DUNEDIN JOCKEY CLUB

Evening Star, Issue 24012, 10 October 1941, Page 6

DUNEDIN JOCKEY CLUB

SPRING MEETING THE FIELDS REVIEWED The break in the weather during the past few days came at a most inopportune time Tor the racing public, and, though the prospects for a fine day tomorrow for the opening of the Dunedin Jockey Club’s Spring Meeting now look brighter, the track is sure to be heavy. In the final gallops this morning horses were getting well through the surface. On account of the two classic races on the programme the spring fixture is one of the most interesting held at Wingatui, and both tho McLean Stakes and Dunedin Guineas have drawn unusually good fields this season. The presence of several New Zealand Cup and Stewards’ Handicap horses will lend additional interest to to-morrow’s racing, and, though two races have attracted smaller fields than usual, an interesting afternoon’s sport is promised.

Win and place tickets will'be on sale at all windows of the lawn enclosure totalisator, a v nd instructions have been given to close the machines sharply on the scheduled times. A convenient train service has been arranged, fast specials leaving Dunedin at 11.10, 11.35, and 11.50 a.m., in addition to the ordinary service, and the express trains from and to Invercargill will stop at Wingatui. The following are the fields and anticipations : 12:30 —

Ranara and Ballaggan will be bracketed on the totalisators.- This is one of the best fields seen over hurdles _at Wingatui for some years, and additional interest is given the race by the number of maiden hurdlers engaged. Merry Simon appeared to be unlucky to be beaten on the first day of the Geraldine meeting, and with only 31b more to carry looks the best of the handicap. Colonel Rouge is reported to have been schooling well at Invercargill, and his pace on the flat will make him dangerous. Of the others, Mosgiel, Auctor, and Flagman should prove the best, but Merry Simon and Colonel Rouge are the likely favourites.

The draw for positions in a big field at the barrier in a six-furlong race at Wingatui is always a consideration when looking for the winner. Paper Whistle, Overland Red, and Kernel each finished third at the recent meeting, at Geraldine, and Kernel has a second placing to his credit at the Christchurch Hunt Meeting. There may he a good one among the others, all weighted at 8.6, but the three top weights, provided they draw good positions at the barrier, have much the best of the handicap. Of the others Lady Nuffield and Miss Sally may prove the best. 1.42

Norse is an unlikely starter. Three Dunedin Guineas candidates in Sir Gundi, Arabian Night, and Bascule in the field add interest to this race, and the last named will meet Sir,Gundi on 101 b -better terms than in the classic. Ackemma won well over nine furlongs at the Geraldine meeting, and this halfsister to Doubleack is now showing her true form. She handles yielding going well. Sir Gundi was finishing onstrongly at the end of seven furlongs in the John Grigg Stakes last month after beginning slowly. Milton Abbas will meet Ackemma on 131 b better terms than when the latter won at Geraldine. This difference should bring them together. Raroa will meet Anglo-Irish on 11b worse terms-than when the latter finished several lengths behind Raroa over six furlongs at the Otago Hunt Meeting, but Anglo-Irish could not handle the heavy going, and will be seen to better advantage on a firmer track. Foxette has shown no form this season. Twenty Grand has'not raced since last February. The Joker won at Riccarton last Easter, and Arabian Night on the same course at tho National Meeting. Neither Royoney nor Safe Light have form to recommend their chances in this company. The Guineas candidates in the order named should he favourites, and Ackemma and Anglo-Irish the most likely to trouble them.

1.42AIR FORCE HANDICAP, £2OO. Sii furlongs.

Haring bled in his work yesterday morning, Dark Flight was an unlikely starter, but he showed no sign of the trouble in a work-out this morning. Hearth ran badly at the Otago Hunt Meeting and Boswell at Geraldine, but in each case raced ■ much below their true form. Rebel Mate is nicely handicapped, and though not placed ran two good races at the National Meeting. Sham Boy won at Geraldine, but was lucky to beat Strip, and has been highly rated in being placed within 71b of Rebel Mate. Secret Flight has not been in work long enough to show her best form. Palfrey is the best three-year-old in the South Island, and improving all the while. On the form he showed in the John Grigg Stakes last_ month he should start favourite. Night Pal has been off the scene since the New Year meeting at Invercargill. Withdrawal finished close up fourth to Boswell, Saxon Tor, and Poutatan over six furlongs at the National Meeting, and will meet Boswell on 101 b better terms. When well this mare is always dangerous. Phalanx does not appeal, but Bird of Prev. winner of three races as a two-year-old. would only have to race up to her last season’s form to be the hardest to boat. She finished third to Palfrey and Sir Gundi in the John Grigg Stakes, seven furlongs, and

meets the former on 101 b better terms. Rebel Mate, Palfrey; and Bird of Preyare the likely favourites, 2.54 CHURCHILL HANDICAP, £3OO. One mile two furlongs and a-half. Don’t Forget 8 7 Airline ... 715 Iceland Spar 8 S Islay Downs 7 5 Doubleack ... 8 4- Earoa 7 0. A most disappointing field for such a good stake, and may be further reduced, as both Islay Downs and Raroa are engaged jn other races, and Airline is' definitely a non-starter. The other three are New Zealand Cup candidates, Last February Iceland Spar (7.2) was only beaten by a narrow margin,, by Doubleack (7.7) in the Dunedin Cup. Iceland Spar went on to win twice afterwards, including the Great Autumn Handicap, but Doubleack had to be put aside after the , Dunedin meeting, and did not appear again until he ran third at the Otago Hunt Meeting to Islay Downs and Nightcalm. He now meets Iceland Spar and Islay Downs each on 61b better terms. At Geraldine last month ■ Don’t Forget failed at the end of a mile,'but is likely to have improved since then, and last season finished a good second' in the New Zealand Derby .to Enrich. If Iceland Spar is t hold his place as favourite for the New Zealand Cup he should beat Doubleack, , and , Don’t Forget. 3.30 ; ■ McLBAN STAKES, £3OO. Four-furlongs.

Gold Branch and Legal Lady will be bracketed, on the totalisator. This is an excellent field of two-year-olds, and all will be having their first race in public. Foxhaven and Chestnut Glow have track reputations at Riccarton, and are likely to be made the favourites. On the work seen at Wingatui, another Riccarton candidate in Trapeze should give them the most trouble. 4.6—OCTOBER HANDICAP, £175. One mile.

Another poor field, possibly to he still further weakened by the withdrawal of Night Pal and Islay Downs, who both have other engagements. Both Strip and Stabilise were winners at the Geraldine meeting, and the race looks like being a match between them. Strip is likely to claim a 71b allowance for an apprentice rider, and this should give him the advantage. 4.42 TAIOMA HANDICAP, £l5O. Seven furlongs.

An excellent field to bring to a close an interesting day’s racing. Dark Olga has not started since she won her third race in succession at the Dunedin Winter Meeting, and will meet Lady Don, who finished third, on 71b worse terms, the latter having since won ( ver sis furlongs at the Otago Hunt Meeting. Counterluneh has not _ started since she raced at this meeting last year. Taxpayer has been a most disappointing horse since he returned an outsize dividend at the Grand National Meeting 14 months ago, having won one small race at Lawrence out of 19 starts. Calypso won a double at the Geraldine meeting, the second day over: seven furlongs, but has 171 b more to carry in this race, and against stronger opposition. Johnemby- finished second to Parchment over nine.furlongs at the same meeting. At the Wingatui Winter Meeting he won well over seven furlongs, but has not been a good horse to follow. Gay Lancer’s last winning performance was over seven furlongs at Riverton last Easter, following a win at the Oamaru meeting. He is nicely treated, and only requires t'o run up to form to be one of the Hardest to beat. Twenty Grand has an engagement earlier in the afternoon. Silver Lily, winner of the McLean Stakes lost year, has developed into a fine filly, and a Dunedin Guineas, candidate. She failed at the Otago Hunt meeting, but was beaten at the start. She is likely to be selected favourite in this race, and a win for her would bring her_ into strong favour for the mile classic on Monday. Salutation, another Guineas candidate, was also a winner as a two-year-old at this meeting last year. She, too, has developed well, and looks like making a stayer. _ Desert Maid,- another Guineas candidate, won oyer five furlongs at Wingatui last Christmas, when she gave Palfrey 81b and heat him by two lengths in 61 3-ssec. She is reported to have trained on well this season. Kohara won,, in the niud at Wingatui last June, arid Lady Don slipped her field at the start of the sixfurlong race at the Otago Hunt Meeting ana won easily. If she can see out seven furlongs this mare • will be the hardest to catch, as she is a very smart beginner. Willow Wood, also a Guineas candidate, has so far failed to see out seven furlongs, and Black Bard will have to show a marked improvement on last year’s form to have a chance. Silver Lily, Salutation, and Lady Don are sure of solid support.

THE FINAL GALLOPS. The heavy rain yesterday afternoon _ and again last night made the tracks at Wingatui this morning heavy for the final gallops, and they were much slower than on the previous morning. Heavy showers fell before the breakfast interval, but those who were worked later had fine but cold weather, and slower tracks. . Practically all the northern visitors have now arrived, Airline being one of the few exceptions. He contracted a cold after the Geraldine meeting, and his trainer decided to leave him at home. Norse is another Canterbury representative that will not be at the meeting. The Southland horses were expected to arrive this morning. - Iceland Spar, Don’t Forget, and Palfrey were companions over five furlongs on the outside of the course proper, the trestles being about 50ft out from the rails. They ran the first two furlongs in 26 l-ssec, and the full journey in 69 3-ssec, without being ridden out. They were all together at the finish, . and the gallop was a good one. Ditty Bos, a two-year-old in W. P. Hogan’s stable, engaged on the -second day, took 44sec to run three furlongs on the same course, and handled the going well. Arabian Night, after taking 2Sseo for the first two furlongs,.'finished strongly at the end of five furlongs in Imin 12 2-ssec. Willow Wood took 57 2-ssec to rtm half a mile,,but was going easily throughout. Paper Whistle was going better than Koyoney at the end of half a, mile in 60sec. From a standing start Gold Branch was wide out from the rails while running three furlongs in 42sec. Chestnut Glow and Foxhaven jumped away from the four furlongs barrier, and ran the first furlong in 12 l-ssec, two in 24 3-ssec, and the full journey in 51 2-ssec. There was nothing between them at the finish, and each handled the yielding going well. Islay Downs completed a circuit by sprinting home the last three furlorigs_ in 41sec. The soft track will enhance this horses chance in whichever race it is decided to start him, but his trainer said this

morning that so far no decision had been made. _ ... Dark Flight looked none the wofse for having bled in his gallop yesterday morning, and after trotting a circuit on the inside grass track was cantered round to the three-furlongs post, and then sprinted home easily in 40 2-ssec. He showed no signs of a recurrence of the,trouble, and will now be a starter to-morrow. Strip looked a little light after his two hard races at the Geraldine meeting, but has now freshened up again, and wa« going comfortably throughout half a u.-iie in 56 4-ssec. Earoa found the going to her liking' and sprinted home very fast over the last two furlongs of half . a;, mile. Rebel Mate also revelled in the soft going and after running the first furlong in Msec, ran home without being extended in 57sec, and was right on the outside cf the course. He is very well at present and the track will suit him to-morrow. Silver tily and Pianiste were allowed to run along quietly over half a mile in 60 2-ssec and handled the going .well. Winning Flight was worked next th* rails, but not against -the watch. Tbie two-year-old is well forward in condition, and shows a lot of speed when extended, Boucsut ran the last three of . four furlongs in .45sec, but was not doing it well. Cataract and Overland Red were sprinted down the straight, the latter showing to advantage. All those horses that galloped yesterday were let off with easy tasks,-and a numberof others were given half, to three-quarter pace work. The best gallops of the morning were registered by Iceland Spar, Don’t Forget, and Rebel Mate of the aged horses, and Chestnut Glow and Foxhaven of the Vwp-year-olds.

SPRING HURDLES, £150. One mile and a-lialf. -Merry Simon 30 4 Sir Hugh 9 0 Mungatoon ... Flagman 10 0 « 9 12 Prince Ruenalf Astaire 9 9 0 0 Mosgiel 9 4 Panara 9 0 Colonel Rouge 9 3 Night Scout ... 9 0 Monipere 9 0 Ballyaggan ... 9 0 Auctor 9 0

1.6— TRIAL HANDICAP, £120. Six furlongs. Paper Whistle 8 11 Lady Nuffield 8 6 Overland Ked 8 10 Light Cavalry 8 6 Kernel ... ... 8 9 Miss Sally ... 3 6 Attorney Berrima 8 6 8 6 Hoiho Tinopai ... 8 6 Boucaut 8 6 Mae West ... 8 6 Chandelier ... 8 6 Platform 8 6 Decamp 8 6 Nihil 8 6 Happy Feet ... 8 6 Very Happy ... 8 6 Help Mate ... 8 6 Compeer 8 6 Irish Ruler ... 8 6 Fianiste 8 6

MAUNGATUA HANDICAP, £175. One mile. Foxelto ,..'i ... 9 3 Milton Abbas 8 2 Raroa 9 3 The Joker ... 8 1 Anglo Irish ... 8 10 Arabian Night 7 11 Norse 8 4- Royoney 7 8 Sir Gundi ... 8 3 Safe Light ... 7 7 Ackemma ' ... 8 3 Bascule 7 7 Twenty Grand 8 2

Hearth 9 7 Secret Flight 8 1 Boswell ... 9 S Palfrey 8 1 Rebel Mate ... 8 10 Night Pal ... 7 13 Dark Flight 8 7 Withdrawal 7 11 Sham Boy ... 8 3 Phalanx 7 6 Nightcalm ... 8 3 Bird of Prey 7 0

Foxhaven 8 5 Carolyn 8 0 Red Prize ... '8 5 G6ld Branch 8 0 Prince Leighon 8 5 Legal Lady ... 8 0 Cataract 8 5 Grilse -. 8 0 Big Top ... 8 •5 ■ Winning Chestnut Glow 8 0 Flight : ■ ... 8'0 Trapeze 8 0 Macedoine ... 8 0

Strip ... .. .. 9 11 Islay Downs 8 10 Stabilise 9 6 Sir Hugh 8 2 Night Pal ., ,. 9 1 Lord Puck ... 8 0

Dark Olga ... 9 1 Silver Lily ... 8 2 Counterlunch 9 0 Salutation ... 8 1 Taxpayer 8 12 Desert Maid 8 1 Calypso 8 9 Kohara 8 ! 1 Jobnemby 8 8 Lady Don - ... 8 0 Gay, Lancer 8 5 Willow Wood a 0 Great Swoop 8 3 Black Bard ... 7 7 Twenty Grand 8 3