ON AND OFF THE TRACK

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLV, Issue 21181, 31 October 1938, Page 5

ON AND OFF THE TRACK

A Budget of News And Views FIXTURES Racing Nov. 4, s—Whangarei5—Whangarei R.C. Nov. s—Napier Park R.C. Nov. 5,7, 9, 12 —Canterbury J.C. Nov. 12—Napier Park R.C. Nov. 12, 14—Avondale J.C. Nov. 19—Levin R.C. Nov. 19—Southland R.C. Nov. 19, 21—Waikato R.C. Nov. 26—Ashburton County R.C. Nov. 26, 28—Auckland R.C. Nov. 26, 28—Feilding R.C. Trotting Nov. s—Thames T.C. Nov. 8. 10, 11—N.Z. Metropolitan T.C. Nov. 19—Wellington T.C. Nov. 24, 26—Forbury Park T.C. Dec. 3—Waikato T.C. Melbourne Cup to-morrow at 5.15 (N.Z. time). Acceptances for the first day of the New Zealand Cup meeting are due at 5 p.m. to-day.

Paper Slipper got hung up in the tapes at the start of the Le Bons Handicap at Motukarara.

Alma, winner of last year’s Stewards’ Handicap, is unlikely to start at the meeting this year.

None of the New Zealand Cup horses finished in the money at the Banks Peninsula meeting, but their admirers need not be perturbed on that account. The final payment for the Trotting Cup is to be made to-day. There are likely to be a few defections, but not sufficient to reduce the field to desirable dimensions.

Arrangements are in tram for Lawn Derby to attack the record of 2.4 for an unhoppled pacer established by Nervie’s Last at Epsom. The attempt is scheduled to be made at the Auckland Trotting Club’s summer meeting.

The first half of the principal event at Hutt Park on Saturday was run at a slow pace and the contest resolved into a mile sprint, but Ferry Post won so easily that he will be in warm demand for his next engagement.

The field in the October Handicap at Wellington on Saturday dawdled for a mile, and enabled Harold Logan to bridge the long gap from 120 behind, but when the speed was applied the anrient had nothing in reserve.

Silver Guy gave two disappointing exhibitions at Hutt Park on Saturday, in the October Handicap being actually last home. Apparently the Washdyke pacer, who looked fit to race for a kingdom a few weeks ago, has trained off.

Milford will be ridden in the New Zealand Cup by G. Barclay. .In his recent races he has been capably handled by R. Humphries, but as Barclay can make the weight in the Cup the stable’s stronger horseman naturally is preferred.

Chirp, who credited E. J. Ellis’s stable with a win at Motukarara, is a threeyear filly by Full Feather from'Lucy Locket. She made her debut at Geraldine, and at her next appearance finished third at Dunedin. Lucy Locket (Boniform-Killena) won among other races a Waimate Cup.

Indian Scout, who showed promise a couple of years ago but had to be put aside last season, won both the races for unhoppled trotters at Invercargill on Saturday. The Washdyke gelding is a speedy customer who is likely to improve his record. Van Derby, who made a big impression at Epsom last week, is a halfbrother to Lawn Derby, and in blood is even more closely related to the Australian champion. Both are sons of Roselawn, Van Derby is by Globe Derby, while Lawn Derby is by Robert Derby (a son of Globe 15erby).

The big Jack Potts gelding Mazaire, who did not commence racing until he was well matured, was beaten again when well backed in his first outing at Hutt Park on Saturday, but made amends by scoring at his second start. The support which has been accorded Mazaire since his first appearance suggests that he has shown more than average promise in private.

In the President’s Handicap at Oamare Marsceres was left in front just after the start, and his failure to lead all the way in a two-miler was understandable. It was different at Wellington, and it seems that his five races for four wins at the August meeting at Addington took their toll of the Kerrytown pacer.

One reason why Ajax was preferred to Royal Chief for the Mackinnon Stakes (11 miles) at Flemington on Saturday, was that the New Zealander’s objective is the Melbourne Cup, and that he had not been tuned up for the shorter distance. Half way through the race Ajax was six lengths in front of his nearest opponent, and eight lengths or more ahead of Royal Chief.

Following are probable riders in the New Zealand Cup: G. H. Humphries, Argentic; A. E. Ellis, Willie Win; P. Atkins, Padishah; B. H. Morris, The Buzzer; S. Wilson, Arctic King; W. J. Broughton, Siegmund; H. N. Wiggins, Malagigi; A. C. Messervy, Tidewaiter; M. Caddy, Mungatoon; J. Mclnally, Sly Fox; G. Barclay, Milford; C. T. Wilson, Valantua; A. E. Bennett, Boomerang.

The £1 horse St. Constant, who collected £lOOO for second in the Caulfield Cup, added another £1750 to his earnings by annexing the Cantala Stakes at Flemington, and has now won over £4OOO since Mr Alan Cooper practically gave him to the Sydney trainer J. W. Cook a few months ago. St. Constant was weighted at 7.10 in the Melbourne Cup, and even with a penalty will have a lot of supporters.