THE WELLINGTON HANDICAP

Press, Volume LXXXV, Issue 25933, 13 October 1949, Page 7

THE WELLINGTON HANDICAP

RACING

SIGNAL OFFICER AND LANGHAM IN FORM

South Island stables are well represented in the Wellington Handicap, the main handicap event on the opening day of the Wellington Racing Club s spring meeting at Trentham on Saturday. Tneir representatives are Signal Otlicer, Kartikeya, Maryburn, Western Front, Helio. Langham and Detract, and Broie has a chance of being admitted to the field by scratchings. Signal Officer is top weight with 9st 111 b. At his best that weignt would not trouble this honest Salmagundi gelding, which showed at the Dunedin spring meeting that he was well advanced in preparation for important spring and early summer races. He is now eight, but racing under big weights has not taken toll of his vitality. His place in the weights, 161 b above the next horse in the handicap, draws attention to his class. In this race last year he carried lOst 31b into second place behind Coral Arc, wnich was on the minimum, 7st. Characteristically, he came from the tail of the field with a long run and never looked like being beaten for second.

Gollen, a winner at Avondale over 11 furlongs on September 10, will not start in the Wellington Handicap, but will be reserved for the later days. He failed at Ellerslie last Saturday.

Distinction will be well supported, but Indian Song would have to improve on recent efforts to make her mark in this class. Blue Seal, with Bst 61b, will be a well supported candidate. This Bulandshar four-year-old won easily over a mile and a quarter at Otaki, and among those he beat were the smart gallopers Merry Robin, Dark Arrow, Avenger, Voltaic, Imperial and Angell, all useful winners. Avenger was running on in fourth place in that race and this good galloper may have a successful season. He raced with marked consistency in handicap races in the North Island last season, and he may add to his record on Saturday.

Bronstar and Leyma have both won races this season, and of the two, Leyma may have the best prospects. Welcome Guest finished fourth in this

race last year, and came to Riccarton to finish third in the New Zealand Cup. He has had only two races this season and should now be ready to produce one of his best performances. Welcome Guest is one of the proved stayers in the field, and his chance appeals in this company. Kartikeya was a well-supported candidate, but a failure in this race last year. His recent efforts have also been disappointing; he is capable of better performances A soft track on Saturday would enhance his prospects.

Liebestraum finished strongly for second at Masterton last Saturday after deadheating with Distinction in the Spring Handicap at Hastings at his previous start. Last season he did not fulfil the promise he showed as a three-year-old—he was the New Zealand Derby winner of his

year—but this may be a successful season for him.

Maryburn pulled hard in the Teschemaker Handicap at Washdyke last Saturday and was beaten a good way from home. If he runs more kindly in this field he might be capable of taking part in the finish.

Renowned has her win at Masterton to recommend her chance, but it is doubtful whether that performance could be accepted as a reliable guide: the race was run at a slow 7 pace and developed into a sprint over the last four furlongs.

Langham came into favour for this race when he finished brilliantly for second in the Teschemaker Handicap at Washdyke last Saturday. The Lang Bian gelding has beaten a stronger field at Trentham than the one he me r ts on Saturday. He may have recovered the form he showed at Trentham in January when he

won the Wellington Handicao and finished a close second to Quick March in the Summer Handicap. Helio may require a soft track to give him a winning chance, but the Wingatui candidate. Detract, will have to be considered whatever the conditions. With 7st lib he may be capable of winning in this company.