RACING FINAL DAY OF C.J.C MEETING

Press, Volume XCVI, Issue 28435, 15 November 1957, Page 5

RACING FINAL DAY OF C.J.C MEETING

Mananui Expected To Win Metropolitan

Mananui has been closer to victory at each start go rar at the Zealand Cup meeting, and he is expected to win the Metropolitan Handicap, the first leg of the double at Riccarton tomorrow.

Mananui has 7-7 and has only two horses below him in the weights. Judged on his fifth in the New Zealand Cup and third in the Fendalton Handicap earlier at the meeting he will trouble the best of those higher in the handicap. There are several form horses in the field. The top-weight Flair was a rather unluckv third in the New Zealand Cup. Flair has 8-11. He had 8-7 in the Cup and the two that beat him in that race, Great Scot and Calcutta Sweep, will not oppose him tomorrow. On Wednesday, Flair straddled his stall before the start of the Canterbury Cup. He was upset by that experience, and it was not surprising that he finished out of a place.

Flair had only Canon behind him in the Canterbury Cup, but the latter is also likely to be a stronger force under handicap conditions. Canon made up a lot of ground for sixth in the New Zealand Cup, and if he has come through his racing well he will take beating at a mile and a half under any conditions, and will be in high favour if there is any deterioration in the track. Though he had pulled hard in front for a good way Writer was still able to finish ahead of Flair and Canon in the Canterbury Cup. and he was an unlucky fifth in the Riccarton Handicap on the first day of the meeting. He has very good form at a mile and a half. Turon is one of the problem horses in the field. He had a setback just after his arrival at Riccarton to round off his preparation for the New Zealand Cup and has not yet raced at the meeting, though he has done much useful work. In several of his earlier races, too, this Hastings-trained Targui horse ■ has shown promise of considerable ability as a stayer. Loyal Chief beat the hack stayers over this distance in the Otaio Plate this time last year. Since then, he has been placed at the distance and has won over 11 furlongs in open class. India has done little racing and has no form of note over a middle distance, and his chance may be brighter in the Churchill Stakes. Salhia and Shoal were seventh and eighth in the New Zealand Cup and Shoal ran Rover to half a length over this distance in the Canterbury Cup, in which she was promoted to first.

Salhia lacks the ability to accelerate, and will probably need a very strong pace from the start to show her to advantage. At the weights, Teaka will probably be a match for the best in this section of the handicap. Teaka could take high ranking as a stayer before the end of the season: the Metropolitan Handicap could be an important contribution to a highly promising record.

Mediterranean was not able to do himself justice in the New Zealand Cup because of a twisted plate, that causing a foot injury. He sprinted attractively at Riccarton yesterday and has only to run up to his best form to be in one of the contending positions in the finish.

Cornflake. the Jockey Club Handicap winner on Wednesday, has been successful over more ground, and he may be the pick of the other light-weights. Cardinal King and Moon Crest, the closest to Mighty Dollar at the end of the Stewards’ Handicap, will be generally expected to dominate the finish of the Members’ Handicap, the second leg of the double.

Moon Crest is top-weight with 9-2 and Cardinal King is 191 b below her. It is doubtful if the brilliant Hawera mare will be able to match the powerful Oamaru galloper over seven furlongs at the weights. Cardinal King will be ridden by his usual jockey, W. D. Skelton. Unless the track deteriorates he should not be tested by the others above him in the weights, and it is very doubtful if one of the light-weights is good enough to master him.