TALK OF THE DAY

Otago Witness, Issue 2817, 4 March 1908, Page 54

TALK OF THE DAY

By Sentinel.

THE TAHUNA PARK MEETING. The Tahuna Park Trotting Club were favoured with fine weather and a "forge attendance for the concluding day of their autumn meeting. The track was apparently in good order, and the . club's petrous were treated to some fairly interesting sport. The St. Clair Pony Handicap was won by a thiok-set lilliputian named Little 'Un, who had the services of Pringle in the saddle, and the result was practioally a foregone conclusion after a couple of furlongs had been cast behind. Ima t>. acted in the best style she has shown up to date, and, ridden by M. Allan, won. the Advance Handicap without a great deal of trouble. This cleared .the way for the Telegraph Handicap whieli provided interestingrace. Woodland Whispers, commonly regarded as a sure winner at the meeting, '".was made favourite, and the race practically resolved itself into a duel between tb/3 son of Wildweod and Royal Colours. The latter began fairly well, and taking command, showed the way over the. first mile, with Woodland Whispers in close pursuit. The pair drew clear of the rest of the field, and both appeared to hold good winning chances up to a mile and a-half. Here, however, Woodland Whispers commenced to tire, and getting into trouble through lack of raping condition left Royal Colours to go on? and win comfortably over the last quarter. None of the others were capable of pacing it with the leaders. The winner was nicely handled by E. M'Kewen, and H. Gaskell, ■rto rode Woodland Whispers, did all he £ould for his mount until the- horse's condition gave out. Gaskell is recognised as a capable rider, but the combined intellects of all the jockeys in the world could j not win on a horse which is not physically fit fj|r racing. E. M'Kewen had another .winning' torn in the following race on 'joe L. This Telephone Handicap was in some quarters regarded as- belonging- to Roseneath, but she acted in the same maamer which she has previously displayed tat Tahuna, and as the result of failing to get properly to work was never a dangerous ■contender. Acting slowly from the start (the was quickly at the mercy of Coeoanut or Francesea, and after the latter lhad* acted as pacemaker for over a mile mud a-half, Coooanut, who had always been pondy, took command and won comfort- I ftTjfy at the finish. Ard Patrick's win in She Ivanhoe Handicap was principally brought about by Pringle's horsemanship, »s the son of Osterley did not act kindly ;m; m the early stages, but when once gathered in the last half he showed an excellent gait, winch cut down the opposition and left him a handsome winner, viceroy and Broad wood ako showed a toreat turn of c-peed, but spoilt their Ranees through m*'jci&g. Lettyaale showed ,

a good pace in ncr preliminary for the Bracelet, and those who followed that tip had the pleasure of a win without being at any tune particularly uneasy as the race was being run. The day's card and the meeting was brought to a conclusion by the Recovery Handicap, which attracted three starters. Francesco, did not act too kindly in the early part of the race, and mixed two or three times in the first quarter, without, however, losing any ground. Once settled down she drew out from Wilkie, and quickly overhauling Silver Black soon had the race at her mercy. She won nicely in 2.26, and her victory was foreshadowed by her form in the Telephone Handicap, in which she went her first mile inside of 2.28. Wilkie is a par--ticularly smart pony, but be has not been up long enough to reprodiice his best form.