Sporting

Lake County Mail, Issue 45, 14 April 1948, Page 3

Sporting

NEWS AND VIEWS

By Old Bill

FINAL DAY AT SOUTHLAND STRING BAND IN FAVOUR The final day of the Southland Racing Club’s autumn meeting will be held on Saturday and as the track

promises to be in the same condition as last week, horses which performed well on Saturday should again be prominent. The following horses should

race well in their respective engage-

ments :

Novice Handicap. —Oscillate, Red Money, Subtraction.

Te Tua Handicap.—Super Flight, Kasimor, The Grate.

Pukeraaori Hurdles. —Lisheen-Gunther bracket, Benbecula, Desert Trek.

Waiau Handicap. —Grill, Sir Garnish, Sea Power.

Orepuki Harness Trot—Prince Hall, Parawa Derby, Keymaster. Clifden Steeplechase. —Kiltie, Irish Wit bracket, Debater.

Tuatapere Handicap. —String Band, Bay Boa, Lady Melrose.

Orawia Handicap. —Pensacola, Sal s Pal, Special Flight.

Consistency Rewarded Since being purchased by Mr W. Taiaroa recently Putechan has been a very consistent performer, having recorded a third and two seconds in his last four starts, and his win at Southland on Saturday was well received. An aged gelding by Straight Course out of Thessaly, he may be to hurdling later in the season.

Foxchase Foxchase was made a hot win favourite for the Southern Hurdles at Southland on Saturday, but lost ground at several of the jumps. When he becomes more proficient in his jumping he is likely to win in better company than he met on Saturday.

False Price Although lie had run a first and a second in his only three starts this season Parawa Derby, the winner of the Otatara Harness Trot, returned his backers a handsome win dividend. This Dillon Hall four-year-old is at the top of his form at present and looks on the way to good class.

Hardy Sort The track conditions at Invercargill on Saturday were all to the liking of Pride of Mossburn, and this hardy son of Siegfried—Honest Maid scored a well-merited victory. In the past he has always produced his best form in the south. \

Brilliant Jumper Having his first start for the season, Lisheen gave a polished display of jumping to win. the Southern Hurdles on Saturday, and this performance augurs well for his future racing, which is likely to be confined to steeplechase events.

Backed and Beaten Super Flight ran a fair race onlyon Saturday for a third placing. The state of the going did not seem to suit her. She may show up to better advantage next Saturday.

Second Again String Band had to be content with another second placing on Saturday, this being, his third on end. He looked all over a winner inside the last furlong, but Desert Trek, under a vigorous ride, got up in the last 20 yards to gain the verdict. If produced next Saturday String Band may break his exasperating run of minor placiugs.

In Good Order Desert Trek, by his win in the Bluff Handicap, proved himself to be in good order to begin his jumping campaign.

Sir Garnish. A feature of the Awarua Handicap, the chief event at the Southland Racing Club’s meeting on Saturday, was the determined finishing run put in by Sir Garnish. Back in seventh place with only two furlongs to go, he unwound a paralysing run, which took him into second place behind Pride of Mossburn. Better placed over the middle stages of the race he in all probability would have been returned a winner. His last seven starts have yielded him four seconds and a first, so that a winning bracket would not be out of its turn.

Brilliant Pacer Attack, for whom a four-figure price was paid, proved himself by his win at Wellington on Saturday, to be a cut above the ordinary, and should make a name ' for himself in the trotting world. Large Dividend

When he won the Apprentices’ Handicap at Invercargill on Saturday Plain Pal scored his first win in seven starts and returned a win dividend of over a third of a century. He is a five-year-old gelding by Man’s Pal — Straight Shot, and is trained at Invercargill by C. F. Low. Stayed on Well

Geisha Girl, who has always displayed plenty of speed, stayed on better than usual on Saturday and scored an excellent win - in the President’s Handicap, of seven furlongs, at Invercargill. Failed to Show Up

With the conditions to suit him, Sea Power was expected to run a good race in the Awarua Handicap, but he never threatened danger and was the last horse to pass the winning post. Irish Wit

Irish Wit was in the boom a few weeks ago, but as a result of his recent failures —his last three starts resulting in two falls and a moderate third —he is likely to go out of favour.

Waixnate Cup Winner The Mosgiel-trained Grill, who put up some good performances at the recent Easter racing at Christchurch, won the Waimate Cup on Saturday in good style. He may make his next appearance at Invercargill next Saturday, and if started is sure to be in great demand. Glimpse of Old Form

Pensacola, who failed by only half a-length in the concluding event at Invercargill on Saturday, gave a glimpse of his old form, and if he remains sound he should be returned a winner before the present season closes.

Had Every Chance Gunther had track conditions to suit him on Saturday but after taking charge at the half-mile, he failed to run on and could only finish a moderate third. The race should do him the world of good as it was his first race since returning from a trip to Wellington. Dispersal Sale

A dispersal sale of trotting horses, harness and gear, will be held at “ Red Band Lodge ” (adjoining the Southland Racecourse) on Friday, April 16. The lots to be offered comprise the progeny of such well performed sires as Indianapolis, Gold Bar, U. Scott, Dillon Hall and Quite Sure.

Indianapolis Indianapolis, by W rack —Estella Amos, who was foaled in 1929, is to be sold by auction on Friday of this week at the “ Red Band Lodge ” sale. This champion pacer of a few years ago, three times winner of the New Zealand Trotting Cup, as well as several other important races, should prove a more than useful sire.

Brood Mare One of the most brilliant trotting mares to race in New Zealand during the past six years, Sea Max, by Maxegin—Sea Mist, and served by U. Scott, is sure to attract considerable attention when offered for sale on Friday at Invercargill. She should prove to be an acquisition to the list of successful matrons which this country has produced.

Never Sighted Oscillate was expected to run a good race in the first division of the Trial Handicap at Invercargill on Saturday, but was never in the picture at any stage of the race. If the going is firmer next Saturday she should run a better race.