RACING NEWS & VIEWS

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 10, Issue 39, 18 October 1946, Page 3

RACING NEWS & VIEWS

A Great Weight Carrier As far back as thirty and forty years ago this country raced horses that in point of performance the best of today could not excel, either as speedsters or weight carriers. Mr G. G. Stead’s Machine Gun. carried 11.5 to victory at a Cantrebury Jockey Club meeting in the record time of 58secs for five furlongs, which stood for 40 years, until in 1945 Blue Trout scampered over the distance in 57 4-ssecs. North and South Times Throughout the winter and early spring southern tracks are more negotiable than those in the North. At Riccarton last week half-miles were run in 494- seconds, while at Ellerslie 53 to 57 seconds were recorded, and at Te Rapa 53 to 56. This should mean that North Island horses should gallop fast at Riccarton,, for being trained on heavy tracks they o appreciate drier ground. Better As He Goes On The seven year old Baffles—Prickles gelding, Hullabaloo, scored one of his best successes by winning the Ling Handicap at Otaki. The halfbrother to Bramble Song scored in a field of 20 with a truly brilliant finishing run. His backers were enthustically thrilled with the result for the win dividend exceeded £4O. A Solid Performance Capronella, by Kincardine—Vanestep winner of good races last season and who accounted for the two principal events at the Hawke’s Bay meeting, is a grand-daughter of Warstep by Martian, one of the Dominion’s best thirty years ago. Retired The Dunedin mare, Royal Flight by Salmagundi—Francolin, lately brought back from Australia has been retired from the turf. During her short career she won £4970 in stakes.