THE WHIPPETS

Southland Times, Issue 22728, 2 November 1935, Page 15

THE WHIPPETS

(By

“Oteramika.”)

The Invercargill Club holds the whippet stage to-day with its meeting at Oteramika Road commencing at 2.30 p.m. This will just about complete the afternoon meetings for the summer as, starting with Winton, night meetings will be the vogue. With a working bee busy on the grounds on Saturday and Monday the opportunity was taken to give some of the dogs plenty of exercise and many interesting trials were witnessed. Those members forming the working bee did a lot of useful work, but it is not quite fair that all the work should fall on a few shoulders. All are looking forward to the meeting to-day and favoured with fine weather it is expected that a large crowd will view the various events.

An eyeopener was the way Hot Tip kept Flying Shadow doing it all the way in a nice spin over‘l7o yards. Hot Tip was in receipt of a small start, but it was a good effort and if started in the open race to-day he will not be far away. Another six weeks and he will have to be considered as a strong contender for Southland Cup honours. Mah Boy conceded a good start to Kitty Mahru and Rogers who finished ahead of him with a good bit to spare. Kitty Mahru is very big in condition and the Roy G pup is a bit inclined to stop once he hits the front. Yarraville was reported to be having her first run for about a month and it must’ have worked wonders with her as she cantered home five yards ahead of Gay Girl and Rosetta who made a good race of it for second place. They finished together. Tipperary Lass has again been mated with Fleet Pepper. If Messrs Maitland and Johnstone get pups such as Hot Tip, Gold Gleam, Gay Song and Ben Pepper they will be in great demand. Loretta, Boy G and Rogers finished in that order in a 200 yards run and later the same three dogs finished Loretta, Rogers and Boy G. Neither' of the two last named were much use to Loretta who is running exceptionally well just now. She will make Flying Shadow and Mah Boy step lively to-day. Ben Pepper outclassed Readinwell in a run over 150 yards. His mentor claims that Ben Pepper is faster than Hot»Tip. Sunshine, the Boy G—Loretta pup, is very speedy and has a nice action. Golden Chance is the name claimed for Mr Bramwell’s pup who is a well grown litter brother to Sunshine. He looks in excellent condition, but may require a little more track experience to show his true form.

Hot Tip, Gold Gleam, Princess Mahru and Donaldson went a fast trial over the full distance and finished in the order mentioned. Princess Mahru is going well and is showing encouraging form over the hurdles. Mr S. Wills exercised each of his three Happy Days—Miss Mah pups separately and all ran straight and stretched out in the approved manner. The writer’s pick is the smaller fawn bitch pup which resembles Happy Days closely. No names have as yet been selected for this litter.

Loretta (10yds), Rosetta (14), Overproof (20), and Gay Girl (14) were sent over 200 yards on Monday and they finished in that order. As previously mentioned Loretta is exceptionally well just now and Rosetta is not much slower than she is. If she runs in the second class race to-day she will be very hard to dispose of.

As the form of Gay Girl looked too poor to be true another trial was arranged, and Loretta (10) and Rosetta (14) cleared out from Overproof (20), Gay Girl (14) and Miss Mah (20). Gay Girl was apparently feeling the effects of a strenuous training, programme, but Miss Mah’s effort can be passed over as she was hopelessly left at the start.

Flame and Winning Wave, although absent from the track, are reported to be getting through useful tasks and are expected to take their place in various events to-day. Bonnette, who is considerably overweight owing to enforced idleness occasioned by an injury, will not be on hand to contest open class races to-day. SOUTHLAND CLUB NOTES. (By “Speed.”) The Southland Club’s Labour Day meeting was a great success. A record crowd was in attendance. The members of the club are to be congratulated on the state of the course, which was appreciated by visiting owners and the general public alike. The main event, the Glovers Cup, was keenly contested, the winner, Johnny Walker, looking a picture. He just got there a head in front of Madam Min. Mrs Tatham’s Madam Min ran a great race in the cup, and but for meeting Johnny Walker dressed in his best would have added another trophy to her already large collection. Young Ronnie was disappointing _ in the cup, but made amends by winning the Farewell Handicap. Havaspot won the hurdles fairly easily. Rosamine had every chance, but failed to finish on, and Young Ronnie wap feeling the effects of his rim in the cup race. Comedy Star and Comedy Queen did not run up to their true form and Peppermint beat them easily. Blackman maintained her reputation by winning two races. He is a halfbrother to Johnnie Walker, being by Havaspot—Rita Mahru. Peppermint is an upstanding dog, and with careful handling he should make good, the only danger being that he might over-grow. Potentate did not run up to his best form, but the racing in open company should benefit him. . Fullerton was a bit above himself, but showed a glimpse of his true form by dead-heating with Johnnie Walker in the second heat of the cup. The ladies’ race was the feature of the day. There was twelve starters and the finish was close, although several runners were rather short of work and wind. , The championship race at Ohai on November 23 will be a big attraction and owners of dogs racing will be paying great attention to their charges. It is expected that the winner will break 12 secvids. Six of the best handicap dogs will compete in the race. Autogiro is at present favourite, but he is no certainty.