On The Turf And Off

Southland Times, Issue 23142, 8 March 1937, Page 11

On The Turf And Off

INVERCARGILL TROTS SONNY DRIVE’S WIN

(By

Sir Modred)

Had it not been for the wet weather on Saturday the Invercargill Trotting Club’s annual two-day fixture would have been one of the most successful in the history of the club. A visitor to the Invercargill Trotting Club’s meeting on Saturday was Mr H. F. Nicoll, president of the New Zealand Trotting Conference. Very many years ago,' when the trotting sport was in its infancy in New Zealand, Mr Nicoll was a regular patron of the pastime in Southland as an owner for whom the late “Andy” Pringle rode good races. It is not often that the Wyndham trainer, E. Todd, drives to a doublefigure win success, but he accomplished this feat in the Trial Handicap on Saturday when his well-bred charge, the aged mare Sunny Drive (Sungod—Great Drive) outstayed all rivals to come home on the fence to beat Direct Bell by half a length. The latter paced well and was also staying on in the stretch to head off the promising Seascape, a five-year-old mare by Adioo Guy (imp.) from Seaward Spot (a mare who performed well many years ago for one of Southland’s veteran horsemen, “Tom” Tilson). A feature of the contest was the gallant effort made by the three-year-old filly Debenture, by Worthy Bond (imp.) from a mare by Waverley (son of Galindo imp., from Thelma). This filly paced like a useful performer in the making, but the going was all against her and it is to be hoped she overcomes her severe test of last week. Ghandi paced a very fair race, while Prince Charles appeared to mix at the start. A Popular Win One of the most popular wins in local trotting circles for many years was recorded on Saturday when the event confined to square trotters was won in a stirring finish by N. Gatley on the six-year-old gelding Blue Logan, by the well-bred Logan Sun from Turi Chimes. When Blue Logan tangled at the distance, Betty Drusus (P. Gallagher) looked all over a winner, but Gailey’s pupil found his feet quickly and got up to score really going away. For over two years Gatley has persevered in the education of Blue Logan to develop him into a useful trotter for Mr E. Roberts. A series of seconds indicated that patience might shortly be rewarded and so it proved. The veteran horseman, who rode across country in his youthful days, was given a rousing reception as he guided.-his charge back to the official enclosure. The runnner-up, Betty Drusus, by Drusus (imp.) from a mare by Lorenes Todd—Wild Cherry, performed as if she will shortly prevail on a more suitable track for the stable of P. Gallagher. Blue Logan is the first of the trotting progeny of Logan Sun to win a race, although a pacer by the Forest Hill stallion scored recently in the Otago Central district A test of endurance was staged when a smart field contested the Jellicoe Handicap. class 3.35 (lim) in heavy <

going at the Invercargill Trotting Club’s meeting on Saturday. Always looming up from the home bend in pursuit of the leader, Suncup, the Gore-trained Loyal Sun outstayed his rivals to win stoutly from Erin’s Star. Guided by his trainer, W. Thomas, the winner races for Mr W. H. Mortimer, a steady follower of the sport and this five-year-old gelding by Grattan Loyal (imp.) from Sunbird raced as if two miles will not be beyond his compass in good class at some future start. He displayed attractive form when he accounted for the Progressive Trot (IJm) at the recent Gore fixture. Erin’s Star paced a fine race into second place to relegate Erin’s Chief into third place. Harold Guy’s Success

Modest to a degree, the Western District trainer-driver J. M. Maconnell emerged into the limelight on Saturday to good purpose when his improving pupil Harold Guy by Adioo Guy (imp.) from a Harold Rothschild mare, won the Southland Handicap, the principal race on the Invercargill Trotting Club’s second day programme. The contest was a strenuous one throughout and the state of the track made the conditions more severe, but Harold Guy came through from the distance to win well clear. He is a solid performer and indications point to his attaining high class company later on. The news that Walter Gay had won the Coldstream Handicap (saddle), class 3.39 (ljm) at the Invercargill Trotting Club’s fixture on Saturday, paying a big dividend, would _ prove cheering to an inmate of the Riverton hospital, K. Booth (son of the owner), who was to have acted as the gelding’s pilot had he not met with a serious motor-cycle accident. In the absence of his regular handler Walter Gay (Sungod—Coy Bells) was ably ridden by J. Langford, who had previously returned substantial prices on horses representing Mr H. Booth of East Invercargill. The winner was trained by his owner. Vinola paced a very solid race and was only beaten in the last three or four strides, the verdict being a short head. Carver Doone was third about 25 yards away, but accomplished a, rare feat in the going to get up into the money from 36yds.

The Tapanui trainer J. R. Waite produced two contestants for the unhoppled trotters’ Waikiwi Handicap at the Invercargill Trotting Club’s races on Saturday and racing to the home bend they looked like finishing Lee Boy first and Golden Bingen second, but the latter left his feet twice and lost his chance. However, Lee Boy came on to win from Betty Drusus and Beatrice Bingen. Penalized 24yds, Blue Logan was a bad fourth. Lee Boy, by Lee Norris (imp.) is owned by his trainer, but his disappointing stablemate, Golden Bingen, races in other colours. Waite is a veteran with light harness horses and his success was popular with J. Walsh in the cart.

RUGBY FOOTBALL CLUB MATCHES IN BRITAIN (Received March 7, 7.30 pm.) LONDON, March 6. Rugby matches resulted:— Royal Navy 3 v. The Army 14; Bath 5 v. Bristol 6; Blackheath 4 v. Oxford University 21; Coventry 26 v. Old Merchant Taylors 0; Old Alleynians 19 v. London Irish 0; Richmond 3 v. London Scottish 11; Guy’s Hospital 0 v. Aberavon 18; 'London Welsh 8 v. Cross Keys 3; Rosslyn Park 30 v. St. Bart’s Hospital 8; Bedford 3 v. Royal Air Force 17; Cardiff 11 v. Newport 0; Neath 15 v. Pontypridd 5; Swansea 8 v. Pontypool 5; Edinburgh University 3 v. Edinburgh Academicals 11; Heriotonians 24 v. Edinburgh Wanderers 3; Watsonians 22 v. Royal High School 0.