NO REHANDICAP

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 202, 24 May 1944, Page 9

NO REHANDICAP

Erndale’s Big Task In G.N. Hurdles (By St. Simon.) It occasioned no surprise wllCll tl,e Auckland handicapper, Mr. F. J. McManeniin, declined to exercise his privilege to rehandicap Erndale in the Great Northern Hurdles for his win in the Hamilton Hurdles at Te Rapa on Saturday. Ernda.e has the same weight at Auckland as that under which he won at -Te Rapa, but Gold Cape, who was second, comes down 71b., and Stock Exchange, who was third, comes down 41b. at Ellerslie, in addition the class at Auckland is stronger and the distance half a mile longer and Erndale already has a stiff enough task with 11.7. Since the race was founded in 1892 only seven horses have won with more than 11.0. Since the opening of the present centurv, Coeur de Lion, who won in 1901 with 11.8, is the only winner with more than Erndale is asked to carry next week. Royal Conqueror won in 190- w’ith 11.4; Fisher in 1921 with 11.2; Kohu in 1923 with 11.2; and Makeup in 1933 with 11.5. Makeup holds the weight-carrying record since the race was increased in 1907 to its present distance, two miles and a half. The Winter Minimum.

With no meetings till after June 1, tne winter minimum will come Into operation and remain In force till August 31. This provides that the lowest weight to be carried in any flat race other than the principal event each day shall be not less than 8.0. No Racing This Week. At the request of the Government there will be no race meetings in the Dominion this week on accpunt-of the local body elections, which are scheduled for Saturday. The following weekend will mark the opening of the King's Birthday fixtures. The Auckland and Dunedin winter meetings will open on the Saturday (June 3) and continue on Monday (June 5). The Wanganui Jockey Club and Ashburton Trotting Club will hold their winter meetings on the Monday. Hazroy Lame. The smart galloper Hazroy, who has figured in discussions in connexion with the Cornwall Handicap, was lame after a gallop at Takanini on Thursday, and later it was found that he had badly bruised a foot. He could not put his foot on the ground at the weekend, and though this type of injury frequently responds quickly to treatment his Cornwall prospects have depreciated.

No Change. None of the three leading jockeys, Broughton, Clutterbuck and Wiggins, rode a winner on Saturday, so the positions at the head of the jockeys' competition remain unchanged, Broughton having 32 wins, Clutterbuck 31 and Wiggins 29. S. Waddell and A. Midwood, who are next on the list, each rode a winner at ; Woodville, Waddell making his tally 27 and Midwood making his 25. Out of Action. Arabic, one of the early fancies for the Great Northern Steeplechase, will remain at home. His trainer, H. S. Greene, stated on Saturday that while the horse had not broken down, he was afraid to gallop him, and his engagement will not be continued. A. Jenkins will now ride Dozle Boy in the steeplechase. Ramillles in the same stable as Arabic may go north as he is owned in Auckland. Looks a Picture.

The good hurdle mare Authoress reappeared on Saturday when she contested the Woodville Cup. It was her first race in public since she finished second to Town Survey in the Winter Hurdles at Trentham last July. She looked a picture of robust health and for nearly a mile was sharing the paca with Lady Spiral, but then her condition gave out. She appeared to pull up well. Authoress may resume hurdle racing at the Wanganui meeting, where she has an engagement In the Century Hurdles. Showed Improvement. When Park Light had his first race over hurdles at Hawera two weeks ago he jumped without confidence and lost ground at his fences. In his second attempt at Woodville his fencing was much taster and he Improved to run third. Park Light is bred on the Illumination—Lucullus cross, so he has the necessary breeding qualifications to make a jumper and all he appears to need is experience. A Bad Case.

The crossing which occurred within the last furlong of the President’s Handicap at Woodville and which led to a judicial inquiry was a bad case and the connexions and backers of Ring Scarf were lucky not to lose their stake. The stewards rightly found that the crossing was not a deliberate action of King Scarf’s rider, J. P. Bowness, and complimented him and the other riders involved on the frankness with which their evidence was given. At the same time Ring Scarf on the outside bored Hard Frost from the middle of the track right over to the rail when within MO yards of the winning post and the crossing also affected the chances of Fox Cover, Pennyroyal and Solver, who were also in the struggle at that stage, for some of them had to be checked to avoid an accident.

Won Two Years Ago. The announcement that A. Jenkins will ride Dozie Boy in the Great Northern Steeplechase recalls that this combination succeeded over the difficult Hllerslie course in the same race two years ago. On that occasion Dozle Boy carried 9.12 and this year he has 10.5. Dozle Boy is the veteran of this year’s field, as he is rising 13 years, but he has not had as much racing as might bo imagined, for he did not make his debut till October, 1930, as a seven-year-old. Though old in years he has been racing only for five seasons. Still Eligible.

A surprising entry for the hack events at the Dunedin meeting is. Winning Flight. A check on her record shows that though she won the McLean Stakes as a two-year-old and an open sprint at Riverton as a three-year-old she is still within the back limit of £5OO. Corday’s Spell Ended. Corday was put out for a short spell after winning the Goodbehere Memorial on the second day of the Feilding Easter meeting, but following a month of idleness he was brought in again and is to be kept in light exercise during the winter. He will not race again till the spring. Corday was one of the leading handicap performers of the season, winning six races and finishing second in the Thompson Handicap in his last eight starts. Additional Hondioap. Golden Tide, 8.2, was omitted from the Balgownie Handicap in the list of weights for the Wanganui Jockey Club’s winter meeting published yesterday. Back to Hurdling. Young Charles, who finished third in last year's Grand National Hurdles, has been doing his recent racing on the flat, but probably he will resume hurdle racing at the Wanganui meeting, where he has an engagement in the Century Hurdles. His owner was keen to run him in the Great Northern Hurdles, but satisfactory arrangements could not be made for a trip by sea. 6; Cluilerbtick for Diincdin.

L. J. Clutterbuck will be riding at the Dunedin winter meeting, where his mounts will Include Pay Book and Princess Myo sotis. No Oil Painting.

Mynet, a five-year-old Inflation gelding which C. P. Shield is training for the former jockey A. Griffith, is a light-framed horse and a poor specimen of the thoroughbred breed, but he is a tough customer and had lie kept a straight course in tlie lust two furlongs of the Kumeroa Handicap at Woodville he would have won Instead of going down te the favourite, Broietield, by half a head. Good Bracelet Prospect. Aristocrat, a six-year-old full-brother io Gold Court has run some useful races lately in middle distance hack events and probably wlll be his owner’s bracelet can didate when the hunt club meetings commence. lie is Yaced by the well-known amateur rider Mr. K. McK. Duncan. Turn is Due.

Hakim has run two seconds, a third and a fourth in his last five starts md his form has been good enough to entitle him to consideration for an early success. He is a three-yenr-old by Bulandsliar from the Oaks winner Korokio aud remains a maiden, in his last appearance at Woodville, when lie finislied fourth, he covered a lot el’ extra ground throughout the contest.

In Good Order. Duncannon, who Is now trained by his owner nt Dannevlrke, resumed racing a : Woodville, where he ran a fair race for a horse fresh up. lie is not al all backward and may not need much racing before he is ready to show winning form again.

Trophy for Steeplet-linse. The stake of £(WU for the Manawatu Steeplechase, to lie run at Awapuni on June 10, includes a trophy valued at £5O presented by tile Wanganui Jockey Club. The conditions of the race provide for a maximum weight of 12.7. May Go North.

Alter being laid aside through a slight mishap. Valantua is again doing routine exercise al Itieearton and lie may tte taken to Auckland for the patriotic meeting on June 10, at which an engagement has been made for him in the steeplechase. Answers to liuiuiries.

£'i/15/6 r ''' Has,ings: U ’ £l/11/6. (2)