The Opening Event.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 307, 28 December 1935, Page 1 (Supplement)

The Opening Event.

Fergusson Handicap Field.

Proceedings will commence with the Fergusson Handicap. Keith Lu, the topweight, has recent winning form to his credit,, and though he failed on Thursday he may do better in this event. Day Wind won the Waikato Hack Cup, one mile, at Te Rapa last month, and was narrowly beaten over a similar distance at the recent Takapuna meeting. He will have support. Kotou showed up for a good way in the Queen's Plate on Thursday, while of the others Tidalia, Who was second to Polly Douglas over » mile at the recent Takapuna fixture, and Persian Lady, are not without good prospects. Recent form points to the favourites being DAY WIND TIDALIA ■" KEITH LU. Weight-for-age Event. The King's Plate, a weight-for-age Went run over a mile, has only attracted *ta horses, but all the same it appears a very open race. Jonathan, after his Peat performance in the Railway Handicap on Thursday, will not be neglected. Cuddle won the Cup so easily that she will also have friends, .while a couple of three-year-olds in Entail, winner of the Great Northern Guineas, and Heritage, who ran ftird in the New Zealand Derby, has e 'nce been a winner over six furlongs at Woodville, and put up a track record over si* furlongs on the No. 1 grass track this horning, should make things interesting f or their older rivals. The best backed »ay be' HERITAGE :« JONATHAN.

The Hurdles. Val Watch has the same weight in the Ponsonby Hurdles as she had on the first day, when she came to grief about five furlongs from home. She was going well at the time, and if she stands up on Monday should be in the picture. Erination had a race in the Auckland Cup on the first day, and he should be all the better for it. Lap Up was a recent winner at Avondale, while. Prince of Orange ran his best race for some time when he finished second on Thursday. Gascille was going well when he fell at the last fence in the Grafton Hurdles, while Sandy Dix was a winner at Te Awamutu cecently. Delrain is a useful hurdler. London was third on Thursday and Dark Princess has shown jumping ability. A trio that may command respect are ERINATION VAL WATCH PRINCE OP ORANGE. Summer Cup. A dozen figure in the Summer Cup, the chief event of the afternoon. Fracas won well over a mile on Thursday, while Spiral was second to her. Gay Marigold is steadily improving, and she also ran a good race in the same event, coming from a Ion" way back to finish sixth. She will be "better suited by the extra two furlongs. Argentic was fourth in the Auckland Cup, and should again show up. Sinking Fund has been showing good form over shorter courses this season, and last year raced well over middle distances. Enge scored over a mile at the Dargaville meeting at Avondale, and can run a good mile and a quarter. Vanestep has won over ten furlongs, while Greek Shepherd was second in the New Zealand Derby. On Parade ran a good race in the Christmas Handicap, and should be improved. He, however, is engaged later in the day. A preference may be shown fpr GAY MARIGOLD SPIRAL SINKING-FUND. The Criterion. Notium, who won the Nursery Handicap on the first day, is now at the head of the Criterion Handicap, and should again go well. Siirview was fourth in the Foal Stakes, a race in which Wild Chase got very badly away and finished sixth. Golden Blonde was fourth in the Nursery Handicap while Pelmet failed in the Foal

States. MaxoWn won well in his last start- at the ■ Takapuna meeting, while Wagner was a winner at Woodville, but was unplaced'in the Foal Stakes, as was Queen's Counsel. Some who may be fancied are MAXOWN WILD CHASE NOTIUM.'' Waitemata Handicap. The Waitemata Handicap has drawn the largest field of the day. Mazir, after, his success on Thursday, will be in demand. Royal Appellant was third to him on that occasion. Keith Lu is engaged earlier in the day, but if started in this will have a chance. Hest was unplaced on Thursday, but King Tut was a winner over a mile at the Dargavrlle meeting at Avondale earlier- in- the month, while Killadar was successful over seven furlongs at Te Awamutu. Happy Landing ran second in a mile at Dannevirke in October, but was only seventh in the Queen's Plate on Thursday. Impellant, who ran second to King Tut at Avondale, Dark Marble and Hunting Maid appeal most of the remainder. The best backed may be MAZIR KING TUT ROYAL APPELLANT. The Sprint. A good field is engaged in the Electric Handicap.. ■ Impasto, the topweight, was placed fourth in the Railway Handicap on Thursday, though he appeared to be further back. Silver Streak was finishing on well in that event. Diatomous was prominent till the straight in the Railway Handicap, but then faded ✓ out. Boughal has been showing good form this season, and should be in the picture. Puss Moth. .is also. a likely improver, while- Star Artist should go a good race. Plato had been galloping well prior to the meeting, but failed to show up in the Railway Handicap. Variant was right up third in the Railway Handicap, being only inches away from the winner, Jonathan. Galilee showed up for a good way in the Railway Handicap-. Crooning has plenty of pace, while of the others Gloucester may do best. Most money may go on variant' . silver streak diatomous. Plunket Handicap. The programme will conclude with the Plunket Handicap, and recent form points to TYBALT BIG DOOK ON PARADE, The acceptances are:— HANDICAP of £250. One mile. Keith Lii '. . 9 0 Persian Lady 7 3 Day Wind . 8 f, Ringshot . . 7 0 Lion Heart . 7 11 Nicodemus 7 0 KotOU . . .7 10 Kinpspear . 7 0 Racette . . 7 10 Tidalia ..70 12.42—THE KING'S PLATE of £ 350. Weight-for-age. One mile. Jonathan . 9 2 Entail . . . 8 2 Cuddle ... 8 11 Heritage ..82 Royal Secret 8 11 1# 27 PONSONBY HURDLES of £350. Two miles. Val Watch . 12 4 Delrain . . 9 2 Erination .11, 3 Sandy Dix 9 -i Lap Up . . 9 13 Dark Princess 9 0 P of Orange 9 6 London ..90 Gascille ..95 2.I2—SUMMER CUP of £650. One mile and a quarter. Fracas . . 8 13 Mungatoon 7 10 Spiral ... 8 12 Vanestty . . 7 5 Gay Marigold 8 0 Gay Rox« . 7 1 Argentic . . .7 13 Greek Sinking Fund 7 13 Shephera .«£ 0 Enge .... 7 11 On Parad> 70

2.32—CRITERION i HANDICAP ,of £300. Two-year-olds. Six furlongs. Notium',". 813 Ma'xown .. .- 713 Surview . . 8 12 'Wagner '. . 7 13 Wild Chase 8 11 Surella . \ .- 712 Gold. Blonde 8 3 Queen's Pelmet . . i ' 8 2 Counsel . . 7 6 3.37—WAITEMATA HANDICAP of £250. One mile and a quarter. Mazir . . '~ 0 0 Tolly Douglas 7 0 Royal . Impellant ,70 Appellant 8 4 Needful ... '7 0 Keijli Lu , 8 2 Hunting Maid 7 0 Hest .... 8 0 Teßroney . 7 0 King Tut . 711 Mafeking . 7, 0 Dark Marble 7 8 Small Boy . 7 0 Killadar ..73 Karohia . . 7.0 Happy ''" Rothoon ..70 Landing .73 4.22—ELECTRIC HANDICAP of £400. Six furlongs. Impasto ..90 Crooning . 7 0 Silver Streak 8 11 Galilee . . . 7 8 Diatomous . 8 7 Cranford ..70 Boughal .■. '-8 4 I'rince Acre 7 3. Puss .Moth . 8 3 Teak..... 7 0 Star Artist- 8 1 Gloucester .7 0 Plato .... 7 12 Solomon .7 0 Variant . . 7.11 S.7—PLUNKET HANDICAP of £300. One mile.' Tybalt ... 9 0 Shu .... 7 8 , Sir Abb . . 8 12 Pasha ... 7 7 Enge .... 8 11 Bun Fight . 7 7 Big Dook . 8 7 United ... 7 7 Adalene . . 712 Wait and See 7 7 On Parade . 7 11 THIS MORNING'S WORK. HERITAGE'S RECORD GALLOP. Trainers had the use of No. 1 grass track' at Ellerslie this morning and the going was in excellent order. Some fast times were recorded, the best being that of Heritage, who registered a track record over six furlongs. 'A number of other horses also recorded useful efforts. Whirlmint opened proceedings by running half a mile in 54 l-ss. Next to work was the Derby candidate Heritage, who got to the end of six furlongs in 1.12 4-5, the ■ first- three in 35 l-ss. Despite the fast pace set Heritage was finishing on exceptionally well. Professional beat a stable mate over half a mile in 50 3-ss. Entail, Carrying a fair weight, was going comfortably to cover five furlongs in 1.4 4-5. Notium was going easily at the conclusion of three furlongs in 41 2-ss. Monanui strode over six furlongs in 1.22 1-5, the last half-mile in 52 2-ss. Bun Fight covered six furlongs in 1.22 1-5 and Argentic rah home from the three-furlong post in 39 2-ss. Greek Shepherd assisted him down the straight. Sinking Fund worked over a couple of rounds, running his last three furlongs in 40 l-ss. Hunting Maid got to the,end of six furlongs in 1.21 aud Roval Appellant was doing better than Teddy Boy over a similar distance in 1.19 4-5 A good effort was credited to Big Dook, who beat Killadar and Small Boy over six furlongs in 1.17 4-5. Over the same distance Corroboree registered 1.19 2-5. Solomon finished in front of Bantry over five furlongs in 1.5. Persian Lady was going easily at the end of six furlongs in 1.24 4-5. Golden Blonde reeled off half a mile in 52 3-5s and Psychologist covered the same distance in 51 4-ss. Racette ran six furlopgs in 1.18 1-5. being brought home by Maxown over the last half-mile, which the two-year-old covered in 50 3-ss. Te Broney and Gav Princess completed six furlongs in 1.22 3-5 and United reeled off three furlongs in 33 3-os. STAR ARTIST SCRATCHED. Star Artist has been scratched for the Summer Cup.