MAIN HANDICAP AT WINGATUI

Press, Volume XC, Issue 27366, 3 June 1954, Page 4

MAIN HANDICAP AT WINGATUI

NGAPUNAWAI LIKELY ’ TO WIN

CHANCE FOR SIR ZIN IN SECOND LEG

Ngapunawai, Brown Baron, and Trinidad may dominate the finish of the Birthday Handicap, the main flat race and first leg of the double on the first day of the Dunedin Jockey Club’s winter meeting on Saturday. These are three Canterbury-trained candidates with good form backgrounds and proved stamina in a very open field. Ngapunawai was a weakening third in the Elloughton Handicap at Washdyke at his last start, but the race was run so slowly until the final stages that he was at a hopeless disadvantage against the winner, Lord Fort. Ngapunawai has never shone as a pacemaker, especially when leading a field at a very slow pace, and it was not surprising to see him fail to improve his good record at Washdyke. Since then, Ngapunawai has worked soundly at Riccarton. He sprinted boldly on Tuesday, and if he completes his preparation satisfactorily he will be very prominent. He will be ridden by W. D. Skelton. Brown Baron is 51b below Ngapunawai and 181 b below the top-weight, Vitalogy, in the handicap. The Wash-dyke-trained Columcille gelding toyed with a rather week field over 11 furlongs at Invercargill last month, and U T on as he liked on a good winter track. He was favourite for that race on the strength of his third to Trinidad and Fulgent over a mile and a half in the Sockburn Handicap at Riccarton a few weeks earlier. At Riccarton the track was holding, so Brown Baron has proved his versatility. It is too early yet to predict the state of the going for Saturday, but Wingatui had heavy rain on Tuesday night, and the track was well soaked. Trinidad is now seven, but he has

held his form, and his known ability to master a mile and a half will make him one of the best-backed runners. His two recent failures since can be discounted. Each race was slowly run and all against the stayers.

Trinidad’s stablemate, Vitalogy, will not find it easy to improve a sound record from his place in the weights. Peony Royal and Test Flight will probably fee! their weights over this disitance. Their chances of giving weight <o Ngapunawai, Brown Baron, and Trinidad do not look bright. Royal Voyage won this race last year with Bst 131 b, but he has failed miserably several times since then. It will be a major surprise if he recaptures form and wins the race for a second time.

Invercargill Winner Baffling Eyes, a winner over a mile and three furlongs at the Southland meeting, and Maritea, a place-getter in both main handicaps there, will have a strong Southland following. Maritea finished within half a length of Baffling Eyes the last time they met. and may run out a' mile and a half a shade better on Saturday. Formal’s form background is not strong enough to give him anything better than a rough chance. Two Riccarton gallopers, Battle Ensign and Blackfellow, may both beat him. Battle Ensign’s fifth in the sprint at Amberley last Saturday was the performance of an improver, and he will be just as much at ease as any of his opponents if the track is soft or heavy. It is quite likely that William Hyde will race on a soft track for the first time this year. If this eventuates, he should improve more than most of the others. His recent form has been well below his best, but apparently he can show little of his ability when the t acks are hard. The Second Leg In numbers and strength, the field for the Winter Handicap, the second leg of the double, falls short of the usual standard, but the race lacks an outstanding form horse, and betting will be well spread. Right at his best, Royal Mail would make a bold bid to carry 9-7 to victory. He was second over this distance on the second day of the Southland meeting, but was well beaten by Sir Zin, which may have his measure again. Sir Zin will meet. Royal Mail on a little less than 51b worse terms this time, but the advantage may be still his with the higher scale of weights. Sir Zin showed marked ability in winning at Invercargill. Be challenged from the tail of the field, and ran the race out very strongly. The track that day was heavy. Johnny Peep beat a stronger field to win this race two years ago, but had only 8-10 to master that day. Now rising eight, he will carry 9-6 on Saturday, and the combination of weight and age may beat him. Milton has never shone as a sprinter, and it is a long time since Gold King won in this role, though he has been placed in sprints on the provincial circuits. Plausible and Misty Range both won races at the Marlborough meeting in the autumn. Misty Range’s form has been more solid than Plausible’s, and as a five-year-old she is more likely to improve. Plausible was fourth in the sprint at Amberley last Saturday, but she did not make the same impression as Accountant, which finished third after beginning slowly and rushing through to the front. That was Accountant’s first start in open company, and it was an encouraging debut. Dissenter has had many failures this season, and enough improvement to win here can hardly be expected. Glowing failed against the hack sprinters on the second day of the Southland meeting, after winning the apprentices’ hack race on the first day of the meeting. Sir Zin, Accountant, and Misty Range may be the best prospects.