RACING ON AND OFF THE TRACK

Timaru Herald, Volume CLIII, Issue 22529, 13 March 1943, Page 6

RACING ON AND OFF THE TRACK

First race at. Washdyke at 12.30 p.m. The Wellington autumn meeting is to be held to-day. Joy Dillon, who is to make her debut in the Kingsdown Handicap, is 10 years old. Strummer, another in the same race which has just been registered, is seven. Tire winning record for the Timaru Trotting Cup is 4.23, established by Dusky Sound. The record turnover for a Timaru Trotting Club meeting is £26,507, established at the autumn fixture last year. If the weather is fine this figure is likely to be considerably raised to-day. The Oamaru Trotting Club has again lost its May date, and if the Juvenile Stake Is to be preserved it will have to be run by the Jockey Club. This arrangement proved so advantageous last year that it can safely be assumed that it will be continued.

Apart from one day on the big course at Ashburton and maiden events at racing club meetings, all the harness racing in Canterbury this season has been done on dirt tracks. As a result, some surprises are likely with the transition to grass at Washdyke to-day. Undoubtedly the best field that ever competed in the Timaru Nursery Stakes —or in any other race for two-year-olds in New Zealand—was that of 1940. It included Shadow Maid (first division), Special Force, Walter Moore and Gold Chief. These stars were foaled in the season which produced also Certisslmus, Ronald Logan and Statuette.

Two well-known pacers will appear in unaccustomed colours in the Washdyke Handicap. Great Don, best known in the McTigue regalia, is now trained at Waikouaiti by J. F. O’Connell, who years ago was associated with Desborough’s Pride and other useful performers. The back gelding. Waipahi, long trained by A. Henderson for Mr W. McDonald, of Edendale, is now owned and trained at Oamaru by C. R. Grant. Bel Hamed is the obvious favourite for the Timaru Nursery Stakes, but she will not cripple speculation. Paul Collette will have a big following, and Extra Special (a winner at her only matinee appearance) does not belie her name. Imperial Lady, a half-sister to Gold Bar, has excellent public form, and Noble Scott is a colt with great possibilities. This does Hot exhaust the list of those whose connections are hopeful, and as the first juvenile classic of the season in this island the race will lose none of Its glamour. There is an abundance of speed in the 15 pacers engaged in the Washdyke Handicap to-day, but the handicaps unquestionably favour Haughty and Burt Scott. Haughty seldom loses much ground when she is not crowded at the barrier, and she is just as capable on grass as on dirt tracks. If the champion mare leaves the barrier reasonably’ well she should be the bet of the day from the luxury mark of 24. Burt Scott on 12 is another kindly treated by the system, but he is perhaps a shade better on clay and in any case does not make the same appeal as Haughty. Coquette seems to have claims for third place. Tlie coupling of Millisle and Parrish Guide will allow of only two place dividends in the Temuka Handicap to-day. R. Motz has put some condition on Allie Audubon, but the little mare is nearly 100 per cent unreliable, and a huge dividend should be posted if she succeeds. Timworthy can trot as fast as the next horse, but he too is undependable. Manian has not done much this season, but he is now meeting the opposition on favourable terms. Douglas McElwyn, with three wins and a second in four recent starts, is the logical favourite. Millisle has won twice lately, but in his last race at Addington he was labouring as if he had reached a hard mark. It is in his favour that he is trotting more evenly. His bracket-mate, Parrish Guide, would have better prospects if he could be relied upon to keep to his gait. A more reliable sort is Jimmy Drusus, who looks to be Douglas McElwyn’s toughest opponent. The roan mare, Mah Jong, has not revealed her best form lately. Timaru Cup

Most of the horses in the Timaru Trotting Cup raced in the Midsummer or the Durham Handicap at Addington last month. Great Blaze, Accountant and Gold Pot finished in that order In the Durham Handicap, with Sabu and Stormtost unplaced. Great Blaze has gone back 24 yards and Accountant 12. Of this quintette figures point to Accountant. Pacing Power won the Durham Handicap, Joan Conquest being fourth, and Toceetie, Single Star and Happy Man further back. Pacing Power has been pegged back 24 yards, and form seems to give Joan Conquest a pull. The other candidates are Burt Scott and Dusky Sound, on the wayback mark of 72 yards. Dusky Sound has been showing no dash, and if the pace is solid Burt Scott will probably find the gap too wide to bridge. The field promises to be of just the size desirable, and with no more B than four horses on any one mark the start should be a clean one. Great Blaze and Accountant are bracketed, and if both start the couplet will be in favour with place bettors. It appears that Joan Conquest will have most adherents among win backers of those on the limit. Sabu on grass may be better than Gold Pot from the 12 yard mark, and Accountant and Pacing Power will be preferred to Stormtost from 24. The placegetters may come from Joan Conquest, Accountant and Pacing Power.