RACING NEWS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26770, 13 May 1948, Page 5

RACING NEWS

By the Sporting Editor May 15, 22 .. Waikato R.C. May 15 .. .. Otaki Maori R.C. May 15. 22 .. South Canterbury J.C. May 22 .. . .Foxtonß.C. May 29 .. ..Levin R.C. .Jottings When Royal Scholar won the Adamson Steeplechase at the Egmont meeting it was his first win in 35 starts. C. McDonald, who recently completed his apprenticeship with F. D. Jones, has accepted a retainer and will ride for the stable when the weights suit. Master Meruit is apparently keeping sound, and will contest the Te Rapa Steeplechase on Saturday He has been schooling well at Te Rapa. Clyde Bridge is not racing up to his best form, and in the Tinwald Handicap at Ashburton he finished last. The term of disqualification imposed on W. McEwen will expire on May 24 and Sage King will be eligible to compete after that date. Dumbo was scratched at 11.30 a.m. yesterday for all engagements at the Great Northern meeting. In Good Condition No horse at Wingatui looks fitter than Duvaals and if he is beaten at Washdyke it will not be because of a lack of condition. Working Brilliantly Theocritus has been galloping brilliantly at Riccarton and he will probably be one of the favourites for the Seadown Handicap at Washdyke. Nizami Colt Double Chance, who was narrowly beaten by Magnaform in the Queen’s Plate at Ellerslie, has been put into training again at Takanini by F. Smith. A threc-year-old colt by Nizami, he was got from Gold Hair, who numbered among her wins the V.R.C. and Great Northern Oaks and the Thompson Handicap. Lengthy Spell Night Fighter, who has been off the scene for several months, is due to make his reappearance at Washdyke in the Scadown Handicap. He lias a good turn of speed, but at times has doubly handicapped himself by making a slow beginning. In all probability he will do most of his winter racing over hurdles, a branch of the game for which he has shown aptitude. Bright Future Pimlico, the winner of the hack hurdle event at WOodville, is considered to have a bright future as a jumper. He outclassed the field. Pimlico is a four-year-old gelding by Lang Bian from Penny Farthing. Showed Promise

Ohio, a candidate for the Claremont Handicap at Timaru, showed promise at the Dunedin meeting in December when she finished strongly from well back to get second to Lorenzo in the Novice Stakes, and-she followed this up by finishing second to Alsvider in a division of the New Year Handicap at Invercargill about a week later. Since then she has had one unplaced start. She is a three-year-old by Salmagundi from Dusk. First Start in South

Lecturer, who is engaged in the Claremont Handicap at Washdyke, is one of A. E. Didham’s team, and it will be his first start in the South Island. Previously he was trained at Trentham by W. J.

Bromby and last season, as a two-year-old, he was unplaced in four starts. He is bred to win races, being by Foxbridge from Homily. Debut as Hurdler Young Bob, who is due to make his debut over hurdles at Washdyke, is suited by soft going, but he lacks experience as a jumper. He should, however, do well in his new role later on as two of his relatives in Valarth and Strip were proficient jumpers. Veteran Trainer One of the most regular attenders at the Wingatui course is Fred Shaw, who must be the veteran of trainers at local headquarters. During a lengthy association with the turf, Shaw has” had his share of successes, the most outstanding being the winning of the New Zealand Cup in 1933 with tile Paladin mare Palantua, owned by Mrs W. Mackenzie, who has always been a good patron of the stable. Palantua won in 3min 22 l-ssec. which at that time was a record for the distance. This season Shaw has turned out winners in Fine Night, who was got from Palantua. and Pestee.