PROSPECTS AT TRENTHAM

Press, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 25128, 8 March 1947, Page 4

PROSPECTS AT TRENTHAM

LANGUE D’OR MAY BE FAVOURED RED PICKLE’S CHANCE The fields for the opening day of the Wellington Racing Club’s autumn meeting to-day are lighter than usual, because of the hard tracks. Some of the horses have had to be eased in their preparations, and it would cause no surprise if there were some upsets in the form. The Awapuni-trained Langue d’Or, Broiefield, and Arco may dominate the betting in the Autumn Handicap; but, with a small field, they are likely to be well tested by the top-weight, Bruce, which is in excellent order for his enfagement. In a small field, Bruce is not ikely to be giving the leaders a great deal of grqund at any stage. He is a dour finisher, and has to be respected, though he is handicapped to give the others from 19 to 391 b. The best prospect among the light-weights may be Sakuntala, which is likely to be improved by her race last Saturday. She stays well, and H. N. Wiggins will be a stronger rider than most of the light-weights. The issue in the New Zealand St. Leger appears to be between Indian Dawn and Desert Fox. Desert Fox may make a better stayer than Indian Dawn; but the question is whether he has improved enough since January to beat the «Riccarton filjy to-day. Indian Dawn will not be beateri easily. Perfect Peace also stays well, and is probably the best of the others. It the race is truly run, it may be found that Howe’s preparation has not been sufficient. In any case, he appears a doubtful stayer. The Thompson Handicap may be the best race of the day. The issue appears very open, and the luck of the draw for barrier positions and the position obtained in the early running may be a deciding factor. The top-weight. Majesty, has a big weight for a three-year-old, and has some good ‘class milers to beat. The Wingatui candidate, Red Pickle, and Sage King may dispute favouritism, and there will also be strong support for Opulent and Brown Derby. The Railway Handicap may be contested by one of the smallest fields of the day. If he starts, as is unlikely. Da Vinci will probably be favourite. Gigli is reported to be sore, and he, too, may be missing. In the absence of the two top-weights, Specialist, Lord Theio, and Cot Case may be favoured.

The card is not up to the usual size or strength of Wellington meetings. The firm ground has taken its toll and late last night the programme of several horses remained in doubt.

It is doubtful whether there have ever been so many sore or tender footed horses at Trentham as at present. The water sprinklers, and several heavy falls of dew, have kept the course proper green, but close to the surface it is very hard. This has already caused several scratchings and there will be more tomorrow.

Howe and Lady Christine are two prominent candidates who will not fulfil their engagements. Da Vinci and Blue Bonny are doubtful runners in the Railway Handicap, and Hormuz and Dileas are not to run in the Thompson Handicap. Scratchings to-day were:—Rimu Highweight Handicap: Mynet (2 p.m.). Plunket Handicap: Lady Christine ‘ (2 p.m.), Duvaals (11.35 a.m.). Autumn Handicap: Nightchild . (9 a.m.).

Tinakori Handicap: Monito (11.30 a.m.). Thompson Handicap: Dileas (2 p.m.). Riding engagements include:—W. J. Broughton: Fine Flavour, Arco, Flare Path. Yasda, Da Vinci, Blue Moon. ■ L. J. Ellis: Niloch, Indian Dawn, Bruce, Broilyn. Opulent, Lady Welbeck. K. Ford: Lady Vite, Portabul, Dink’s Own, Theioway, Sage King, White Gap. Sheilwyn. H. N. Wiggins: Kartikeya, Perfect Peace, Majesty, Sakuntala. W. Connor: Avenger, Malanui, Peter Gazelle, Brown Derby. C. H. Mackie: Keening, Night Foe, King’s Ransom, Cot Case, Omaio. J. P. Bowness: Aratucky, Casilda, Colopier. A. Midwood: Village Squire, Desert Fox, Gyration. C. A. Bowry: Master Raymond, Rosswopd, The Stormovik, -Merry Robin, Cock Robin. A. G. Waddell: Langue d’Or, Imperial. V. J. Sellars: Broiefield, J'Jgatoki. The Saddler. A. C. Messervy: Royal Visitor, Vakura, Gynee Lou, Voltaic. B. Boreham: Carnforth. N. Cavaney: Flying Dink, Flying Orders. A. Stokes: Revolte, Queen’s General. S. Waddell: Iron Duke, Gay Stroller. J. McFarlane: Czarina. J. Garth: Ella Shields, Specialist. R. J. Mackie: Red Pickle, Lord Theio. B. J. Langford: Great Coon. C. T. Wilson: Foxhavenj. E. Baker: Merger. H. Powell: Foxada. C. Carroll: Master Peter. D. Amey: Desert Chant. A. Jenkins: Sea Fury. L. Harding: Balcherrie. Doubtful starters are Sari in the Rimu High-weight Handicap; Ultimate, Night Ops, and Tara Hall in the Plunket Handicap; Our Jock, Lord Bradbury, and Beau Son in the Tinakori Hack Handicap; Howe in the Thompson Handicap; and Da Vinci, Blue Bohny, Peter Gazelle, and Gigli in the Railway Handicap. Nightchild is a non-starter in the Autumn Handicap. Robin’s Reward has been scratched in the St. Leger Stakes, and Fleetwood in the Tinakori Hack Handicap. The following horses may be prominent:— Rimu High-weight Handicap: Master Raymond, Village Squire, Merger. PJunket Nursery Handicap: Kartikeya, Lady Vite. Vakura. New Zealand StT Leger Stakes: Indian Dawn, Desert Fox, Perfect Peace. Autumn Handicap: Langue d’Or, Bruce, Broiefield. ! Tinakori Hack Handicap: King’s Ransom. Re volte. Flare Path. . Thompson Handicap: Red Pickle, Sage King, Opulent. Railway Handicap: Specialist, Gigli, Lord Theio. Silverstream Hack Handicap: Sheilwyn, Gyration, Queen’s General. The following are the fields:— 11.15 a.m.— RIMU HIGH-WEIGHT HANDICAP, Of £6OO. One mile and three furlongs.

Now Trained at Blenheim Chaka, which is engaged in the Enright Hack Handicap at Westport to-day, is a five-year-old gelding by Dink. Chaka did all his previous racing in the Auckland province, but he is now a member of K Drinkwater’s team at Blenheim. Earlier in the season he registered one first and two seconds, but that form was followed by a succession of unplaced starts. Chaka is a half-brother to the hardy handicapper Corot, their dam being Llanore, an Australian-bred mare by Pershore (by All Black) from Llanilly ’by Wolawa.

Of £600. One stPlb. and three fu rlongs. st. lb. Lam bro 10 4 Marshall Master Cook 9 0 - Raymond 10 0 Master Merger 9 7 Peter 9 0 Village Rothnic 9 0 Squire 9 3 Royal Flash 9, 0 Foxada 9 1 Sari 9 0 12 Noon— PLUNKET NURSERY HANDICAP, Of £700. Six furlongs. st. lb. st. lb. Ultimate 9 2 Vakura 7 4 Niloch 8 10 Adair 7 3 Lady Vite 7 10 Aratucky .. 7 2 General Night Ops .. 7 2 Victory 7 7 Sweet Kartikeya - .. 7 6 Nymph 7 2 Avenger 7 5 Desert Tar-a Hall .. 7 5 Chant 7 1 12.47 p.m.— NEW ZEALAND ST. LEGER STAKES, Of £1500. One sL 1 !!? and three-quarters. st. lb. Desert Fox 8 10 Rosswood .. 8 10 Fine Indian Flavour 8 10 Dawn 8 7 Howe 8 10 Perfect Keening 8 10 Peace 8 7 Portabul 8 10 1.35 p.m.— AUTUMN HANDICAP, Of £3000. One mile and a half. st. lb. st. lb. Bruce 9 11 Nightfoe 7 7 Langue d’Or 8 6 Gay Arco 8 4 Stroller 7 5 Broiefield 8 4 Flying Ace 7 4 Royal Victor 8 0 Sakuntala .. 7 3 Dink’s Own 7 10 Montosorrie 7 0 Camforth .. 7 8 2.25 p.m.— TINAKORI HACK HANDICAP Of £600. Seven furlongs. st. lb. st. lb. Flare Path 9 0 Iron Duke 8 2 King’s Theioway .. 8 3 Ransom 8 10 Lord Our Jock .. 8 10 Bradbury 8 2 The Bonny Stormovik 8 10 Banks 8 1 Flying Beau Son .. 7 13 Dink 8 9 Czarina 7 13 Sea Fury .. 8 9 Aristea 7 12 Malanui 8 8 Patunui 7 9 Revolte 8 8 Royal Ngakoti 8 7 Baron 7 9 Broilyn 8 6 Ring Scarf 7 8 Ella Shields 8 4 Gynee Lou 7 7 3.15 p.m.— THOMPSON HANDICAP, Of £2000. One mile. st. lb. st. lb. Majesty 9 3 Opulent 7 13 Howe 8 12 Brown Imperial 8 10 Derby 7 11 Red Pickle 8 9 Foxhaven .. 7 8 Yasda 8 8 Voltaic 7 7 Great Coon 8 7 Sage King .. 7 6 Merry Matador 7 1 Robin 8 6 Big Money 7 0 Gay Stroller 8 1 Casilda 7 0 Hormuz 8 1 Treasure Tee 7 0 4.5 p.m.— RAILWAY HANDICAP, Of £1500. Six furlongs. st. lb. st. lb. Da Vinci .. 10 8 Colopier 8 4 Gigli 8 8 White Cap 8 3 Specialist Blue Bonny 8 8 8 7 Flying Orders 7 13 Lord Theio 8 6 Cot Case 7 10 Peter Karachi 7 0 Gazelle 8 4 4.55 p.m.— SILVERSTREAM HACK HANDICAP, Of £700 One mile and three furlongs. st. lb. st. lb. Omaio 9 0 Lady Sheilwyn 8 11 Welbeck 8 5 The Saddler 8 11 Blue Moon 8 4 Ulatis 8 9 Cock Robin 8 0 Gyration 8 9 Balcherrie 7 11 Queen's General 8 8