SPORTING NOTES

Te Awamutu Courier, Volume 71, Issue 6140, 24 September 1945, Page 3

SPORTING NOTES

ON RACING AND TROTTING BRIEF ITEMS FROM THE TRACK (By “Old Rowley”) False Favouritism Contesting the Hikutaia Hurdles at the Thames Jockey Club’s spring meeting, Sir Dingle, bracketed with Rara Avis, was backed down to firm favouritism, and although the strong support proved to be justified by his ultimate victory, it was nevertheless a false confidence, especially when the Sargon—Howick gelding has been blundering his fences when schcoled at Ellerslie immediately prior to th e meeting. However, proof of favouritism is, as I said above, justified by success.

Antipay Makes the Grade The four-year-»old Autopay—Vici gelding Antipay, which has been showing very promising form lately, did the right thing for his connections last Saturday by winning a division of the Second Trial PJate. It also provided a very pleasant change for mentor J. McDonald, who has certainly had more than his share of bad luck, while the versatile horseman F. Cleaver would appreciate the winning ride after his exasperating run of ill-luck, for racing connections are great believers in the cliche that

“ nothing succeeds like success,” and as the late Steve Donoghue, I think it was, said; “When I win I’m a great horseman, but when I lose I’m something unprintable.” A Good Performance

Ernada put up a good performance to take the ten furlongs President’s Handicap at the Thames Jockey Club’s spring meeting last Saturday, and it should not have been entirely unexpected, for, as I remarked in this column on Friday, the Plato— Shadow Queen gelding had been showing plenty of promise, a slow beginning being the only thing mitigating against his success. However, he Bounced out and gained a good position, and proved too good for Abbey Fox, which incidentally appears to have regained her best form. Sousa on Up-grade

Recent efforts and sound track work inclined “ Old Rowley ” to favour Sousa for the main event at Paeroa last Saturday, and his third helping proved /that I was not far out. He is solidly built, and by Vaals from Queen March he has the necessary breeding. Age may be all he requires, and as a five 7 year-old this season could easily prove him a lucrative proposition.

By St. Wave Peter, winner of the second division of the Second Trial Plate at Paeroa on Saturday, is a five-year-old gelding by St. Wave from Silkette, and is owned and trained by R. Townsend. Peter has a peculiar colouring, which at times looks black, but when caught in a certain light if could quite, easily be taken for a very dark brown, hence the necessity for registering him as a brown or black gelding. This is the first time Peter has shown anything like real form, and it will be interesting to see if he can make th e grade against smarter hacks.

Hold That Tiger ! And Vic Dye certainly did hold the Cambria Park—Lysis gelding together in g,reat style to win the Parawai Handicap at Paeroa. Owners G. and H- Bennett and trainer G. Jenkins certainly deserved the win, for they have been knocking at the door for some time with the speedy five-year-old, and he looks capable of lifting the seven furlongs Shorts Handicap at Ellerslie next month if all goes well in the meantime.

Patience Should Pay Lord Dink, which ran a good race for second money in the Parawai Handicap, has not been over-raced by Messrs E. Foote and F. Kneebone, and Mrs (Sloane has brought him along nicely. Lord Dink appears the type of horse to win useful races, and he should be kept in mind, for h e can handle pretty nearly every going, although he has shown most promise when the sting is out of the ground.

Interest in Typhoon If Typhoon is not leaving New Zealand in a blaze of glory, at least h e has shown himself fit and capable, for his win in the open seven furlongs Robinson Handicap at Awapuni on Saturday was a very nice exhibition of galloping, and he is attracting a lot of attention in Australia, where he is to contest the Caulfield and Melbourne Cups. It was a wise move on the part of his connections to engage the services of such an accomplished horseman as W. Cook, and all things being equal Typhoon should acquit himself creditably against the Australian crack gallopers.