SPORTING

Grey River Argus, 14 September 1937, Page 3

SPORTING

MELBOURNE CUP CANDIDATES. (Received September 13, 11.15 p.m.) MELBOURNE, September . 13. Trainer Holt’s Cup candidates, Golden Promise and Plymouth Sound, have been scratched for all the spring engagements. Black Mac, which got a nail in his foot, has almost recovered from his injury, and his preparation for the Melbourne Cup will shortly be -resumed. AUCKLAND R.C. JUDGES. AUCKLAND, September 13. From eight applicants, the committee of the Auckland Racing Club appointed Mr E. V. Sutherland judge for its spring meeting, and Mr L. Aiderton was appointed assistantjudge, following the resignation of Mr R. B. Lusk,, to whom he had been assistant for two years as judge of the Auckland Racing Club. Mr Sutherland was appointed his successor for the Great Northern carnival in June, and also for the Pakuranga Hunt meeting. Racing Notes Tip Toes: If there is anything in an owner's opinion of his horse, then Tip Toes may be a winner at Avondale this week-end, for she is in the hack plates both days, but on the second day she has been entered for the big handicap as well, sufficient indication of how highly she is rated. Pennyplain: Pennyplain, who ran third in the Harris Memorial Hurdles at the Pakuranga Hunt meeting, will race over hurdles at Avondale, after which he will be kept going for the Waikato Hunt Cup, at Cambridge, on Labour ' Day. Little Dorritt: ; Little Dorritt, a sister to Huntette and a candidate for the Avondale ' Stakes, has been working well at Gis- ’ borne. Recently she ran three furlongs in company with Quilp in 38 4-ssec beating her companion. < Floodtide:

Floodtide, who was recently sent across to Melbourne in company with his younger full-sister, Miss Lovelock, is to have a race prior to contesting the Caulfield Cup. Day Wind:

Day Wind wound up lhe past racing year wtih a dead heat for first with Gay Rebel, and although he failed later, his final effort, in the province was indicative of better things to follow. Day Wind has been a useful sort of galloper, and one that has not had the best of luck in his career, but it is probable that he will do better this season, for he is the class of horse for whom age and experience should do something. His next outing will be at Avondale this week-end.

Gay Streak: A horse that revealed some promise much earlier in his career on the turf was Gay Streak, but in the interim he has not done nearly so well as anticipated. He showed up making for the home turn in his race at the Pakuranga meeting last month and a little progress since then would make him a place prospect at Avondaie. Gay Streak is at his best over a middle distance.

Palustre: On her forward showing at Ellerslie last month it. would not be surprising to find Palustre on the winning list at Avondale this week-end, even if the opposition in the minor sprint class is well above the average. This filly has a good action and can certainly go fast her weakness earlier in her career being a disposition to tire at the end of her five- and sixfurlong races. However she won gamely enough over six furlongs at Thames and has shown pace in sec-ond-class open sprint company, in addition to finishing second at Ellerslie last month, so she is a possibility at Avondale and Pacroa.

Unlucky: One of the most unlucky runners in the province has been Johnny Walls, who has yet to win a good sprint. He started off auspiciously in open company to win both sprints at Thames in second-class fields, and then was very unlucky both days at Te Aroha when among the best sprinters in the north. He has gone one or two good races in the meantime. but has still to reproduce his autumn form. Now that the crack six-furlong gallopers are coming back to the fold with the start of the new season and the advent of faster tracks, he is going to find it difficult to add to his winning record, unless he has improved considerably. On the country circuit it may be a different matter. Taitoru’s Grand Record:

Taitoru’s further success at Wanganui on Thursday, his eleventh win within a period of eleven months, was the outstanding feature of the day’s racing. It has taken nearly a year for the handicappers to drop to just how good this Sandstar eight-year-old is. In raising him from 9.3 to 9.10 for the second day’s racing, Mr H. Coyle has decided no longer to treat him as just an ordinary good horse.

No horse in the Dominion last season won more races than Taitoru did, his tally of successes from October 22, when he resumed racing after having been off the scene for a lengthy period, being nine. Only two other horses scored as many wanning points during the season, Araboa and Martara, each of whom had a better percentage, as they raced fewer times Araboa had 13 outings Martara 15 and Taitoru 24. Porotiti:

The last has probably been seen on the race track of Porotiti, w'ho met with an accident during training operations at Fordell suffering such injuries that it is feared recovery is highly improbable. When opposite the gate leading from the track, Porotiti suddenly ran off and struck a post, damaging the muscle of the forearm and badly stifling himself. A six-year-old gelding by Limond from the Absurd—Tahua mare Ohui, Porotiti has had a varied career, but at one stage he promised to be a very brilliant sprinter. Included in his successes were several sprints at Wanganui. Maidens at Ashburton: There are some unknown gallopers in the nominations for the maiden event at Ashburton. Stone Frigate is a three-year-old filly by Nightmarch from Sailor’s Love, owned by Sir Charles Clifford. Haerepo is a

three-year-old by Nightmarch from Azalea, owned and trained by P, V. Mason. Rabble is a chestnut colt by Rabbi from Jael, trained by C. McCarthy for Mr. E. W. Spencer, formerly of Reefton, but now in South Africa. The gelding by Robespierre from Theda is a half-brother to Great Star and will race in the same colours. The Theda gelding is a wellgrown three-year-old, but has a de- ’ formed front fetlock joint which, ’ however, does not appeal' to affect him when galloping. > Engaged: ■ H. Marsh has accepted the mount ■ on Kiltowyn in the Avondale Cup. Kinnoull: Kinnoull has begun fast work at Riccarton, and so far he has given every promise of standing up to morn strenuous tasks. Lowenberg : Lowenberg gave indication in his recent race that he is fairly well forward at present. Trotting Notes Red Ranger: A horse likely to win more than one race this season is Red Ranger. During the past twelve months he contested ten events, and finished in the money on each occasion. Red Ranger is again in work under N. C. Price at New Brighton, following a spell that has benefited him considerably. Red Ranger has developed into a stronglooking pacer, and he is putting a lot of vim into his efforts. Although he has not raced over two n.iies it would not be surprising to see him racing to advantage in distance events this season. Oasis Should Do Well: One of the best, novice pacers seen at New Brighton was Oasis, who is trained by D. Teahen at Pleasant Point. Oasis was sent out second fav- : ourite for the Belfast Handicap and j fully justified the solid support ac- , corded him by fighting out the finish with Bill Grattan and suffering de- ( feat by only a half-length. It was a game effort on the part of Oasis, and one that should encourage his owner to anticipate an early win with the gelding. Oasis is an aged chestnut pacer by Adioo Guy (sire of Grand Mogul) from First Water, the dam of Rocks Ahead. Graham Direct:

Graham Direct a strong fancy in the last New Zealand Cup, when on 4min 26sec, was the greatest disappointment of the race, breaking badly at the start. A good win towards the end of the season placed him on 4min. 25sec. from which mark he was fourth in the National Handicap. He registered 4min 19 l-ssec, indicating that he is returning to his best. RACING FIXTURES. September 18 —Foxton R.C. September 18 —Ashburton C.R.C. September 18, 20—Avondale J.C. September 23, 25 —Geraldine R.C., September 25—Marton R.C. October 2—Otaki Maori R.C. October 2—Kurow J.C. October 2 4—Taumarunui R.C. (at Paeroa). October 7, 9—Dunedin J.C. October 9—Hawke’s Bay J.C. October 9, 11—Auckland R.C. October 14, 16—Masterton R.C. October 14, 16—South Canterbury J.C. October 16, 18—Avondale J.C. October 21, 23, 25—Wellington R.C. In England. September 7 —Great Yorkshire Handicap. September B—St. Lcger Stakes. September 10—Doncaster Cup. September 15—Scottish Derby (at Ayr). September 25—Newbury Autumn Cup. September 30—Jockey club Stakes. October I—Newmarket St. Leger. October 2 —lmperial Produce Stakes