RACING NOTES

Evening Star, Issue 23383, 28 September 1939, Page 6

RACING NOTES

RACING. September 30. Otaki-Maori Racing Club. September 30, October 2. Obinemuri Jockey Club. October 5, 7.—Hawke’s Ray Jockey Club. October 7.—Dunedin Jockey Club. October 7—Ray of Plenty Racing Club. October 9.—Rotorua and Ray 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. October 19, 21, 23.—Wellington Racing Club. October 21, 23.—Gore Racing Club. October 23.—Poverty Bay Hunt Club. October 23. —North Canterbury Racing Club. October 23.—Waverley Racing Club. AT WINGATUI THIS MORNING After a sharp frost at Wingatui this morning the tracks and atmospherical conditions were ideal for training operations. St. Amyas easily held Islay Downs over six furlongs on the inside grass track in Imin 20sec, the last three in 40 3-ssec'. Accent beat an unnamed maiden over half a mile on the same track in 52 3-sscc. Bere Regis bettered this performance by 1 l-ssec, and gave her best performance. Spearthrust was going better than Gay Lancer over half a mike on the sand in 49 4-ssec. Lord Nuffield was given a couple of rounds of half-pace work, and ran home the last half-mile on the inside grass track m 56 2-ssec. Half and Half took 54 4-osec to run half a mile on the sand track, and looks well forward. Adina wont very fast over the first two of five furlongs on the inside grass track, completing the journey in Imin 5 4-ssec. Norseman and Georgia sprinted three furlongs along the back in 40 l-ssec. Gusto easily accounted for Hanlon and Hunting Chorus at the end of seven furlongs in Imin 34 l-ssec, the last three taking 41sec. Nightwings was always going better than Travenna over nine furlongs in 2min 11 l-ssec, hut there was no pace on until they entered the run home. Sporting 'Plug, by Paladin from .Spcarmaid, and Brilliant Boa ran half a mile on the sand in 48 4-ssec, arid were travelling well at the finish. Strip beat Fo'xv easily in a run over half a mile on the inside grass track. Straightdell easily held Airdrie over the same distance on the sand in 52 3-ssoc. Made Money finished up two circuits on the sand by running home the last three furlongs in 43sec. JOTTINGS New Zealand Cup Meeting. An acceptance for the -New Zealand Cup will be due at 6 p.m. to-morrow. Nominations for the Stewards’ Handicap and other major events at the Cup meeting will close at the same time. Trainer ill. Hie many friends will regret to learn that Mr “ Jock ” Henderson, the wellknown trainer of light harness horses, is seriously ill at his own home. Winning Rival. The Timaru ‘ Herald/ says only six three-year-olds remain in the Dunedin Guineas, and on revealed form Winning Rival appears to have a lien on the race. Not Coming. It is reported from Riccarton that The Sandwichman was lame after racing at the Geraldine meeting and will not be a starter at Wingatui next week. Gold Salute. Gold Salute’s price for the Melbourne Cup is' reported to have contracted sharply since his latest win in Sydney. One paper recently stated that Q. H. Paul had stated that the colt was not for sale at any price. Combat Not Starting. His owner stated at Wingatui this morning that Combat was scratched for the Kaikorai Handicap immediately on the publication of the handicaps, as he was dissatisfied with the weight allotted his horse. Methven Trotting Meeting. The Methven Trotting Club will hold a meeting on Saturday, and big fields have been paid up for each of the eight races. For the Methven Trotting Cup Southern Chief, Battlefield, and Bill B. are the ruling favourites. New Zealand Cup Selections. An Auckland writer selects Sly Fox, The Cardinal, Beaupatir, Catalogue, Royal Chief, Dictate, and Yours Truly as having the best of the handicaps in the New Zealand Cup. The Christchurch ‘ Press ’ selects Royal Chief, The Cardinal, Beaupatir, and Siegmund.

[By St. Clair.]

October 23,—Waikato Hunt Club. October 28.—Banka Peninsula Racing Club. . , , October 28.—Raugitikei Racing Club. TROTTING. September 30.—Methven T.O. October 7.—New Brighton T.C. October 21, 23.—Greymouth T.C. October 21, 23, or 25.—Auckland T.C. October 25.—Oamaru T.C. October 25, 28.—Wellington T.C. October 25, 28.— Invercargill T.C. November 7,9, 10. —N,Z. Metropolitan . November 25, 25.—Forbury Park T.C. December 2. —Wairio T.C. December 2, —Now Brighton T.C. December 2. —Waikato T.C. December 9.—Roxburgh T.C. Looks Easy for Colonel French. When Ballad ran second to Pink Robe in the hurdle race at the Otago Hunt fixture he was in receipt of 211 b. In the Wakari Hurdles at Wingatui next week the mare has to concede him 271 b. Ballad, with a strong horseman up and on a firm track, would havo_ a chance of reversing placings with Pink Robe, but on Ashburton form neither would have any chance with Colonel French. Raised only 101 b for his easy win at Ashburton, Colonel French looks to be the bet of the day. Astaire Well Treated. Combat and Astaire met four times last season. In the Berwick Handicap, six furlongs, at the Dunedin Cup meeting, Combat (7.4) finished third, with Astaire (9.1) unplaced. In the St. Clair Handicap, six furlongs, at Wingatui last June, Combat, who had won twice in the interval, with 9.3 finished third, with Astaire (9.5) again unplaced. With 9.5 Combat finished fourth and Astaire (9.2) was again unplaced in the Southern Handicap, seven furlongs, on the second day of the same meeting, and on the concluding day Combat (9.4) and Astaire (9.0 J) both finished in the unplaced lot. In the Kaikorai Handicap, six furlongs, to he run next week. Combat has be.en called on to concede 111 b to Astaire. Silver Streak Harshly Treated. It, is now over two years since Silver Streak has won over a mile and a-quarter, and last season he fluked his only win in a race over six furlongs through the rider on Defaulter being caught napping, but it is taking the handieappers a long time to realise that he is now 10 years old and, not likely to return to his old form. He was never prominent in the President’s Handicap at Geraldine last Saturday under 8.10, and in the Ranfurly Handicap cannot be expected t/ race much hotter under 8,7. It is interesting to compare - the reluctance of handicapipcrs to bring his imposts down to the treatment given Alma. The latter won the Invercargill Cup last January and quickly rose to _ tho_ 9.0 division, a weight she carried in the Waimate, Oamaru, and Riverton Cups. Though she has had two placed performances since, at Invercargill and Trentham, she has been dropped to 8.1 in the Ranfurly Handicap, a matter of 13lb in less than five months, while it has taken Silver Streak nearly two years to get down to 8.7. Over a mile and two and a-half furlongs Alma may not bo leniently treated, out in having to concede her 61b Silver Streak is very harshly handicapped when their recent form is compared. New Zealand Cup Candidates. Eight of the horses engaged in the Ranfurly Handicap next week arc New Zealand Cup candidates, and the following is a comparison of tho weights;—

Spartan thus meets the New Zealand Cup candidates in next week’s race on from 41b to 191 b better terms, and if ho continues to make the same improvement as he did between the Ashburton and Geraldine meetings should be very hard to beat. Last season Spartan, as a three-year-old, won three times, was second twice, and third once out of 11 starts. He won the President’s Handicap, one mile, at the Dunedin Cup meeting, beating Settlement, tho latter conceding him 1131 b, and at the Easter meeting at Riccarton, the Addington Handicap, nine furlongs, under 8.2, leading all the way and winning comfortably from a good field.

Thermidor Ranfurly. .. 9 '2 N.Z. Cup. Dif. 7 11 + 191b Passaform ..8 5 7 1 + 18lb Settlement ... 8 4 7 3 + 151b Swordstick .. 7 13 7 0 + 131b Balmenter ..7 9 7 0 + 91b High Glee ... 7 7 7 0 + 71b Made Monej 7 1 4 7 0 + 41b Spartan . 7 0 7 0