On and Off the Track

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLII, Issue 20586, 27 November 1936, Page 10

On and Off the Track

A BUDGET OF NEWS AND VIEWS FIXTURES Racing: Nov. 28—Ashburton County R.C. Nov. 28, 30—Takapuna J.C. at Ellerslie Nov. 28, 30—Feilding J.C. Dec. 10, 12—Woodville J.C. Dec. 12—Waipa R.C. Dec. 12—Hororata R.C. Dec. 19—Otaki Maori R.C. Dec. 26—Waipukurau J.C. Dec 26, 28—Dunedin J.C. Dec. 26, 28 —Taranaki J.C. Dec. 26, 28, 29—Westland R.C. Dec. 26, 28, 29— Manawatu R.C. Dec. 26, 29, Jan. 1, 2—Auckland R.C. Jan. I—Waikouaiti R.C. Jan. I—Wyndham R.C. Jan. 1, 2—Stratford R.C. Jan. 1, 2—Marton J.C. Jan. 1, 2—Hawke’s Bay J.C. Jan. 1, 2—Wairarapa R.C. Jan. 1, 2—Greymouth J.C. Jan 2—Oamaru J.C. Jan. 2, 4—Southland R.C. Trotting. Nov. 28 —Forbury Park T.C. Dec. s—New Brighton T.C. Dec. 3—Waikato T.C. Dec. 3—Wairio T.C. Dec. 26—Ashburton T.C. Dec. 26—Gore T.C. Dec. 26, 28—Wairarapa T.C. Dec. 26, 28—Westport T.C. Dec. 28, 30, 31—Auckland T.C. Dec. 29—Winton T.C. Dec. 30—Westland T.C. Jan. 1, 2—Canterbury Park T.C.

Ashburton races to-morrow.

The Forbury meeting will be concluded on Saturday.

Left, with a filly foal by Siegfried, has arrived at the Mana Stud on a visit to Siegfried. Siegfried is the sire of Left’s Melbourne Cup winner Wotan.

Bittersweet, who won the opening trotters’ event at Forbury, is a five-year-old mare by Wrack from Nantwich. She was bred by Durbar Lodge, and early in the season was bought “on approval” by Mr G. J. Barton, and made a quick return by winning at Oamaru. Bittersweet has been sucsuccessful in two of three starts in the Dunedin owner’s colours.

Until 8 p.m. on Monday next the Timaru Trotting Club will accept entries (of present yearlings) for two of Its classics—the Timaru Nursery Stakes 1938 and the New Zealand Trotting Stakes 1939. The Nursery Stakes, of £350, for two-year-old pacers, will be run at the March meeting of 1938 and the Trotting Stakes, for three-year-old trotters, at the March fixture of 1939.

An unusual happening was associated with the running of the Waikato Hack Cup at Te Rapa. A canteen of cutlery was donated by Mr W. R. Shattock to accompany the stake and an unexpected situation arose when his horse Philemup dead-heated for first with Quadroon. Immediately the race

was run Mr Shattock announced that the trophy was to go to the owners of Quadroon.

As the track was not quite suitable Harold Logan did not attempt to break any records at Forbury yesterday, but paced a mile in 2.9. The old favourite was given a rousing reception both before and after his exhibition.

It has been stated that the Los Angeles Turf Club offered £lOOO to secure the appearance of Wotan in the Santa Anita Handicap, but it had no interest in Talking. The owner of the £19,000 colt cabled inviting an offer, but was told that owners who want to go after the big money must finance the trip themselves.

Rain fell in Otago almost incessantly for 36 hours on Tuesday and Wednesday and made the outlook very unpromising for the Forbury meeting. Fortunately the track had been very hard prior to the rain, and good drainage and a sandy formation enabled the course to make an excellent recovery in time for yesterday’s racing. Fortex, Monty Chimes and Royal Palm were responsible for the pace in the Spring Handicap at Forbury, but Renown’s Best, Lucky Jack, and Navy Blue were never far away, and when it came to the real test, Renown’s Best and Lucky Jack soon disposed of the leaders, the last-named getting the verdict in a very tight finish, with the favourite, Navy Blue, in third place. Lucky Jack, who gave R. B. Berry his second win, showed great promise last season, and although he disappointed his backers several times at the commencement of this term he is a good pacer.

The Auckland Derby winner Valdor unwound a great burst of speed to cut down the leaders two furlongs from home in the St. Kilda ilandicap at Forbury and return a nice price. Stirling Lady, Ruth Logan and Cadiz were prominent for six furlongs, but Valdor made a good beginning and was always handy. Stirling Lady collapsed when challenged by Valdor and a break ruined Cadiz’s chance. Valdor turned for home just ahead of Rare Rey (who made up ground fast after a tangle at the start) and Ruth Logan, and a close finish resulted in Valdor just beating Ruth Logan, who again headed Rare Rey. Cadiz was fourth. Ruth Logan (coupled with Admiral Wrack) started a pronounced favourite consequent on her form at Greymouth.

Most of the trotters in the Roslyn Handicap, the opening event at Forbury yesterday, gave an indifferent display. Orphan Bingen (from 84 behind) and Hakatere began smartly, but soon broke, and Bon Haven and Long Island compounded early. Survivor went evenly for a round and then mixed his gait. Anna’s Voyage was one of the quick beginners, but the Invercargill mare could not hold the pace and soon began to drift. The two-way favourite Bittersweet trotted smoothly throughout, and with a lap to go was just in front of San Michele and Parachute, the only others in sight being Renegade and Braemar. A break by San Michele at the top of the straight made things easy for Bittersweet, who won comfortably from Parachute, with San Michele and Braemar next.

Sea GrR, with a concession of two seconds from her trotting mark, gave a fine exhibition against the pacers in th_ Buchanan Handicap at Forbury, and among the unhoppled division the Wrack mare has no superior in the Dominion. Up to a mile and a half she has no compeer.

Valdor, a winner at Forbury, is trained by P. B. Berry for Mr S. W. Kelly, of Wellington. He is registered as by David McElwyn or the Fairlie-owned sire Maxegin. In addition to winning the Great Northern Trotting Derby last season, Valdor won the Wyndham Handicap, and was the first three-year-old to score over a two-mile trip that season. Yesterday he won at a mile, and gives proof of his speed as well as stamina.

Willow Wave, who annexed the big prize at Forbury yesterday from 60 behind, has a special liking for the Dunedin course after rain. At the winter meeting there last season he won the principal event on each day, and he has thus accounted for the last three two-milers run there. His reassessment makes Willow Wave eligible for the fastest races in the Dominion, including the Trotting Clup. Often a bad beginner, he is a bulldog finisher, and in the run home has to be respected in any company.

The Oamaru pacer Guy Mauritius almost brought off a big surprise in the Progressive Handicap at Forbury, leading into the straight and looking a likely winner until the favourite Superior Rank put in an undeniable claim. The Tasmanian Icevus showed promising form hi this race, narrowly missing third place, and his prospects of winning before he returns home look fairly bright. Superior Rank is a good looking four-year-old trained by C. S. Donald, and will not belie his name as so many horses do when highsounding titles are bestowed on them.

Proceedings at Forbury yesterday concluded with a spectacular finish in t’ - ' Dash Handicap. War Buoy went away with his usual hitch but soon caught his gait and the whole field was pacing correctly. Gunfire took up running from Wrackler, and they completed the first round in that order, attended by Reporter, Tempest and Grand Mogul. There was little alteration three furlongs from home, and Gunfire, Wrackler and War Buoy led into the straight from Reporter and Tempest, though War Buoy was in a pocket. Reporter and Tempest flew up the straight, and the judge’s verdict went to the Methven gelding by a very narrow margin. Gunfire and Wrackler were next. Grand Mogul ran another of his disappointing races, and the Australians, New Derby and Evicus, were never prominent. De Soto’s stable mate San Michele made a great recovery in the Dominion Handicap at Forbury, putting in a brilliant run to win after breaking after the start and drifting into an apparently hopeless position. Calm Queen also mixed it badly in the initial stages and was never dangerous. Bittersweet soon shot to the front from Survivor and Bon Haven, and when Survivor lost and failed to regain balance, the Barton mare was left half a dozen lengths ahead of Bon Haven, with another gap to Renegade. Bon Haven joined the leader two furlongs from home, and although he tangled twice in the straight he outstayed Bittersweet. Then San Michele came along with a brilliant dash and trotted home a wanner, from the Waimate gelding. Bittersweet was third and Prince Harvester fourth. San Michele is trained at Kirwee by T. Logan, and was a winner at Greymouth on Labour Day.

There was not much excitement in the Caversham Handicap at Forbury until the run home. Scratchings reduced the field to six, of which Stirling Lady broke at the start. Blue Mountain Queen was soon out in front from Golden Mist, who broke and went back on Casanova. Commencing the last lap Blue Mountain Queen was three lengths clear of Casanova, with a gap to Golden Mist and Rare Rey. Casanova ran up to Blue Mountain Queen at the home turn, and when the mare skipped he looked to have her beaten. Blue Mountain Queen did not, however, lose any ground, and as Casanova broke just before reaching the post she snatcher a narrow victory. Rare Rey notched another third, with Golden Mist next. All Sunshine was handy half a mile from home, but left her feet and retired. Blue Mountain Queen is one of the Southlanders who has taken some time to acclimatise in Canterbury. She is owned by Mr W. McDonald, who raced Satin King and King Pointed, and is trained by O. E. Hooper, but was driven by S. A. Edwards.