RACING ON AND OFF THE TRACK

Timaru Herald, Volume CLV, Issue 22792, 17 January 1944, Page 6

RACING ON AND OFF THE TRACK

During the Vincent meeting Mr G. H. i-aiu soiu Divorced to two inembers or me rarara lamuy, ot Omaxau. Tne Hazietl Cup Winner, Aurora Australis, was not taken to me vmcent meeting, our she may have a run m me vv niton cup next monm.

f. Cranagner nad rour anves in the two trots at Gore, ana scored three wins. Tne mast successim or me omer remsmeu was u. uiuwe, wno is attacned to j. Waisns staoie.

A penect Central Otago summer day attracted a record ciowa to me resuscitated Vincent meeting last Saturday. Tne gate receipts were more man 50 per cent in excess oi anytmng previously registered at tne course. At omakau on Saturday two norses were auctioned in me Birdcage. Tne pacer vault, who haa won a division, was Knocked down lor gzjgns, and tne ganoper carpos tor 35gns. Mr W. E. rraziett, banned over nan ot tne proceeds to tne Club. Tne benents or irrigation were again illustrated at tne vmcent course at ivlataxanui (Omakau;. Central Otago is experiencing a ary spell wnicn nas Drowned on veroage everywhere, out tne race track was green ana wen grassed. rvext to the margin by which Don Quex won me Wellington cup, the most notable thing aoout his success was tne remarxauie divided he paid, on form ne snouid not nave oeen lower man No. 2 in order ot favouritism.

jonn Gay’s Telegraph was not his first important spruit success at Trentnam. He won tne tiouu Metropolitan Handicap mere a year ago. rne grey is brimant out erratic. Alter collapsing at nve furlongs tn the (stewards he almost won the seven turlong Members. At his last start (at Invercargill; prior to the Telegraph he gave an inainerent display. Subdued got within 3-ssec of the New Zealand and Australian record when she won the Wellington Stakes in 58 3-5. She vindicated the high opinion of her admirers by beating Nawab by five lengths. Interest win now centre in a possible meeting between the pair at six or seven later m the season. Nawab is at present rather leggy and light-barrelled, and probably nas more scope for improvement.

The Trentham track was particularly last on Saturday. Subdued established a course record in the Wellington Stakes, and John Gay another in the Telegraph Handicap. Their times are not me fastest recorded at Trentham, but a few years ago nearly all the records were expunged owing to a resurvey of the track revealing that it was a trifle short. Kindergarten’s failure in the Wellington Cup should not have occasioned surprise. He was attempting something never accomplished anywhere, and it was fairly obvious that he was not as good as when he won the Auckland Cup. The freak horse did n t win his second Canterbury Cup nearly as easily as his first, and he had not had sufficient racing to be thoroughly fit for a fast two miles. It will be regrettable if the effort has jeopardised his future.

As there were only seven approved hurdle riders, L. Hare on Collection carried 71b penalty in the Highweight at Oamakau. Coy 477, Boolamskee 415, Red Prize 375 and Carpos 368 were all well backed. The ancient Invoice led out with Red Prize, and at the six he was clear of Red Prize and Boolamskee, Divorced and Carpos. Red Prize and Boolamskee piloted Divorced and Carpos to the straight, but Coy, who had drifted along the back, made a great run wide out and beat Boolamskee by half a length. Carpos was a neck away, with a similar margin to Divorced.

The Salmagundi three-year-old Incrutable was a little better backed than Dearo for the Novice Handicap at Omakau. My Mistake prejudiced his chance by bolting before the start. Silver Scene and Kiloney led along the back from Dearo, but across the top Kiloney and Inscrutable were in command from Latest Song. Kiloney kept his neck in front until a few strides from the post, where Inscrutable beat him by a head. Latest Song was four or five lengths away, clear of Dearo. Inscrutable was W. E. Hazlett’s first winner at Omakau, a course wilitb ne was visiting for the first time. As there were 19 starters on the limit, the New Year Trot at Vincent had to be run in divisions. J. Walsh’s Gore stable provided the favourites in Royal Gamble-Vault, the Washdyke representative Minmi Boy being second choice. Sura Wave (P. Gallagher) was in the front line all the way in the se'cond division and won comfortably from Redcliffe Direct who would have made things difficult if he had not been pocketed tn the straight. Minmi Boy reared at the start of the second division, and made a costly break during the running. Walsh's second string Vault was always one of the leaders, and eventually scored easily from Sylvia Direct, who ran into second place across the top. In a Held of three in the Moran Memorial at Omakau, Paladeo was elected favourite, but Hearth took command at barrier rise and was never headed, winning by nearly four lengths from Paladeo, who had to be ridden hard to defeat Nightcalm by a head. From a fine field for the Clare Memorial at Omakau. backers selected Bridgehead 1079 and Royal Rae 798. Bridgehead and Royal Rae led Silver Mask past the stand from a perfect start, and halfway along the back the two were racing nearly in line. Across the top Bridgehead and Royal Rae were attended by Red Prize and Boolamskee, with Kohara and Courtdress moving up. Bridgehead was weakening as they straightened for home, and with a furlong to go Boolamskee headed Royal Rae. Kohara wide out and Courtdress near the rails finished very fast, and the verdict went to Kohara by a head from Boolamskee, who defeated Courtdress by half a head. Royal Rae was at the head ot the next bunch, a length away. P. Gallagher’s bracket—First Degree and Minmi Boy—carried the confidence of backers in the Vincent Trotting Stakes and they collected the whole pool. First Degree was accompanied by Elation to the home turn in the first division, then went away to win without being extended from the penalised Vault, who finished very strongly. Elaine Travis led out from Minmi Boy in the second heat, but at the six furlongs Minmi Boy had »dropped back several lengths behind Elaine Travis and Lauder Girl. Across the top Elaine Travis and Lauder Girl 1 were being gathered by Minmi Boy and More Expense, and in the run home Minmi Boy easily disposed of More Expense and Royal Gamble. Penalised 31b for her win Hearth was installed a strong favourite for the Omakau Challenge Cup sprint. Papette lost ground at the start. Nightcalm, Royal Rae and Hearth raced in line along the back, but across the top Hearth was shading Royal Rae, with Paladeo in third plae. Hearth appeared to be going best as they commenced the last two furlongs, but Paladeo put in a strong run and won by a length from Royal Rae. Hearth, who appeared to be chopped back, was three lengths away. Green Note, Prince Leighon, Silver Mask. Kiloney ar.d Divorced carried big investments on the Ophir Hack, the final race at the Vincent meeting. Green Note soon worked to the front, followed by Inscrutable, Silver Mask and Prince Leighon, and the favourite was still in control half a furlong from home. Then Inscrutable gradually wore her down and scored his second win of the afternoon by half a length from Green Note. Divorced and Silver Mask almost dead-heated for third three lengths away.