WELLINGTON CLUB

Press, Volume LXXXIV, Issue 25537, 3 July 1948, Page 4

WELLINGTON CLUB

RACING

MASTER MERUIT FAVOURED

PROSPECTS FOR TO-DAY’S MEETING

From Our Own Reporter WELLINGTON, July 2. Widely representative fields are carded for the opening day of the Wellington Racing Club’s winter meeting at Trentham to-morrow and the racing should be up to the best standards fo.r the course. After rain this morning the weather cleared, but there was no wind to dry the track, and the going is sure to be soft.

In a large field in the Wellington Steeplechase, Brookby Song and Master Meruit stand out as being a class above their opponents. If both survive the normal pitfalls of steeplechasing the’ issue seems to rest on whether Brookby Song will be able to give such a proven and capable jumper as Master Meruit 161 b. Brookby Song’s performance in the Great Nothern speaks for itself, but he met nothing of the quality of Master Meruit. It is likely that the best has yet to be seen of Albino, which has had comparatively little racing in the last three years. The distance will suit him, and he looks the most likely to take advantage of any lapses by the top-weights. Lisheen is meeting stronger opposition than he has previously, but if he races up to his Wingatui form he may give a good account of himself.

The veterans, Town Survey and Abbey Lu must be given a jumper's chance, but some of the younger horses like Hunting Dink, Dinkum Pal, and Peria Prince may worry the top-weights a good deal more. Royal Scholar and Master Play showed great promise at Trentham last year, but this year they have not made the progress expected. Royal Scholar has been difficult to keep sound, and Master Play has not had th * best of luck. In spite of Master Play’s failure at Manawatu there seems no reason why he should not show improvement to-morrow.

Whyte Handicap

Howe, the top-weight and probable favourite for the Whyte Handicap, faces his task without the benefit of a preliminary race, but he is the class horse of the field. It is in his favour that he races well when fresh.

Da Vinci, Wild Note, and Desert Girl, the three horses nearest to Howe in the weights, have all performed well at Trentham. Wild Note and Desert Girl make a strong appeal. The former is good class up to a mile, and Desert Girl looks a better mare than she did in the atutumn. In spite of the Auckland horses’ poor record at Trentham it would be no surprise to see Cowper prominent at the finish. He is a very fit horse. Trafalgar Day will have a strong. following. He is a brilliant galloper, and has built up a good record in minor company in recent months. For the first time he is meeting class horses and at a distance at which he is unproven, but his performances indicate that he may prove capable of troubling the top-weights. Langspiel is an improver, though untried over a mile, and Special Flight and Broie are two light-weights capable of surprising. Special Flight appears to be back to her best form. Broie will have a stronger rider than he had at Ashburton, and m addition is improved by the race. He has done well since he arrived at Trentham. Unless track conditions alter considerably it seems that Howe’s most difficult opponents may prove to be Wild Note, Desert Girl and Trafalgar Day. Theocritus Favoured The Stewards’ Handicap has not drawn a particularly strong field of sprinters, and the Riccarton candidate, Theocritus, appears .to have a good chance of repeating last year’s win. He has a good weight, but has held his own in better company. The top-weight, Tiger Tan, is a solid performer under weight, and is generally doing his best work at the finish. Cot Case falls short of the best class, but he races consistently and was a winner at his last start. General Victory and Garry are recent winners that may race prominently, and Super Flight and Full of Fun are two spee’dsters among the light-weights. A good field of hurdlers in the Trentham Hurdles includes Boolamskee and Desert Trek, the respective winners of the Grand National and the Winter Hurdles last year. Boolamskee lost a lot of condition after his fall at Ellerslie, but he is picking up again, and at the weights may be prominent.

Moutoa Lord impressed when he won the County Hurdles at Awapuni last month, and is likely to prove a very good hurdler this winter produced. Desert Trek is not' without a chance, although he would be better suited by a longer journey.

Bay Robe. Town Echo, and Sphere nave all shown winning form this season, but a better prospect may prove to be Foxchase. Since he last raced over hurdles Foxchase’s jumping has improved, and he has considerably more ability on the flat than most of his opponents. Morocco and Skywriter form a strong bracket. Morocco, a doubtful starter, is more brilliant than his stablemate, which, however, is the better stayer and which has won at his last two starts. Victory Song is also a speedy and capable hurdler, and is likely to be prominent all the way.

It is usual f<y the minor events at Trentham to have well-filled fields. In the opening event, the Mariri Hack Steeples, capable jumpers are lacking. Glenfayle has won his only start over country, and having had hunting experience may carry on. Vernon may/ fare better in this class in which the slower pace will suit him. Whirlwind Star is a likely improver, and Tatara Lad must be given a chance. In the Woburn Hack Handicap the Riv-erton-trained Extra Flight will be strongly supported.. She now looks a better filly than when she won at Wingatui last month. Sir Royal and Lochrea may prove the hardest to beat, and others likely to show up are Clare’s Pal and Noble Knight. The three-year-olds, Carnegie, Mission and Offender, have all won at their own appearances this season, and are promising sorts, particularly Carnegie.

Vittoria Hurdles

The form of some of the hack hurdlers in' the Vittoria Hurdle Handicap has been very mixed. Master Raymond, like most of the others in the race, has not had a great deal of experience, but he seems to be a bit better than the average hack hurdler. Night Fighter has improved since he raced at Wingatui. and he may prove one of the hardest to catch. Fort Silver gave a sound performance at Ashburton last Saturday, and should do well again. Euryalus won at his last start, but may find the extra furlong troublesome. Result is a four-year-old that has done well in his few starts to date, and Ganges and Royal Robe can be expected to improve on their recent efforts.

A strong field of hacks will • parade in the Te Aro Handicap, and several of them possess ability afcove the average. The top-weights, Indian Song: and Wee Mac are useful under winter conditions, but they will have a, difficult task to give 111 b to Mangatiti. which has won at his last two starts and looks to be on the way to good form. Volomai has not raced since he won so impressively at Wingatui, and will fully test Mangatiti. Lochwinnoch has been racing consistently and'well, but Coral Arc is probably better. Corineus won at his last start, and has not lost any of his speed through hurdling. Shennandoah won at Ashburton, but meets a stronger field here. This race may prove one of the best of the day.

The scratchings are:—Mariri Hack Steeplechase: Spiro. Vittoria Hurdles, Griffin, Prince Wheriko, Detain, Incision, Flahuluk. Stewards’ Handicap: Lovemorn, Iwo Jima, Citation, Celebration. Wellington Steeplechase: Good Armour, Whooray, Vernon. Trentham Hurdles: United Nations, Glad Fox. Morocco, Tid Apa. Whyte Handicap: Dark Arrow, Findon, Brown Derby, Bronstar, Baliinagh. Te

Aro Handicap: Batley, Minion, Robert Keith, Master Kip. Doubtful starters are Lunaria and Sailor’s Song in the Mariri Steeples, Flying Jim, Siegform, and Bon Chale in the Vittoria Hurdles, Welldrop in the Wellington Steeplechase, and Landfire in the Whyte Handicap. It will not be decided until to-morrow whether Desert Trek will start in the Trentham Hurdles. Brackets are:—Vittoria Hurdles: Bon Chale and Bonifort, Peter Brierly and High Tension, Redfort and Roman Duke, St. Hiitcn and Supreme Shepherd. Wellington Steeplechase: Brookby Song and Hunting D.nk. Whyte Handicap: Zealander and Hormuz, Langspiel and Douglas Haig, Sparkling Lady and Special Flight, Second Seal and Wonder Boy, Broie and Julius Caesar, Ruling Master and Landfire. Betting will be win and place, and the following may- be favoured:— Mariri Hack Steeplechase.—Glenfayle, Vernon, Whirlwind Star. Woburn Hack Handicap.—Extra Flight, Sir Royal, Lochrea. Vittoria Hurdles Handicap.—Master Raymond. Night Fighter, Fort Silver. Stewards’ Handicap.—Theocritus, General Victory, Full of Fun. Wellington Steeplechase. Master Meruit, Brookby Song, Albino. Trentham Hurdle Handicap.—Foxchase, Moutoa Lord, Skywriter. Whyte Handicap.—Howe, Trafalgar Dav, Desert Girl. Te , Aro Hack Handicap.—Mangatiti, Volomai. Coral Arc. The fields are as follows: 11.10 a.m.— MARIRI HACK AND HUNTERS’ STEEPLECHASE, of £800; about two miles and a half—Lunaria (12) 10-11; Aga Kay (14) 10-10; Vernon (3) 10-5; Whirlwind Star (5) 10-2; Tatara Lad (2) 10-1; Glenfayle (6) 9-13; Grand Central (9) 9-11; Ringscarf (8) 9-3; Allisloner (11). Ballinabuoy (10), Kotu Bahru (4), Open Cast (1). Sailor’s Song (13), Spiro (7) 9-0. 11.42 a.m.—

WOBURN HACK HANDICAP, of £700; seven furlongs.—Blank Cheque (14) Clare’s Pal (15) 9-5; Sir Royal (5) 9-1; Sunshine Bay (6) 9-0; Lord Bradbury (9) 8-13; Extra Flight (4). Indian Sky (1) 8-10; Noble Knight (16) 8-6; Currency Lass (20) 8-5; Carnegie (7), Erin’s Pal (2), Mission (11), Offender (12) 8-3; Lochrea (3) 8-2; Cock Robin (13), Gaystock (19), Lord Chase (8), The Rip (16) 8-1; Battle Spear (17), General Pay (18) 8-0 12.25 p.m.—

VITTORIA HACK HURDLES, of £800; one mile and three-quarters.—Rockanui (25) 10-11; Master Raymond (12) 10-6; Result (14) 10-1; Euryalus (16), Night Fighter (I) 10-0; Prince Wheriko (24) 9-13; Detain (7), Incision (15) 9-10; Griffin (2) 9-9: Flahuluk (23). Middoon (17) 9-8; Cramond Bay (9), Fairhome (20), Flying Jim (4) 9-7; Bold Tide (3), Siegform (28) 9-6; Ganges (19), Tring (27) 9-5; Royal Robe (8) 9-4; Fort Silver (21) 9-3; Bon Chale (II) Bonifort (18), Peter Brierly (10) 9-1; High Tension (6), Redfort (22), Roman Duke (5), St. Hilton (26), Supreme Shepherd (13) 9-0.

1.10 p.m.— STEWARDS’ HANDICAP, of £1200; six furlongs.—Tiger Tan (13) 10-2; Theocritus (16) 9-13; Lovemorn (3) 9-10; Iwo Jima (10) 9-7; Citation (14), Deprive (18) 9-6; Cot-case (12) 9-2; Royal Heir (19) 9-1-General Victory (2) 8-11; Gary (15), Lord Theio (4) 8-6: Black Beret (17) 8-2; Celebration (6), Oban (1), Super Flight (7) 8-1; Full of Fun (5), Master Baron (11), Bonnie Fair (9), Tommy Gun (8) 8-0. 1.55 p.m.—

WELLINGTON STEEPLECHASE, o: £3500; about three miles and a quarter.— Brookby Song (5) 12-0; Master Merui (21) 10-12; Albino (18), Lisheen (12) 10-4 Good Armour (19), Royal Writ (15) 10-3 Town Survey (11), 10-1; Whooray (231 9-10; Hunting Dink (2) 9-7: Dinkum Pa (8) 9-6- Haereatu (4) 9-5; Arabian Nipni (16) 9-4; Batal (9) 9-4; Peria Prince (6) Royal Scholar (17) 9-2; Tenorman (7) Whiphand (10) 9-1; Abbey Lu (13) Glenfayle (22), High Morale (14), Master Play (3). Vernon (20). Welldrop (1) 9-0 2.35 p.m.—

TRENTHAM HURDLES, of £1500; one mile and three-quarters.—Boolamskee (14) 11-0; Moutoa Lord (1) 10-13; Bay Robe (3) 10-10; Glad Fox (10) 10-8- Desert Trek (4), Town Echo (9) 10-7; Sphere 11 10-5; Foxchase (2). United Nations (15) 10-4; Blue Title (5) 10-3; Vassilikos (13) 10-0; Turf Topic (16) 9-11; Morocco (17) 9-10; First Act (12) 9-9; Tidapa (8) 9-8; Victory. Song (7) 9-7; Skywriter (6) 9-5 3.25 p.m.—

WHYTE HANDICAP, of £2250; one mile.—Howe (10) 9-13: Da Vinci (22) 9-9; Wild Note (25) 9-8; Dark Arrow (6) 9-6-Findon (16) 9-5; Desert Girl (13) 9-4; Indian Dawn (25). Robin Leigh (21) '9-0: Cowper (11), High Order (23), Mercian Lad (5) 8-13; Brown Derbv (9) 8-12- Lyn Vaals (30) 8-9: Zealander (17) 8-8: Bronstar (12). Playtos (19) 8-7; Trafalgar Dav (20) 8-fi: Distinction (18) 8-5: Langspiel (14) 8-4: Hormuz (27) 8-2: Douglas'Haig (15) 8-0: Baliinagh (23). Snarkling Ladv (1), Special Flight (7) 7-11: Second Seal (8). Wonder Bov (2) 7-10: Broie (241,7-9: Julius Caesar (29). Ruling Master (3) 7-8; Landfire (4) 7-7.

Eliminated: Lord Theio, Bright.side, Prince Coronach. Sly Robin, Super Lake.

4.10 p.m.— TE ARO HACK HANDICAP, of £860: one mile.—lndian Song (11), Wee Mac (4) 9-10; Batley (1) 9-5; Gay Fellow (17) 9-3: Minion (6) 9-2- Coral Arc (2). Corinfus (21) 9-1; Lochwinnoch (3), White Cliffs (15) 9-0 Mangatiti (20) 8-13: Robert K**ifh (R). Volomai (7) 8-12: Bulasell® (10) 8-19: Palissy 'l4) 8-8: Shenandoah (19) 8- R - K»r» (9) P-4- Colorado i Maid (13). Newel Post (16) 8-1; General Pay (12), Malimint (5), Reveller (18) 8-0.,