RACING & TROTTING

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLI, Issue 20308, 6 January 1936, Page 14

RACING & TROTTING

On and Off the Track

“ BUDGET OF NEWS AND VIEWS FIXTURES Racing: Jan. 7. 9—Reefton J.C. Jan. 10, 11—Vincent J.C. Jan. 11—Greymouth J.C. Trotting: Jan. 6—Greymouth T.C. Jan. 10—Reefton T.C. Jan. 18—Timaru T.C. Entries for the Timaru Trotting Club’s autumn meeting are due by 9 p.m. on Wednesday. Wino did not race up to expectations during the New Year meetings, and he may be given a holiday. Forfeits for the Futurity Stakes, for three-year-olds, to be run at the Timaru Trotting Club’s autumn meeting, must be declared to-morrow. The Foal Stakes winner Gallio has ricked himself, and a projected trip to Trentham this month may have to be abandoned. .... The Smuggler was prominent for more than a mile in the Southland Handicap, and if he keeps sound he should before long be ready to go further.

The Wellington Trotting Club has decided to revert to win and place betting, and to make ten shillings the minimum investment, in place of five shillings.

The Wyndham Club took £628 at the gates on New Year’s Day. The Invercarg;ll Club collected £620 on January 2, and £433 on the off day, the increase for the two days being £7B. Another win for Island Linnet would be deservedly popular. In her last five starts the Songbird mare has been three times second and twice third, and on one or two occasions has been defeated by very slender margins.

The horses owned by Smith Brothers are to be transferred from T. R. George’s big stable to the care of J. Fryer at Hawera. Fryer trained Gaine Carrington and Peter Jackson for the Smith family. Evicus, who finished second in the main events at Ashburton and Canterbury Park, did not disgrace herself in New Zealand and her form entitled her to a win on the trip, but her companion Emilius Way was a failure and had no chance with the sprinters in his division.

Recitation, a double-figure winner in a hack race at Tauherenikau, held up the start for over a quarter of an hour, and at one stage went through the barrier, causing his saddle to slip. When eventually the field was despatched he was badly away, but he rushed up to the leaders after going a furlong and won by a neck. It was a pity that Gallio, who appeared to have the luck with him when he won the Foal Stakes at Auckland, did not run in the Royal Stakes on the final day. In this Stretto again accounted for Wild Chase (who does not begin well enough for sprint race ) but until she gets another chance with Gallio the two-year-old premiership remains inconclusive.

Last year Hunting Go won the Invercargill Cup and was second, in the Southland Handicap, but this season he was never prominent in either race. In soft going a year ago he handled the bends well, but lost ground under the changed conditions existing this season, and although he finished fast he was too far back commencing the short run home to have any chance. The requirement of the Trotting Conference that all starters must be licensed caused spme inconvenience at racing club fixtures in Southland during the holidays. The officials who were appointed had not applied for licenses. At Wyndham and Invercargill Mr T. Legat, of Winton, a licensed starter, was secured to fill the position in accordance with the new rule.

Milford has turned nasty at the barrier. At Wyndham he put Amy Johnson out of action, and on the first day at Invercargill he put his heels into the gear operating the barrier and got held up, and by preventing the tape from rising correctly he appeared to hamper Steeton and Honest Maid. The start did not favour other horses and may have affected the result of the race.

In some respects form has worked out very truly this season. Cuddle's Auckland Cup victory bore out Metropolitan running, and she has also continued to beat three-year-olds like Heritage each time they meet. The more racing one sees, the more evident it becomes that Kinnoull should have won the Derby, as he decisively defeated Cuddle on the two occasion on which they met.

There seemed to be some luck in the running of the Invercargill Cup. Damage to the barrier hampered some of the field at the start and there was some crowding at the turn to the straight, all of which made things easier for Queen of Song and Salmo Salar. Among those which suffered were Steeton, Milford, Honest Maid, Great Shot, Grand Finale and Golden King.

The little Thornbury mare Beam would certainly have won the sprint race on the second day at Invercargill had she got away on terms with toe leaders, but her turn came later in the Final Handicap, her first attempt in a mile race. She set a scorching pace and at one stage was ten lengths ahead of the third horse. She stopped to a crawl at the finish, but managed to struggle home half a length in front of Enwood.

That there was justification for the assertion that Queen of Song was a good thing beaten in her second start at Dunedin she proved by her win in the Invercargill Cup. Admittedly she had the run of the race on Thursday, while some of her opponents experienced bad luck, but Queen of Song won easily against a much stronger field than she encountered at Wingatui. Sh: effectively dispelled any doubt concerning her ability to run a mile and a quarter.

Unless there is a change of plan, Roi I’Or, Graham Direct, Rey Spec, and the Australian pacers Evicus and Emilius Way will be shipped at Wellington on Wednesday en route for Perth. It is not certain that they can reach West Australia in time for the date set down for the inter-Dominion meeting, but it is expected that the authorities will hold up the championships to secure their presence.