PLACED IN SEVEN RACES

Southland Times, Issue 25483, 2 October 1944, Page 7

PLACED IN SEVEN RACES

Southland Horses At

Wingatui

SURPRISE WIN BY GOOD CAST

(Special) DUNEDIN, October 1. Horses from Southland stables lived up to their reputation of doing well at the annual fixture of the Otago Hunt Club. At the 1944 meeting at Wingatui yesterday they won half the programme and filled places in seven events. Their stakes winnings totalled £ll3O. In one of the trotting events Southland-owned pacers scooped the pool. It was a good start to the new season in Otago and Southland, particularly in view of .the limited training opportunities in recent weeks, and it suggested that Southland horses are in for another good season. The winners from Southland stables were Jack o’ Lantern, Good Cast, Bonny Flight and the pacer Loyal Peter. Several. others showed up in their races, and that form may be taken as a pointer to early success, possibly at the Dunedin meeting next Saturday. The racing was full of interest for the big crowd present. The defeat of the favourites in the two big races on the programme and the surprise win of Good Cast in the last race showed how difficult it was to assess accurately early spring form. Good cast was having his first race since he was brought to Southland several weeks ago. He is trained at Gore by J. R. Cochrance for Mr A. H. Perkins, of Mataura, who was having his first taste of success as an owner. Mr Perkins also races Filibuster and Regatta. Good Cast’s win also marked his first riding success for R. Cochrane, a Gore apprentice. The win dividend was more than £39. APPRENTICE INJURED The next biggest dividend was the return of more than £24 paid by Tring, winner of the Tally Ho Handicap. Tring had to survive a protest for the alleged boring of First In in a close finish, but the stewards decided to take no action. • The running of the Hunters’ Flat Handicap was marred by an accident after the field had gone about two furlongs. Forage fell and interfered with Royoney and Arctic Dawn, both of whom fell. D. Dawson, an apprentice in R. E. McLellan’s stable, who had the mount on Forage, suffered a broken collarbone, but F. J. Boyle (Royoney) and K. Thompson (Arctic Dawn) were not hurt. The riderless Arctic Dawn raced after the field and ran into the lead at the half-mile and for the remainder of the journey kept just ahead of the leaders (Jack o’ Lantern, Steward and Prince Dolomite). Arctic Dawn passed the post about a length in front of Jack o’ Lantern, who got the verdict from Prince Dolomite by a neck. Jack o’ Lantern’s performance was a good one. He had to overhaul Steward and then fight off challenges by Steward and Prince Dolomite. In addition his rider (B. J. Mears) had to steer him clear of the riderless Arctic Dawn, who insisted on keeping close in to the leaders all the way up the •straight. TRING’S SUCCESS First In got the best of the start from an outside position in the Tally Ho handicap and (Virtually had the run of the race, but she failed to hold off Tring in the run home and went under by a head. This pair had the finish to themselves. Sal’s Pal was four lengths away third and Hearth was fourth, followed by Arabian Night, Kohara and Amorlad. Sal’s Pal was a long way behind the leader over the first half-mile. He then put in a sustained run, but covered a lot of extra ground going around the big field and did well to head Hearth on the post for third money. Fair Trial was left when the barrier rose and, like Royal Chorus, Royal Lancer and Platform,. three other Southlanders, did not show up in the running. Amorlad ran a fair race and was one of the leaders into the straight. He may be ready soon to reproduce his .best Southland form. Arabian Night and Sir Saladin also ran well. Sir Percy made a good attempt for a novice jumper to win the Hunt Cup Steeplechase, but after disposing of Donadea he had insufficient in reserve to catch Safe Light, who led almost throughout and won by a big margin. Mr W. E. Hazlett’s representative gave a good display of clean fencing and he looks like developing into a good crosscountry performer. ' WON EASING UP Safe Light and Donadea set a merry pace out in front, but at the end of three furlongs Donadea was pulled back to the field and followed Safe Light, Timber Topper and Sir Percy. Timber Topper fell at the post and rails nine furlongs from home and Safe Light went out to a big lead from Sir Percy and Donadea. The latter pair went after Safe Light, but with three furlongs to go the leader went away again and won easing up by 20 lengths from Sir Percy. Donadea was another 25 lengths away third With Shadow Boy next.

Bonny Flight put up a good Guineas Trial in winning the President’s Handicap from a big field. She jumped out smartly from the rails position, but did not get the lead from Listen In, Wild Cry and Bowmore until' a furlong had been covered. Thereafter, although strongly challenged by Listen In, she held the lead and won convincingly. It was her first win for Mr D. M. Tweedie, and she will come into favour for the Dunedin Guineas next Saturday as a result. Bonny Flight raced disappointingly as a two-year-old. She has developed into a handsome filly and looks like carrying on the good work of the Francolin family. Wild Cry, another Guineas candidate from Southland, played up at the start of the race, but was favoured by the jump out and led the field for a furlong. He then tailed the leaders and put in a challenge in the straight and finished a good fourth. The Gore-trained Pride of Mossburn was bracketed with Listen In, who paid a good dividend for second. Notary, the favourite, and Crinkle finished close up to the placed lot. CONSISTENT HURDLER Boloyna was warmly supported in the Seaview Hurdles, but he never looked like a winner. He ran last all the way. Albino was well placed throughout and earned a reward for consistent hurdling in recent weeks by a good win over Kilcato. The hurdles was the only race in which Southland stables failed to get a place. Good Cast went past the leaders in the Vauxhall Handicap in the straight and won with a good bit in hand. It was an impressive performance by a little fancied horse, who had displayed good form in Canterbury. Salary finished strongly to cut Lance Wing out of second money. Lisheen got out smartly and led the field for half a mile, but then compounded badly and finished well back. Lyndon Lea and Red Prize were prominent, the latter being narrowly beaten for fourth prize by Olga’s Choice. Dearo ran a fair race.

Loyal Peter won the first trot from the fast-finishing Elation and Communique. The last named got away badly and spoilt a good chance of success. The winner put up a good performance, however, and although stopping at the finish had the race won two furlongs from home. In the second trot Great Deceiver made up his handicap quickly and won well from Communique and Lady Bligh. Navigate paced well for a mile and finished a moderate fourth. Seventeen two-year-olds took part in

a division parade. The first was won by Knight Crusader from Amicus and Douglas Haig and the second by the Riverton filly Loyal Lady from Major Argosy and Te Anau Lady. Victory Flight and Psalm both shaped well.