RACING NOTES

Taranaki Central Press, Volume IV, Issue 419, 28 April 1937, Page 7

RACING NOTES

RED MANFRED’S PERFORMANCES “Central Press” Forecasts Are Reliable (By “Odds On.") “The Watcher” in the Dominion of April 21, states: “Red Manfred is an interesting entry for the principal flat races at the Dannevirke meeting next week. It is two years next month since he last raced in New Zealand and won the Hawke’s Bay Cup, and his last race was at Kyneton (Victoria), in October 1935. He has been schooled over hurdles lately at Hawera.”

In the Hawera track notes, published in the Daily News, on April 27, the following comment appears: “Red Manfred, although he has done a fair amount of work, including some schooling over hurdles, will benefit by a race, and the outing should work a big improvement in him for future events, even if he fails to run prominently. On the Woodville track he has run some of his best races. Red Manfred last raced in New Zealand just on two years ago, when he won the Hawke’s Bay Cup. His last race was in Victoria in October, 1936.” Observing both these comments, I feel the necessity for correc- •* tion. Red Manfred started at Woodville on December 10 (four and a half months ago) in the big race, the Bolton Handicap, of 11 miles, was third favourite in a field of seven starters and was placed sixth. On the second day, December 12, he started in the Gothard Handicap, run over one mile and •a distance, was second favourite and was placed second. Red Manfred was selected in these columns on the second day, to gain second place, which he duly occupied. The winners were good ones in Martara and Werohia. It was next freely published in sporting papers that he had been retired to the stud, but my records say that he is a gelding. These two detailed performances are his most recent ones, but he also started eight times for one third placing between September 10 and October 24 last year. He is showing fair form at present at Hawera and may be ready .to run prominently again, even though he can hardly command first choice. Although perhaps not yet fully appreciated as a newspaper, sporting enthusiasts may have followed and retained copies of the racing comment and selections published in the “Central Press,” and comparisons with seven or eight other publications, which would prove that the “Central Press” gains more successes than failures when pitted singly against the whole seven or eight publications mentioned.