FIRST DAY AT TRENTHAM

Press, Volume LXXXV, Issue 25709, 22 January 1949, Page 4

FIRST DAY AT TRENTHAM

RACING

CORAL ARC FAVOURED FOR CUP

BRUCE DRAWS OUTSIDE POSITION

From Our Own Reporter WELLINGTON, January 21. Twenty-three horses are likely to go to the post for the Wellington Cup, feature event on the first day of the Wellington Racing Club’s summer meeting at Trentham to-morrow. The race drew 25 acceptors; but Tenor Royal has been scratched and Welcome Guest is an unlikely starter. Reports that Bruce, one of the pre-post favourites for the race, would not take his place in the field are without foundation. His trainer-rider (L. J. Ellis) said to-day that there was nothing wrong with Bruce and that he would start.

The forecast is for cloudy weather; but with little prospect of rain, and the track is likely to be in splendid order. If this is so, Coral Arc may be the favourite for the cup, with Bruce and King’s Ransom also having strong followings. Coral Arc was a good second in the Auckland Cup, and although Trentham is a, more severe testing ground, the Coronach four-year-old may be able to return to the winning list with the handy weight of 7-13. Coral Arc has drawn a favourable position at the barrier, and the Riccarton horesman, A. J. Stokes, should be able to secure a favourable place in the early rush without taking too much out of his mount.

Bruce has not been so fortunate, having drawn an outside position, and be may have to be hurried along under his big weight in the early stages to secure a good place in the field. Bruce is a stout-hearted galloper—one that has mastered the distance .on Trentham—and, although the record of the race weighs against the top-weights and against horses attempting to win for the second time, there will be strong support for the Royal Chief six-year-old. Only one horse has won the cup more than once. This was Cynisca, whose record of three wins in succession is unlikely to be beaten.

King’s Ransom was tender on pulling up after the Auckland Cup; but in his recent gallops he has shown more dash than he did earlier in the season. He was most impressive when teamed in a gallop with six other cup horses on Thursday morning, finishing in front and going easily after covering more ground than any of the others. The big Lang Bian gelding will be ridden By K. R. Ford, who won last year’s race on Spare Part. Beau le Havre has been impressive in his training work-outs at Stratford, and many followers of the sport hold that he will improve on his second in last year’s race. Earlier in the season it appeared that Beau le Havre was racing below his best form, and on his recent performances he can hardly be recommended. He will have to be taken on trust. Royal Tan failed to win a race at the Auckland meeting, but he has raced well in the past at Trentham, and his form at the New Zealand Cup meeting was good. He is a proved stayer and adds to the strength of the Riccarton representation. Of the lighter-weighted horses, Lord Revel, The Grate, Helio, Gunther, and Foxbay have staying ability and, if the favourites fail, the winner shouJfLcome from that lot. Citril took no harm from her racing at Ellerslie, and will be one of the favourites for the Telegraph Handicap. Capable sprinter as she is, she may find the task from her wide barrier position too hard, particularly if the pace is a strong one from the start. Da Vinci has drawn a good position, and this brilliant sprinter and proved weight-carrier may have the edge on the Riccarton mare. False Step is a smart galloper and will be strongly supported on the strength of her Auckland form. Voltaic is a grand galloper over -steerter distances and, although he has "hoi faced since November, he comes, .to hand qxjckly and should be ready to make a bead showing. , In addition to Citril, Riccarton stables are represented by Theocritus. Flying Orders, Ned Kelly, and Faithful Pal, but the last-named has also been paid up for in the Anniversary Handicap. Bracketed horses are:—Pencarrow Handicap: Newspaper and Battle Spear, Cheerful Night and Primitive. Wellington Cup: Renowned and Torrent. Anniversary Handicap: Pierre and Ronald Macdonald. The following horses have good recommendations:— 11.10 a.m.—Te Marua High-wei ffht Handicap: Pimlico, Palissy, Golden Hope. 11.55 a.m.—Wellington Stakes: Gold Script, Magical, Super Snipe. 12.45 p.m.—Pencarrow Handicap: Prawns, Virginius, Corofin. 1.35 p.m.—Fitzherbert Handicap: Pontresina, Neptina, Sweet Spray. 2.25 p.m.—Wellington Cup: Coral Arc, Bruce, King’s Ransom. 3.15 p.m.—Ruapehu Handicap: Military Chief, Beau Conte, Money Lender, 4.5 p.m.—Telegraph Handicap: Da Vinci, Citril, False Step. 4.55 p.m.—Anniversary Handicap: Gollen, Julius Caesar, Jan. The programme is:— 11.10 a.m.— TE MARUA HIGH-WEIGHT HANDICAP, of £750; one mile and three furlongs.—Tussock (3) 10-12; Lord Latour (7) 10-11; Aristea (4), Pimlico . (11) 10-5; Golden Hope (5), Palissy (13) 9-8; Lord Boswells (14), Sunshine Bay (2) 9-7; Peria Prince (12), Result (10) 9-6; Roman Duke (6) 9-4; .11 Corona (15) 9-0. 11.55 a.m.—

WELLINGTON STAKES, of £2000; six furlongs.—Card Money (16), Dinnyhazer (T), Hasty Glance (13), Irresistible (6), Lord Azure (8), Magical (14), Tauloch (11) 8-6; Blue Skimmers (18), Lady Shirley (9), Melite (4) 8-3; Birdman (2), Golden Spa (7), Gold Script (17), His Nibs (5), Western Winner (15) 6-12; Nigra (12), Servile (10), Super Snipe (3) 6-9.

12.45 p.m.— . PENCARROW HACK HANDICAP; of £750; seven furlongs.—Corofin (19), Sly Gold (4) 9-2; Virginius (13) 9-0; La Modelle (1) 8-13; Telegram (17) 8-12; Sandy Harrison (3) 8-10; Gay Gordon (25) &-7; Baccarat (23) 8-5; Jet Plane (16), Pra.wns (8) 8-4; Night Rider (11), Zarcon (15) 8«2; Open Sky (20), Quartz (14) 8-1; Omega (12) 7-12; Reprimand (2) 7-11; Melite (5) 7-10; Newspaper (7) 7-8; Battle Cheerful Night (26), Primitive 1.35 p.m.—

FITZHERBERT HANDICAP, of £800; six furlongs.—Koala (13) 8-10; Neptina (15) 8-8; Pontresina (5) 8-5; Golden Link (10), Nigra (1) 8-3; Robinfaye (2) 8-1; Limpid (12) 8-0; Illustrious (6) 7-10; Sweet Spray (9) 7-9; Cyclops (8), Warspite (4) 7-3; Golden Madonna (14) 7-1; Flying Paper (11), Lady Lucina (7), Lady Moyra (3) 7-0. 2.25 p.m.—

WELLINGTON CUP, of £6OOO and 125gns cup; two miles.—Bruce (21) 9-8; Beau le Havre (17) 9-6; King's Ransom (20) 8-13; Robin’s Reward (12) 8-11; Royal Tan (25) 8-3; Coral Arc (10), Kartikeya (4) 7-13; Langue d’Or (18), Lord Revel (11) 7-12; Welcome Guest (13) 7-10; Barrage (8), Frontier Mac (5) 7-9; Embrolita (2), The Grate (14) 7-8; Yasda (3) 7-7; Quick March (1) 7-6; Helio (22) 7- Gunther (6) 7-2; Beau Bijou (15), Bobby Dazzler (24) 7-1; Foxbay (9), Night Charm (7), Renowned (19), Torrent (16) 7-0. 3.15 p.m.— RUAPEHU HACK HANDICAP, of £900; one mile and three furlongs.—Sly Ferry (9) 9-2; Money Lender (6) 9-1; Arctotis (16) 8-12; Beau Conte (15) 8-11; Gay Fellow (4), Hush (7), Lochwinnoch (13) 8- Fighting Fox (3) 8-6; Swing Bridge (8) 8-4; Boyhood (14), Hostess (19) 8-3; Brenlock (11) 8-2; Military Chief (13) 8-1; Frond (1) 8-0; Marut (20) 7-12: Kumarl (17) Speedy (2) 7-11; Lady’s Man (5) 7-9; Bonanza (8) 7-8; Tanjeen (10) 7-7.

4.5 p.m.— TELEGRAPH HANDICAP, of £2500; six furlongs.—Da Vinci (5) 9-11: Voltaic (4) 9-5: Citril (20) 9-0; Master Coronach (9) 8-11; Morocco (23) 8-7; False Step (15) 8-5; Cot-case (7) 8-4; The Pagan (16} 8-3; Deprive (11) 8-2; Theocritus (19) 8-1; Lorna Leigh (21) 8-0: Swift Robin (14) 7-13; Flying Orders (6), Travel King (2) 7-10; Tranquil Gold (8) 7-7; Fluorescent Light (22) 7-5; Faithful Pal (12) 7-4; King of Quiz (3) 7-2; Bonnie Fair (17), Demure (18), Ned Kelly (10) 7-0. 4.55 p.m.— ANNIVERSARY HANDICAP, of £1500; one mile.—Julius Caesar (18) 9-9; Tenor Royal (7) 9-7; Veine d’Or (19), Welcome GueSt (3) 9-5; Revolte (4) 9-2; Cressida (23) 8-13: Jan (2) 8-11; Atomic (13) 8-10; Lord Azure (24) 8-9;’ Gollen (25). Royal’ Sal (15), 8-6; Faithful Pal (8), Merry Lancer (16) 8-5; Beaugard (9), Magnaform (11) 8-4; Balkis (1), Broie (12) 8-3; Angell (5) 8-2; Balcherrie (21). General Argosy (10) Lady Vite (22), Pierre (6), Ronald Macdonald (20) 8-0.

Wellington Scratchings Scratchings for the first day of the Wellington Racing Clubs summer meeting are:—Te Marua High-weight Handicap: Sailor Boy, 10.45 a.m.; Nepeta, 2.30 p.m. Pencarrow Hack Handicap: Determination, 5 p.m. Telegraph Handicap: Castlebrae, 5 p.m. Anniversary Handicap: The Stormovik, 5 p.m. Hororata Racing Club Acceptances (racing), withdrawals (trotting) for the Hororata Racing Club’s meeting to be held at Hororata on Saturday, January 29, 1949, close at 5 p.m. on Monday, January 24, 1949, with the Secretary, P. J. Byrne, 193 Cashel street, Christchurch. Advt.