IN OPEN CLASS

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 191, 11 May 1944, Page 7

IN OPEN CLASS

Chance Of Langue d’Or

At Otaki

Having won at his last three starts In hack company, the three-year-old Lang Bian—Princess Doreen gelding Langue d’Or is likely to be a firm favourite at Otaki on Saturilay in the main race, the Raukawa Handicap, In which lie has been allotted the handy weight of 7.12. Langue d’Or sticks on well, as he showed when he carried 9.6 to victory in the Orona Hack Cup, one mile and a quarter, at FeHding on April 10. On that occasion lie covered a good deal of extra ground, which made his performance even better. At his lirst start this season Langue d’Or beat a big field over six furlongs in the Novice Stakes at Ashburton. He failed badlv in the Dunedin Guineas, and a check in the Wellington Guineas extinguished his chances. At Trentliam in October he was unplaced In the Trial Stakes, being slow away, btit at his next start be was second to High Play over a mile at Klccarton. In the hands of the Awapuni trainer G. W. New he was beaten a head by Gunga Din in the Champion Hack Handicap at Trcntham in March, and then won three hack distance races. So far this season he has earned £960 and looks like extending his record in open company.

Going to Hastings. Old Glory, recently sold by Mrs. F. G. Christie, will in future be trained at Hastings by G. W. Greene.

Change of Stables, Young Charles, who was third In the last Grand National Hurdles to Town Survey and Hasten, has left J, J. Waller's stable at Awapuni and In future will be trained by C. J. Thomson, Awapuni. Successful Apprentice. H. J. Pearee, who won successive races at Hawera on Hulabaloo and Alexcelia, both at good prices, is apprenticed to B. Burgess, at Awapuni. He won bls first race at Feildlng at Easter, on Langue d’Or. in an apprentices’ handicap.

Engaged iir Hurdles. Ramilles, whose name appears in the nominations for the Papatawa Hack and Hunters’ Steeplechase at the Woodville meeting on May 20, should appear in the Oringi Hurdles. He is a six-year-old gelding by Illumination —Isotta, at present trained by F. McManemin. He has had four starts over hurdles this season, fiejsb ing fourth to I.apldarian, Hunto and Bls quit at the Avondale meeting on September 11.

Mishap to Valantun. Valantua met with a slight mishap last week and his trip to Ellerslie has been held up in the meantime. It Is probable, however, that he will be sent north later in the month. Stonyliurst Juveniles. The- Chokebore stable has recently received three yearlings from Stonyhurst, a colt by Wild Chase from Robbie’s Mistake, a filly by Solicitor-General from Babel, and a fillv by Solicitor-General from Stout Heart. 'The two-year-old Dancing Fawn, by Paper Slipper from Winsome Hind, has been sent back to Stonyhurst to be spelled.

Mount for Broughton. W. J. Broughton has been engaged to ride the Lang Bian filly Hine Rel in the first division of the Kuku Malden at Otaki on Saturday, and on that score alone she is certain to -be well supported. Hine Rel, who drew the extreme outside marble In the Autumn Nursery Handicap, six furlongs, at Riccarton on April 15, her last start, showed speed to be prominent In the early stages. She was sixth on to the course proper, but was not sighted in the run home. Over the five furlongs of the Russlev Handicap on April 10, she was fifth to ’the straight. Piccolo beat Blue Bonny by a neck, with Hine Rel a head away third. Among those behind her were Beau Cheval (fourth) and Perewlg. Dual Engagements. Nine horses have been entered for both the Great Northern Hurdles and the Great Northern Steeplechase. In all but two cases, the handicapper, Mr. F. J. McManemin, has given them the same weight in each. Those claiming dual engagements and their weights are:—Erndale, 11.7 (Hurdles), 11.7 (Steeplechase); Town Survery, 11.7, 11.7; The Dozer, 11.6, 12.0; Bisquit, 10.3, 10.6; Epping 9.13, 9.13; Hessketoon, 9.8, 9.8; The Dude, 9.0, 9.0; Bronze Night, 9.0, 9.0; Radio Call, 0.0, 9.0. Foxsen and Town Survey have been nominated also for the Cornwall Handicap. Dearth of Good Jumpers. The class in the hurdle race at Ashburton was the poorest seen out at a race meeting in Canterbury for many years, and the opinion was generally expressed that the winter prospects of the province as far as jumpers are concerned appear anything but favourable. As in past years, the position may improve as the jumping season advances, but meantime it seems possible that the South Island will have to depend on Otago and Southland stables to produce jumpers, specially steeplechasers. Smart Getaway. Gulf Stream has always been a smart beginner, but he excelled himself by bis remarkable getaway in the Flying Handicap at Ashburton. He was well Into his stride long before his opponents got moving. They appeared to dwell on the mark as If the start had been a false one. Once he established a useful lead, Gulf Stream was kept under slight restraint, yet he had his pursuers struggling from the outset, and covered the seven furlongs in the smart time of 1.25 4-5. John o’ London was not by any means disgraced by his second placing, as he was set an almost hopeless task from the start and had to be hard ridden all the way to get anywhere near the leader. On the other hand, Gulf Stream gave an impressive display of his ability, and many more successes will come the way of the young Tlderaco gelding.

Jockeys’ Championship. L. J. Clutterbuck’s win on Blaek Plato at the Egmont meeting at Hawera on Saturday puts hitn in second iilacc, two behind W. J. Broughton, and with the end of the season still more than 2| months away there is every prospect of a keen contest between the leading jockeys. After Saturday’s racing the position was as follows: W. J. Broughton, 32; L. J. Clutterbuck, 30; H. N. Wiggins, 29; S. A. Waddell, 24}; A. Midwood, 24; W. F. Ellis, 19; C. T. Wilson, 19; L. J. EUis, 18; T. W. Green, 17; R. C. Caddy, 15; N. B. Holland, 14; I. Galvin. 14; W. E. Carter, 14; G. F. Hughes, 13; E. V. Dye, 12; A. N. Toki, 12; A. G. Waddell. 11}; J. W Dootoy, 11; A. Jenkins, 11; J. A. McFarlane, 11; A. C. Messervey, 11; W. L. Aitken, 10; J. S. Campbell, 9; B. H. Morris, 8; R. Heasley, 8; M. V. Coon, 8. Answers to Correspondents. "Timber Topper,” Eltham: (1) £2/11/0. (2) £2/18/6 and £l/16/-. “Ofllce,” Whakatu: Chef d’Oeuvre menus “Masterpiece.” "R.W.D.,” New Plymouth; (1) £l/15/6. (2) Nighean was fourth in the Feilding Cup. “Wellington”: You were on Emulous.

“Sarge,” Shannon: (1) £4/12/- and £1 9/-. (2) £3/1/-.