LOCKIT’S USEFUL EFFORT

Southland Times, Issue 24114, 1 May 1940, Page 11

LOCKIT’S USEFUL EFFORT

Vitaphone’s Hurdle Record RIDERS ENGAGED FOR SATURDAY Nominations for the Patriotic meeting at Invercargill close on May 14. Nominations for the South Canterbury winter meeting close on Monday. On Easy List Since she won at the Riverton meeting Ackemma has been on the easy list. Looks Well Frenchy was out doing light exercise yesterday and he looks well after a let-up. A Shortage Trainers are experiencing difficulty in securing suitable light boys to apprentice, a. 1 there are two or three vacancies offering at the present time. Half And Half Half and Half struck one of his knees during a schooling bout and this was the reason for his absence at Washdyke on Saturday. AU Blood All Blood gives the impression that he will handle heavy tracks better than the majority, and as he is an accomplished jumper, he must be given a chance in Saturday’s hurdle race. Riders Engaged Ortyx will be ridden by W. F. Ellis on Saturday, while J. L. Strathern has been engaged for Amelita. In the hurdle race E. J. Jennings will be on All Blood and D. A. Hamill on Hunting Chorus. Gay Lover’s Death Gay Lover knuckled over at the entrance to the straight in the Smithfield Handicap at Washdyke, and was in a bad way when pulled up. It was found that a sesamond bone was split in four places and he was destroyed a little later. The Philamor gelding returned a huge dividend at the Easter meeting at Riccarton, and his short career has been marked by plenty of incident. Spelling Sailing Lady, who raced well below her best form at the Otautau meeting, has been put aside for the remainder of the season. Her form during the year was not reliable but she won three races. Wild Career’s Rider D. A. Hamill, who is able to claim a 71b allowance, will ride Wild Career on Saturday. R. E. Humphries is to ride Waitoru, Strathalbyn, Black Bard and Cintilla. A decision has yet to be made whether Waitoru will contest the Awarua Handicap or the President’s Handicap. Club’s Colours The all-white colours provided by the South Canterbury Club had a good airing on Saturday, being used on Stabilise, Lockit and Raceaway. They were more successful than usual, Stabilise finishing first and Lockit second. In each case a compulsory fine was imposed for use of wrong colours, but in two instances the penalty was inflicted on jockeys who had failed to return jackets to the trainers concerned. Useful Form Stabilise, who brought about the downfall of the favourite Boloyna in the Electric Stakes, is a three-year-old by Robespierre from Stability (not in the Stud Book). He was taken to the Coast by A. McAulay, who had the misfortune to break a leg on the trip. Stabilise won two races, but the horses he met were of moderate class and on Saturday he started at double figures. During McAulay’s incapacity Stabilise is in charge of J. C. Tomkinson. Stability was got by British Empire from Currency, by Paper Money from Kilroy, by Kilbroney. Lockit Impresses A feature of the Timaru Cup on Saturday was the excellent effort of Lockit, who submitted to defeat only in the last chain. He had previously tackled open company, being unplaced in the Sockburn and Great Autumn Handicaps, but following some impressive track work, he was always in the picture in Saturday’s race. Lockit is engaged in the Amberley Handicap of nine furlongs on Saturday, and as he may have a stronger rider up, he will no doubt be in keen demand.

A Brilliant Galloper

Density’s presence in the Doncaster Handicap at Washdyke no doubt accounted for the small field, while the pool was considerably restricted because of the mare almost monopolizing speculation. Her win price was of the Defaulter order, and peculiarly enough, she paid more as a place proposition. Density gave a spectacular display of galloping and it would not be idle boasting to suggest that in her present form, she has no equal in New Zealand up to at least six furlongs. As her breeder-owner, Mr D. Grant, is president of the South Canterbury Jockey Club, Density’s success was very popular, and she was given’an enthusiastic reception on returning to scale. The brilliant mare will be difficult to place from now onward, but no doubt she ■will again be produced at Washdyke at next month’s winter meeting. Vitaphonc’s Prospects

Although he is now in his twelfth year Vitaphone will be an interesting candidate among the hurdlers at the Southland meeting on Saturday as his form across country this season has been of a good standard and in his last start he finished second to Gold Wren at Riverton after covering extra ground. In Saturday’s hurdle race he has been weighted at 9.7 and he should give a good account of himself as he has four previous successes as a hurdler. The last occasion was about four and a-half years ago when at Wingatui in October 1936 he won over hurdles from Wexford Bridge and Polydora. Unsoundness has prevented him from doing a great deal of racing since but it is to J. Thistleton’s credit that he is sounder now than at any previous stage of his career.

A Speedy Hurdler Guilder attracted notice by her bold showing in the Tekapo Hurdles at Washdyke on Saturday, and but for her unfortunate blunder at the last fence she would no doubt have had an easy task. She was allowed to run about at each of her fences, and in trying to jump the last one almost sideways, she crashed. There is no doubt about this Paper Money mare’s brilliance, but she will require a good deal of schooling and will need a strong horseman in her races to keep her straight at her

fences. Guilder was bred by Mr E. B. Newton, of Ashburton, the dam, Dutch Courage, being by Nassau from Mettle by Calibre, and she previously produced Nightcap, a useful hurdler of a few years back. Mr Newton has not had much success with Dutch Courage, as her 1928 foal by Shambles was drowned, her 1931 colt by Arrowsmith died, and she missed several seasons.

Race Dropped The South Canterbury Hunt has, with considerable reluctance, decided to drop the Pareora Steeplechase, the race for amateur riders, from its programme this season. This step was almost inevitable, in view of the enlistment of most of the young men who usually take part. In place of the steeplechase, a flat race for amateur riders has been included, and it is intended to reinstate the steeplechase as soon as possible.

success with trotters. Early this term he was placed in R. S. G. Shaw’s stable, and in five starts under that trainer secured three firsts. By this time he had won his way out of the classes in Southland, and was transferred to P. Gallagher’s stable.