JANET GAYNOR UNLUCKY

Southland Times, Issue 23438, 19 February 1938, Page 11

JANET GAYNOR UNLUCKY

Change Of Luck For F. W. Ellis COXCOMB MAY BE SCHOOLED Sailing Lady is likely to improve as a result of her race yesterday. Triple Cone was taken to Winton yesterday but did not start although there is nothing amiss with him. Steeplechase Fall When Scotsden came to grief in the Winton Steeplechase it looked as though his rider, W. Cooper was seriously injured. Apart from minor hand injuries Cooper escaped luckily, but he admitted that but for his skull cap his head would have been seriously injured. The cap was badly damaged. Not Out of Turn F. W. Ellis started four horses in the Novice Stakes yesterday for Mona s Song to win and Foxlove to finish fourth. Mona’s Song broke a long run of placings and her success was not out of turn. Foxlove put up a surprisingly good performance to finish so close up as he was one of the last away in a big field.

Not Disgraced Having his first race in open company yesterday Paladino was not disgraced in being beaten by Amelita. He covered more ground than anything else in the field and looked a winner at the distance, but Amelita’s challenge was too much for him. Paladino has had a lot of hard racing during the past two months and he has stood up to it well. Too Firm

The hard going did not suit Ashaway in the Winton Cup and if his owner, Mr F. Moore had not been a steward of the club it is doubtful if he would have been started. Ashaway woh this race last year, when the going was holding. Astral Flash

Making her first appearance with the colours up Astral Flash was the win favourite for the Novice Stakes. She was first to jump out and first into the straight, but she did not hang on in the run home. It was a very promising showing for the Colonel Cygnus filly. Three on End

There was no more popular success at Winton yesterday than when Amelita won the Winton Cup, making her third success on end. The Australianbred mare has met with little luck in her racing, and more than once bad luck in the running has prevented her from winning a good handicap. She was produced'in excellent order by F. W. Ellis, who scored earlier in the day with Mona’s Song and who won the Dunedin Jockey Club Handicap with Galleon. It was intended that this would be the last season of racing for Amelita as in the spring she was mated with Nigger Minstrel, but.she has not proved .in foal. Badly Left

Janet Gaynor looked a good thing beaten in the Flying Handicap as she was left at the start and after catching the field was knocked back again. At the top ot the straight she was still a possibility but could not carry on. She was a firm favourite and although the winner galloped the six furlongs in Imin 13sec Janet Gaynor would have made a great race of it. Could Have Been First Out

Viking was moving in at - the start of the Flying Handicap, but J. W. Jennings pulled him up immediately evidently thinking that it was not a start. However, the signal was given and instead of having a break on the field as he could have, Viking was slower out than usual. A Sporting Family

There is no better known sporting family in Southland than the Langford family of South Hillend, and wherever steeplechasers are to be found the Langfords are always on top. Yesterday at Winton, F. Langford produced the winner of the Winton Steeplechase, in Trisox, who was ridden by V. Langford. F. Langford, a successful horseman of a few seasons ago, has met with a good measure of success in the training of steeplechasers, flat races and pacers. It was Trisox’s first appearance since he was injured at the National meeting in August, and he outstayed Hunting Go in a keen finish

May Be Schooled Coxcomb has been a disappointment in his races this season and it is likely that he will be schooled later on. When in the mood to gallop he has plenty of ability, but has not raced as generously as he might have. Was Unlucky

When Aspire won at the Invercargill meeting in the spring she returned a dividend of more than a century, and while she was not paying this price at Winton yesterday she was definitely unlucky in the Barkly Handicap. She was eighth favourite on the machine, and, after being last away, she finished better than anything else to be second to Peony Rose. Had she been at all handy at the top of the straight she would have caused the winner some concern.

Impossible Task Roseman, one of the favourites for the Barkly Handicap yesterday was set an impossible task when he missed the jump out. He was carrying 8.13 and the winner, Peony Rose, was in front from the word go.' She galloped the six furlongs in Imin 14sec.

A Bit Tender When Irish Birdcatcher was produced at Winton he was feeling the firm track and was inclined to move tenderly on it.

His First Winner W. F. Ellis received a good hearing at Winton yesterday when he rode his first winner, Mona’s Song in the Novice Stakes. Young Ellis comes from a noted family of horsemen, being a son of the Invercargill trainer F. W. 'Ellis, and a nephew of L. J. and A. E. Ellis. He rode a particularly good race yesterday as he ran Mona’s Song up into a handy position with three furlongs to go and took charge at the distance. He did not let up on her and won well by a length. Later in the day he won the Winton Cup on Amelita, and riding a well-judged race in front all the way, he gave the mare a breather at the top of the straight, and then had enough in reserve to out-sprint Paladino.

A Brilliant Gallop At Woodville on Saturday morning Courtcraft was responsible for a brilliant effort over six furlongs on the course proper. Jumping into his stride quickly, he was timed to run the first three in 37 l-ssec, and the full distance in Imin 15 l-ssec. He worked with great freedom, and it was a fine performance. He looks like being at his best whenever he is asked to race.