TRACK & STABLE

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20057, 2 October 1939, Page 3

TRACK & STABLE

1000-GUINEA GELDING UNPLACED AT OTAKI GAY PARADE’S STATUS ELIGIBLE IN HACKS By “Trenton” Cornaro, who ran unplaced in the •Puhi Maiden Plate at Otaki on Saturday, was having his first race. He is a 1000-guinea Heroic—Ashtar gelding and a member of H. A. Telford’s team. Still a Hack Although Gay, Parade won in open company at Geraldine, he is still eligible for hack events, his winnings amounting to £4BB. Gay Parade is to be nominated for both hack and open events at Trentham and will be accompanied on the trip by Parquet. Won After Retiring It was only a few weeks ago that an announcement was made in the south that Lady Leigh had been retired to the stud, but she was back under colours at Geraldine and was the winner of the open sprint. She pulled up lame, but is to be persevered with as a racing proposition for at least another season. Soutlv “Totes” Decrease From the outcome of the meetings held in the Dominion over the past two weeks, it would appear that the sports of racing and trotting are maintaining their hold on public interest in the North Island, in spite of the changed conditions, but there seems a definite trend away from last year’s figures in the South Island. The investments at Hutt Park and at Marton were practically identical with last year’s, which was surprising in the case of the Wellington Trots, which to face a clash with big football

matches, but at Geraldine the same decline was experienced as at Ashburton the previous week. On Saturday both the Ohinemuri and Otaki meetings showed increased totalisator turnovers. N.Z. Cup Penalties The conditions of the New Zealand Cup provide that the winner of any race’to the value of £250 to the winner after the declaration of handicaps may be rehandicapped. There are no fewer than seven races on the Wellington spring meeting programme, in which the winner may be rehandi-, capped. Sleeveless, who won her third successive race when she scored at Otaki on Saturday, is a three-year-old and is the last foal of her dam, Chivalry, who is by Gay Lad from Lady Talbot, by Pilgrim’s Progress from Lady Lilian, fc>y Phaeton from Lady Zetland. Lady Lilian produced Lady Victoria, dam of the New Zealand Cup winner, Royal Star, and Lady Minerva, dam of the Auckland Cup winner, Minerval. It is, therefore, not surprising that Sleeveless, in addition to possessing pace, can also run on well; Outlay Justified A few years ago maiden class generally was strong enough to necessitate a stable possessing an exceptionally smart horse if a win was to be assured, but more recently the maidens have been well below the average. There was a change at Marton, when Wings of Song made his opponents look very cheap, and it is a long time since such a promising novice has been seen. Last season, when trained by F. McHugh at Marton, he showed great pace in his only two races, but did not run on at the end. Purchased by Mr. T. A. Duncan for 500gns., and trained by L. G. Morris. Wings of Song looks a bargain. for there can be little doubt he has a future. He is by Hunting Song from Adornment, by The Nut from Elegance, by Seaton Delaval. His dam is a sister to Landslide and Refinement.