THREE TRACK RECORDS BROKEN AT WINGATUI

Southland Times, Issue 23741, 13 February 1939, Page 10

THREE TRACK RECORDS BROKEN AT WINGATUI

(From Our Own Reporter) DUNEDIN, February 11. The finish of the 1939 James Hazlett Gold Cup, on the day of the Dunedin Jockey Club’s autumn meeting at Wmgatui today, when Royal Chief narrowly defeated Queen of Song and . Top Row, was one of the finest m the history/ of the race. Although Royal Chief met with a mixed reception when he returned to the birdcage, his performance was a high-class one. ‘ , A feature of the racing today was the breaking of three track records. The track was in perfect order but quite a strong wind was blowing. When Thermidor narrowly beat Boswell m the Dunedin Jockey Club Handicap, over 10J furlongs her time of 2min 12 3-ssec broke Last Refrain’s record by 1 l-ssec. Recollection set fresh figures for one mile and a-half over hurdles when he won the Owhiro Hurdle Handicap in 2mm 41 3-ssec, or 1 3-ssec better than Arctic Star’s record. Moorsotis, by winning the Hopeful Handicap in 60 2-ssec, bettered the previous record held jointly by Alma and Epic, by l-ssec. v The racing was always of good standard and a number of outstanding performances was registered during the afternoon. Recollection’s display over hurdles was one of the finest seen on the course for some years, while the Southlander, Western Song, also gave a first-class display. Boswdl was sent out a good win favourite for. the Dunedin Jockey Club Handicap, but after trying to win all the way, he was beaten in the last 50'yards by Thermidor. Moorsotis outclassed the two-year-olds in the Hopeful Stakes and Toro Koura raced right up to his best form to beat a strong field of sprinters in the Flying Handicap.