CHIEF EVENTS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVIII, Issue 153, 30 June 1937, Page 24

CHIEF EVENTS.

STEEPLECHASE FIELD.

THE PALMERSTON HANDICAP.

RECENT FORM ANALYSED. '1 he winter meeting of the Manawatu I Iv.ic ing I (uli will In- ii.-ltl mi Saturday at Auapuni and a good ileal ot interest will eciitie in this liNUiic in view of the Wellington It.u-ing I lull's meeting, which is t.i lie In lit iirM week, lor lliele are quite a number engaged who will be at 'l'rentli.iin. I'lif Molds arc i.nih good, and with liiu' u>Mtliir llicrc should be some excellent 1 .11 111LT. la tiie Awnpuiii Steeplechase Manawatu, ,ui rr Ins success in the Hawke's Bay .•~!i i-|>l'-i:iiasc, is sine to have a lot of ii lends. He is trained on the course and li.is dour most ol his schooling over the limes there, so-that he should be familiar with l lie obstacles. Riotous was in the money both days at Wanganui and Hastings and also accounted for the June Steeplechase at the latter fixture, but the class was not nearly as strong as he will In; meeting at Awapuni on Saturday. This horse, like -Manawatu, will b'e racing on Ins home course. Forest Glow has had plenty ot racing this season, but has not Inllilled his early promise. However, he is ,i good jumper and should show up in this class. Lncidus, after running second to Sk.\ Pilot in the Tamaki Steeplechase, was thought, to have prospects at T'e Awamutu last Saturday, Imi t he disappointed. However, the lield he is meeting on Saturday is not nearly of the same calibre, and his condition will be a lot in his favour. Illuminagh does not appeal, but Brigadore has shown up in several hurdle events recently and is a possibility. YVykemist won the Napier Steeplechase this month and was second to Dozie in the Park Steeplechase at the same fixture. Both these races were run over the same distance as the event under review. Of the others, Battleground and Padnos seem the most likely. Some who may be in demand just now are: Manawatu, Riotous, Lucidus and Forest Glow. On the Flat. The Palmerston North Handicap is the chief Hat event qri the programme, and Taitoru, who is top-weight, has been racing well recently. He won over a mile and a distance on the first day of the last Wanganui meeting and at the same fixture lan second to Notium in a sprint event with 9.7. That form will warrant him getLing support on Saturday. Red Manfred lias had his attention mostly confined to hurdles recently and also has been placed on the flat. He is a fit horse and the distance should not trouble him. Gay Boy was a winner over a mile and a distance at Woodville in April and has also been in the money sinee then. Rona Bay annexed the Timi Kara Handicap, nine furlongs, at Otaki, and in her next start accounted for the Wairarapa Cup, run over a irtile and a 'quarter. This mare is a proved galloper in i heavy ground, and as those conditions are j likely to prevail on Saturday her prospects cannot be ignored. International has been galloping well at Hawera and at the Wanganui meeting he ran Taitoru to a head in the Empire Handicap, one mile and a distance. He was stated to be unlucky on that occasion. Le Grand has won in hack company recently and is also stated to be going well at Hawera. However, Gay Rebel appeals more strongly after his successes at Ellerslie, Tauranga and Te Awamutu. If he had been well placed in the running or the Woodstock Stakes at Te Awamutu last Saturday over the latter stages there is little doubt that he would have beaten Day Wind, instead of only dead-heating with him. His weight at Awapuni on Saturday will enable him to have the services oi a strong horseman; thus his prospects will be greatly enhanced. Tail Light has raced successfully in weaker company, but all the same he- sticks on well and is more than a possibility. Some who will be floured on the totalisator are: Gay Rebel, International, Taitoru and Rona Bay.