Sporting OTAGO HUNT CLUB

Southland Times, Issue 24840, 4 September 1942, Page 3

Sporting OTAGO HUNT CLUB

MEETING AT WINGATUI TOMORROW The Otago Hunt Club’s annual meeting at Wlngatul tomorrow will mark the opening of the new racing season in Otago and Southland. As usual Southland stables are well represented in the fields, and the form of the southern horses will be keenly followed in view of forthcoming fixtures in Southland. Without exception the fields have filled well, and the signs are that an excellent day’s sport will be the result. SEAVIEW HURDLES.— Although he has yet to win a race over hurdles, the Southland hurdler Heidelberg is the form horse for the Seaview Hurdles. His performance in outclassing the field of the Spreydon Hurdles at the Grand National meeting was a good one, and showed that he was fit to take his place in the best-class hurdle fields. Heidelberg lost the race because of his Jockey being unable to draw the weight, but he has been handicapped as a winner. He is ready to run another good race and the extra poundage should not trouble him. Donadea has come into favour by some good schooling since the Grand National meetingTwo thirds at the National meeting represented good form. Rockery is another who was in form at Riccarton and he and Donadea will probably be selected to give Heidelberg his stiffest opposition. Aiictor is a possibility, and Phalanx would only need to reproduce his Otago Hurdles form to have a second-to-ndne chance. Of the nine stone division Susie might well be in the picture Form points to Heidelberg, Donadea and Rockery. OTAGO HUNT CUP STEEPLECHASE— At least half the field in the Hunt Cup steeples must be given a chance. Valens has recent winning form to recommend his chances. Two wins and a third in his last three starts are good form and few will go past him in selecting the favourite. Valens has not been over-raced this season and he should be capable of carrying 11.8 successfully. On Otago Steeplechase form Bally Brit reads well at 11.9, but his form at the Christchurch Hunt meeting was not convincing. The spell he has had since that race may have had the desired effect. Gay Boa Is a plodder who will not be discarded, but Prince Flaneur, a consistent performer in recent months, will be one of the best backed. He won this event pointlessly last year, and although he will have two stone more to carry this time he may be expected to race prominently. Golden Glow, with fourths in his last three starts reads the best of the others. The favourites may be Valens, Prince Flaneur, Bally Brit. PRESIDENT’S HANDICAP— Smart sprinters appear in the field of the President’s Handicap and barrier positions will play a part in finding the favourites. Winning Flight, winner of the McLean Stakes last season in record time, would only need to be wound up to have a first-class chance, but whether the Riverton-trained horses have had sufficient fast work is a matter to be decided. Bali, the topwelght did not show up In the Paparua Handicap at the National meeting, but he is certain to command attention on the strength of his performances last season. He will have to be right to give weight to Winning Flight, Desert Maid, True Mate and Light Cavalry. The favourites should come from that lot, but others likely to race well are Kohara, Gnohill and Princess Myosotis. Those likely to carry most support are Winning Flight, True Mate, Bali. TALLY-HO HANDICAP.—In his first appearance last season Doubleack was third in the Tally-Ho Handicap. He carried 8.5 and finished strongly behind Islay Downs and Nightcalm. He is In at 8.6 this year and on recent track work, he again should make a bold bid to win. Doubleack was only once further back than fourth in six starts last season. He is a reliable galloper. Nightcalm has been burning up the track at Wingatul and at 7.3 he may be well in the picture tomorrow. Compeer is the horse which will command most attention, however. His recent form stamps him as a bit above the average and he should be the hardest to beat. Symbol won well at South Canterbury, and Gold Flight, Fidelis, Dark Olga and The Joker are capable of running out a good mile. Outside Compeer, the issue is an open one, but the public may go for Compeer, Nightcalm, Symbol. HUNTERS’ FLAT HANDICAP— SeveraI of the field in the Hunters’ Flat Handicap have earlier engagements, but it is likely that most of them will be given a second outing. Forte raced well last season for a novice, and although running without success at the National meeting he may be equal to this task. Taxpayer can carry weight and will not be troubled by the distance, and Dark Olga and Phalanx should run good races over 10>/ 2 furlongs. Those who stand out are Phalanx, Forte and Taxpayer. VAUXHALL HANDICAP— Coy is a readymade favourite in the VauxhaU Handicap. She won at her only start on the National circuit and shaped as if she would go on with it Gold Nugget has good placed performances to his credit and may be preferred before True Mate, Gay Lancer and Gnohill. There is some promising material among the lightweights and a surprise may be effected, but the favourites are likely to be Coy, Gold Nugget and True Mate. TROTTING EVENTS— In the trotting events horses who will be supported are Sandstone, Sea Max, Sea Fortune, Absolutely and Great Deceiver. BOXING TOURNAMENT AT CAMP A novice and open boxing tournament was held at an Otago base training depot recently. The contestants were evenly matched and the standard of boxing was high. All the men had been, trained by Corporal Sutherland, of Invercargill. The results were as follows:—Corkery (Thornbury) defeated Morris (Owaka); Devereux (Luggatte) defeated Lowery (Oamaru); McKay (Dunedin) defeated McCullough (Oamaru); Mason (Balclutha) defeated Richmond (Balclutha); Rodgers (Dunedin) defeated Dixon (Invercargill); Mulholland (Ranfurly) defeated Cooper (Gore); Allison (Edendale) defeated Buchan (Dunedin): Lewis (Invercargill) defeated Ronald (Invercargill); Samson (Dunedin) defeated Collett (Invercargill); French (Dunedin) defeated Cochrane (Oamaru); Romeril (Dunedin) defeated Woods (Dunedin); Thomson (Limehills) defeated Collins (Maungawera); Moorhouse (Invercargill) defeated McLeod (Mataura); Sparks (Kaitangata) drew with Currie (Dunedin).