THE BIG EVENTS at WELLINGTON

Auckland Star, Volume LXIX, Issue 5, 7 January 1938, Page 12

THE BIG EVENTS at WELLINGTON

DRAWN GOOD FIELDS.

Cup and Telegraph Handicap—A Glance Through the Form.

The next big fixture in the Dominion is the Wellington Racing Club's summer meeting, which opens at Trentham next Tuesday week. Xominations closed on Wednesday and good fields are

There are nineteen in the Cup. and they should provide a most interesting race. Cerne Abbas, after running second in the Mitchelson Cup. went on to Trentham to fill third position in the Wellington Handicap, one mile and three furlongs, and win the Watkins Handicap, one mile and a quarter, the next dav. Slife subsequently accounted for the Xew Zealand Cup, but her displays at the Auckland summer meeting were most disappointing. Sunee has won over a mile and a. quarter this season and was third to Cerne Abbas and Rebel Lad in the Watkins Handicap at Trentham. Padishah came from a long way back in the Grandstand Handicap, one mile and a quarter, at Kllerslie to till third position, and if he goes on the right way he should do better at 1 rentham. Queen of Song was placed at Dunedin during the holidays, while Tiger Gain won the Manawatu Cup on Boxing Day, and his chances cannot be overlooked. Round l"p performed excellently at Kllerslie. winning the Summer Cup and the Grandstand Handicaps. l>oth mile and a quarter races, and he finished on so well that it does not look as though a fnile and a half will be beyond him. The best effort of Wild Chase at Kllerslie was his third in the A.R.C. Handicap, one mile and a half, but his stable companion. Trench Fight, won the Christmas Handicap, one mile, nicely, and also put up a good performance when he finished second to Courtcraft in the King's Plate, of similar distance. Lowenberg was successful over ia mile and a quarter at Awapuni. while The Bigot was third in the Manawatu Cup. Siegmund scored over nine furlongs and also over a mile and a quarter at the same fixture and is still capable of improvement. Luculius Lad annexed the Wairarapa Cup recently, while Kelly, after his second in the A.R.C. Handicap at Kllerslie on Xew \ ear's Day. will have to be considered if started. The Buzzer, after his victory in the Auckland Cup. will be one of the favourites if he contests the event, and

a reproduction of that form wilfc tMfcj liim difficult to dispose of, for he *» 3 always in a handy position Ln. the bi» event at Kllerslie. Argentic was third in the Auckland Cup and was just top. ped off by Jonathan for second place in the Clifford Plate. Linguist won over a mile and a quarter at C!ore this season and won twice on the West Coast during the holidays, while Catalogue trgj third over a similar journey at Awapuni There is therefore plenty of material for a good field.

The Sprinters. The Telegraph Handicap has attracted a lield of fifteen, including some very smart sprinters. Ben Braggie is a smart galloper. and after his sec-ond in th e Kalway Handicap at Kllerslie he \rill only need to start to he in request. Top Row hag raced most consistently this season. After finishing second to~Pape r Slipper in the Gladstone .Handicap at Dunedin in the spring and to Hanion at Kurow. he won the Doneaster Handicap six furlongs, at South Canterbury from a very useful field. He also won at Southland. Suleiman beat him in the Rimutaka Handicap. of similar distance at Trentham. while he was third to The Bigot and Siegmund in the Spring Plate one mile, at the Xew Zealand Cup meeting. a:' 1 won the Stonyliurst Handicap, run over the same ground on the last day. Grey Honour narrowly heat him at Ashburton. but on Boxing Dav Top Row won the Federal Handicap, the chief sprint, on the first day at Dunedin and was l>eateii by Gold Boa the nest day. Grey Honour was successful at Ashburton. Paper Slipper failed in the Railway Handicap at Kllerslie. which was his only start at the Auckland fixture. However, he is a smart galloper. Laughing Lass was successful in the Fitzherbert Handicap, the open sprint on the first day of the Manawatu meeting, and also scored again on the last day. Oratory and Suleiman both failed at Kllerslie: however, they are both -pecdy. Lady Ina, after bein* placed at Awapuni. won a double at Marton. Pakanui was successful at the former fixture during the holidays, while Alunga is a good sort, accounting for three races during the holidays.

Much interest will attach to the issue of the weights 011 Monday, when the prospects can be still further discussed.