RACING AND TROTTING

Southland Times, Issue 24598, 21 November 1941, Page 9

RACING AND TROTTING

SOUTHLAND MEETING TOMORROW

The prospects for a good track for the Southland Racing Club’s spring meeting tomorrow are not bright, but if there is no more rain, beiore the races the conditions should be good enough to make for interesting competition. The main track has been carefully nursed; no gallops have been, carried out next to the rails for some time and it is probable that the surface will dry quickly. If the position has improved this morning horses trained at Invercargill will be given an opportunity for final workouts. , The fields are of good size and quality in most of the events, and with the exception of the open events speculation is likely to cover a wide range. In two of the races, the Waverley Trot and the Roslyn Trial Handicap, divisions will be necessary unless there are scratchings. The following horses will be bracketed: Waverley Trot, Lustrous and Southern Wrack; Roslyn Trial, Campus and Harkun Singh and Fairy Bard and Royal Brief; New River Trot, Bright Lass and Trevathan and Dynamic and Sir Dighton. The first race is timed to start at 12.40 p.m. Win-and-place tickets will be sold at the same windows.

SOUTHLAND HIGHWEIGHT HANDICAP: Merry Simon, the most consistent racer in commission at the present time, heads the list in the Southland Highweight Handicap, and on the strength of his recent form he is entitled to be made a good favourite. He will probably be ridden by R- "• Mackie. Rosaleen Dhu is the only other winner this season m the field, shaped well when beating her field on the second day of the Gore meeting

and with only another _ 81b to carry she looks certain to be in the money. Great Swoop was backed and beaten at Gore; Batsham was well up each day at Gore and Anglo-French was given a chance there. Any of. those mentioned will most likely provide the winner but the most fancied will probably be: Merry Simon, Rosaleen Dhu, Great Swoop.

WAVERLEY TROT: This race may be run in divisions. Eighteen of the 20 acceptors are off the limit mark and preference will be given to those horses with some reliability about their starting. Flying Peggy has run two excellent races already this season and she is sure to be in demand. Fervent will be given another chance to prove herself and it is reasonable to assume that she has benefited by recent racing. Silk Banner, with a placed performance to his credit, is another who will carry support, but there are plenty of others with private reputations and speed capable of causing .an upset. Tile favourites may be: Flying Peggy, Fervent, Silk Banner. FLYING HANDICAP: Gore form will largely be relied upon by investors in looking for the winner of the Flying Handicap. Fleet Street’s two performances were more impressive than those of Phalanx and the Balboa gelding will probably be preferred. Withdrawal has been racing consistently and must be given a chance of beating this pair. Of the others Colonel Rouge is the most likely, although Boaform, if ready, would take a lot of heading. The public may decide for: Fleet Street, Withdrawal, Boaform.

ROSLYN TRIAL HANDICAP: Platform, Nihil and Top Spin, the first three on the card in the Roslyn Trial, will probably be wanted. Platform has done well since racing at Gore, but whether he can handle the heavy going is another matter. Nihil, who will be ridden by d. Clutter buck, put up a good performance behind Mae West and Compeer at Dunedin and looks to be the hardest for Platform to beat. Top Spin is a likely sort, but there may be a surprise result provided by one of the lesser-known division. Favourites may be: Platform, Nihil, Top Spin.

SOUTHLAND CUP: Boswell, Strip, Heidelberg and Aravane have winning and place form this season to support their chances, and the winner should come from that division. Heidelberg s Gore form was good and he should run another good race. Boswell has plenty of weight and the distance may find out Strip. The favourites are likely to be; Heidelberg, Boswell. NEW RIVER TROT: Loyalist was one of the best pacers in Southland last season and although he will be making his first appearance he will carry a lot of support. Sea Born is a promising pacer with winning form in recent weeks and Scarlett O’Hara raced at Invercargill as if she would not be long off the winning list. It is an race, but those most in demand will be: Sea Born, Scarlett O’Hara, Loyalist or Erin’s Country.

STEWART ISLAND HANDICAP: Royal Chorus won at Gore so well that he should have a big chance m the Stewart Island Handicap. Dark Colleen is a hack a bit above the average and Sing Sing is another from Riverton likely to have a say in the finish. Several promising young horses are in the field and those able to handle the going will have the best chances. Most support may come for: Royal Chorus, Sing Sing, Dark Colleen. TRADESMEN’S HANDICAP: Southern Sail is an unlikely starter in tins event and Phalanx has an earlier engagement. Islay Downs has good form to recommend his chances, but it Anglo-Irish could handle the going he would be the hardest to beat. Lady Don is a seasoned m’are and if the distance does not find her out she has good prospects. The fancies may be: Islay Downs, Lady Don, Anglo-Irish.