WITHDRAWAL OF COTTINGHAM

Southland Times, Issue 23389, 22 December 1937, Page 10

WITHDRAWAL OF COTTINGHAM

BAY DUKE’S GOOD CREDENTIALS

GREAT SHOT UNDER A CLOUD Acceptances for the Wyndham meeting close at 5 p.m. this evening. Nominations for the Vincent meeting close at 5 o’clock this evening. Nominations for the Wairio meeting close on December 30. Silver Choir, who has been under suspicion for shin soreness, has not been asked to do any serious tasks of late. He was eager to do better in his work yesterday morning. A report from Dunedin on Monday stated that there had been several heavy showers at Wingatui, and that the tracks had greatly benefited. Muchwanted rain fell in Inveiyargill last evening. An Auckland report states that Ortyx is to go to Australia, but this is probably an incorrect interpretation of a telegraphic message. Janet Gaynor is reported under offer for 1500 guineas. Great Shot has had to be eased in his work and very little has been asked of him during the last few days.His owner does not hold very high hopes of him standing up to work, although he will be pottered about for a while. The firm tracks have found any weak spots in any horses under suspicion for unsoundness. Trebleack was withdrawn from his first day’s engagements at Wingatui and he will not be taken to the meeting at all, his stable mate Milford evidently being left to do battle. There is nothing amiss with the Woodend gelding and he will be presented with good opportunities at the Wyndham and Invercargill meetings.

Coxcomb was restricted to light work yesterday morning as he was in trouble during the week when he injured his near hind leg. The injury was not serious, but was sufficient to keep him on the idle list for a day or two. His trainer expects him to recover in time to compete at Wyndham and the Southland meetings. Coxcomb was unlucky striking this trouble as he had shown a- decided improvement in his work earlier in the week. A Press Association message from Dunedin yesterday stated that Cottingham had been withdrawn at 10 a.m. for all engagements at the Dunedin Jockey Club’s meeting. Cottingham was a firm pre-post favourite for the Otago Handicap and his withdrawal comes as a great surprise. Evidently all is not well with the Grand National Hurdles winner as he appeared well treated in the weights and there was good reason to respect him claims. It is also probable that he will be withdrawn from his engagements at the Wyndham and Invercargill meetings. Queen of Song, Trebleack, Alma, Ardchoille and now Cottingham have been withdrawn from the Otago Handicap, while Pelmet was the only deletion from the Federal Handicap. Although he will be an absentee from Wingatui there is nothing' wrong with Ardchoille and he has done particularly well in his tasks, which have not been undtily trying. He appears to thrive on a preparation of this nature. The reason he was permitted to forgo his Wingatui engagements was that he is not a good traveller and he was engaged 'at local meetings. Another point was that he comes in on a much better scale of handicaps at Wyndham than he did at Wingatui, meeting the majority of the Otago Handicap field on five and six pounds better terms. His stable mate Aspire has gone on the right way, although because of seasonal troubles, she was. restricted to light work yesterday. The death is reported from Tapanui of Mr A. Munyard. He was for a number of years secretary to the Tapanui Racing Club, and it was mostly because of his efforts that the club survived the depression. Mr Munyard, who was 90 years of age, was for a number of years the oldest active secretary in the Dominion. It had been stated that Ben Braggle would not race at the Auckland meeting, but he put in an unexpected appearance at Ellerslie, and on top of this worked particularly well yesterday. At his best Ben Braggie is capable of holding his own with the best sprinters in the land. ; ■.

Several novices who have shown up in track work lately are engaged to meet at Wyndham on New Year’s Day over five furlongs. This novice race promises to attract more interest than the majority of contests of the kind.

There will be good reason to respect Bay Duke’s claims during the holidays as, without a doubt, he is the best sprinter raced in Southland in recent seasons. At Riverton his work has pleased his owner-trainer, who has a trip to Trentham next month for the Diacquenod gelding in view. Bay Duke started in 14 races last season, when he won three times, was twice second and three times third. He won early in the season at Geraldine from Grey Honour and Capital and after acting as runner-up to Enwood at Gore he won the chief sprint event at Riverton at Easter with 8.8 from Double Gift and Rodeur. With 9.2 he was later beaten by Araboa (7.7) at Riverton, and at Oamaru was third with 8.11 to Rebel Chief (9.7) and Invoice (7.7). He finished third with 9.0 to Alma (7.9) and Double Shot (7.8) at the Southland meeting, while at the Dunedin winter meeting he dead-heated with 9.6 with Double Shot (8.6). Full Throttle (8.0) was third. Carrying 9.13 the second day at Wingatui Bay Duke was third to Alma (8.7) and Araboa (8.12). On both days at Wingatui the conditions

were heavy, while the 8.0 minimum was in-force. Bay i Duke should not be troubled by his 8.13 at Wyndham and appears a decided prospect against Janet Gaynor, Top Row and Viking. L. G. Morris was walking lame at Woodville, the result of a most peculiar accident. He was sitting in the blacksmith’s shop, which is now attached to his training establishment, watching the smithy hammer out the red-hot iron bars to make shoes. As he saw the man cutting off the ends in the usual way by hitting them with a hammer, he asked if the ends were likely to fly, as he said he did not feel too safe where he was sitting. He was assured that there was no danger, as the ends invariably fell straigh'; down by the anvil. Strangely, however, the very next end did fly, hit Morris on the leg, and slid down inside his boot. Morris made haste to try to remove it with his fingers, but they were severely burned. The smith came to the rescue and recovered the piece of iron, not, however, before it had severely seared Morris’s ankle.

Stretto’s brilliant form at the Waipa meeting, where she won in Imin 13 2-ssec, will bring her into favour for the Railway Handicap, states an exchange. Stretto was a brilliant two-year-old and won three times and gained a place out of four starts at that age. She is a half-sister to Mazir and was got by Hunting Song-The Begum, by Chief Ruler-Lucella, by Lu-cullus-Seatonella, by Seaton DelavalAmorelle, by Phoebus Apollo-Lady Gertrude. As a two-year-old Stretto won the Avondale Stakes and the Auckland Welcome Stakes, beating Gallio by two bare lengths in Imin Isec. Gallio beat her in the Great Northern Foal Stakes. Stretto finished her first season by winning the Royal Stakes, beating Wild Cha.se by two lengths in Imin 13sec.