Sporting DUNEDIN SPRING MEETING

Southland Times, Issue 24870, 9 October 1942, Page 6

Sporting DUNEDIN SPRING MEETING

POSSIBILITIES FOR TOMORROW Good sport is promised at Wingatui tomorrow afternoon when the spring programme of the Dunedin Jockey Club will be decided. The fields have filled very well and the class of horse engaged is well up to the standard of those of other years. The feature events of an attractive programme are the Dunedin Guineas, for three-year-olds, and the McLean Stakes for two-year-olds, and among the handicap events are the Ranfurly Handicap (one mile and a quarter) and the Telegraph Handicap, file open sprint. As usual Southland stables are well represented, and although some of the southerners may not be as well forward as some of the others in the fields, they may be expected to get their share of the stake money. From a Southland viewpoint the racing will serve as a good guide to the racing in the Southland circuit, which will begin this season with the meeting of the Gore Racing Club on October 24. WAKARI HURDLES—With the absence of Adina, who is an unlikely starter, Strip is certain to be strongly fancied in the hurdles. The Wingatui galloper won impressively over hurdles at the Otago Hunt meeting, and his rise in weight should not stop him from having a big say in the finish. He has been schooling well lately, and has shown a big improvement in his jumping. Auctor was well in at the finish of the race won by Strip at the Otago Hunt meeting, and with a pull in the weights he may be expected to run another good race. Jacksonville is a novice hurdler who got a place behind Rockery and Adina at Geraldine, and with the two last-named out of the road he looks like giving Strip and Auctor their strongest opposition. Colonel French, Colonel Rouge and Ageratum will represent Southland. All three have been schooling well, but they may need the gallop. Colonel Rouge won over hurdles at Wingatui last December and at his best he would be worth considering. The favourites may be Strip, Auctor, Jacksonville. NOVICE HANDICAP—The public will have little to go on in making a selection in this race. Several of the candidates have raced well enough without disclosing winning form, and only a few have succeeded in gaining place money. Kernel’s second to Gunga Din at Geraldine was full of merit, and as he showed promising form last season he is entitled to carry most support. Prince Leighon gave glimpses of speed as a two-year-old and Silver Mask has a good placed performance to his credit. Pallid’s third to Tutere and Eulogia at Ashburton was good form and may be worth remembering. Of the others support may be accorded Macedonia, a young Invercargill mare whose track work in recent weeks suggests an early success. Damascus showed up at the Otago Hunt meeting, but failed at Geraldine through his gear breaking during the race. He may run well. Form points to Kernel, with Silver Mask and Macedoine as a pair likely to show up.

KAIKORAI HANDICAP—Three candidates in this field, Court Dress, Gnohill and Dark Colleen, have dual engagements. It is known that Gnohill and Dark Colleen are to start in this event," however. Court Dress has won over seven furlongs this season, and if started here would be given a good chance. The favourite is likely to be Desert Maid, who won brilliantly at Geraldine after being left several lengths and running wide into the straight. She is moody and not a good barrier mare, but she has speed sufficient to outclass this field. Gnohill is another who will be well supported. His form since the Otago Hunt meeting, where he won, has been good. Gay Lancer is a distinct possibility and Milton Abbas and Coy are not likely to be passed over. There are some smart performers among the lightweights, but the winner looks to be among the 8-stone division. Those who are certain of support are Desert Maid, Gnohill and Gay Lancer.

RANFURLY HANDICAP—The meeting of Royal Lancer, The Raker, The Joker, Gold Flight, Boloyna and Southern Sail in the Ranfurly Handicap promises to be one of the highlights of the programme. Almost without exception the runners have good performances to their credit and the issue is very open. Royal Lancer has a big task in front of him to concede weights of up to 281 b to some smart middle distance horses, but he is above the average as a weight carrier, and since he showed a return to form at the Geraldine meeting a good showing may be expected of him. He has been galloping well in his track work, and yesterday morning he rounded oft a good preparation with an easy gallop over a mile. The Raker has run some of his best races over a mile and a-quarter at Wingatui, and on recent running he is the horse the public may select as favourite. But race form points to The Joker being the hardest of this pair to beat. His winning mile at the Otago Hunt meeting was impressive, and the extra distance of tpmorrow’s race should not trouble him. He will be ridden by the Invercargill apprentice,'K. E. Wilson, who won on him at the Otago Hunt meeting. Southern Sail and Doubleack are Dunedin Cup winners, who if at their best would trouble any of those selected. Southern Sail has had a couple of runs this season and may be ready for a hard race. On Oamaru Winter Cup form Gold Flight would have a good chance, and Boloyna may be ready. Nightcalm reads best of the lightweights. The material is there for an excellent race, and when speculation has been completed the favourites may be The Raker, Royal Lancer and The Joker.

DUNEDIN GUINEAS—Botany, Lord Advocate and John Gay, all winners in recent weeks, look like being the public selections for the Dunedin Guineas. Botany has not raced since he won the Cashmere Plate pointlessly, but he is well, and has been giving of his best in his track work. John Gay won the John Grigg Stakes and shaped as if he would go on with it, and Lord Advocate demonstrated his class by an extra good performance at Geraldine. Since then Lord Advocate has been burning up the tracks in his workouts and he promises to strip an improved galloper tomorrow. Foxhaven has been a bit disappointing in recent starts, and although he is a good galloper he will not be preferred before Botany, Lord Advocate or John Gay. Straight Bat has pace, but may be found wanting over a mile. Steward, the Salmagundi-Caterpillar colt trained at Wingatui, is a possibility. His form at the Otago Hunt meeting pointed to good performances later. Pioneer and Lincoln have little to recommend their chances.

McLEAN STAKES—Southland stables supplied the winner and runner-up in this event last season, and they may do so again. Royal Flight, the half-sister to Winning Flight, is credited with as much speed as her relation. If she is as good out of the barrier, she must be given a second to none chance. Her strongest opposition looks like coming from Invulnerable, the half-brother to Royal Lancer in F. W. Ellis’s stable. His barrier and track work have promised very well and he will lack nothing on tire score of handling. He will be ridden by W. F. Ellis, who has yet to ride the winner of a classic event. Not a great deal is known of the track form of the others, but Islam, Fairy Godmother and Slipstream should race well. The public may select Royal Flight, Invulnerable and Islam.

TELEGRAPH HANDICAP—AII Night, on the strength of his easy win at Geraldine, is a ready-made favourite for the Telegraph Handicap. He is a brilliant sprinter. Egyptian Rose may need the race, but according to reports her track form suggests that she is already near her best. The showing of the unbeaten Sing Sing will be followed with interest. Tins mare has done everything asked of her in her track work, and yesterday morning she recorded a particularly good effort over five furlongs in sticky going. That gallop showed that there was nothing wrong with the mare, and although it is asking much of her to beat horses of the class of All Night and Egyptian Rose in her first start for the season, and incidentally her first race in open company, she looks ready to race up to her best form. Royal Chorus and Leighnor may be the best of the others. Those certain of support are AU Night, Egyptian Rose and Sing Sing.

CLARENDON HANDICAP—Marquee will get his chance to show that his form at Geraldine was not his best. He has won over the distance (10>/ 2 furlongs) on the Wingatui track and as he is well he should be worth following. Court Dress, if not started earlier, would be a good proposition, and Arabian Night has credentials which will entitle him to support. Dark Colleen and Gnohill will be having their second starts in this race, and of the pair most support will come for Gnohill, who has been revelling in his track work. Georgia is a possibility and Tissue and Kohara may have followings. The fancies may be Marquee, Court Dress and Arabian Night.