ON AND OFF THE TRACK

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLVIII, Issue 21573, 8 February 1940, Page 9

ON AND OFF THE TRACK

A Budget of News And Views FIXTURES Racing; Feb. 8, 10—Egmont. Feb. 10, 12—Poverty Bay. Feb. 10, 12—Gore. Feb. 10, 12—Rotorua. Feb. 16, 17—Winton. Feb. 17—Tolaga Bay. Feb. 17—Opunake. Feb. 17, 19—Waikato. Feb. 22, 24—Dunedin. Trotting: Feb. 10—Canterbury Park T.C. Feb. 10, 14—Auckland T.C. Feb. 17, 19— Manawatu T.C. Feb. 17—New Brighton T.C. Once again T. R. George won a race with his less-fancied candidate when Trench Law succeeded at Wanganui and Pearl of Asia was only third.

Talenta, with an inexperienced rider in the saddle ran fourth at Wanganui to Air Flight. A change of horsemen at Hawera this weak might cause the Tiderace filly to advance in favour.

Dark Eagle's second to Pekoe at Wanganui is worth keeping in mind for the Egmont meeting this week. Dark Eagle does not race very often, but his connections have a fairly high opinion of him.

With three wins at Wanganui B. H. Morris carried his season’s tally to 12 points behind H. N. Wiggins and five pointe behind W. J. Broughton. He should overtake Broughton before the latter's suspension ends.

, Two more juvenile winners came | along on Saturday when the Hunting Song colt Gold Money Song won at Matamata and the Magnus gelding j Retrogression won at Riccarton. There | have now been 43 different two-year- | old winners this term. Not Out was eligible to run in the Post Handicap at Riccarton on Saturday only because nominations were ! taken the day between his two wins ! at Trentham. As a result, he was able j to earn £770 for firsts as a hack prior I to being compelled to race in open I grade.

Some big place dividends were paid on non-winners at Matamata, these ranging up to two score. Lord Ace

was 19-19, in order of favouritism, Sir Lysander 12-11, Agricola 10-8. and Valsome 12-12. Among the winners. Little Artist was 9-9, Town Section 7-9, and Erlick 7-7.

At a Melbourne meeting recently Mr G. J. Barton won a two-year-old race with All Veil (by Veilmond), for which he paid 250 gns. at the Randwick sales last Easter, on the same afternoon Bursay (Pink Coat—Victory Bond) was beaten by only a head in a sprint handicap. Chatsbury, who beat him, is one of the favourites for the Newmarket.

On Wanganui running, Classform appears to hold excellent prospects in the Egmont Cup. In the Wanganui CUp She Was jbst beaten by Siegmund by a neck, but she defeated him by a length on the second day on practically the same terms as will exist at i Hawera. One that may cause her j most concern is the consistent gelding i Gay Mimic.

Following ar<? the nominations for the Dunedin Cup.—Alma, Atua Rere. Balmentet, Capricious, Lord Puck. Mona’s Song, Night Dress, Night Pai, Norseman, Peony Rose, Queen of Song, Sovereign Lady, Settlement, Sailing Lady, Swordstick, Sparkle, Thermidon Valantua, Wild Career, Willie Win. Some of these are likely to do their racing in less pretentious company.

Although Amigo returned to his best form to win the Campbell Handicap at Wanganui, it is claimed that Slack Thread was the Unlucky runner in the race. The Gisborne gelding made a strong challenge turning for home, but the tiring pacemakers came back on hiin and the check allowed Amigo to gain the deciding break. Black Thread is at the trip of his form just now.

The four-year-old Te Hero, by Heroic from Prodice, returned from Australia last week and is back at Te

Awamutu. AS a result of his misbehaviour at the barrier, the stipendiary stewards of the Australian Jockey Club recommended that his nomination for future races be refused, and he has been purchased since by Mr A. R. Kay. Te Hero was bought for stud purposes, but he may be given another trial on the tracks.

Hector- Gray, who was associated with the early education of the champion pacer Parisienne, is part-owner with D. R. Revell of a promising two-year-old in Earl's Guide. At the matinee meeting held at Auckland she won the Two-year-old Trial of one mile and drew attention to her prospects for the Great Northern Trotting Stakes. It is considered that she should be capable of extending Diamond Gem, from R. B. Berry’s stable, in that race.

It is rather interesting to note that at the Inter-Dominion meeting Icevus is classed as a New Zealander and Evicus as a Tasmanian, although Evicus has been trained here the longer. Five years ago Evicus was labelled New Zealand although she had spent only a few months here. The official Dominion representatives at the current meeting are Icevus, Uenuku. Grand Mogul and Supertax although the two last-named are understood to have been sold to Westralian owners. Among those accredited by the West Australian Association are Tempest, Cloudy Range, and Golden Cross.

The sum of £3lOO has been allotted to the grand final in the inter-Domin-ion series at Perth, compared with £2250 at Addington, but the prizemoney for the qualifying races is on a much lower scale. Only £1125 is to be given for these events, compared with £2250 at Addington, and for handicap races only £l5O is provided.

The Te Aroha Club has received a strong nomination for the Herries Memorial Cup, of £lOOO and gold cup valued £5O, one mile and three furlongs.—Royal Appellant, Balinavar. Bronwen, Saccone, Jack Tar, Gamos. Gladynev, Proud Fox, Brazilian, Kelly, Rarotonga, Our Jean, Pern, Golden Sheila, Paddy the Rip, Eastern Heir, Mintlaw, Notium, Moorsotis, Beau Repaire, Pirate King, Lady Montana, Kathbella, Yogi, Hot Box, Royevrus, The Cardinal, Scotland, Fils de Vaals, Erlick.

The Gfeenmeadows-trained Gay Mimic has been outstanding for consistency. This five-year-old gelding by Mimetic out of Princess Ngata started the season twice unplaced and then ran into a place in each of his next 10 starts. This run included three wins, three seconds and four thirds. He started twice at Trentham in top class unplaced but without being disgraced in either, immediately after Trentham he ran twice for a “double” victory at Pahiatua, winning the Cup and the open race on the second day. He then ran fourth in the Wanganui Cup before winning the Earle Stakes on the second day. For a hofse With his record he was surprisingly neglected on the machine at Wanganui. Gay Mimic promises to be hard to beat in the Egmont Cup.

There is a striking difference between the methods of selecting the grand champion at the inter-Domin-ion meeting in Perth, compared with that employed at Addington two years ago. At Addington points were allotted for first, second and third In each heat, and also for first, second and third fastest times, but it was necessary for a horse to finish in a place before it could be credited with points for time. Under this system it .was possible for a backmarker to finish fourth (in fastest time) in each division and earn no pointe, and consequently be ineligible for the final. At Perth, points are awarded to the horses making fastest times irrespective of their positions at the finish, and the title of grand champion will be conferred on the fastest horse at the meeting, even if it is never in a place. If the winner of the final is not the horse selected as grand champion, the first prize of £2OOO is to be divided equally between the winner and the grand champion. Thus it Is possible for the fastest horse to win £1223 without gaining a place in any of the divisions or the final, as £75 is awarded for fastest in each division.