RACING Royal Warrant Chosen For Buchanan Memorial

Press, Volume XCII, Issue 27801, 28 October 1955, Page 4

RACING Royal Warrant Chosen For Buchanan Memorial

Royal Warrant, a fast-finishing third in the Pearce Handicap against some top-llight milers at Trentham last Monday, will probably be favourite for the J. F. Buchanan Memorial Handicap if the track is easy at Motukarara tomorrow.

Royal Warrant has made his name as a miler, but only needs opportunities over more ground to improve his record for Mrs F. J. Hobson. He won the Winter Cup and Brabazon Handicaps at Riccarton a few weeks ago with brilliant runs from the ruck. The same dash characterised his performance in the Pearce Handicap, in which he was a shade slow to move, and had to be, taken wide on the home turn. Royal Warrant had an easy time after the Grand National meeting, and improved with each race at Trentham. In his present form, his chance must be respected under any conditions.

Any easing in the state of the track, and that is not unlikely, will also help Ballast and Demand in particular, and probably some of the others to a lesser degree. It may not help The Hob, the oldster of field and the top weight. Mr D. P. Wilson’s 10-year-old has shown his best form when the ground has been firm. Desperado is versatile enough, but on hard and soft tracks alike he cannot better minor placings. Demand raced very soundly at the Grand National meeting for a third and a fourth, but on a firmer track and under 8-12 at Ashburton last month, he could muster enough finishing speed to fill a place. Bosky’s recent form has been nothing to enthuse about. Strong Finisher

Relinquish will be a more popular runner at the weights. He is a powerful finisher, and the long straight at Motukarara should help him. Watch and Wait won over a mile and a quarter as a three-year-old last season, and is well seasoned lor her return to middle-distance racing. She failed in the Pearce Handicap at Trentham on Monday, when the going was sticky, but luck was against her when she ran a good sixth in the Wainui Handicap, :also a mile race, on the first day of the meeting. Writer raced over a mile and a quarter at each Geraldine spring meeting for two thirds. He could be an improved horse for those races and, having been placed at a mile and a half, he is well equipped to master 11 furlongs, no . matter how sound the pace is. Cornflake, an encouraging fourth over a mile and a quarter at Gore on Monday, is expected to be the best of those on the minimum. His Gore start was only his third for the season. One of his two successes as a hack last season was over a mile and a half at Trentham in March. The Second Leg

Super Maru and Adversary, both winners in strong' company this season, will probably dispute favouritism fop the Le Bons Handicap, the second leg of the double.

At his last start, Adversary carried 8-4 to victory in th : mile Wainui Handicap at Trentham. It was his second win for the season, his first being in the Selwyn Handicap, seven furlongs, at the Grand National meeting. Super Maru also distinguished himself at the Grand National meeting, and easily won the mile August Handicap after a close third in the Winter Cup. In those performances. Super Maru abundantly showed qualities looked for in a C.J.C. Stewards’ Handicap winner. Super Maru will have his chance in the big Riccarton sprint next week, and tomorrow’s race should be a first-class pointer. Strato’s third run for the season, his fourth placing at Rangiora on Monday, suggested that he is now ready to recapture his best form. Success thas eluded Pack Drill this season, but he may fare just as well as the recent winners, Chowder, Motueka, and Dutch Flag. The improvers in the field are probably Sawdust and Melinda Jane, which made first appearances for the season at Rangiora. '

The strongest favourite at the meeting will be the brilliant Rise and Shine, winner of the two races she has had for Mr D. Hall. She is an acceptor for the Brackenfield Hack Handicap. Rise and Shine was taken to Trentham for the Wellington spring meeting, but it was decided not to race her when firm ground was not available. Rise and Shine will be ridden by A. H. Eastwood, who won at Ashburton on Jier last month.

The Brackenfield Hack Handicap is a race for apprentice riders over seven furlongs. The Wingatui owner-trainer, Mr A. J. Brown, has a bracket of three for the Kaituna High-weight—Reformed, Countenance, and Gallant Peter. But

favouritism wiTI probably be disputed bv the hacks. Royal Display and Decipher, which have more encouraging form backgrounds. Selections:— 11.2 a.m.—Okains Trial Stakes: First division: Royal Halyard, Pennant; second division: Instanter, Merrimayes. 11.52 a.m.—Kaituna High-weight: Decipher, Royal Display, Bon Soir. 12.42 p.m.—J. F. Buchanan Memorial Handicap: Royal Warrant, 'Writer, Cornflake. 1.22 p.m.—Duvauchelle Trot: Santa Amada-Sierra Madre bracket. Starwise, My Gold. 2.2 p.m.—Brackenfield Hack Handicap: Rise and Shine, Gold Trend, Airscol. 2.52 p.m.—Le Bons Handicap: Super Maru, Pack Drill, Adversary. 3.32 p.m.—Halswell Hack Handicap: Saba. Perfect Reach. Mundus. 4.12 p.m.—Little River Trot: Super Brigade, Gainesway. Gold Light. Fields with form for the double are:— J. F. BUCHANAN MEMORIAL HANDICAP, Of £650. One mile and three furlongs.

PROSPECTS FOR TODAY WHANGAREI CLUB “The Press’* Special Service _. AUCKLAND, October 27. There is a likelihood of a mammoth programme on the first day of the Whangarei Racing Club’s spring meeting tomorrow, with provision for two divisions in four of the eight events. fie,d dose to the limit number of 18 is expected to parade in the Whangarei Cup. which will be the first leg of the double. The finish is likely to be disputed by Fair Town, Gloaming Prince, and Stanford Hope. The second leg will be the open sprint, ■ naia Handicap. An Ellerslie gelding Thomastown, is the top weight with 8-12, and he will be at short odds. Inimitable showed a flash of good form at Ellerslie early this month and. if he produces it aaain, he will be the hardest for Thomastown to beat. In the middle of the week, the ground wak hard after a spell of fine weather. Riding engagements include:— D. D. Holland: Black Raven. J. R. Johnstone: Totaranui. J. R. Porter: Bronze Sailor. D. J. Wyatt: Arran Chief, Stanhill, Fair Miss, Glenone, Ronhael, Sweet Moments. W. J. Mudford: Raumati, Babu, Capstan. O. McMullan: Stanford Hope, Chan Lyn. D. M. Keenan: Suvla Bay. Amanda, Countess Selina. I. Medcalfe: Miss Lloyda, Pammette, Dark Beauty. D. F. Cameron: Barnsdale, Inimitable. Hello Alex. Greek Legend, Brave Lady. G. F. Hughes: Nor’ East. R. G. Forbes: Sasnik, Dark Star, Countess Kanui. Thomastown. M. R. Bender: Durham Chief, Miss Flo, Meerschaum, Cheval o’Or. A. C. Beatham: Peter Silk, Steel King. A. K. Lawrence: Sherwood Lad. J. J. Arnolds State Control. Selections:— 11 a.m.—Huanui Hack Hurdles: Silverdine, Sherwood Lad, State Control. 11.50 a.m. —Kamo Stakes: First division —Ronhael, Sasnik, Steel King. Second division: Raumati, Natella, Allamor. 12.40 p.m.—Kensington Hack Handicap: First division—Arran Chief, Queen’s Garland, Grand Beau. Second division: Fair Summer, Dark Star, Peter Silk. 1.30 p.m.—Whangarei Cup: Fair Town, Gloaming Prince, Stanford Hope. 2.20 p.m.—Hikurangi Hack Handicap: Time Lag, Cinna Maid, Native King. 3.5 p.m.—Spring Plate: First division— Silver Ribbon, Greek Legend, Alston. Second division: Glenone, Kingstown, Willie Fight. 3.55 p.m.—Manaia Handicap: Thomastown, Inimitable, Capstan. 4.45 p.m.—Parahaki Hack Handicap: First division —Pyrometer, Grand Beau, Pentagon. Second division: Cricket Shield, Peterford, Peter Silk.

BANKS PENINSULA SCRATCHINGS

Scratchings yesterday for the Banks Peninsula Racing Club’s spring meeting were Aquarius (Okains Trial Stakes) and Free Agent (Duvauchelle Trot).

st. lb’ 0440 The Hob (9) . 9 1 0223 Desperado (1) . 8 9 0003 Royal Warrant (10) . 8 9 340 Demand (11) . 8 7 0040 Bosky (12) . 8 6 0204 Relinquish (2) . 8 3 00 Grand Boy (6) . 8 2 0100 Watch and Wait (8) .. . 7 10 43 Ballast (14) . 7 10 033 Writer (13) . 7 9 0000 Battle Ensign (7) . 7 7 34 Tom Bowling (4) . 7 7 0000 Ngapunawai (3) . 7 7 034 Cornflake (5) . 7 7 LE BONS HANDICAP, Of £425. Seven furlongs. 0001 Adversary (3) st. lb. . 9 1 31 Super Maru (2) 004 Strato (4) 0024 Pack Drill (6) 0 Sawdust II (8) 01 Chowder (11) 00 Gold Tip (7) 1300 Dutch Flag (9) . 8 1 •0421 Motueka (12) 0000 Macduff (10) ’ 7 000 Dixie Leigh (1) • 7 7 0 Melinda Jane (5) . 7 7