THE FOXTON MEETING

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24416, 30 September 1940, Page 7

THE FOXTON MEETING

PEARL OF ASIA SUCCESSFUL (Per United Press Association) FOXTON, Sept. 28. The following are the results of the Foxton races:— TRIAL HANDICAP, Of £l3O. Six furlongs. (First Division) 2/3 SANCTION, 8.0 (Broughton), 1; 5/5 Social Credit, 8.0 (E. Temperton), 2; 8/9 Blue Border, 8.0 (A. Midwood), 3. Won by a neck, with half a head between second and third. Time, lmin 16sec. (Second Division) 1/1 SWEET ANNE, 8.0 (G. R. Tattersall), 1; 7/10 Sir Rabbi, 8.0 (W. L. Cavaney), 2; 7/8 Parchment. 8.0 (J. A. Forsyth). 3. Also started: 16/14 Arachne car 8.9£, 19/17 Blab 8.0, 4/4 Courting 8.0, 13/13 Dawn Parade 8.0, 3/3 Royal Queen 8.0. 11/12 Master Lackham 8.0, 17/18 Middla car. 8.5.4, 14/15 Onahu 8.0, 6/6 Oraiti 8.0. 12/11 Phyto 8.0, 14/15 Royal Vision 8.0, 19/19 The Monarch 8.0, 10/7 Vacation 8.0. 19/20 Victoire 8.0, 18/16 Vivid Night car. 8.8. Won by three lengths, with half a length between second and third Time, lmin 16 2-ssec. PIAKA HURDLES, Of £125. One mile and five furlongs. 4/4 GOOD SUN, 10.1 (A. Jenkins), 1; 1/1 High Peer, 10.12 (L. Dulieu) 2: 5/5 War Lap, 10.0 (J Taki)/3. Also started. 8/8 Dorado 11.0, 7/7 Golden Memory 9.11, 6/6 Galteemore 9.9, 2/2 Son and Heir 9.5, 10/9 Brazil 9.3, 3/3 Great Fair car. 9.3, 11/11 Prinihia 9.0, 9/10 Karere Nui 9.0. Golden Memory fell. Won by a neck, with two lengths between second and third. Time, 3min 2sec. MOTUITI HACK HANDICAP. Of £l2O. Six furlongs. 1/1 KENTUCKY, 9.0 (R. Tattersall), 1; 3/3 Siglow, 8.9 (P. Atkins), 2; 8/9 Valiant Lady, car. 8.12 J (W. J. Broughton), 3. Also started: 9/8 Counter car. 7.11, 6/4 Beau Coureus car. 7.10, 10/10 Caution car. 7.6, 2/2 Triple Crown 7.8 and Taiho car. 7.6, 7/7 King's Mark car. 7.0, 11/11 Army Girl car. 7.4, 5/5 Silver Shekel car. 7.6. Taiho went away to a false start and was withdrawn. Won by a length and a-half, with a ,length between second and third. Time lmin 14 1-5-scc. CARNARVON HANDICAP, Of £225 One mile and a-quarter. 4/2 PEARL OF ASIA, 7.0 (H. P. Stewart), i 1; 6/6 Little Robin, 8.4 (L. Dulieu), 2; : 5/4 Winsome Lu, 8.1 (B. H Morris), 3. I Also started- 7/7 Siegmund 9.0, 3/3 Lady I Montana car. 8.7, 1/1 Gaelic Song 8.3, I 12/12 Aurora's Star 8.2, 11/11 Old Surrey 8.2, 2/5 Colonel Bogey 8.1, 10/10 Master Cyklon 8.1, 13/13 Hunting Cat car. 8.1, 9/9 Sporting Gift car. 7.6, 8/8 Colossal Chief car. 7.3. Won by a length, with a neck between second and third. Time, ,2min Bsec. WHIARANGI HACK HANDICAP. Of £l2O. Seven furlongs. 2/2 LAST ACRE, car. 7.9 (C. Bowry), I; 1/1 Sercnata. 9.6 (A. M. Lester), Z; 6/6 Cheerful Lady, 7.7 (F. Warren), 3. Also started: 4/3 Titter 9.0, 3/3 Squeers 7.7, 5/5 Selkirk 7.7, 7/7 Sporting Luck 7.7, 8/8 Sunny Dale 7.7. Won by a neck, with a head between second and third. Time, lmin 29sec. ROBINSON HANDICAP, Of £l5O. Six furlongs. 1/1 NIGHT ERUPTION (J. J. Broughton), 1; 4/4 Screen Star (R. J. Flower), 2; 8/8 Trench Law, car. 7.4, 3. Also started: 2/6 Taurangi 9.0, 6/2 Footloose 9.0, 5/5 Mittie 8.11, 9/9 The Buzzer 8.1, 7/7 White Rajah 7.6, 10/10 Rustem 7.0, 3/3 Heroic Maid 7.0. Won by a neck, with half a length between second and third. Time, lmin 15 2-ssec. AWAHOU HACK HANDICAP, Of £l2O. Nine furlongs. 4/4 GAY FOX, car. 7.13 (A. Midwood), 1; 6/6 Vaalstar, 7.12 (K. Chote), 2; 8/9 Halle Selassie, car. 7.4 (Stevens), 3. Also started: 1/1 Cetewayo 8.7. 2/3 Stella Lux 8.2, 3/2 Sceptre 8.0, 5/5 Red Chief car. 7.13, 7/7 Goldgain car. 7.0, 9/8 Brown Fox 7.7. Won by a length and a-half, with a similar distance between second and third. Time, lmin 57 2-sscc. ' MOUTOA HACK HANDICAP, Of £llO. Five furlongs and a-half. .1/1 ZEST, 9.5 (P. Atkins). 1; 6/6 Pas de Cheval, car. 7.4 (H. P. Stewart), with which was coupled Fly by Night 7.7, 2; 2/2 Royal Consort, 7.8, with which was coupled Wings of Song, 9.4, 3. Also started: 7/7 Phaleron Song 7.8, 3/3 Wakarara 7.7, 4/4 Debretts 7.7. 5/5 Loyal Queen 7.7, 9/9 Lady Govern 7.7, 8/8 Goldburn 7.7, 10/10 Forest Flower 7.7. Won by a length, with a length and a-quarter between second and third. Time, lmin Bsec. RACING NEWS By Sentinel FIXTURES September 30.—Ohinemuri J.C. October 3, s.—Hawke's Bay J.C. October 12.—Otaki Maori R.C. October 12, 14.—Dunedin J.C. October 12, 14.—Auckland R.C. October 17, 19— Masterton R.C. October 19.—South Canterbury J.C. October 19.—Rotorua Hunt. October 19.—Stratford R.C. October 24, 26, 28.— Wellington R. C. October 26— Poverty Bay R.C. October 26. 28.—Gore R.C Foaling s Half Note has foaled a colt and Spanish Maid a filly to Irish Lancer. Scratchlngs The scratching pen went through the names of twenty horses on .the card at the Kurow meeting. One Horse Green Gables began smartly In the Trial Stakes and had the finish to herself. Twenty Grand Twentv Grand showed pace in his races at the Kurow meeting, but was not forward enough to carry oir. Muscatine Since racing as a two-year-old, Muscatine has not grown a great deal and apparently will remain on the small side. Airline In his races at Geraldine. Airline shaped promisingly and proved it by having the finish of the Gillies Hack Handicap to himself. Entail On track work Entail carried support for the High-weight Handicap, but failed to finish in the first five. Apparently he is not a betting proposition. Petersham When racing to the home turn in the Kurow Cup. Petersham was travelling like a winner, but inside the distance when in line with The Raker and Straightdell he was the first of the trio to crack up

Mishaps to Gear Sufficient official attention does not appear to be paid when mishaps to gear happens during a race. Anything likely to create accidents with possibly serious results should be thoroughly investigated Man's Pal

Amongst the mares visiting Man s Pal this season are Half Note, Janet Gaynor, Sunny Jean. Paigle. Queen Balboa, Double Gift ' Look Smart, Night Effort, Soliad, Victory Bond, Lythia, and also some Canterbury mares vet to arrive. Toro Koura

The Pink Coat gelding Toro Koura was made, favourite for the Munro Handicap, but after leading into the straight with Silver Streak he collapsed a furlong from home. Gay Lancer

After travelling fairly well to the far turn in the Gillies Hack Handicap. Gay Lancer dropped back last. Lord Midas also stopped after going a little over three furlongs. Chirp

Although Chirp was considered favourably handicapped for the High-weight Handicap, she paid a good price for a place. The race will probably improve her. Silver Streak

Whatever excuse may be offered about the defeated lot in the Munro Handicap, the tact remains that Silver Streak showed a return of old-time brilliancy and won going away at the finish of a race run in the smart time of lmin 26 2-ssec Mitfgard The Valkyrian gelding Midgard appeared to be a bit light in condition when paraded for the Hydro Hack Handicap, but nevertheless ran a good solid race alter obtaining an advantage at the start. The Raker

Recent racing had evidently worked considerable improvement in The Raker, as he was ruling as second favourite from the opening of the betting on the Kurow Cup. The market proved correct, as The Raker won in a good finish with Straightdell, who stayed on better than expected. Spcarthrust The Irish Lancer gelding Spearthrust was made an odd-on chance for the Hydro Hack Handicap. As usual he drifted back in the early part of the race, and was still last at the home turn. He then put in a good run and got up in time to land a short price by a narrow margin.

Portadown The English-bred filly Portadown plhyed up a bit when at the post for the Trial Stakes. She showed pace in the race, and may develop into a winner. Portadown will now be treated to. a couple of months' spell. Dranoel When produced for the High-weight Handicap, Dranoel had lightened up a good deal as a result of his two races at Geraldine He tailed the field until nearing the home turn, and. then made a good response to beat Sir Hugh in a close finish. Handicapping A lecture on handicapping could not fail to be interesting, but the one delivered by a handicapper at the exhibition of racing pictures held in Sydney in aid of the Red Cross Fund was rather disappointing, according to a brief report in the Sydney Morning Herald. Owners and trainers did not gather any information as why their horses were overloaded in a handicap (every owner's horse is overloaded), or anything in tne nature of a theory by v/hich handicaps are compiled A mass of figures were quoted to show how many close finishes took p ace under handicaps, and apparently a close finish is deemed proof positive of good handicapping. With that opinion the writer does not agree, as close finishes may be brought about just as much by the luck of the run in a race, horsemanship or lack of it, as a handicapper s ideas in connection with an adjustment of form by figures. If a field of 20 line up at a barrier it must be obvious to anyone that the draw for position at the post may have more influence on the result than the handicap. If the handicapper had a wizard knowledge as to the position a horse would draw at the barrier, how a race would be run, what instructions the riders received, and how they would be carried out, and allotted weights accordingly, he would then be entitled to credit for his work. It is however, a wellrecognised fact that no one can predict what is likely to happen in a race, for the simple reason that man cannot peer into the future with any certainty In America some years ago a scries of tables was compiled and horses handicapped according to their position near or far from the rails, and the form worked out to an ounce as a guide to punters, but nothing so close in the way of handicapping has ever been attempted in Australia or New Zealand. The real test of a handicap comes before the race, and how it emerges from an analysis of form requiring to be balanced by figures into an imaginary dead-heat between the field. If 20 horses were started at even weights in a race some of them would be fairly close together at the finish, and another close finish would probably result if the barrier positions were completely changed for Ihe same field. If a dozen or more horses are galloped over the same ground and distance in training operations the margin between the fastest and slowest gallop would represent a close finish A dead-heat is generally accepted as evidence of good handicapping, but that idea was exploded as far as the writer is concerned many years ago when Bon Reve and Stardancer dead-heated in the Stewards' Handicap in 1912. Bon Reve got well away and was first to break the line, with the result that Stardancer had to give away a start and catch Bon Reve in the last stride to record a dead-heat. If the start had been an even break between them Stardancer would have won by a good margin. She was in front a stride past the post. If form is adjusted in a manner that disarms critics and produces a good betting race, then the handicapper has far more reason to be satisfied with his work than by a close finish which may be brought about by something in the nature of a fluke rather than a clever and capable compilation of weights. The best handicap ever compiled may produce a one-horse finish. TROTTING NOTES By Sentinel FIXTURES October s.—Mcthven T.C October s.—Thames T.C. October 12.—New Brighton T.C. October 26. 28.—Greymouth T.C. October 28.—Oamaru T.C. October 26, 28 or October 26. 30.—Auckland T.C. November 2.—Wellington T.C. November 2.—lnvercargill T.C. November 12, 14. 15—New Zealand Metropolitan T.C. November 23. 25.—Forbury Park T.C. November 30. December 7.—Waikato T.C A Bracket Strong support came for the bracket made by Black Label and Lady Denise in the Waitaki Trot, and the latter saved a little of it by finishing third . , Ben Travis In the Waitaki Trot, Ben Travis went 3min 25sec from a 3min 43sec mark, but it could only carry him into second place behind Passing By. Passing By In the Waitaki Trot, Passing By was kept waiting in a handy position to Ben Travis, who acted as pacemaker. Approaching the home turn Passing B.y raced to the front and won going awav. Manawal After being last into the back stretch in the Hakataramea Trot, Manawai began a forward move on the outside and was travelling like a possible winner when he broke up and lost ground. The mishap was at least responsible for the Man-o'-War gelding missing a place. Support for Stewards When racing officials deem it necessary to take strong action in something in connection with the running of a race, not a little criticism is created. In connection with the reversing of the placings in the Hakataramea Trot, the stewards were supported in their action by the spectators. Sandydale During an interval between the races at the Kurow meeting, the imported stallion was paraded in the birdcage. He is a handsome black horse showing plenty of power and quality, and was much admired by those interested in the breeding of light harness racers. Sandydale is the type of horse with the individuality and successful strains calculated to produce high-class performers. Changing the Numbers Sabu led into the straight in the Hakataramea Trot and then bore out in the straight, taking Irish Dusk with him. After the race the placings were reversed, and D. Teahen, the driver of Sabu, fined £5 for careless driving. In the same race T. H Gunning, the driver of Irish Dawn, was severely cautioned for careless driving, which probably caused Manawai to break when moving up five furlongs from home. RICCARTON NOTES MORE RAIN (Special to Daily Times) CHRISTCHURCH, Sept. 28. Mixed conditions were experienced for the work at Riccarton this morning. The weather was fine early, but light rain set in after breakfast, and a lot of rain fell later in the day. The No. 6 grass track and the plough were in use before breakfast, but afterwards most of the galloping was done on the grass. With a number of riders absent at Oamaru, there was not much excitement, though a lot of useful work was registered. A number of bouts were staged by the two-year-olds, several of the youngsters showing promise over three furlongs. There seems to be plenty of them who are endowed with speed. Two from H. and A. Cutts's team went in company Willow Wood (Cricket Bat— Winsome Hind) drawing away for an easy win from Bird of Play (Solicitor General —Capercailzie). Blue Bouquet (Myosotis —Royal Baby) and Renarde (Foxbridge— Aureola) were well matched, as were As Required (Tiderace—Kotou) N and the Paper Money—Kakara colt, who registered the fastest time of the morning. Blue Bouquet and As Required are trained by C. Emerson, and the other pair by J. C. Tomkinson. The Kakara colt looks like being good, as he is not nearly so forward as some of the others. F. D. Jones's Foxbridge—Drama filly . went smartly, but seemed to be doing her best, while Palfrey (Man's Pal—Vennachar), from T. H. Gillett's stable, did not go quite so fast, but did his work well. Welsh Fusilier, a three-year-old in A. McMullan's stable, was staying on well to beat Blue Coat over five furlongs this morning. Welsh Fusilier disappointed when first he went into work, but he has come on well latelv and now he shapes like making a good performer. Rose Warden, who came here after the Geraldine meeting to join McMullan's team, had her first sprint this morning. She went only three furlongs, but she showed plenty of dash. This filly may be useful.

Epic has resumed track work after a lot of road exercise. He went well in a short sprint this morning, and he may be ready to race at Rangiora next month.

J. McLean has a two-year-old in work who may grow into a good galloper She is by Irish Lancer from Solrose. A three-year-old by Friday Night from Silk Stocking, trained by C. Dawson, had his first three-furlong sprint this morning, in the presence of his owner, Mr A. Franks, and he gave • a very creditable showing. He is bigger than his halfbrother. Grey Silk, also a more attractive galloper. He will have a rest now, but he should be a useful performer later in the season.

Happy Night, who has done a lot of good pace work lately, has made excellent progress, and J. McLean may win a race with him before the season is much further advanced-

RACING IN AUSTRALIA THE ROSEHILL MEETING HIGH CASTE SUCCESSFUL (United Press Association) (By Electric Telegraph—Copyright) SYDNEY, Sept. 29. (Received Sept. 29, at 8 p.m.) The racing at Rosehill on Saturday revealed another Derby possibility in the Marconigram colt Scientist, who won the Hawkesbury Grand Handicap in a courageous finish with Binnia Hero and Malagigi, in which less than half a length separated the trio. Nightbeam caused surprise by winning the Rowley Mile narrowly from Clouston and Bourbon. That consistent colt Ensign set a cracking pace in the Quality Handicap, spreadeagling a good field to win by two lengths from Katanga and Delmestor. Showing that High Caste improves with racing, he won the Clarendon Stakes comfortably from Buzalong and St. Constant The chief results were as follows: Clarendon Stakes—High Caste 9.0 (Bartle), 1; Buzalong, 9.1 (Shean), 2; St. Constant. 9.4 'McMenamin), 3. Six started. Won bv half a length, with one length and a-half between second and third Time, lmin 52Jsec.

Quality Handicap.—Ensign, 7.7 (Thompson), 1: Katansra. 8.3 (Bartle), 2; Delmestor 8.11 (McMenamin), 3. Twelve started, including Gladynev Won b> two lengths, with one length aid a-quar-ter between second and third. Time, lmin 2<Usee. which equals the course record

Hawkesbury Grand Handicap.—Scientist 7.2 (Thompson), t; Binnia Hero.' 8.0 (Cook), 2; Malaeigi, 8.6 (Bartle). 3. Thirteen started. Wc by a neck, with half a neck between second and third. Time 2min sJsec.

Rowlev Mile.—Nightbeam, B.l2■..(Courts) 1; Clouston, 7.4 (Andrews). 2;, Bourbon 9.11 (McCarten), 3. Fourteen started Won by half a head, with a head between second and third Time, lmin 39Jsee MOONEE VALLEY MEETING (United Press Association) (By Electric Telegraph—Copv right) MELBOURNE, Sept. 29. (Received Sept. 29, at 8 p.m.) Rain marred the Moonee Valley races, and the course was heavy The principal results were as follows: Tullamarinc Handicap.—Tragopan, 8.2 (Hanlev). 1: Apostrophe. 7.11 (Callinan). 2; Marcius, 7.7 (Elliott). 3. Nine started. Won by three lengths and a-half, with three-quarters of a length between second and third Time. 2min lo3sec Quality Handicap. , Chatsbury, 7.8 (Ralph). 1; Judean. 7.11 (Elliott), 2; Aurania, 7.0 (Preston), 3. Seven started. Won by two lengths, with three lengths between second and tlv>d. Time, lmin 42Jsec.