heat.