SOVEREIGN LADY AT DUNEDIN

Southland Times, Issue 23693, 16 December 1938, Page 10

SOVEREIGN LADY AT DUNEDIN

> Promise Of Irish Fling STRONG FIELDS FOR HURDLE EVENTS Acceptances for the Dunedin meeting close at 5 p.m. on Monday. Acceptances for the Wyndham meeting close on Friday of next week. Named The half-brother by Iliad to Phar Lap has been named Ham Way. Only Fixture The Waipa meeting at Te Rapa is the only fixture to be decided on Saturday. Anopheles An Auckland report states that all is not well with Anopheles, and the nl.y has been absent from the track during the past week. L. J. Ellis was engaged to ride her at the Auckland Cup meeting. Scratching of Sovereign Lady The question of the scratching of Sovereign Lady for the Dunedin Jockey Club’s summer meeting was considered by the committee at a special meeting yesterday afternoon when it was resolved that Mr G. Murray-Aynsley’s application to cancel the scratching of Sovereign Lady be agreed to and that all owners having horses in the race be advised of Sovereign Lady s correct weight and of this decision.—Times Special Service. Submission

Submission, who scored at Woodville, won her last two of four starts. She is a full-sister to Episode, Honour, and Courtcraft, being the full brown colour of so many of the Eulogy descendants, and, though not over big, she has all the quality'of this brilliant family. Southland Nominations

In the nominations for the Southland Racing Club’s New Year meeting the following corrections are advised:— Myross Trot.—Loyal Subject not Loyal Sun - New Year Handicap.—Cone PeaK not Crown Peak; Rosedale Handicap.— Cone Peak not Crown Peak. Rumours!

There have been rumours in the racing world lately that all has not been as it should be in regard to hurdle form, states a Wellington writer. An official search of the gear of the hurdle jockeys was made at the post just before the start at Woodville on Monday. It is understood that there were no developments. Promising Filly

Irish Fling, who attracted attention by finishing third in her first start at the Southland meeting last month, is to race the second day at Wingatui. Ranking as a half-sister by Woodend to Wild Career, her dam Full Fling, being by Some Boy II from Joan, by ‘Charle-. magne II from Susannah/ by St. George and tracing back to. the Mermaid toproot, Irish Fling is a fine type of filly and may be expected to race to advantage during the holidays. Strong Fields

The nominations for the Southland Racing Club’s New Year meeting total 354, as comparea. with. 375 last year, a decrease of 21. Although the open sprint fields are not as strong as usual the fields right through are of excellent strength with class well represented. A gratifying feature is the strong support accorded the hurdle events, and keen racing is promised in this section. Stretto’s Task

The highest weight carried to success by mares in the Railway Handicap at Ellerslie is 9.0, under which Cruciform was victorious as a three-year-old in 1901, and Silver Link as a six-year-old in 1921. The brilliant Cruciform carried 15ib over weight-for-age. Stretto’s 9.7 in this year’s Railway represents 111 b over scale weight. In 1922, Glentruin, carrying 9.8, was beaten into second place by the outsider Royal Blood. Surmount’s Winnings

Surmount who had to be destroyed at Awapuni a few days ago, started on 19 occasions for four wins and no fewer than 10 seconds, while he won £l5OO In prizA money. A. few months ago Sur—mount’s owner-trainer, Mr C. W. Boyd, received a very substantial oner for the colt from the Indian sportsman who paid him 3500gns for Martara 18 months ago. Solid Filly

Homily, who will compete at the Auckland summer meeting, is stated to be getting through a sound preparation at Wanganui. This filly accounted for several proved performers when she won the Pearce Handicap at Trentham in October. In her only start in the interim she finished second to Peerless in the New Zealand Oaks at Riccarton, and that form will ensure her support in any race she contests at Ellerslie.

Norseman and Valantua During the past two seasons Norseman has started in 14 races, winning three and finishing second three times and third three times, his total stake winnings amounting to £914. Out of four starts this season he has finished a first, a second, and a third. Over the same period Valantua has started in 27 races for five wins, seven seconds, and one third, his total stake winnings being £5OO, and out of 10 starts this season his record is a win, two seconds, and a third. Both have been engaged in the Otago and Bumside Handicaps to be decided on the opening day of the local meeting, states The Evening Star, Dunedin. In the Otago Handicap Valantua has to concede Norseman 131 b and in the Burnside Handicap the difference is 111 b. It looks as if the Dunedin handicapper has penalized Valantua because of having raced in the New Zealand Cup, and other handicaps in which the best company has been engaged. On his consistent form Norseman appears to be very nicely treated on the minimum in the Otago Handlcap, and he should at least account for all those weighted at under 8 stone. At Waipa

Riding engagements announced for the Waipa Racing Club’s meeting at Te Rapa tomorrow include:—A. C. Messervy.—Barrister, Miss Clipper, Trilliarch, Pasture; G. Gilchrist— Wapaugn; S. Tremain.—Tea Gong, Anion, Chief Lap; N. Vaughan.—Tonnerre, Foxtoon, Midland, Mangukaha; H. Turvey.— Chikara; C. Walters.—Mia Acrea; R. E. Thomson. —Pyrenees; J. McLaughlin.— Orwere, Raceline, Pound Sterling, Wild Ore; W. H. Jones.—Black Musk, Calori, Mia’ Fratolli, Goldation; A. Gilmer.— Slam; H. Long.—Senacre, Water Fox, Du Maurier, Lomacre, Poland; M.

Amundsen. —Irish Comet; R. G. Ferguson.—Small Boy; N. R. McKenzie.— Valtour, Jonathan, Penzance, Gay Mimic; W. M. Thomson.—Forest Acre, Hunting Blood, Lysander Lad, Lady Kew, Little Artist, Philemup, Friskland; A. Tinker.—Valamito, Bronwen, Gay Rebel; G. Smith.—Lady Lyons, Full Hand, Tepoto; P. Mcllroy.—Brilliant Acre.

A Fractured Spine Bruce Hobbs, the 17-yebr-old jockey who won the Grand National Steeplechase at Aintree (England) on Battleship in March this year, and who, by the way, was the youngest rider ever to win the race, had his spine fractured in a fall at Cheltenham early in November. Hobbs had the mount on Phamace in the Southham Selling Race, and the horse came down at the second jump, the jockey being kicked in the back. He walked back to the weighing-room, where he expressed the opinion that he would be well enough to ride on the second day of the meeting, but upon his way home by car decided to consult a masseur. After having been massaged he went home to bed, but was in great pain during the night. Meanwhile the masseur had telephoned his father and expressed the fear that the jockey was seriously hurt, and advised an X-ray examination. This took place early the following day, when it was found that his spine was fractured, but fortunately there were no serious complications. Latest news of Hobbs received by air mail is that he will undergo an operation shortly, and that there is every hope of a complete recovery.