RACING ON AND OFF THE TRACK

Timaru Herald, Volume CLI, Issue 22203, 21 February 1942, Page 8

RACING ON AND OFF THE TRACK

A Budget Of News And Views FIXTURES flaring Feb 21—Waikato R.C Feb. 21—Westland R.C. Feb. 21—Woodville J.C. Feb. 28—Dunedin J.C Feb. 28—Taranaki J.C. Feb. 28—Te Aroha J.C. Feb. 28—Greymouth J.C. ■'rotting p eb 21 —New Brighton TO March 7—lnvercargill T.C March 14—Timaru T.C. March 21—Wyndham T.C. March 21—Cambridge T.C. March 21—Westland T.C. March 28—Ashburton T.C First race at New Brighton at 12.0. The Caulfield Futurity Stakes is to be run at Flemington this afternoon. There will be racing to-day at Te Rapa (Waikato), Hokitika, and Ashhurst (Woodville Club). St. Cloud, Jolly Time, Full Pitch. Ryetown and Winchelsea are unlikely to start at Hokitika to-day. ' Betting systems to-day: Win and place at Te Rapa and New Brighton; single pool at Woodville and Hokitika. Gentility has been leased to a West Coast owner, and will be a starter in the Maiden Stakes at Hokitika. If she is unable to win there she will hardly be worth persevering with. Some day Jock McGrath will trot correctly and then will win by a street, but the odds are long against him doing so, and he appears to be a good horse to forget. There will be only seven pacers at Hokitika this afternoon. The acceptors are the same in each race—a 2.27 mile and 3.43 mile and a half. Hearth is in two races at the Westland meeting, but if she is to run in the Dunedin Cup the Anniversary Handicap <1 mile) is the one likely to be selected for her. A win to-day would make her liable to a penalty at Dunedin, but in view of the moderate class at Hokitika and the small stake it is unlikely that one would be imposed. Mauretania has been raised only a few pounds at Hokitika for her Motukarara win, and is relatively much better treated on the Coast than at Wingatul. She should be favourite today. Rabble, an acceptor for the Highweight at Hokitika, is in receipt of 181 b from the hack sprinter Jolly Time. Two or three years ago Rabble won the Teschemakej- Handicap at Washdyke from a strong field with 8.4 and in the Timaru Cup established a track record of 2.3 3-5. It is understood that the Wellington Trotting Club is endeavouring to secure the presence of Certissimus at its autumn meeting. The champion trotter has not raced in the North Island so far. and there will be a record gate if he appears at Hutt Park. Certissimus is the greatest drawcard on four legs to-day. Rawhamal appears to be the “figure” horse in the sprint at Hokitika, in the absence of Hearth, but he is small and the high scale of weights might beat him. The hurdle rider I. Rohloff, who recently returned to New Zealand after spending two seasons in Victoria, has decided to go back to Australia, and will leave before the end of the month. Par Avion was ridden by Broughton on the first day at Egmont and by Vaughan on the second, but for neither horseman would lie try. He has become a problem horse. The effort to convert Lord Cavendish into a jumper is not meeting with much success. He gave two deplorable exhibitions at the Egmont meeting, and obviously does not like the business. The Caulfield Futurity Stakes, a £3OOO race run over seven furlongs at welght-for-age with penalties and allowances, has been a good event for Dominion-bred horses. High Caste won it last year with 10.6 (including a 201 b penalty), Gold Rod won in 1937; Synagogue dead-heated with Heros In 1935; Ammon Ra won in 1932, Phar Lap the year before. Back in 1921 J. M. Cameron won with The Hawk, and the next year Father’s Voice won for Mr W. G. Stead.

If the Wellington Trotting Club is able to secure the appearance of Certissimus at Hutt Park, an attempt to lower the mile and a half record for trotters would be a draw. The young trotter’s ability to establish new figures is not in doubt. When the Wellington meeting comes up for decision he will probably have had two races at Addington to sharpen him up. His trainer eased him up when the Trotters' Championship was abandoned by the Canterbury Park Club, and he was on the lusty side when h<_ contested the substituted handicap event. He is such a poor doer and of such equable temperament that he quickly puts rm condition. A smart gallop by Travancore in company with the Wellington Stakes winner, Nizam, should bring him into favour for the Juvenile Handicap at Te Rapa. Travancore failed to show up ifi his only start at Auckland, but the going was soft. At his only other start he scored an impressive win in the Hastings Stakes. Among the brood mares listed for sale at Hamilton yesterday was Oratrix. winner of the New Zealand Cup in 1928. Oratrix, by Kilbroney from Oratress, was foaled in 1923, so she is 19 years old. Odtaa, who won the Rotorua Cup. is in favour for the Storey Memorial at Te Rapa. He is a brother to Scotland, who captured this double.Surprises are customary in middle distance races in Auckland province, and there may be one in the Store)' Memorial at Te Rapa to-day. Lou Rosa is No. 1 with 9.6, a good horse’s weight, but Lou Rosa is a good horse. Foxola, Volifox and Clinch all have form to recommend them, and Gay Rosette is up only 31b for her second in the Takapuna Cup. Odtaa annexed the Rotorua Cup last week, and Sea Law is bred to stay though he has not yet tackled the distance <ll furlongs) Backers may select Gay Rosette, Clinch and Odtaa. Anglo-Irish had a slight attack of kidney trouble after racing at Gore but quickly shook it off. Bow Street and Filibeg were both galloped on at Gore, but neither sustained serious injury.