RACING ON AND OFF THE TRACK

Timaru Herald, Volume CLIV, Issue 22701, 30 September 1943, Page 6

RACING ON AND OFF THE TRACK

There will be racing next Saturday at Hastings and Paeroa (Ohinemuri Club). There is an idea abroad that about a dozen more trotting permits will be made available before the season ends. Filibeg. Gold Nuggett, Atua Rere, Kohara, Makarewa and a Sir Simper gelding appear among the entrants for the hurdle race at Dunedin. Hearth, St. Cloud, Gold Flight and Silver Sox have been weighted for both the open handicaps (10i and 6 furlongs) at Dunedin. Royal Flight is in the Telegraph Handicap, but it is definite that she will run in the Guineas. First In, who was favourite for the Raukapuka Handicap at Orari, began badly. At Dunedin, she will be able to meet the winner Gold Branch on 141 b better terms. The best of the Hawke’s Bay juveniles in the Hastings Stakes is believed to be Mr W. H. Gaisford’s Silvestre, by Vaals from Silver Rule. Another smart one is Golden Bard, a half-brother to Taurangi. So far six of the 36 three-year-olds remaining in the New Zealand Trotting Derby (to be run in November) have been transferred to the Trotting Stakes at Easter. No doubt others will be included before final forfeit is due for the Derby. There is going to be no easy money in handicaps for Lord Chancellor. The four-year-old has been allotted top weight of 9.6 in the Mitchelson Cup at Ellerslie. His stable mate Representative is on 8.13. The Waikouaiti Racing Club has decided to adopt the single enclosure system. This is becoming general in the South Island, and is gaining ground in the North. Since racing at the Avondale meeting Mr Rosa has made first-rate progress. This half-brother to Lou Rosa will contest the Great Northern Guineas, and will be a vastly improved horse when he steps out in that event. When Balfron won the Nursery Handicap at Ellerslie last May, Mr Rosa was less than half a length away in third place, and he is likely to keep Balfron busy in the mile event. Huirangi Sun, winner of three hunt cups in the winter, one of which he lost on protest, is reported to have freshened up since he last raced, and is being prepared at New Plymouth to contest the Onehunga Steeplechase at the Auckland spring meeting. Following this, he will run in the Waikato Hunt Cup at Cambridge on Labour Day, and then will be put aside till the autumn. Described as one of the most attractive and best-grown two-year-olds in Southland is Irish Pal. a chestnut gelding by Man’s Pal from Irish Fling. He was a handful when first put into training by C. Low, but he has settled down and is now a very sensible type of youngster. In the little sprinting he has done he has handled himself well and should be in good order for the McLean Stakes. Irish Fling is a half-sister to Wild Career, Secret Flight and Fair Trial. Makarewa, who has been nominated for the hurdle race at Wingatui, is one of the Hazlett team. He is a four-year-old by Manitoba, and was recently imported from Melbourne. The Sir Simper gelding entered for the race is out of Glentruin’s Daughter, and has been named Scottish Glen. Neither is likely to start at the Dunedin meeting.

Royal Flight has attracted most attention of Dunedin Guineas candidates which have raced this season, but she has not been required to do anything that her two-year-old form did not make easy for her. Not so much has been heard of Invulnerable, but last season Royal Lancer’s half-brother was superior to the filly. The problem to be solved is whether he has trained on equally well. At a recent meeting at Randwick, Air Cell finished last. A week later at the Canterbury meeting he bolted in first by half a dozen lengths, and the inevitable demonstration followed. The alibi accepted was that in the first race he was struck on an eye by a clod. It would have been more satisfactory if that information had been forthcoming after the first race, and it would not be unjust to decline to accept such excuses unless the incident is reported when it occurs.