HORSES FOR COURSES

Press, Volume LXXXII, Issue 24898, 11 June 1946, Page 6

HORSES FOR COURSES

RACING

PLATFORM’S RECORD AT WINGATUI As a consistent performer at the Dunedin Jockey Club’s winter meeting, platform's record rivals that of Arabian Night. When he won the Birthday Handicap on the opening day of the meeting just concluded, it was tlie fourth year in succession that this Night Raid gelding had been successful. In 1943 he wan the Provincial Handicap at his only appearance at the meeting. The next year he was second to Boloyna in the Birthday Handicap, and dead-heated lor first in the Provincial Handicap. Last year he was second to Arabian Night in the Provincial Handicap, and on the final day won the King George Handicap This year Platform won the Birthday Handicap decisively, and with a little more luck in the running would have wan the Provincial Handicap instead of being third, as he was finishing faster than anything else m With *a Ce second in the King George Handicap on Saturday, Platform brought his stakes total to the creditable sum oi £4647. He has been racing since he was a two-year-old, arid has contested 7° races for 13 firsts, nine seconds, and seven thirds. He is now eight years old, and has done all his racing far his trainer, Mr F. J. Boyle, of Heddon Bush, Southland. He was held 09 lease for several seasons, but was purchased outright about a year ago. It was reported recently that Platform had been sold for .00 guineas, but had failed to pass a veterinary examination. If that report was correct the prospective buyer was unlucky, as Platform has won £lO9O since then. The gelding shows considerable jumping ability, but while he maintains his form on the flat his appearance as a jumper will be delayed. Like most of the Night Raid breed he has worn well, and he does well in soft going.

C.J.C.’s Successful Year „ . . The committee of the Canterbury Jockey Club reports a satisfactory result of the year’s operations. A further £2OOO has been set aside for stand replacement, and after making provision for depreciation and taxation, a profit of £1847 7s 5a remains, says the annual report, me balance-sheet shows that Government taxes for the year amounted to £56,741 18s 9d, while a further reserve of £20,000 is held to meet the club’s income-tax dues. During the year the sum of £10,138 15s 2d was paid in salaries and wages. The main source of income waS from the totalisator, which yielded £131,489 9s; but totalisator tax aggregated £56,741 18s. Shortage of Light-weight Jockeys The Invercargill horseman G. Barclay recently decided to move his headquarters to Awapuni. Barclay can go to scale at 7st 71b, and should not lack opportunities in the North Island. His departure further depletes the ranks of light-weight jockeys in the South Island, but because of the limited opportunities offering in the South Island it is not surprising. With two jumping and two trotting events on country clubs’ programmes, a maximum of four rides a day is obtainable, and this number is further reduced if there happens to be a race for apprentice or amateur riders on the programme. For several years the shortage of light-weight riders .in the South Island has caused trainers some concern. At the present time there are only eight fully qualified jockeys available to ride work at Riccarton, excluding those who also hold a trainer's licence; and only two of these can be classed as light-weights.

Success Overdue _ The three-year-old gelding, Knight Crusader, deserved his success in the Electric Stakes at Wingatui on Saturday, as he had previously been placed second five times. In three races he was unlucky in meeting a novice above the average. The first occasion was in a division of the Cashmere Plate at Riccarton last August, when Bruce beat him; the second at Riverton at Easter, where he ran up against Alamode; and on the first day at the Dunedin meeting he met Wild Note. Knight Crusader should pay his way. He is a three-year-old by Medieval Knight from Vidi Vici, a half-sister by Acre to that good hurdler and steeplechaser Erination, and was purchased at Trentham as a yearling by Mr A. N. Smith, the owner of Arabian. Night, for 320 guineas. Efforts Not Good Enough Foreign Ways has found it hard to clear maiden company. Although he did not look like winning in his three races at Wingatui, he was finishing on on each occasion, and his turn cannot be far off. He is now trained at Orari by L. H. Pratt. In the Right Mood The Foxbrfdge filly Eudora is temperamental on race days, but when in the mood she acts like a good performer. She gave the opposition in the Domain Handicap at Wingatui no chance, and recorded her second success to date. Her only previous success was also gained at Wingatui. Eudora, which cost 650 guineas as a yearling, comes from the same family as Piodice, Ammon Ra, and' Te Hero, all brilliant performers, though Te Hero was also temperamental. She has only to race a little more consistently to be a payable proposition for her owners.

Good Winning Sequence After his easy victory in the King George Handicap at Wingatui on Saturday, Joygiver will have to be considered a good prospective Winter Cup candidate. The Man’s Pal gelding has now “had six wins in his 14 starts this season, including five wins and a second in his last six starts. He has had the unusual distinction of dead-heating for first twice in recent months. With the Wellington meeting now abandoned, Joygiver’s next appearance will probably be at Riccarton, and on his present form he should not lack opportunities there. Found Weight Too Much After his two impressive, wins on the two previous days, St. Nattar was confidently backed to win the Empire Handicap at Wingatui, but he found his impost of 10-4, and the task of conceding Moneybird 321 b, beyond him. On this occasion St. Nattar did not get a chance to get to the front and run the race to suit himself, as Moneybird made practically every post a winning post and won by four lengths. During the two seasons he has been trained at Wingatui, St. Nattar has become very solid, and is one of the best wet-weather sprinters in commission in the south.