RACING & TROTTING

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXVIII, Issue 19940, 26 October 1934, Page 7

RACING & TROTTING

On and Off the Track A BUDGET OF NEWS AND VIEWS. FIXTURES Racing: Oct. 27—Banks Peninsula R.C. Oct. 27—Rangitikei R.C. Nov. 3 —Waipukurau R.C. Nov. 3, s—Avondale J.C. Nov. 3, 5. 7, 10 —Canterbury J.C. Trotting: Oct. 27—Wellington T.C. Oct. 25, 27—Poverty Bay T.C. Nov. 6. 3. 9—Metropolitan T.C. Banks Peninsula races to-morrow. A. E. Ellis will steer Polydora in the New Zealand Cup. Cadland has been scratched for the Stewards’ Handicap. Wellington Trotting Club’s meeting to-morrow. A. H. Eastwood is to ride Argentic in the New Zealand Cup. Cherry Queen is owned by E. C. McDermott, who bought her for 30 or 40 guineas, and after winning a race leased her to Mr G. J. Barton.

Sporting Blood is closely related to a good horse in Hunting Cry. Both are by Hunting Song, while their dams are half-sisters.

Unseen who won in attractive fashion in soft going at Washdyke, ran badly on a firm track at Gore, and apparently requires the sting out of the ground.

The second day at Gore terminated a winning sequence for the Omakan reinsman P. Gallagher, who had won six races in succession, all at racing club fixtures.

Dundee not long ago was alleged to be the best pacer in R. Berry's stable. His recent performances have not substantiated this claim, and he fell further from grace at Oamaru.

Blue Mountain broke at the start of the Weston Handicap at Oamaru, but was only a head behind Silver de Oro at the finish. The grey Southlander wifi give all kinds of trouble in the Trotting Cup.

Weatherly’s ill-luck continues. He got a very bad run at Rangiora, and then was only a stride too late to win. Four seconds and three thirds in seven starts this season is a poor return for his consistency.

All Humbug was a strong second favourite for the Stewards’ Handicap at Gore, but the Riverton Cup winner could not foot it with the sprinters. This was his third start in the south over six furlongs, and on each occasion he had been well beaten.

Moneygran met with slight interferance on the second day at Gore, but he never looked really likely to repeat his Labour Day victory. He is hard to dispose of when he gets the lead on the rails, but is not a fighter when he has to meet opposition all the way.

Red Racer took on the sprinters on each day at Gore, and paid his train fare by collecting third money. The ancient Solferino gelding never looked much livelier than he does at present, and he seems to handle weight better than he did two or three years ago.

Bay Biddy, who won the Gordon Hack Handicap at Gore after getting the worst of the start, and Bay Duke another winner, were bought by P. T. Hogan for the Riverton trainer G. Bain. Bay Biddy would have been beaten in another stride by First Song, who also was slow off the mark.

The Harcourt Cup winner Sporting Blood was one of those which were allowed to drop out of the New Zealand Cup at last Friday’s acceptance, but he stood his ground in the Stewards’ Handicap, in which he has 7.3. His success at Wellington did not render him liable to a penalty, as the rules debar rehandicapping for wins in weight-for-age events.

Had Signaller been nominated for the New Zealand Cup, he would have been on 7.0, and with that weight would now look a much better prospect than his stable-mate The Smuggler does with 8.0. Luckily, perhaps, Signaller was entered for some of the minor handicaps at the Cup meeting, but in these he will now receive a lot more weight as a result of his double win at Gore.

Indianapolis did no more than was expected of him at Gamaru, but his win. in spite of its consequential penalty, seems to have increased his supporters for the Trotting Cup. Although he is an enigma—he failed to stay at Addington on a firm track, and won easily in muddy conditions which were supposed to have wrecked his chance—the five-year-old champion is certain to start favourite in the big race.

Vintage disappointed his admirers at Trentham, and has gone out of favour for the New Zealand Cup. His best performance was in the Dunedin Cup, which he won with 7.10. He was receiving 101 b. from The Smuggler, who was making a reappearance after a severe cold and was short of a gallop. On the second day of that meeting The Smuggler, carrying 8.5, won the Jockey Club Handicap very easily, and later accounted for the Great Autumn. The Southlander’s form is the more impressive, and he will not be one of the favourites.

Riding engagements for Saturday's racing at Motukarara are as follow: — A. Messervy, Variant, Sam Smith, Theatin, Anvil, Maroha; E. A. Leckie, Silver Sight, Quietly, Capital; A. E. Ellis, Colossian, Cheap Money, Silver Step, Southdown; G. Humphries, Rebel Star, Some Shamble, Invoice, Knowledge; H. Turner, Monastic; D. O’Connor. Argentic, Chidden, Haere Tonu; L. J. Ellis, Sweet Agnes, Delice, Rebel Chief, Gaysome, Gold Cross; J. W. Jennings, Fairway, Azevedo, Iceni; -A. Russell, Elbanor; A. H. Eastwood, Rose of Tralee.

Tauramai’s win at Gore on Tuesday v/as received without enthusiasm, most of the people who fell over each other to back him when he finished last on Labour Day, having deserted him. The two performances smacked of inconsistency but there was nothing sinister about them. He was made a 702-337 dual favourite when beaten, and was only fourth and sixth choice, showing 204-126, when he won. On the second day he had a much stronger rider, and he was meeting three of the four that beat him on better terms—Osculate 101 b, Acla 61b. and Amy Johnson 41b. When he won he was in receipt of 141 b from Osculate, who had lightened up after his first day’s form, and even now Tauramai will h: e to make considerable further improvement to have a Derby chance.