RACING NOTES

Evening Star, Issue 22455, 28 September 1936, Page 6

RACING NOTES

[By St. Clair.]

RACING. October 3.—Kurow J.C. _ _ October 3.—Otaki Maori Racing Club. October .3, s.—Tauniarunui Racing Club (at Paeroa). , , October 8, 10.—Dunedin Jockey Club. October. 10.—Dannevirke Racing Club (at Waipukurau). - „ . , October 10, 12.—Auckland Racing Club. October 16, 17.—Masterton Racing Club. October 17.—South Canterbury Jockey (at Avondale). _ . October 22, 24, 26.—WeUington Racing October 26.—Waverley Racing Club. October 26.—Waipawa County Racing Club (at Hastings). October 25.—North Canterbury Jockey Club.

VITAPHONE The handicapping of Vitaphone at the 'Ashburton and -Geraldine Meetings was the subject of much comment, and on the winning form he showed at last year’s. spring meeting at Wingatui, when he won the two hurdle races under 0.9 and 10.9, there was no doubt that he waa most leniently treated by the two Canterbury handicappers. He did not start at the Ashburton Meeting, and finished third each day at Geraldine. His running last week, to some extent showed that the Canterbury handicapped even flattered him, ‘ but was his form correct? At the spring meeting last year he gave Chrysology 231 b and a boating, and then did no more racing during the season. Chrysology won a hurdle race at the Christmas meeting at Wingatui under 9.0, and also went out shortly afterwards. At Geraldine last week Vitaphone gave Chrysology 21b the first day and 71b th» second day, and there was a wide gap between them at the finish each dby. In the handicap for the Spring Hurdles, Vitaphone gives Chrysology 111 b thus meeting hhn on 121 b better terms than when they last met at Wingatui. Mr Canter was admittedly set a very difficult task in assessing the weights for the hurdle race at Wingatui after Vitaphone’s running at Geraldine, but many good judges discarded his form at that meeting, particularly on Saturday, and through all but Polydor a, Vitaphone is unquestionably very leniently treated again; “ JOTTINGS Acceptances for the Kurow Jockey Club will close to-morrow evening at B o’clock. Acceptances for the first day of the Dunedin Spring Meeting and forfeits for the M'Lean Stakes and Dunedin Guineas close on Friday at 5 p.m. First acceptances for the New Zealand Cup, and nominations for the Stewards, Criterion, Fendalton, Jockey Club, Metropolitan, Stonyhurst, and Members’ Handicaps, and Canterbury Cup close on Friday a‘t 5 p.m. Nominations for the Wellington Spring Meeting, to be held on October 22. 24, and 26, dose on Friday at 5 p.m. Southern-owned horses won £455 atthe Geraldine Meeting last week—viz., Bay Duke £95, Queen Dorothy £95, WUda Career £95, Silver Lark £9O, Redolent £4O, Epic £ls, Fiord £ls, and Golden King £lO. The totalisator contractor was working under a severe handicap at Geraldine last week owing to the limited size of the building. This is one of the. matters that the committee will have to remedy before next meeting if it desires to retain the popularity of the fixture with the public. The performances of the few three- ' year-olds that were racing at Geraldine last week, threw little light on the Dunedin Guineas, to bo decided next week. None of them was sufficiently prominent at the end of the races to suggest that any will he capable of seeing out a mile. Chiefly _ owing to the restricted size of the building, the arrangements made for paying out dividends at the Geraldine Meeting were very unsatisfactory, and throughout both afternoons numerous' complaints were voiced, especially by ten-shilling investors. Nothings . helps the turnover at > a race meeting more than the prompt payment of dividends. For many years race books for the Geraldine Meeting could not be obtained in Timaru, hut that trouble has been remedied, and on Friday last race cards for the second day were on sale eon the streets less than four hours after the closing of acceptances. This promptness reflected credit on the secretarial staff and printing office that turned out the race cards. The rain which fell on Friday did not affect the track at Orari for the second day, and again the racing was interesting in so. far as most of the finishes were concerned, but there were too many inconsistencies in the form to call it a good afternoon’s racing. These were allowed to go unquestioned by the authorities, hut were quite common talk on the course. After Queen of Song got into open company last season she won the Invercargill Cup under 7.13, Wellington Cup under 7.6, Presidents Handicap at Oamaru under 8.11, the Gardiner Memorial Handicap at the same meeting under 9.4, the. Riverton Cup under, 9.8, and the Great Autumn Handicap under 8.13. With 8.8 in the New Zealand Cup she has been very_ nicely treated, particularly when a line is taken through Tanramai, who has only 21b less.

October 28.—Waikato Hunt Club. October 29, 31.—Poverty Bay Turf Club. October 31.—Banks Peninsula Racing Club. October 31.—Rangitikei Racing Club. Novenneb 5, 7—Wliangarei Racing dub. November 7.—Hawke’s Bay Racing Club. November 7,9, 11, 14—Canterbury Jockey Club. TROTTING. October 3. —Methven T.C. Oct Sober 10. —New Brighton T.C. October 17.—Waikato T.C. October 24, 26.—Auckland T.C. October 24, 26. —Greymoutb T.C. October 26. —Manawatu T.C. October 26.—Oamaru T.C. October 31.—Wellington T.C. November 10, 12, 13.—New Zealand Metropolitan T.C.

Tauramai won the Dunedin Cup under 7.12 and the Great Autumn Handicap under 8.5, but that was two seasons ago, and since then he has been more or less unsound. However, Mr Henrys has not forgotten those races, and in awarding Tanramai 8.6 in this year’s New Zealand Cup, appears to have treated the locally-owned horse harshly. Vitaphone was again made favourite for the hurdles, but ran another bad race. He was kept a long way from the leaders all the way, and, though he finished third, was about 10 lengths behind the winner, Santoft looked a much better horse than when he raced at the Hunt Club Meeting, and when he ran up to Redolent he had the latter doing his best all the way home, and, going to the last fence ( drew right away. The disappointment in the race was the first day’s winner, Wexford Bridge,' who hit the hurdle near the six furlong post very hard, and finished last. Chrysology hit two of the three hurdles in the first five furlongs very hard, and after hitting the second began to drift. Desirable and L. J. Ellis were made a~good favourite for the Wajnui Hack Handicap, and won very easily after waiting on Culotte and Rqseman until after turning into the straight. Roseman was the first to stop, and directly Desirable moved up to Culotte at the distance the latter, too, cried enough, but hung on to heat Radio Star, a half sister to Great Star. Orange Bud and Night Wings failed to jump out smartly, but both were finishing on well and were just behind Radio Star at the post. Desirable is trained by J. Cantrick, who has charge of E. J. Ellis’s stable while that trainer is away in Sydney. Zincali, who was installed a very short-priced favourite for the Domain Trot, drew No. 2 in the front line, but was placed on the outside of the field, and, beginning badly, lost all chance. When the field had settled down Great Don and Windsor were in charge, and they remained there throughout,. Hea ther Queen just getting up in the last stride to take second money off Great Don. Janet Gaynor, who drew No. 23 on the first day, was again unlucky, and drew 22. She did not go away well, and was never prominent in the running. This was the winner’s only appearance at the meeting, but Heather Queen’s good, second was a vast improvement on her first day’s form. The finish of the Gladstone Handicap was one of- the best seen at the meeting, and the Oamaru mare, Silver Lark, was lucky to beat Rose of Tralee, who had a very rough passage in the early stages of the race. She was one of the smartest out of the barrier, but got knocked back before a furlong had been covered. She was more lucky In the run home, as she got a clear run on the rails, and was finishing very much faster than the winner, who prevailed by a short head. Epic was another that got, a bad run. He was well up at the far turn, then appeared to get knocked back and finished second last. Wild Career was well up at the end of two furlongs, but racing across the top dropped back and was badly placed' at the home turn. Backers of the favourites, the Tap Dancer and Dual bracket and and Shrewdie, got a poor run for their money in the Winchester Trot, and the third favourite, Irish Aggie, was run off the course when Shadow Queen ran out at the end of a furlong and a-half. After Hytemoana had shown the way for about six furlongs Harold Wrack ran to the front, hut at the home turn he gave way to Marsceres, who shook off good challenges by Frisco Boy and Greatfast over the final furlong. His performance was a marked contrast to the form he showed on Thursday, and so also was Frisco Boy’s. The latter was again slow to find his feet, but once on the journey showed a lot of' speed and put in a fine finishing run. Bay Duke was not a starter in the Stewards’ Stakes Handicap, and Grey Honour, with L. J. Ellis up, was made a short-priced favourite. Jumping out smartly with Great Star and Arena, he had turned into the stright before he shook them off, but over the last threequarters of a furlong the West Coaster, Arrowrose, wore him down to win by a head. This marked Grey Honour’s third second in as many starts in the week. _ Gaysome appeared to be unlucky in the final half-furlong, as she could not get through between Capital and Arena. Rebel Chief, who had R. J. Mackie up, was inclined to kick at the barrier and missed' the jump-out. The winner ' returned a double-figure Erice and was ridden by the Southland orseman, G. Barely. The public showed in no uncertain manner what they thought of Matoru’s performance on the first day by their backing of him in the South Canterbury Champion Hack Handicap. He carried 1,050 tickets, and was easily the heaviest backed horse during the meeting. The good support that came for Fiord, who was making his first attempt at a distance, helped the backers of the favourite to collect a much better dividend than he was showing at any stage of the betting. The start was not a good one, Silver Jest and the favourite getting the worst of it. Fiord, Convivial, and Pharaoh led out, and, racing together, they led to the far turn, Poniard and Matoru running next as they raced along the back. Then Pharaoh dropped out, and approaching the homo turn the favourite moved up into second place. Once in the straight he easily had Fiord’s measure, and beat him home very easily, giving L. J. Ellis his third winning ride during the afternoon. The President’s Handicap provided a good betting race between Epris, Wino, and Davolo, and a stirring finish between the two last named. There was a long delay at the barrier, and from a bad start Monipere, who was next the rails, was badly left. Wino, looking better than on Thursday, tried to win all the way. and only failed in the last stride to hold off Davolo, who was well

handled by C. T. Wilson. Davolo was lucky iu getting a good run on the rails racing across the top, but was still standing up a three-lengths advantage to Wino at the home turn. Golden King was tailing the field as they raced along the back, and put in a telling run to get up into third place. Kpris was going very well racing to the far turn, but then stopped badly and appeared to be the cause of Cleaner dropping back. Daring Deed was well up for a little over half a mile then dropped out and finished eighth. Cleaner and Rona Bay were the last to finish.