ON AND OFF THE TRACK

Timaru Herald, Volume CLVIII, Issue 23319, 1 October 1945, Page 7

ON AND OFF THE TRACK

The weather was beautifully, fine for the Otago Hunt meeting and the 'track had dried remarkably. There were, however, a few soft spots which made the going chancy. With the benefit of a 71b allowance and a run on the inside, Weld Cona was too good for the opposition in the Vauxhall Handicap, and after next Saturday he will be Ineligible for hack races. He should hold his own in the higher grade. A very confident opinion is said to be held in Wellington that full restoration of racing and trotting permits, and restriction on mid-week racing, is not far away. There is said to be a prospect of a return to Carnival Week dates at Riccarton and Addington in November. F. P. Brosnan drove his first winner since his discharge from the Army when he piloted Battle On past the post in the Brookville Trot at Dunedin. A four-year-old by Sandyvale from Merre’s Pride. Battle On is raced jointly by the trainer and Mr A. McFarlane. Boloyna's win in the Hunters’ Flat at Wingatui was his first since he was purchased for £6OO over a year ago by Mi' P. Evans, of Wellington, and it was unfortunate that he had to lose it on a protest. Forage just failed to lead all the way in the Hunters’ Flat at Dunedin. He revealed unsuspected pace, and as he hit only one fence at Orari a hurdle race may •Come his Way soon. Bali, the form horse in the hurdle race at the Hunt meeting, was only fourth in order of favouritism, and paid a surprisingly liberal price. He is now officially trained by W. P. Hogan. Bali has scored three wins and a second in his last five starts. Sphere had been given an easy time since the Grand National meeting, and he just failed to see out the mile in the Tally-Ho Handicap. Sharpened up by the race he should be an improved horse next Saturday. The Otago Hunt Cup winner, Islay Downs, is trained at Riverton by J. Thistleton for Mr W. D. McLeod (Gore), formerly well-known in trotting circles. Flying Hawk followed up his third in the Geraldine Cup by defeating everything except Psalm in the Tally-Ho Handicap. His performance suggested that the Hunters’ Flat would have been a good thing for him if he had been reserved for it. Victory Flight, sister to Royal Flight, would have been in favour for the McLean Stakes on the family representation. She displayed sufficient dash in the “parade" at the Otago Hunt meeting to ensure her more than such vicarious support, and will probably be No. 1 selection. Psalm's finishing dash in the TallyHo Handicap removed any doubts that might have been entertained of her ability to run out the Guineas distance’. Last spring the Invercargill .filly was very much superior to the other South Island two-year-olds, and if she lines up in good order next Saturday she is likely to cripple speculation. Although Lord Brolefort was idle for some time after he was injured at the Grand National meeting, he was surprisingly installed favourite for the hurdle race at Dunedin. Prior to the meeting he had his tail hurt in a schooling collision, and in the race he was interefered with at the first hurdle. He will do better when his confidence is restored, but is unlikely to race at the Dunedin meeting. There was another unfortunate incident in the Hunters’ Flat at Dunedin, a protest being lodged against the first horse. Boloyna at the instance of Forage’s rider, D. Dawson. Boloyna bumped Forage about a furlong from home and Dawson claimed that this caused his mount to stumble. R. Heasley, rider of Boloyna, stated that when he was going for his whip it caught in the reins. Boloyna ran in and’ collided with Forage. After considerable consideration the judicial committee decided to award the race t.o Forage. It appeared as if Boloyna would have won if there had been no interference. Night Believer has joined the team of E. Rosewarne and he will be got ready for hurdle racing. He has already shown some aptitude for jumping and he is in excellent .condition to be prepared for an early race.