RACING NOTES

Evening Star, Issue 23374, 18 September 1939, Page 5

RACING NOTES

RACING. September 21, 23. Geraldine Racing Club. September 23.—Marten Jockey Club. September 30.—Otaki-Maori Racing Club. September 30, October 2. Ohinemuri Jockey Club. October 5, 7. —Hawke’s Bay Jockey Club. October 7.—Dunedin Jockey Club. October 7.—Bay of Plenty Racing Club. October 9.—Rotorua and Bay of Plenty Hunt Club. October 12, 14. —Masterton Racing Club. October 14.—South Canterbury Jockey Club. October 14, 16.—Auckland Racing Club. October 19, 21.—Poverty'Bay Turf Club.

JOTTINGS Reminders. Acceptances for the first day of the Geraldine meeting close this evening at 8 o’clock. Nominations for the handicaps' and final payments for the M‘Lean Stakes and Dunedin Guineas close to-morrow at 5 p.m. Rehandicaps for Geraldine. The following rehandicaps for the first day of the Geraldine meeting have been announced. Geraldine Cup.—Night Dress . from 7.10 to 8.3 Squatters’ Handicap.—Strip from 7.13 to 8.5. * To Help Patriotic Funds. The committee of the New Brighton Trotting Club has decided to allot half the net profits of the club to patriotic societies for this’season and for the duration of hostilities. Apprentices Have Day Out. The Ashburton meeting on Saturday provided a great day’s outing for apprentice riders. In addition to Mr Biliington, C. Stokes, and \V. Connor winning races, M. Billington, W. F. Ellis, and A Stokes (twice) rode place-get-ter*. Gold Salute. A Sydney cable states that several offers have been made for the South Canterbury three-year-old Gold Salute, but so far none of them has quite reached the owner’s estimate of this Derby colt’s value. A Good Start. D. C. Watts, who recently moved from Oamaru to become a free-lance reinsman in Christchurch, suitably marked his change of .quarters by driving the winners of both light-harness events at the Ashburton meeting on Saturday.,

[By Sx. CtiAiK.l

October 19, 21, 23. —Wellington Racing Club. October 21, 23.—Gore Racing Club. TROTTING. September 20, 23.—Wellington T.C. September 30.—Methven T.C. October 7.—New Brighton T.C. October 21, 23.—Greymouth T.C. October 21, 23, or 25. —Auckland T.C.

October 23. —Oamaru T*C. October 25. ,28.—Wellington T.C. October 25, 28.—Invercargill T.C. November 7,9, 10.—N.Z. Metropolitan November 23, 25.—Forbury Park T.C. December 2.—Wairio T.C. December 2. —New Brighton T.C. December 2.—Waikato T.C. December 9.—Roxburgh T.C.

Moorsotis to Race at Newcastle. So far Moorsotis has not been able to reproduce his best form at the Sydney meetings? and F. D. Jones intends racing him in the Newcastle Cup on Thursday. After that race Jones will make a decision regarding sending him back to New Zealand

Failed to Stay. The Wrecker attempted to win the Ashburton Handicap all the way on Saturday, but Silver Slipper kept him doing his best for a mile, and when challenged over the final furlong the Shambles gelding did not respond as expected. Under. 151 b less weight. The Wrecker may do better at Geraldine next Thursday. Colonel French Withdrawn. Colonel French won the hurdle race at Ashburton on Saturday very easily, but it was a poor lot that he beat. He gave a good exhibition of jumping until approaching the last hurdle, which he rah down rather badly, but made quite a clean jump. Colonel French has been withdrawn from the hurdle race to be, run at Geraldine next Thursday. Royal Chief Injured. Bad luck continues to follow New Zealand horses at present in Svdim.-. A cable received from Sydney, this morning states that Royal Oluer is uo.v on the casualty list, having injured a ligament-in the near foreleg while rolling in the sand yesterday, and that he will be unlikely to reappear on the tracks for some days. Bit o’ Blue. With about five furlongs to go in the hurdle race at Ashburton Bit o’ Blue shot out to the front and was well clear turning into the straight, but he tired badly and very nearly fell at the last fence. Bit o’ Blue is taking a long time to make a hurdler, and it does not look ns if he is likely to become a front-ranker. Jewish Lad should again account for him in the hurdle race at Geraldine on Thursday.

Boloyna Not Eligible. Both S,t. Cloud and Lord Midas had every chance in the first division of the Novice Stakes on Saturday, but neither could extend Boloyna, who began very smartly and was never headed. This is the seventh occasion on which Lord Midas has filled a minor placing. Boloyna is now not eligible to run in the Ohaipi Hack Handicap at Geraldine next Thursday, but Lord Midas and St. Cloud are engaged. On Saturday’s form, however, neither should have any chance of beating Dinah Dhu, who was only beaten a head by Blue Coat in the second division. A Poor Stake. Considering that the stake to the winner of each division of the Novice Stakes at Ashburton was only £SO and nothing for the horses filling the minor places, it is surprising that 24 different owners were willing to start their horses with the ’ prospect of losing their maiden status for such a paltry stake. Nomination, acceptance, and riding fees, stake tax, and the trainer’s commission would leave only about £4O, and in addition to making their horses ineligible to start in maiden races add anything from 51b to 101 b to their weight the next time they start. Two for Nigger Minstrel. Saturday’s racing was a good advertisement for the Southland-owned sire, Nigger Minstrel, as in addition to Gold Flight winning the John Grigg Stakes, Quadroon, winner of the Foxton Cup, is also a son of Nigger Minstrel. Gold Plight’s success not only shows that he can get good two-year-olds, but that despite unwarranted statements to the contrary Southland is not too far south to produce good young horses. Totalisators Busy on Saturday. The totalisator turnover at Ashburton on Saturday was over 20 per cent, down on last year’s figures, but the returns at Avondale and Foxton showed big increases. The figures recorded at these three centres were:— 1039. 1938. Avondale £49,475) £37.0393 Foxton. ... .... 18,409) 12,295) Ashburton ... 11,942) 15,237) Totals ... £79,827) £64,572) The increase on the Foxton fixture was largely due to it having been hold at Palmerston North, and shows the wisdom of centralising racing at the larger centres. A Guineas Candidate. Prudent Prince, winner of the mile hack race at Ashburton on Saturday, is by Lord Quex from Squeeze, a full sister to that great mare Cuddle. He mav have been lucky to beat Shanghai Lily, who lost a lot of ground at the start and was travelling very fast at the finish to suffer defeat by only a head. Prudent Prince is engaged in the Dunedin Guineas next month, and Saturday’s irace should sharpen him up for that engagement, as it was only his second start this season. He only won one race as a two-year old, the Lyttelton Plate at the summer meeting at lliccnrton. when he heat Scold. Master Hotspur, and a big field in G 1 l-sscc.

Metal Bird Lame. After completing the course in the hurdle race at Ashburton, Metal Bird pulled up very lame, and' it loked as il; the injury -was serious enough to Jteep him away from racing for a long time. Slow to Begin. Winning Rival, a Dunedin Guineas candidate, whose looks warranted her being made first favourite for the Spring Handicap at Ashburton, lost any chance she had. of beating Strip or Gay Parade by being slow to jump away. May Run Next Saturday. Toro-Koura at the present time is suffering from a slightly filled leg and was not seen at Ashburton, but his trainer, E. J. Ellis, hopes to be able to race him on the second day of the Geraldine fixture. The Cardinal’s Good Win. When The Cardinal won the Avondale Cup on Saturday he had behind him several New Zealand Cup candidates, including Ned Cuttle, Loweuberg, Tidewaiter, Kena, and Gay Mimic. The Cardinal was at the tail of the field over the early stages and did not become prominent until nearing the home turn. He finished very strongly and like a stayer. Another Divided Race. The safety number allowed to start from the six-furlong barrier on the Geraldine course is 17. At the present time there are 28 engaged in the Ohapi Handicap, for horses that have not won an advertised race at the time of starting, and there is every prospect of this event having to be run in divisions. The divided race at Ashburton on Saturday was responsible for the programme getting about half an hour behind the scheduled time. New Zealand Cup Starters. Half a dozen New Zealand Cup candidates were seen in action at Ashburton —The Wrecker, Shanghai Lily, Passaform, Dictate, Rabble, and Spartan —but only Shanghai Lily and Spartan were able to get into minor places. The Wredker failed to stay out a mile and a-quartcr. Passaform looked ou the big side, and appeared to Be moving a little short. Dictate and Rabble were both on the big side, and were never prominent in their races. Shanghai Lily spoiled her chance by being slow to begin, and Spartan was always some distance behind Strip ana Gay Parade in the seven furlong race. It is not likely that the winner of the big two miles race was seen at the Ashburton fixture.

| A Light Weight. R. C. Ellis, an apprentice attached to P. T. Hbgan’s stable, who was having his first rides at Ashburton on Saturday, must be one of the lightest lads licensed in. the Dominion. Though 17 years old, he can go to the scale at about 41st. He was unlucky at the start in both races he rode in, but was not long in getting King Gustavo up into a good position in the Penscroft Handicap. This lad is no relation to the well-known Ellis family, but ln» also hails from Southland.

Lighter Scale of Weights Should Help. Both Wine Card and Night Dress had the advantage of 71b allowances when they contested the Ashburton Handicap, and had the lad on the former commenced his run a little earlier she might have reversed the neck advantage Night Dress had at the post. In the Geraldine Cup she will have 151 b less to carry than at Ashburton and will meet Night Dress on 61b better terms. In Thursday’s race she should again beat all those which finished behind her on Saturday, and the lighter scale of weights should also be all in her favour. A New Zealand Cup Candidate. The Cardinal, winner of the Avondale Cup, mile and a-quarter, on Saturday, is a four-year-old gelding by Night Raid from Palestrina, and is engaged in the New Zealand Cup. This is the second race he has won this season, the previous win being scored over a mile at the Pakuranga Hunt meeting last week. Last season, out of 10 starts he failed to win a race, but vyas second twice and third as many times. The Cardinal is trained by J. W. Cathro at Matamata. ' New Totalisator for Timaru. A sub-committee of the South Canterbury Jockey Club was present at Ashburton on Saturday to inspect the working of the Club’s totalisator. The Timaru Club, whose course is also used bv the Trotting and Hunt Clubs for their meetings, intends installing its own machines, complete with indicators, right away so as to have them ready for the season’s fixtures. Win and place tickets are to be sold at tlie same windows when the new machines are installed. John Grigg Stakes Field. The field for the John Grigg Stakes was stronger in quantity than quality, and the two most fancied had the race to themselves. Doria, the favourite, who was beaten by Gold Plight, is a more stoutly-built filly than the latter, and may prove the better stayer. Wild Fox, who was a poor third, did not look as well seasoned as the other pair. Don’t Forget strikes one as a colt likely to improve. Shikari lias a peculiar hock action, and was reported to be suffering from a slight cold. Whiphand is likely to take some time to develop, and none of the others looked nearly ready to race. The three fillies who were placed are likely to meet again in the M’Lcan Stakes, but all conditions will require to be favourable before Mr Tweedie will ask Gold Flight to put up the 101 b penalty she incurred by winning on Saturday. In

her absence Doria should prove the best, as Saturday's race js sure to sharpen her up.