FRANKLIN'S STAR TURN.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 97, 24 April 1940, Page 16

FRANKLIN'S STAR TURN.

PRESIDENT'S HANDICAP. CHAXI'K FOR VALMINT. The star item at Pukekolio on Saturday week will be tin* President's Handicap, and at first glance Valmint appeals as a likely sort to take the prize. Certainly he dot*: not win out of his turn, hut he is particularly suited under winter conditions, and it" the track happens to be on the soit side oil Saturday week he should certainly 1h- about when the judge is ticking off the leaders at the end. .lack Tar. whose form has been good this season, has worked his way up the grade until he ix now rated highly, and in awarding him 9.4. the handicapper has not made the task easy. However, a careful perusal of the handicap shows that any horse who has shown eve-.i moderately good winning form has not been overlooked, and Clipper, though a much improved galloper, has 5.7. Clipper is undoubtedly a possibility, but whether capable of giving Valmint !*'.!> is questionable. Xnmara. B.(>, and Pocket Venus and Bronze Moth, each 8.4. are useful gallopers, but a better proposition may be Koxsen. 7.0. This three-year-old is improving and liable to win at any time. She has won three times this season and has been placed on a number of occasions. The lighter weighted horses do not appeal at this stage. although Saccone and Xoitaro may We considered. Acceptances fall due on Friday, but even then the issue may not be made any easier. .Inst at present, Valmint. Koxsen and Clipper may ;be among the early selections. Form of Sprinters. Those who endeavour to solve the Paerata Handicap, the open sprint at the Franklin meeting, are faced with no easy task. The list includes many horses capable of travelling at a fast clip for threequarters of a mile. Orate is at the top with 9.3, but .lie is a little too risky a proposition at the barrier and something more reliable is fo be preferred. Cor.ito has .been showing good form, but is well Hooked after in being on the same mark, 9.0, as that good winner, Bronwen. whose victories include the A.R.C. Railway Handicap. Erndale does not often reach the top of his form, but at his best he is a fine galloper, particularly if the sting happens to he out of the ground. It' he gets it that way on Saturday week he will be in favour with 8.0. Orwere has speed and is brilliant out of the tapes, but lie is not the best of stayers and a solid six ;urlon<rs with SO to carry might find him weakening at t'»o end. Aero King is a recent winner mid has a chance with 7.13. but one who might make greater appeal is A nlimcen. 7.11. This mare is not overrated by any means, but she can go very fast, and she has been galloping well in her work at Takanini. Of those in at 7.0 Olympus and Te Takina should be capable of recording a merrv six furlongs. Just now Valimeen may be favoured by early backers.