SPLENDID RESPONSE

Evening Post, Volume CXXVIII, Issue 136, 6 December 1939, Page 15

SPLENDID RESPONSE

MANAWATU FIELDS

FINE RACE LIKELY IN CUP

Though clashing with the Auckland Cup Meeting,' the Manawatu Racing Club's Summer Meeting usually draws good-quality fields for its open events at Christmas, but it is doubtful if the club has ever had better response in point of class than it has secured ins its entries this year. No fewer than j 26 horses have been nominated for the Manawatu Cup, and as only two of j them are listed also for the Auckland Cup a capital race seems assured. The fields for the other events also promise to be numerous and of strong quality. • With the dates that the Manawatu Club is using this year, the opening day scheduled for December 23, it will be quite possible for a horse to run in the Manawatu Cdp and then be on hand for the Auckland Cup on December 26. The two horses who might attempt this double are Wotan and Scotland. Wotan's being nominated for all three days at Awapuni, however, suggests that he is to do his Christmas facing at Manawatu. On the other hand, Scotland's single entry at Manawatu is for the Cup. A month back, Scotland, who was in good fettle last autumn, gave a glimpse of returning form at Avon dale, and, though how nine years old, he has a third in the Auckland Cup three years ago to his credit. , THE BUZZER'S RETURN. An interesting entry for the Manawatu Cup is The Buzzer, who won the Auckland Cup two years ago and has not raced since the Auckland Cup Meeting last year, where he was unplaced (as favourite) in the Cup•,and A.R.C.. Handicap. He broke down in the latter event, which necessitated a spell, and when in training earlier this season he had to be let up again as the result of a cold. A line to his present fitness may be afforded in one of the sprints at the Woodville Meeting next weekend. A somewhat unexpected entry for the Manawatu Cup is Centrepoise, winner of the C?J.C./Metropolitan Handicap last month. \On his return to Hastings he was given a let-up and it was stated that he would not be raced again till January at the earliest, but apparently, he has done well during his respite. He is engaged on all three days at Awapuni, and the valuable Wellington Cup will undoubtedly follow for him after the Manawatu Meeting. / Lady Furst has also had only a brief holiday, as she, too, figures in the Manawatu Cup, though she is missing from the later-day fields. Her last race was in the Canterbury Cup, where she led to the straight. She is a mare who comes up fresh, and after the Manawatu Cup she may be reserved for the Wellington Cup. Among the other entries for the Manawatu Cup are Siegmund, Dv Maurier (the two Feilding winners), Hunting Cat (who won the Manawatu Cup four years ago), The Bigot (who was fourth last year and third the year before), Kena and Galteemore (open winners at Awapuni during last winter), Tidewaiter, Play On (a recent winner' at Otaki), Dainty Sue, Friesland, Trebor, Windsor Chief, two promoted staying hacks in Colonel-Bogey and Raeburn, andthree promising staying hacks in Aurora's Star, Anita Foe, and Rarotonga. Such, horses offer the material for a really splendid contest to inaugurate the 1939 Christmas racing carnival in the Dominion. QUALITY IN SPRINT. As there are two other events for the open horses on the first day at Manawatu, also three open events on the final day, making eight races for this grade over the three days, one might have expected the nomination for some of them at least to have been light. However, this is not the case, as all have gathered excellent entries. , :.] The smallest nomination among these events is for the Fitzherbert Handicap, the first day's open sprint, but even then thirteen entries have been made and the class is strong. Of the bakers dozen four are' also* in the A.R.C. Railway Handicap, the quartet being Amigo, Laughing Lass, Sleeveless, and Rakahanga. The probabilities now are that these horses will race at Awapuni, unless any of them should meanwhile make a showing at Woodville justifying a trip to Ellerslie. The Morris stable has Disdain remaining to represent it in the Railway HandiCQTD Among the other sprinters who are likely to be seen in action at Awapuni are Russian Ballet (a winner at Feilding), Globe Trotter (a winner at Trentham and Riccarton), Lord Cavendish, Ecstatic, Solaria, and promoted hacks in Night Eruption, Duncannon, and Jeanne. Over a furlong further on the middle day there are additions to the list in Old Bill, Alunga, Alchemic (who has been at the stud for three seasons), and a number of horses who figure in the nine furlongs Grandstand Handicap on the first day. Back at six furlongs on the final day newcomers include Florence Mills and Tableau, who are engaged on only the one day at the meeting. Old Bill's entry on the middle day is interesting, as the seven furlongs Awapuni Handicap is the only race for which he has been nominated. . One assumption seems to be that he is intended for the Auckland Cup, but might race at Awapuni instead if he does not progress quite as expected. Another possibility is that he will miss Auckland and is being taken by quiet stages to a big effort for the Wellington Cup. which carries the biggest stake to be won in the Dominion this The Grandstand Handicap, the- third open event on the first day, is run over nine furlongs with a 7.11 minimum, and there is a corresponding event, but decided over seven furlongs on the final day. The entry for the Grandstand Handicap includes Colonel Bogey, The Bigot, Galteemore, Rarotonga, Anita Foe, and Mataroa, who are also in the Cup list, as well as additional horses in Lady Montana, Mishna, Haughty Winner, Flying Acre, Boldstep., Cricket, Colfort, Lord Moutoa, and Boomerang, besides Globe Trotter and Flammarion from the sprint field. This is a race that has often been comparatively easy to win —a veritable Christmas box for the open handicappers who find it hard to measure up to the top grade—but it does not look at all like proving any sinecure for the middle-rankers this year.