AT ASHBURTON TO-MORROW

Press, Volume LXXXII, Issue 24907, 21 June 1946, Page 5

AT ASHBURTON TO-MORROW

RACING

DESERT VICTORY and SALARY FAVOpRED

*YJ. ih _ one exception, the fields lor the 22Sl I J on . C °. m l t . y Racing Club s, winter meeting at Ashburton to-morrow will w < L£L. a \u rag *; ize ’ and « given ‘ fine weather, toe club should have an excellent meeting. ♦nT 11 ** T ace on 1116 programme, Mayfield Hack Handicap, has drawn a useful field, with no runner particur™?rt°£ t ahd L ng - P l 6 e( * ual tQP-weight, £^rtL» Dreas ’ *. has v been successful over hurdles recently; but in the past his form mLvuu ?* at has J not b®en outstanding. Much better credentials are held by 2SS 1 las 1 Ha |?-. ? hic . h was fird shing on solidly in third place in his race at Camaru, and which looks open to Improvement, especially as he is a wellmade hqFse that is up to toe weights. Falconbridge ran second at his last start at Ashburton, but he has failed twice sm.Ce. He generally finishes on well in his races, but his Inability to hold a good position in . the running generally ruins his chances. Here Hine, with 8-8, is weighted three pounds below Falconbridge, and has some - recent useful ©noris ber credit. She was placed on me first and second days at Dunedin, a 5l? fimshed strongly on each occasion, although she failed badly the last day. Her lapse might have been only temporary, as she has raced consistently this season

Belfort started three times at Dunedin, all unsuccessfully. She had a gruelling race when beaten by the narrowest of margins by Sir Bernard at Amberley last month, and she may not have recovered from toe effects yet. She has shown staying form, but has not reproduced it recently.

With the same weight, 8-4, Desert Victory must be the hardest horse in the field to beat. He has 'had a far less strenuous season than most of the others, and his recent form has been good. He won well at Riccarton at Easter, and he was doing his best work at the finish, when he finished third to Lost Art and Pandemonium over a mile and 35 yards at Washdyke a month ago, the judge’s margins being half a head each way. On that occasion he carried one pound more than he will carry to-morrow. Last season he finished fourth over- 10 furlongs at Ellerslie. Pandemonium, with 8-1, must also be considered. She came from well back when she finished second at Washdyke, her last start, and the distance should not trouble her. Lalla Meer will not be starting; and Rampage has no recent form to recommend him. Detain, Every Ready, Trueway, and Gayfort should be held safe by the form horses, though Trueway made an improved showing last Saturday at Oarnaru. With only one open class race on toe programme, toe field for the Maronan Handicap, of one mile, is better than has been usual in open events at country meetings. The top-weight, Whitley, has been very successful over shorter distances this season; but an extra furlong and the fact that no allowance on his weight of 9-7 is obtainable, will make his task a difficult one. Grand Forest has won at toe distance as a hac.k, but his successes this season have been over shorter journeys, and he is meeting a stronger field than he beat at Oarnaru last week. Boolamskee. ran two good races at Dunedin, but failed badly over a mile on the last day, and he may be out of his class at this distance. Dearo was just beaten by Dash o’ Dink at Dunedin, and she now. meets him on slightly better terms. She has won at a mile and a quarter, and may have a better chance td-morrow. Kiloney has been placed 14 times in his 22 starts this season, and is sure to run a good race. Dash o' Dink is in good form at present, and is bound to give a good account of himself; but at the weights he may find Salary and Lexia very hard to beat. Salary won at his last start, and will be a better horse to-morrow than he was then. He is not meeting any class horses and should be hard to head off. Honest Sal with toe same weight* 8-7, may find the distance too short for her. Montezuma has disappointed at her last two starts, but with conditions to her liking she is a better mare than that form made her look. Sir Bernard and Big Top do not seem likely to surprise, while Sanskrit is an unknown quantity at the distance. Of the light-weights, Lexia appeals most. She won at Riccarton at her last start over the same distance, when she had both Dash o’ Dink and Money Bird, two winners at Dunedin, behind her. It will be surprising if she does not make good in this company. The following riding engagements have been made:—L. J. Ellis, Royal Robe,' Gallimaufry, Detain; C. T. Wilson, Sanskrit, Here Hine, Pandosto; D. J. Thistoll, Salary, False Play; I. Walther, Test Pilot; C. Stokes. Belfort, Dash o' Dink; A. Stokes, Pink Gown, Deep Harmony, Lalla Meer; G. Ridgway, Beautiful; C. McDonald, Montezuma, Leigh Barton; G. G. Hampton, Ever Ready, Irish Pride, Fnalist; W. Barr, Appeasement, Lyndon Lea; O. Ferrall, Bannockburn; R. E. Hawes, Olga's Chice, Bravura; K. O'Brien, Falconbridge: A. E. Didham, Denary; R. Register, Blue Hussar; M. McClintock, Pandemonium, Montello d’Oro, Royal Vestments; K. Thomson. Prince Dolomite; H. Ford, Royal Tan, Honest Sal, Douglas Haig; N. Davidson, Gay Fort; D. D. Stove, Leigh Note, Siegwood, Trueway; K. Nuttall, Indian Dawn. Desert Victory. Air Lord. , Betting will be on the win and place system, and the following horses may be favoured:— _ _ _a. x Hinds Hurdles Handicap.—Test Pilot. Olga's Choice. Novice Stakes.—Siegtone, Foreign Ways, Great Chum. „ ; Lyndhurst Trot Handicap.—lndigo,, Hal Derby, Super Globe. ' Mayfield Hack Handicap.—Desert Victory, Douglas Haig. Here Hine. Dromore Hack Steeplechase.—Spanish Main, Prince Doiomite, Bravura. Maronan Handicap.—Salary, Lexia, D Moreton Hack Handicap.—Finalist, Air Ix?rd, Denary. , Winchmore Trot Handicap.—Emendate, Ace of Diamonds, Great Show.

Has Changed Hands Alpine was recently purchased by Mr F. J. Fay (Dunedin), who intends to make a jumper of him; and he is to have his first start over hurdles at Ashburton tomorrow. He has not won a race since he left hack company, < but as a hack he showed useful staying form and coulG handle winter going. If he has any ability at all as a jumper, he should soon make a return for his new owner, as hurdle fields are very weak at present. He is now trained by W. P. Hogan at Washdyke.

Highly Regarded In toe Hawke’s Bay district the brightest prospects for spring handicaps are held out for toe Lang Bian toree-year-old French Count, which has developed well since he raced so successfully at Trentham in January. Like all toe. Lang Bian breed, French Count has benefited from the patient policy adopted with him eatly in his career, and he may give a taste of his quality before the winter is over. His» dam, Lovely Lass, is an unraced mare by Arausid from Pretty Girl, by Boniform from Maltegarde, by Charlemagne H from Annabelle, by Lionel from Amra, by Musket from Florin, a Traducer mare that was a half-sister to the New Zealand Cup winner Spade Guinea. After French Count’s dual success at the Wellington Cup meeting, it was reported that an offer of 3000 guineas had been refused for him.

Another Hurdle Recruit Atreus is now in G. S. Barr s stable, and is to be tried as a hurdler. He was given a trial over a single hurdle yesterday. morning,* but after jumping it twice showed a disinclination for further attempts. If he becomes proficient at jumping, Atreus should be a good proposition as a summer hurdler, as he relishes firm going.

Two Engagements , Test Pilot has accepted for both tne Hinds Hurdle Handicap and the Dromore Hack Steeplechase at Ashburton to-mor-row, but will start in the hurdle race. He will be ridden by I. Walther, and in spite of having 11-0 to carry she Sky Pilot gelding should repeat his winning performance at the last meeting at Ashburton.

Out of the Ordinary Two successes in two starts have given critics a good impression <rf Iwo Jima, a three-year-old trained at Takanini by H. E. Gray. Before his successes, he had apparently done nothing on the tracks to indicate that he was out of the ordinary; but his connexions must have had some’ idea of his ability, as he was well backed on each occasion. Iwo Jima is by Chatsworth from an unraced mare, Basra, by Bronze Eagle frorp Unitoa, by Potoa from Unity. Unitoa was a sister to a very good handicap horse in Te Monanui.

South Canterbury J.C. • Nominations for all events for the South Canterbury Jockey Club’s winter meeting close on Monday next, at 9 p.m. Advt.