OPENING EVENT.

Auckland Star, Volume LVIII, Issue 88, 14 April 1927, Page 12

OPENING EVENT.

distance in the St. Leger Stakes at Wellington last month, and Commendation cut out a record at the finish. He should be good at a mile. Day Guard ia a bold galloper and has won several | races recently. If he hops out in front he will set a merry pace. Transformer may be better suited by a longer distance, while Master Doon, after the way he finished on the second day at Whangarei, would only need to have the track on the soft side to show to advantage. High Pitch, who won the Railway, appears to be very wfcll and he will have some friends, for he has won over seven furlongs. Oreum is in the same stable as Magna Cliarta and the daughter of Desert Gold can go fast. York Abbey may see out the mile, but Hipo and Le Choucas, who are on the same mark, appeal more. Hipo has two good per- ! formances to his credit already in the ! Easter Handicap, a win and a second to I Reremoana. Of the 7.0 division Merry Jest and Papatu may be most fancied. Reremoana, Joy King and Magna Charta are likely to be the chief selections. THE STEEPLECHASE. In the Mangcre Steeplechase Royalform, who heads the list, won on the first day at Paeroa and dead-heated with Day Bell on the second. Considering it was his first appearance over the country he gave a good display and promises to turn out a more than useful 'chaser. Wedding March has yet to go over the big country in public, but he schooled well over the steeplechase course at Ellerslie on Tuesday. Prince Rufus lias shown ability over fences, while the same may be said of Garzon. Pentagram won at the Waikato meeting, and of those lower down Bahadur, and Dimlight may appeal most. Probably Pentagram, Rovalform and Prince Rufus may carry most money, but if Wedding March is started he will have sonic friends. THE JUVENILE HANDICAP. Melissa, who has pride of place in the Onslow Stakes, has raced most consistently this season. Thaw won the Fitzherbert Handicap at the Wellington Cup meeting, beating Melissa. Auratum won at Woodville in December, and at Wellington recently was third to Laughing Prince and Covent Garden over six furlongs. Golden Wedding won at Paeroa, while Carinthia also scored at tne same meeting. Ti-tree was a promising two-year-old earlier in the season, while Auriculus, Whakarite and Arihana may bo the best of the others. Probably Melissa, Auratum and Thaw may find most favour. THE CONCLUDING EVENT. A good field is engaged in the President's Handicap. Star Stranger has 9.13. It is a good weight, but this horse cut out an Australasian record for a mile and three furlongs in the Wellington Racing Club Handicap last January. Star Stranger looks well, and moved nicely over a round on Tuesday at Ellerslie. Eden Hall showed a return to form in winning the Ohinemuri Cup. He is not badly placed at 8.10. Hynanna is one of the best three-year-olds in the country, and with 5.9 he is likely to go out favourite. Pegaway has been racing well on the country circuit recently and the same applies to Ballachulish, Curraghmore and Air Queen. Princess Ronnie is a good sort over a mile and a-quarter and won this event last year. The public will probably select Hvnannaj Star Stranger, and Eden Hall. CANTERBURY JOCKEY CLUB. CHRISTCHURCH, Wednesday. The following acceptances were posted to-night for the Canterbury Jockej Club's autumn meeting: — April 18—Easter Monday. KILDARE HANDICAP of 300sovs. One mile and a-aunrter.

THE LADIES' RACE

The Great Northern Oaks, for three-' year-old fillies, is the opening event and the field left in after final payment is stronger numerically than usually. There are eight engaged, but probabiy there will be one or two defections on the day. Lady Desmond is bound to be the public fancy, for she has raced well recently and is bred to stay, being by Limond from that good mare Bronze, who among other races won the Great Autumn Handicap, one mile and a-half at Riccarton, after being beaten by the shortest of margins the previous year. Lady Desmond has started on half a dozen occasions this year and has only once been out of the money. She commenced by running second to Beaumont in the Telegraph Handicap, six furlongs, at Marton, and last January was second to Baby Bun at Stratford over five furlongs. She was second to Benzpra over six furlongs at Egmont, and up to this period was looked on as a sprinter. However, in her next two starts she won the Nelson Cup and the Rangitikei Cup, both a mile and a-quarter, beating in the latter event Ngata, Star-Area, Nukumai, Mint Leaf and Alloway (who ran third in the Great Northern Derby to Commendation and Lysander, who only managed to finish a neck in front for second honours!. Phaola was second in the New Zealand Oaks, while of the others Macroora may be the best. Probably they will be supported in that order.

FIRST "LEG" OP DOUBLE. The Brighton Hurdle Race is the first the-double," and, of course, there wIJP-'be great interest in the decision of this event."' "Sir Roseberry has the steadier of 11.13, but even with that 'impost this brilliant jumper is sure to rim a good race. His training was interrupted recently owing to knocking himself while running in the paddock. However, since he has been in work again he has come on well and .his efforts: on the course have been most satisfactory. Mia Bella won over a, mile and three-quarters at the WaSkato '-, spring meeting and annexed the Grafton Hurdle Race, two miles, at the Auckland summer meeting, beating Wedding March ajnd others. Two years ago she finished Second to Peter Amans in the Brighton Hurdles with 10.9, but on Saturday has 11.4, which is a fairly solid burden. Archibald with 10.13 reads nicely. He won the event in hollow fashion last year, finishing ten lengths in front of Kawyii, and on that occasion carried 9;8. At the winter meeting he annexed the Campbell HufHle Race, two miles, with 10.8. In his work at Ellerslie recently he has shown that he is about at the top of his form-and he should not want for supporters'. Royal Abbey is jumper, but he has riot'raced for some time. Wedding-Match has proved himself a good h«rdler.».and by his running on the secdbft day at Paeroa- he showed that he was doming back to form, fpr he was runner-up to Gold Rep. However, he is in the Mangere Steeplechase #ind was schooled over steeples at Ellerslie during the week and though nothing definite is known he may take on the cross-country event in preference to the Ijurdles. Peter Rosa has started five times this season for a couple of wins, :his successes being a double at Te Aroha ,over a mile and a-half and a mile and three-quarters, respectively. He is a useful hurdler. Kawini has been scratched and Royalform is engaged in two events, the Brighton Hurdles and the Mangere Steeples. If started in the event under review he' may have to be given a thought. Kawa has run some good races over hurdles. He has some speed and jumps quickly. The stable, however, has another one in • Rangitahi, who is a good sort. Llewellyn looked as though he was coming back to fmm at Whangarei when he ran third

on the first day, while he was going well when brought to grief by others falling in front of him on the second day. Passin' Through may be better suited by steeples. Goid Rain, Mahgoloire, Glenotus and Dead Sweet have all shown form over hurdles, but I think when the final figures are adjusted Archibald, Rangitahi and Kawa may be the elect. THE TWO-YEAR-OLD CLASSIC. The Great Northern Champagne Stakes has drawn a good field of two-year-olds; in faet outside Agrion, Eulalie and Laughing Prince, the best in the country are engaged. Gascony, of course, will have a lot of friends. * He won the Great Northern Foal Stakes, beating Agrion and Cimabue, but later was beaten by Agrion in the Koyal Stakes. His next and last»appearance was in the North Island Challenge Stakes at Trentham last month, and, hopping out smartly, he led all the way, winning by a neck from Lysander, with Damaris half a length away third. The time was 1.25 for the seven furlongs, and it was a great performance. Cimabue won the Avondale Stakes, and in his next start accounted for the Welcome Stakes at Riccarton. He- finished third in the Great Northern Foal Stakes and since then has not raced. He looks a greatly improved colt, and by the way he beat that promising sort Silvermine* {who ran The Hawk to a head in the Taranaki Stakes in 1.13 2-5) at Ellerslie yesterdav morning he is in fine fettle and shoul'd j give a good account of himself. The bracket, Damaris and Covent Garden, will have some support. Covent Garden won the Sylvia Handicap at Auckland and ran a couple of good races "at Wellington. Damaris, after finishing third in the Juvenile Handicap at Wanganui to Melissa and Ranui, won the Harrison Two-year-old Handicap on the second day. Going on to Trentham Damaris was a starter in the North Island Challenge Stakes. She lost ground at the start, but, putting in a great run, was soon alongside Lysander. This pair failed to reach Gascony, but all the same the performance of Damaris was impressive. Paganelli has raced well up •to sLx furlongs, while In the Shade and Ti-tree from the Jamieson stable have also shown ability this season. Carinthia may be the best of the others. Gascony, Cimabue and the Damaris-Covent Garden bracket are likely to be supported in that order.

THE BIG HANDICAP. Reremoana is at the top of the weights in the Easter Handicap and even with 10.2 he has a royal show after the manner in which he won the Jackson Stakes at Wanganui and the Thompson Handicap at Trentham with 9.8. He is one of the best handicap horses in New Zealand, and probably the best over a mile there is to-day. Rapine went well over the last seven furlongs of a mile yesterday and if he jumped out smartly he would have to be reckoned with. That is the only proviso as far as he is concerned, for he bas put up some brilliant performances this season. He certainly is well treated. Royal Divorce has not done a great deal recently and one would like to have seen him have a little more racing during the last few months. His dead-heat at Masterton with Standard was not" convincing enough to select him, but when right he is a good horse. Civility I think was unlucky in the Thompson Handicap at Wellington and she should run a good race. She lacks nothing on the score of condition and looks well. Joy King ran a good race in the Thompson Handicap and he should be better on Saturday. Reremoana was the only one to beat him in that event and Joy King has 41b in his favour as compared with Reremoana on that occasion. Magna Charta won a mile race on his last visit to Auckland and since then has annexed the Woodville Cup, while he made all the pace for about threequarters of the

, programme, with the starting times, is as follows, the figures before each Wml '"ft , tl)e last three performances this season (1 stands for a win, 2 for > or third, 0 for unplaced, and — for no previous performance)

KUMARA RACING CLUB. The following are the acceptances for thi Kumara Racing Club's Easter meeting:— Pioneer Handicap of 70sovs, six furlong* Some Abbey, Caliburn, 8.9 ; Corlntbic, 8.4 , King Cheops, 7.12: Peho, 7.11; Birthmark, 7.0 : Gaslight, Flying Master, 7.8 ; Big Push 7.5. Borough Handicap Trot (Saddle), of 70 sovs; 2.35 class; one mile.—Radox, Bessie Dillon, limit; Play Girl, 12yds: Prince Mac. lied Audubon, 24yds ; Queen's Ferry, 60yds; Harina, 96yds; Sedmere, 120 yds. Miners' Handicap Trot (Saddle) of 70 sovs; 3.55 class: one mile and a-half.— Radox, Bessie Dillon, limit; Prince Mac, Red Audubon. 36yds; Meritor, Audubon Lad, 72yds: Queen's Ferry, 84yds; Arran Lad. 120 yds; Athos. 156 yds: Sedmore, 192 yds Flying Handicap, of 70sovs.; five furlongs.—Heisler. 10.0; Paphian. 8.10; Picaninny. 5.2: Erin-go-Bragh. 7.13; Big Push. Waikaia, 7.5; Rapid Fire, Mbtor Smash. 7.0. Dillman's Handicap, of 70sovs.; sis furlongs and a-half.—Hallownoon, 9.0; Some Abbey, 8.9; Calibui-n, 8.8; All Gold, 7.13; Rapid Rose, King Cheops. 7.12; Lord Leslie, Gaslight, 7.10 ; Flying Master T.B ; Motion 7.7. Westbrook Welter, of 80sovs.; 6even furlongs.—Happy Days, 10.3; Rapid Rose, Steel Bar, 9.11; Birthmark, Lord Leslie, 99; Viewpoint, King Qu4n 9.7; Sartolite, Kumara Goldfields Handicap, of 13550v5.: one milo and a-quarter.—Goosestep. 9.8; 7 1™: v- • 1 la D^. v Pays. 8.4: Stool Bar. 1 1 s'nmo Kesponse. 7.10: Viewpoint, 7.S ; ' light 70 77 : N'harfedale. "0; GasM of 70sovs.: six fur- , p «» n- rl gl » 0 - 4 • Heisler, 9.12; I Posh, 7.V- W^i&^ B; » s>eho 79 S Bi * ' Walkaia . T.Si Rapid JJO,

a.na, GREAT NORTHERN OAKS of 700sovs. For three-year-old 0 1 0 B fillies. One mile and a-lialf. 0 o o TinoUi nda ' 2 0 2 0 Mervette S 10 Flying Juliet S 10 .2 1 1 L. Desmond s in Macroom S 10 Acushla .. S 10 ° Phaola 3 10 - o 0 Sir ii GH « 0N HURDLE RACE of 650sovs - Tw ° 110 Mia Bella .. ji . ® * * Royal Form .10 3 ' 0 0 0 Mahgoloire . 9 0 0 0 0 Archibald ..1013 o 0 „ *S awa 10 3 0 1 0 Dead Sweet . 5) 0 - - - K?yal Abbey .10 J2 o o , Llewellyn 10 0 3 0 0 Gienotus .. 9 0 " 0 2 Wed. March 10 v> o « 5 £ as " Through . 10 0 0 0 0 Te Tahi .. 9 0 112 Peter Rosa . 10 u 2 \ ® Rangitahi .... 9 12 0 0 1 Day Bell .. 9 0 A " Gold Rain .. 9 c ,0 2 1 Carinthia .. s 10 STAKES of 1500sovs. Sis furlongs. 1 1 3 Cimabue ... 8 in 2 1 i p° tlle ,„ SkJ e 8 10 13 0 Melissa S 8 1 2 2 Covent Garden 8 in 2 3 I SoSS?- 1 8 10 2 1 3 Dainaris !. g 8 12 1 Gascony ... 810 2 3 2 ExLS e "" S 10 " ° 2 Tea Lady ..88 o , 7 * S 8 3 0 3 Ti Tree ... S 8 2.17 p.m.—EASTER HANDIC-ap 011 Reremoana . 10 2 0 0 2 Mn«+ 2000sovs - One mile. 3 2 2 Rapine ... 9 7 0 0 0 HishpR°£ n • 7 0 101 Merrv Je«t 7 0 0 1 2 Joy King . 7 12 0 0 0 OrfL Pltch •• 7 4 0 3 2 1'apatu ' 7 0 .0 0 1 Royal Divorce 8 4 1 3 0 York Ahb.' 7 2 1 1 0 Nancv Lee" 7 0 1 0 0 Civility .... 8 2 0 2 1 Hlpo bbey * • 7 1 1 0 0 Mosafc 7 0 12 3 Magna Charta 7 11 0 0 0 Le Chou'c'aV *' I 1 2 0 0 Ri "S the Bell 7 0 0 1 0 Day Guard 7 11 0 0 0 The Thorn ' I 1 0 0 0 King M.uv 7 0 12 1 Transformer 7 8 111 Quincoma ..7 0 0 0 Serang "... 7 0 3.2 p.m.—MAXGERE STEEPLECHASE of 500<«ovs Ah f) 1 1 Roval Form 11 3 3 2 0 Pentagram , tWo milos a,ul a-liair. 3 0 2 Wed. March 10 12 0 0 0 Gold p ea k i ~ *> 2 Syndicate •> o 0 2 0 Prince Kufus 10 8 - - 0 Tom Moore .. o ? 0 0 *" «\ <» 2 0 1 Garzon .... 10 1 0 0 0 Bahadur ® » No Watau Lad' ! i> o 3.52 p.m.—OXSLOW STAKES of 500sovs S" a i ■ • > J 0 13 0 Melissa .... 8 12 0 0 1 Ktog: Willonyx 7 5 o* 0 .0 0 0 Thaw .... 8 11 2 0 2 AurTculus .... 7 4 J> 0 0 Pr lnce Qtto y 0 0 3 Auratnm .. 8 3 3 0 3 Speechless .... 7 0 Clements 7 0 O 0 1 Gold. Wedding 8 2 - - - The Fox .... 7 x _ » 0 2an e Grey .70 0 2 1 Carinthia .. 8 2 - 0 0 Standfast .. 7 o 0 0 © *tJ^ nb6U •• 7 0 3 0 3 Ti Tree .... S 0 0 0 0 Whakante ... 7 0 030 A^? Ue • • • • 1 0 0 2 0 Wild Pigeon 7 3 The Dansant .70 0 0 0 R^ n ? • 7 0 . 7 X 4.42 p.m.—PRESIDENT'S HANDICAP of CoOsovs, One mile and „ una a-qu^ P^or 0 13 Star Stranger 0 13 0 0 0 Mint ... 7 :: 0 2 0 Antonm* ■3 0 1 Eden Hall . S 10 113 Ballachulisli . . 7 i) 2 0 1 Curracw'" 7 ( 12 0 Ilynanna -.89 021 Gold Jacket .. 7 0 0 0 0 Lord v. 7 1 1 2, Pegaway .. 8 6 1 0 0 Mosaic 7 0 2 0 3 Miss Veri. 7 « '(TO O* Incomes *... 8 6 1 0 0 Namntere .... 7 O f>0 0 Muscari " I ( o O 3 Alloway " 7 9 O O 2 Barometer .. 7 0 0 2 0 Star ComVi"* I ' 9 0 0 Prin. Bonnl* J « 1.Q o Air Queen M 7 9 cornet. 7 ,

St. lb. st. lb. 2 Gamecock. .. 10 13 Kaikahu .... 9 B 1 Sayonara ... 9 13 No Response » 0 , Waterlow ... 9 13 1 CHAMPAGNE STAKES of SOOsovs. i Six furlongs. Agrion S 10 Satrap S 10 Martarma .. S 10 Eulalie 8 8 AUTUMN PLATE of SOOsovs. One mile. Sir Roy .... 9 0 .Tarretiere ... 7 11 s Flaming Raj- S 8 Green Cloth 7 11 l Paper Boy .. 8 5 Mamie 7 7 Lucy Locket 7 11 RUSSLEY PLATE of 300sovs. s Five furlongs. Shnllimar ... S 8 Scoff 7 9 e Solgele S 6 Money Peer . 7 7 Wayward ... 7 13 Amor 7 7 „ Reckless .... 7 11 Scrambler .. 7 7 CoiipliDg .... 7 11 Bolero 7 5 r Amorist 7 11 Cupid's Dart 7 3 - Tripaway ... 7 9 Dollar Princess 7 3 e Satrap 7 9 Resplendent . 7 3 t GREAT EASTER HANDICAP of lOOOsovs. Seven furlongs. . Centrepiece .. 8 11 Set Sail .... 7 10 RaP'er, 8 11 Yg. Lochinvar 7 9 } Kootfall 8 10 Receipt 7 0 ,t Shirley 8 3 Haze 7 0 Booster 8 2 Lava 7 0 c Nincompoop .. 7 12 a GIMCRACK HANDICAP of 250sovb. ,v Seven furlongs. n Ail t obi ogra ph y 8 9 noylake .... 7 g g Sir Roy 8 G Lucy Locket . 7 4 [e Brightling .. 8 4 Mamie 7 0 _ Peho - 8 1 Card Tricks 7 0 Moratorium . 7 13 Wild Work . . 7 0 Rovnl Tractor 7 11 Happy Queen 7 0 I( J Orifiamb .... 7 11 Beaming .... o ■ e SOCKBURN HANDICAP of 500sovs. „ Nine furlongs. Vaward .... 8 1 Assurance .. 73 Fresco 8 1 Ophir 7 i Y- Goosestep ... 7 4 The Harp ... 7 0 Lt COURTENAY HANDICAP of 350sovs. g Seven furlongs. h Overhaul ... 9 2 Finora 8 0 a Rascal 9 2 Gay Queen . . 8 0 ■ x Economist ... 9 1 Royal Game . 8 C Thorndale .. 8 11 Serotina 8 C d Nine of Spades 8 8 g Tuesday, April 19. GREAT AUTUMN HANDICAP of 1200sovs. I One mile and a-half. 1 st. lb. st. lb, Footfall 9 5 Haze 7 € Piuthair 8 13 First Acre ... 7 £ Rapier 8 9 Fresco 7 C Centrepiece ... 8 9 Vaward 7 C Clarinda 7 13 Front Rank .. 7 0 Set Sail 7 9 Assurance .... 7 0 0 CHALLENGE STAKES of SOOsovs. Seven furlongs. Nincompoop . 9 5 Martarma .. 6 10 Autobiography 8 8 Satrap 6 10 0 Agrion 7 11