On and Off the Track

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLIII, Issue 20927, 5 January 1938, Page 12

On and Off the Track

A BUDGET OF NEWS AND‘ VIEWS FIXTURES Racing Jan. 7, B—Reefton, J.C. Jan. 14, 15—Vincent J.C. Jan. 18, 20, 22—Wellington R.C. Jan. 22—Ashhurst R.C. Jan. 22—Wairio J.C. Jan. 22, 24—Thames J.C. Jan. 28, 29—Pahiatua R.C. Trotting Jan. 5, 6—Greymcuth T.C. Jan. 15—Cambridge T.C. Jan. 15—Timaru T.C. Jan. 27, 29—Forbury Park T.C. Jan. 29, 31—Nelson T.C. Feb. 3, s—Wellington T.C. Feb. 12—Canterbury Park T.C. Feb. 12, 16—Auckland T.C. Feb. 19—New Brighton T.C. Feb. 26—Kaikoura T.C. Feb. 26—Wairarapa T.C. Mar. s—lnvercargill T.C. Mar. s—Wellington T.C. Nominations for the Timaru Trotting Club’s summer meeting are due by 9 p.m. to-morrow.

There was an anomaly in the times of some races at Epsom last week. In the Champion Handicap 3.17 limit, Willow Wave was allowed to take 3.20 2-5 (off 3.16). In a 3.30 class Crocus (off 3.27) stepped 3.17.

Adina, who went a long way out of her class to start in the Waihopai Handicap at Invercargill, set such a hot pace that the winner, Daring Deed, registered 1.39 1-5, which is understood to be a record for the Invercargill course.

New Ideal, who scored a second and a win at Waikouaiti, is a son of the Australian pacer New Derby. He showed great speed in his races at Gore in the spring, but was too erratic in his gait to succeed. If he settles down the Australian gelding might win many more races.

Lawn Derby’s win in the President’s Handicap on the final day of the Auckland meeting vindicated the handicapping committee’s assessment of the visiting pacer. Lawn Derby is now on a very tight two-mile mark, but his sprint rating appears to be liberal in the light of his Australian performances.

The win of Top Coal at Oamaru appears to be one of the miracles of racing. When he broke down during a race at Wingatui nearly two years ago it appeared impossible that he should ever race again, and his recovery is an illustration of what nature can do on occasion in the way of healing.

Daring Deed's second in the Wyndham Cup was her best effort for a long time, and it made her chance in the Waihopai Handicap at Invercargill look excellent. It is seldom that the Shambles mare runs two good races in succession, but on this occasion she did so and won in record time for the course.

Fog Peak, whose behaviour at the barrier had been bad lately, bolted before the start at Invercargill yesterday. He got back in time but when the barrier went up collided with Kippen, who lost her rider. A few strides further on Fog Peak was pulled up with a broken leg. In the same race Western Song fell through getting on Ballad’s heels at the home turn.

The Taranaki crack Taitoru is a versatile fellow. He has been raced this season over all distances from six furlongs to 15 miles, and on New Year’s Day won a highweight handicap over seven furlongs. Another Taranaki horse who has mixed it successfully is Lady Kyra. On Boxing Day she Lord Warden mare won over a mile and a quarter, and in the same week scored In an open six.

The Wyndham Cup winner Trebleack cannot be called a handsome gelding, but he is a useful galloper who has made steady improvement since his first win in a highweight handicap a year ago. Trebleack is by the imported sire Woodend (Lemberg—lncenlet) from 'More Signal (Vice-Admiral — Miss Signal). On the dam’s side he is related to other well-known Southlanders in Signaller and The Smuggler.

In a pool of more than £lOOO short of last year’s figures, Aqua Bond was made an odds on chance in the Roslyn Trot at Invercargill and duly won from Master Potts after Desert Cloud, his most dangerous opponent at the home turn, had broken up and lost a lot of ground.

The weather was hot and blustery when racing was resumed at Invercargill yesterday, and in spite of some rain which fell during the night the course was hard and dusty. The unpleasant conditions affected the attendance and thinned out the fields in some degree. There was a change just before the seventh race when rain commenced to fall and cooled the atmosphere. At the end of the day the rain had increased to a downpour. Lord Nuffield, who appeared to encounter trouble on the first day at Invercargill, was made a hot favourite for the Rosedale Handicap yesterday. Western Song and Guste appeared to begin best in a ragged start, but Lord Nuffield headed them at the far turn only to be supplanted by Rodeur, who shot away, and looked like winning by a big margin, but she was stopping at the end and won by less than a length from Peony Rose, who was a long neck in front of Ballad.

The Invercargill Cup winner Milford was at one time in danger of being eliminated from the ranks of flat racers. He was a highly proficient kicker, and on one occasion wrecked the electrical apparatus at the Invercargill barrier. It is pretty certain that he escaped banishment as a result of clemency extended to another bad actor, it being hardly possible to rule him out just at the time the ban was removed from the other horse.

Paladino, Soliad, Adina and Counterflight, all recent winners, were fancied in that order for the Summer Handicap at Invercargill. Adina led off from Paladino and Gay Seal. She lost her place through apparent interference at the far turn, and at the home turn Paladino was in command from Counterflight and Barley Almond. The small boy on Paladino was unable to get the best out of him in the run home and Counterflight wore the favourite down and beat him by a neck. Barley Almond was third, a little more than a length away, just holding off Soliad.

Heavy rain was falling when the Final Handicap started at Invercargill and four horses were withdrawn. The crowd was driven to shelter, and betting was restricted in consequence. Salient Knight and Daring Deed dominated the betting. Ardchoille lost several lengths at the start. Daring Deed was soon out in front from Salient Knight and Surge, but crossing the top Ardchoille went to the front and Survey moved up. Sugge headed Ardchoille and Daring Deed at the turn into the straight and held on to win by more than a length from Survey, who heat Song Boy by a head, with Beam another head away.

Superex. Burwood and Master Anomaly were well backed in the Gladstone Hurdles at Invercargill, and the three provided a thrilling finish. Vitaphone was in front for a little way. but at the mile Sir Admiral was showing the way to Master Anomaly, Superex and Burwood. Across the top Sir Admiral, Superex and Burwood were together, Master Anomaly having lost ground. Superex and Burwood were having a great fight just in front of Sir Admiral when Master Anomaly came with a great run. He had to change his course and just failed to get up, the verdict going to Superex by half a head. Master Anomaly was threequarters of a length in front of Burwood, with Sir Admiral two lengths away.

Milford’s victory in the Invercargill Cup was prefaced by narrow defeats in the Southland Cup and the Otago Handicap. He is an aged gelding by Anomaly from Te Anau Maid, and has carried the colours of several owners, usually on lease. He performed with some distinction as a hack when trained at Gore by T. G. Pollock for Mr D. Crosbie. Later he was taken over by Mr W. L. Cunningham and went into R. E. McLellan’s stable, and won a double at Riverton last Easter and the South Canterbury Handicap later in the autumn. This season he has raced in the joint ownership of Messrs Cunningham and MacDonald, and his success at Invercargill this week was his first in the interests of the partnership.

Double Gift 459-507, Bay Duke 394376, and Palmyra 348-419 were the popular selections for the Shorts Handicap at Invercargill. Gold Boa and Viking were first away, but after going two furlongs Janet Gaynor hit the front and went to the far turn clear of Bay Duke, Gold Boa and Viking. Janet Gaynor was never headed and won by half a length from Double Gift who got a nice run through on the rails across the top. Palmyra again finished well to collect third money, being half a length behind Double Gift with Invoice close up fourth. Janet Gaynor returned a double figure dividend and her success was not well received by a section of the crowd. Her form was certainly an improvement on anything she had shown on previous days in Southland, but the betting did not suggest anything sinister.

Last Refrain was installed favourite for the Southland Handicap, with Trebleack next In demand. Wild Career, Made Money, Trebleack and Amelita led up the straight the first time, but at the mile post Wild Career was followed by Trebleack, Last Refrain and Made Money. Going to the far turn Wild Career was still clear of Trebleack, Last Refrain and Milford (in line) but across the top Last Refrain appeared to be squeezed back and Wild Career, Trebleack and Milford turned for home together. Galleon made up ground in the straight, and Last Refrain came on again but in a spectacular finish Trebleack won by a neck from Wild Career, who beat Milford by a head. Galleon was another head away, a neck in front of Last Refrain, who had no chance of an opening. Trebleack, who was perhaps a bit unlucky in the Cup on the previous day, got the best run in the race and this assisted him to victory. Last Refrain, on the other hand, was lees fortunate.