Sporting

Lake County Mail, Issue 48, 5 May 1948, Page 3

Sporting

NEWS AND VIEWS

By Old Bill

TROTTING AT OAMARU Splendid Fields Engaged

Melvian in Chief Event

The Oamaru Trotting Club’s winter meeting will be held on Saturday and as the fields engaged are composed of good class horses patrons should be assured of an excellent day’s entertainment. Several horses which were seen out at Forbury Park are engaged here and their performances there should be a good guide to Oamaru running. The following may be among those in favour: —

Trial Handicap.—Sirocco, Swithindale, Glenrowan.,

Innovation Handicap. Basham, Lucky Ducrow, Cottesloe,

Papakaio Handicap.—Red Flight, New Venture, Virginia Song. Oamaru Juvenile Stakes, 1948. Merrymaker, Globe Theatre, Perpettea. R. A. McDowell Handicap—County Antrim, Duncraig, Sahara Queen.

Waikaura Handicap—Dan Martin, Mack Sure, Voco Power. , . Enfield Handicap. —On Approval, Hall Ace, Gay Note. Waitaki Handicap. Scholarship, National Velvet, Magnificent.

Handily Placed Scholarship paced two fine races at the recent Forbury Park meeting but found the distance too far. He looks handily placed on 12 yards in the Waitaki Sprint Handicap, of-one mile, at Oamaru on Saturday. Sirocco Sirocco, who is in the same stable as Emulous, has so far failed to win a race. He ranks as a half-brother to Emulous, being by Sandydale. out of Light Wings, and on his second to Fan Tan in the Winslow Trot, of two miles, at Ashburton on Saturday, he is sure to be one of the favourites for the Trial Handicap at Oamaru. Speedy Sort

Duncraig showed speed in patches when contesting the Otakou Handicap at Forbury and if he paces freely at Oamaru he might reach a place in the R. A, McDowell Handicap.

Likely Improver * Ikaroa went a splendid race in the Allenton Trot at Ashburton on Saturday to finish third from 24 yards behind, and if produced at Ashburton on Saturday should improve on that performance. On Approval

Judged on his two excellent races at Forbury, On Approval should not be long off the winning list. He holds an engagement in the Enfield Handicap at Oamaru on Saturday.

Suffering From Teething Trouble x Attack has been suffering from teething trouble during the past two weeks, and it was on account of this that he did not start at the recent Forbury meeting.

Hall Ace Hall Ace was expected to win a race •at the Forbury Park centennial meeting but the best he could manage was a close fourth in the Early Settlers’ Handicap on the first day. He may do better if started at Oajnaru.

In Form National Velvet has been racing consistently of late and is sure of strong support at Oamaru.

John Gay The winner of the Longbeach Hurdles at Ashburton on Saturday, John Gay, has -been a long time off the winning list. He was a smart sprinter of a few years back and his future racing may be confined to hurdle events, in which he should more than pay his way.

Ashburton Winner Wide Range, the winner of the chief event at Ashburton, is sUre to make his .presence felt in the best of open company. Grattan Drive

A mare on the fringe of Cup company is Grattan Drive. If she could be relied upon to begin smoothly she would win two or three races in a row.