STARTER’S GOOD WORK

Southland Times, Issue 23512, 19 May 1938, Page 10

STARTER’S GOOD WORK

WILLIE WIN NEAR HIS BEST COCKSURE UNLUCKY AT ASHBURTON Nominations for the Dunedin Jockey Club’s winter meeting close tomorrow evening. Only Defendant Neither owner or trainer was called in the Catalogue inquiry at Wanganui, the only defendant being the rider, C. G. Goulsbro. Knockfin’s Colours Night Hawk, winner of the Trial Stakes at Ashburton, was sold before the race by Mrs J. Campbell to Mr D. McFarlane, a patron of the stable, and won in the Knockfin colours. In Work Again W?e Pat, winner of the Great Northern Hurdle Race in 1934, has been taken up again by A. Kemp. She looks in excellent trim to begin another preparation. During her retirement she produced a foal to Autopay. At Washdyke < W. T. Kitto will ride Sunwood at Washdyke today and Santoft on Saturday. The two-mile journey of the Craigmore Steeplechase should suit Sunwood but Santoft is unlikely to be at his best. Returning to Form Willie Win is credited with having finished very fast from the rear of the field for third place behind Wine Card and Rebel Lad in the Ashburton Cup. There is an impression that he will not be long in showing his best form and he may show up at Timaru today. Floodtide and Wotan In the last Melbourne Cup, Wotan was weighted nearly a stone above Floodtide. Wotan has won a race since returning to New Zealand but he is now weighted 111 b below Floodtide in the Cornwall Handicap at Ellerslie. No Risks The handicapper is evidently not prepared to take risks with Jolly Beggar, New Zealand’s champion hurdler, who will be making his first appearance over the big country in the Great Northern Steeplechase. Jolly Beggar has been weighted to carry 11.8, the same as Clarion Call and Tudor. Promising Filly Every Port, a two-year-old halfsister to Waterline and Fast Passage, finished rather impressively in the Trial Stakes at Ashburton. She missed the jump-out, and half a mile from home was last of the big field, but she was fifth when the winning post was reached. Submit Mr G. R. Macdonald has disposed of his two-year-old filly Submit, by Beau

Pere from Timid, purchased by him as a yearling at Trentham, to Sir Charles Clifford, and she will join the Stonyhurst Stud. Submit met with a mishap when being broken in as a yearling, and it was decided that she would never stand up to training. Timid is an imported mare by Kildare ll—Ardesia, by Spearmint—Flowerer, by Persimmon. Should Do Better Cocksure was undoubtedly unlucky at Ashburton on Saturday. The field bunched as soon as the barrier went up, and Cocksure was in the middle of the trouble, and, in addition, had his head caught in the tapes when they were released, states a Dunedin writer. He finished very solidly to beat the useful Nightcalm, and got to within half a length of Lady Leigh, who had to be kicked up in the last few strides to ward him off. Cocksure has 9.0 in the Claremont Hack Handicap at Washdyke today in a field of 23, and, as neither Lady Leigh' nor Nightcalm is engaged in the race, he will be well fancied. Starter’s Good Work Mr T. Marshall’s work as starter at the Southland Racing Club’s meeting on Saturday was doubtless the best seen in Southland during the past season. At most meetings during the past few months the standard of work was much below requirements, and owners, trainers and others had good reason to complain. The starting at some of the meetings spoiled several races, and was bad enough at times for the stipendiary steward to intervene. This was not done, however. The greatest difficulty appeared to be that riders had little confidence in the official in charge. Although the rules of racing insist that all despatches be standing ones this rule was broken at almost every galloping meeting. Walk-in and snap starts were continually attempted but with little success. At Invercargill on Saturday Mr Marshall insisted on standing starts. He made it definite that the fields would not be let go any other way. The result was that riders had no need to anticipate the signal, and flat-footed despatches, in keeping with the rules of the sport, were successfully accomplished. In yesterday’s issue, a correspondent, “Axiom” put forward the suggestion that “one man carry out the duties of starter at all meetings.” The suggestion is one worthy of consideration and if brought into effect would result in a better standard of work throughout. It is a suggestion which may be discussed at the annual conference of Southland Clubs.