RACING ON AND OFF THE TRACK

Timaru Herald, Volume CLIII, Issue 22474, 8 January 1943, Page 6

RACING ON AND OFF THE TRACK

The first race at Wingatui tomorrow is timed for 11.45 a.m. Night Lancer, who has been left in the Hazlett Gold Cup, has only a second in a novice race at Gore to his credit. He is weighted 101 b below the top in the maiden race at Dunedin. Horses trained in Southland have won 31 races and more than £lO,OOO this season. Kraal was omitted from the acceptors for the Bowen Handicap at Auckland. The 1941 Melbourne Cup and Derby winner. Skipton, who has been a disappointment since, has broken down and is not likely to be trained again this season. When A. E. Ellis rode Kindergarten to victory in the Auckland Cup at Ellerslie on Boxing Day, he gained his third success in that event. Previously he had won on Fast Passage in 1932 and on Beau Vite in 1940. La Serena, winner of the Junction Plate, at Marton, is a two-year-old filly by Phaleron Bay from Martial Lady and is a full-sister to Dominate and closely related to Beau Vite. La Serena is trained at Hastings by J. H. Jefferd. Indian Princess is the only three-year-old in the Wellington Cup. There was support for Happy Ending in the open sprint at Marton. This is evidence that he is all right again, and he will be ready for an attempt to win a second Wellington'Cup. When Molten (Paper Money-Lava) was auctioned at the Gladstone Park sale she had a foal at foot by Man's Pal and was in foal to Battle Song. The foal was Olga’s Pal (winner of the Foal Stakes). The later produce is one of the lots entered for the yearling sales this month. In the Southland Cup in November, Secret Flight was weighted 261 b above Military Maid. As a result of her win in the Waikouaiti Cup, Military Maid was placed on the same mark as Secret Flight in the Dunedin Jockey Club Handicap. From 7.0 in the Dunedin Cup. Military Maid has gone up to 8.7 in the Jockey Club Handicap. After the Auckland Cup. A. E. Ellis was credited with the statement that Kindergarten was never going more than three-quarter pace, and that if he had been let go he could have lowered his time by four seconds: Three-quarter pace in 3.22! And four seconds faster would have meant winning by 80 yards! Something the jockey did say was that Kindergarten would not gallop until seven furlongs from home, at which stage he was third last. Passing the stand the first time, Ellis was niggling at the top-weight, and it was not till the three furlongs post that the race was won. “Macedoine” has been on everybody’s lips in the south, but not everybody knows what they are tasting. The popular rendering of the little filly’s name is Massydoyne. A few people pronounce it Macedo-ine, believing it to represent a woman of Macedonia. Actually it is derived from the name of her sire, Salmagundi. Salmagundi is a stew of chpped fish, meat and vegetables; Macedoine is a broth of mixed vegetables, something like soup stock. The correct pronunciation appears to be Ma-cee-dwan. Tire prospect of a meeting between Royal Lancer and Lord Nufiteld—the South Island’s star stayer and sprinter respectively—over a mile in the Hazlett Gold Cup has been arousing considerable interest. There seemed to be a popular impression that the distance might be a bit short for the Cup winner, but he is a quick beginner, and he revealed sprinting ability by running the last half mile in the Invercargill Cup. on a course with a dip at the three furlongs, in better than 48 3-ssec. Royal Lancer should be favourite. Another clash between Invulnerable and Royal Flight will be one of the highlights at Wingatui on Saturday. In the Champagne Stakes Invulnerable was flat out to give the filly one pound. In the handicap this week he is required to concede 61b, and cold figures appear to favour Royal Flight. It is believed, however, that the gelding was not at his best on Boxing Day. After winnings the McLean Shakes in October, Invulnerable was in a bad way with a poisoned foot, and he did not look nearly so muscular on his reappearance. Some improvement can be expected from him. The result will be interesting, as a decisive win for Invulnerable would establish him as No. 1 two-year-old. The cash bettor who caused a sensation by winning £14,000 at Flemington on Derby day and £7OOO on Cup day, went on to collect £lO,OOO on Williamstown Cup day and another £7OOO at Ment%ne. It has been revealed that he is Michael Pitt, a Polish Jew manufacturer operating four woollen mills on war contracts. He came to Melbourne in 1928, and until three years ago had never been on a racecourse. He has made his big hauls by playing up winnings, but never doubles up in endeavours to recover losses. He dislikes betting heavily when the going is bad. Mr Pitt shows that he is a shrewd operator by refraining from attempting to anticipate stable moves. He prefers to let the owner and connections get their money on tefore he operates—and by so doing is sure of a run.