RACING ON AND OFF THE TRACK

Timaru Herald, Volume CLIV, Issue 22671, 26 August 1943, Page 6

RACING ON AND OFF THE TRACK

It was intended to send the three-year-old, John o’ London, to Australia, but the project has been abandoned. A photograph of the finish of the Pakuranga Hunt Cup Steeplechase shows that Huirangi Sun had bored out so far that he had Forest Glen hard against the outside fence under the judge’s box when they crossed the line. Paul Collette, winner of the Three-year-old Stakes at Addington, traces back through his dam to the thoroughbred sire, Traducer. Landveyor had his old pilot, W. R. Hooton, back in the saddle when he won the Jellicoe Handicap at the Pakuranga meeting. The horse has always gone well for this jockey, and it was at the request of the owner that he was reinstated.

Following are the rehandicaps on Pakuranga Hunt winners engaged at the Taranaki and Egmont-Wanganui Combined meeting at Hawera:- Hunt Cup Steeplechase, Forest Glen 31b making 10.12; Ladies’ Necklace, Skyette 81b making 11.1; Waverley Hack Handicap, Skyette 31b making 8.3. Representative (Nightmarch-Praise), winner of the sprint at the Pakuranga meeting, is a brother to the New Zealand Cup winner, Serena ta. Last season he won the Avondale Guineas and Great Northern Guineas, but failed over longer distances. Last season Balfron had the distinction of being the first two-year-old to open his winning account, and Saturday saw’ him at his first appearance as a three-year-old. By Bulandshar from Legality, dam earlier of Bambury, Whirling, Marshall Hall, etc., Balfron should win in much better company. Monaco (24 yards’ in the handicaps for the Wingatui Trot at the Otago Hunt meeting, should have been Lonaco (scratch).

For the two days of the Wanganui Jockey Club's spring meeting, entries total 605. against 385 last year. These figures include 103 for the Wanganui Guineas, in which only 12 now remain. There are more than 60 nominations for the Maiden Race.

Countless lost ground when he got in a jam in the National Handicap, but it did not amount to 24 yards, his penalty in the August Handicap. Off the revised marks Parshall and Coquette appear to have excellent prospects of reversing last week’s platings. According to the assessment scale, Bomber should win the Intermediate Free-for-All for trotters, but last week Royal Worthy, Margin and Gerfalcon were the best on figures, and none finished in the first two. The winner was Manian, who had the slowest mark of the whole field.

Gold Bar has dropped out of the sprint race at Addington and is to start in the August Handicap. If the track is dry and Gold Bar begins smoothly, the race is likely to be different from the National Handicap, in which the first mile occupied 2.16. This may be Gold Bar’s last race until the autumn.

The Dozer did not get round in his first essay as a steeplechaser, but he has schooled proficiently and is entitled to another chance. The Dozer displayed stamina when he made a farce of the Grand National Hurdles two years ago, and he has plenty of pace. It will be disappointing if he proves a failure as a steeplechaser. On figures, the Avon Handicap next Saturday appears to be a gift for Manian, but free-for-all form does not always work out correctly in handicaps. A few years ago Gold Bank won the All-Aged Stakes from the back mark, and appeared to have a mortgage on a handicap in which he came in on many seconds better terms. In spite of his pull, Gold Bank failed persistently.