PANDINE’S POOR SHOWING

Southland Times, Issue 24108, 23 April 1940, Page 8

PANDINE’S POOR SHOWING

SILKWOOD WAS NOT ELIGIBLE HACK RACE AT OTAUTAU MEETING Handicaps for the winter meeting of the Southland Racing Club are due tomorrow. Date Granted The Southland Racing Club has been granted May 25 as the date for its patriotic meeting at Invercargill. Nightwings It could not be said that the apprentice, who rode Nightwings on Saturday, showed much judgment. Nightwings would have needed to be a super horse to have won from where she was placed at the half-mile. Red Tenor Red Terror may not be long in winning 'over country. His jumping on Saturday was of an excellent standard and he stayed on in game style. Successful Apprentice W. F. Ellis has now ridden 28 winners this season and is well up in eighth place on the winning jockeys’ list. W. J. Mudford (35 winners) is the only other apprentice ahead of him. Tactics Won

The Otautau Cup race resolved into a sprint home and the tactics adopted on Peony Rose won the day. The other riders were prepared to let her set a slow pace over the first six furlongs and when the pace was clapped on they had no chance with her. The Robespierre mare carried her 8.7 in great style and her success was thoroughly deserved. Surprising Price

Spendthrift’s price in winning the Crown Handicap was the only surprising part about his win. The apprentice, K. F. Forde, who only secured his licence at Easter, always had him nicely placed in the running and when he came through at the distance the others had little chance with him. Spendthrift has shown himself capable of handling good conditions and bad. Failed Badly

Pandine let his supporters down badly on Saturday. At the first fence he did not show any of his customary dash and from then on did not improve until he was right out of the contest with only half the journey covered. His failure was attributed to the going and when next produced he may be expected to shape much better on a firmer track. Useful Effort

When Gold Robe won the Strathmore Handicap he was having his second start for Mr T. Muir, who purchased him at Riverton at Easter. There was a lot of merit in his winning effort as the fast pace set by Mondello found the others in difficulties but Gold Robe was always in handy range and beat her home rather comfortably. Well Bidden

Horsemanship played a, big part in Guste’s success in the O’Brien Steeplechase on Saturday, as he was undoubtedly the best ridden horse in the race. T. J. Boyle always had him within striking distance of the leaders and when he raced past Gay Boa two furlongs from home and was first over the last fence he gave the others little chance on the flat. In five appearances as a steeplechaser this season Guste has now won on three occasions. Flood Tide

Interest is now being centred in the progress of Flood Tide. In the spring Flood Tide showed promise of racing up to his deeds of the pgst, and was one of the chief fancies for the last Auckland Cup, after which he pulled up sore. Rather than risk a breakdown, it was decided to ease him and await the softening of the tracks. He has not been given any sprinting tasks as yet, but it can be claimed that he is working satisfactorily and has a good chance of surviving a preparation for winter engagements. Big Money

Beginning in 1893, with a modest total of £72, Mr E. J. Watt has won over £300,000 in prize-money. Before 1914, when he elected to become an Australian, he had been one of the luckiest owners in New Zealand—he won the New Zealand Cup with Bridge and Midnight Sun —but it was in Australia that he collected the bulk of his record total. His most important successes this season have been with Mildura in the Newmarket and Doncaster Handicaps. Nowadays Mr Watt is a very modest bettor, and confines his investments to the totalizator. Out Of Hacks

When Silkwood contested the Ringway Hack Handicap at the Otautau meeting on Saturday she was ineligible to do so as she had won more than the hack limit of £5OO. Silkwood has won £502 in winning stakes and had she won the Ringway Hack Handicap there would have been no alternative but to disqualify her. Silkwood’s actual stake