VALLEY GOLD

Otago Daily Times, Issue 27166, 23 August 1949, Page 8

VALLEY GOLD

RELATED TO BRILLIANT GALLOPER Valley Gold, who paid an unsually large dividend in the Redcliffs Handicap at Riccarton on Saturday, was never dangerous in his races on the first and second days of the Grand National meeting, and it was not surprising to find him neglected on the totalisator. Last season he had 10 starts and finished in a place in six of them. A four-year-old by Balloch, he is from Cairness, a Tiderace mare from My Own, by Lord Quex from Tressida, by Tressady from Princess Melton, by Duke of Melton. Valley Gold is trained by M. J. Wadley and is a half-brother to tlie brilliant colt Gold Scrip. Jottings Acceptances for the Otago Hunt Club’s meeting on September 3 are due on Friday. W. J. Broughton’s only success at the Grand National meeting was on Lady Myrtle in the Selwyn Handicap on Saturday. Duvaals has recorded two wins and nine placings in the last 14 starts and another outright win would not be out of place for the Vaals gelding. Dark Arrow nas been racing very consistently in recent weeks and he went a good race for fourth in the Heathcote Handicap at Riccarton on Saturday. Likes the Distance Gold Song is a smart hurdler over journeys of a mile and a-half and he should be prominent in the Seaview Hurdles at the Otago Hunt Club’s meeting next week. Trainer’s Loss

During the week-end the Dunedin trainer, J. S. McKay, lost two of his team through accidents. One was Royal Don, a 10-year-old gelding by Roydon from Dianthus, the dam also of Pink Clover, and the other a three-year-old gelding by Man's Pal from Gipsy Fair, the dam of Miro Chabo.

Should Improve Reformed was made a warm favourite on the win machine for the Aylesbury Handicap at Riccarton on Saturday, but he could do no better than fifth at the post. He may come into his own in the next few weeks when the class is not quite so rich as it was at Riccarton. A Good Bracket

If Flying Trixie and Social News are both started in the Maiden Stakes at the Otago Hunt Club’s meeting the bracket will be very popular with the public. Trainer’s Licence

The well-known jumping rider, R. J. Hawes, has been granted a provisional trainer’s licence which will enable him to take over the team of the Riccarton trainer. C. G. Humphries, when the latter leaves for Melbourne to supervise the training of Royal Tan and Corofin for their spring engagements.

Three Seconds L. J. Ellis rode three consecutive seconds at Riccarton on Saturday. He was on Indiana, who went under to the littlefancied Te Kooti, Personality, runner-up to Terminus, and Distinction, who finished second to Finigin in the Heathcote Handicap. Ellis’s only win at the meeting was on Personality on the second day. Dates Altered

The Geraldine Racing Club has notified the New Zealand Racing Conference that it will not hold its spring meeting scheduled for September 24 as it clashes with the opening day of the Dunedin jockey Club's spring meeting. The Geraldine club will select a date later in the season. The South Canterbury Jockey Club has been granted permission to change the date of its winter meeting next year from May 27 to July 1.