CHRISTMAS RACING FIXTURES

Dominion, Volume 20, Issue 78, 27 December 1926, Page 13

CHRISTMAS RACING FIXTURES

THE FIELDS REVIEWED

The Christmas and New Year racing carnival will begin to-day, and for each club that has a date during the week there are, almost without exception, good fields, and the promise of excellent racing. There has been a very general, and, in places, heavy rainfall, but unless it actually rains during the progress of the meetings, . it is not likely to prejudice the success of the fixtures, nor to unduly soften the racing tracks. Generally speaking, the prospects of backers having a successful issue to their efforts do not look particularly bright, as the fields contain so many possibilities, but possibly by the end of the week they may thin out a little, and, in any case, form should be worth following.

MANAWATU MEETING Chief interest for Wellington and district centres in the Manawatu meeting at Awapuni, which extends over three days, to-day, to-morrow, and Thursday. To-day and to-morrow a special train will leave Thorndon at 8.6 a.m., and, while no special will run on Thursday, there are ample means provided by the Railway Department’s ordinary time-table for reaching the course. A return train each night departs from the racecourse. Awapuni has attractions apart from its racing, on account of its lovely surroundings and appointments, which the 'able hand of Mr. J. M. Johnston has brought to perfection, and for many patrons its shady lawns and beautiful array of flowers and shrubs make the racing almost a secondary consideration. Racing will commence with the Toko-

niaru Hurdles, and, despite a substantial impost, Enare may be one of the hardest to dispose of. He raced particularly well at the New Zealand Cup meeting, and, although he lias not started since, there should be nothing wrong with his condition A fast horse on the flat, and a good jumper, he looks like running a great race. Glenidle has not raced for some time, and may not be ready, but in form he would be will to the fore. Blood Red won at Ashhurst, and, although today’s company is much superior, he is an excellent jumper, who may eventually reach top class. Lady Passenger should run a creditable race, as she is in good order at the present time, and. like Blood Red, is capable of something better than she has yet shown. There is a big field in the Maiden Plate, but the majority have little or nothing to recommend them. Kalos will, no doubt, be favourite, and form

fullv justifies the position. A couple of focally-trained runners in John Nod and Some Lad may run well. Recent form is well represented in the Tararua Hack Handicap. Brigadier Bill has a chance to show that he has improved since Ashburst, and he should be well forward at the finish. Trentham has a couple of useful representatives in Kilmezzo and Outfit.

Rapier promises to be a firm favourite for the Manawatu Cup, and everything points to him ably fulfilling his task, while the rain that lias fallen, and. also any that falls to-day, will enhance his prospects. Euphonium did not race up to expectations at Feilding, but there is excuse for his showing, and there is no reason why he should not run well to-day.. Merry Day, despite the general opinion of moodiness, has raced very consistently this season, and she was unlucky at Woodville. At a mile and half she should take a lot of beating. This pair may prove the most dangerous of Rapier’s opponents. Riccarton track watchers do not give Fresco much chance of beating Rapier on anything the pair have accomplished on the tracks, but Fresco is a good sort who can also stay the distance.

Arrow Lad represents the best form in the two-year-old handicap, but as he recently suffered from a cold he may be a trifle below his form. If such is the case Mandy and Tom Bracken may prove dangerous, while it is possible that an improvement has been worked in Paleta.

Te Keroke heads the list in the hack sprint event, but despite his reputation he has not an easv task. Cerf, Great Dav, Helen, Lin Arlington, Bronstell and Merle all have form during the past few weeks, while Zafisee may act up to what she showed at Riccarton before she went to Dunedin and failed in the Guineas. It' will be a difficult race for backers. Merle appears to be improving, and may be hard to dispose of while Lin Arlington and Zarisee may show up. The topweights invariably win the Fitzherbert Handicap and with Orchid, Civility and Peneus heading the list the lightweights are again going to be kept busy. Royal Damon was unlucky at Woodville and looks like doing better than Epistle, although it might not be safe to conclude that he will. Glen Innes showed excellent hack form at Trentham in October and taken all round has done equally as well in that class as Plain Sailing, who has been a prime fancy for some time. Inferno is being freely discussed. He can gallop as well as any of them but his antics at the post are a source of confusion to the fields and a handicap to himself. Orchid and Peneus are expected to run well, while Royal Damon and Glen Innes may show up. The hardest task of the day’ appears to have been, reserved to the last and the field in the Grandstand Handicap promises to provide an excellent contest. At his best it would be hard to go past Ngata. Penman, Benanne and Star Area, attract attention amongst the lightweights.

AUCKLAND MEETING There is a splendid list of acceptances for the opening day of the Auckland meeting, where there should be some high-class racing. The principal handicaps are the Cup and Railway, and to-day also is decided the Great Northern Foal Stakes, one of the leading two-year-old races of the season. The state of the track, which may not be too firm, may have something to do with upsetting form. Three-year-olds usually run well in the Queen’s Plate, as they meet their opponents at set weights, which confer a considerable advantage as compared with a handicap. A couple of that age in to-day’s race who may perforin with credit are Alloway and Magna Charta, while the Hannon representative Tinokoa may be the best of the northerners. There are possibilities in the Foal Stakes, which should be a race worth seeing. Until Cimabue is deposed from his present unbeaten position it is wise to look upon him as the best, and he has gone on the right way since he won so easily at Riccarton. Some people are inclined to think that the extra furlong will trouble him, but his breeding is all in his favour for a journey, and the six furlongs is not likely to beat him any more than it will the others. Eulalie and High Finance may prove his most dangerous opponents, as both have shown speed this season equal to good class. There are possibilities amongst the remainder, but they cannot all be good two-year-olds, and the trio named have the best credentials. Gascony is a colt likely to reach top class, but it is doubtful if he will be equal to the task yet. If he wins to-day he will be something right out of the ordinary, for he was very green at Woodville early this month. The race for the Cup attracts widespread interest throughout the country. The handicap was framed for the good horses, with the result that they all stand their ground, and the majority of the poorer ones are eliminated. Rapine has been working so . well that it looks like him again making a bold bid for the honours. The prospects of the other top weights are freely dis<cussed, and all have their admirers. On the season’s form, recent track work, and the weights, Te Monanui may be the hardest to beat amongst them. He is a good horse; there is no doubt about that, and he is thoroughly sound, which cannot be said for Te Kara, fine horse though the' latter is, and may again prove to be. Mr. Currie is very keen on Mask’s chances, and lie will be one of the best fancied. Amongst the lighter weights the prospects of Mandane look bright. She is a good mare who has seldom been as right as Iftr trainer could have wished, and some of lifer performances have been high class. She cannot, however, act on a ba avy track as it upsets her Jong striding action. With track and other conditions in her favour Mandane may prove a very hard horse to beat. Star Ranger must be included amongst the possibilities with a greatlv enhanced chance on a heavy track. Mr. McKenzie’s mares must both be taken into account also. With conditions in her favour Mandane may be found very prominent at the finish, with Te Monanui and Rapine. The Railway Handicap is another problem for backers and here again much wilt depend upon the state of the track. The Hawk is not much good except on top of the ground, and all going well he appears likely to show up. Mimetic was favourite for his division last year, but this year, when he seems to have equally as good prospects, his name is not mentioned. Mimetic mav create a surprise. He had a race at Riccarton last month and he

ran well. The possibilities amongst the remainder are endless, but Deluge, Licinius and High Pitch may show up. Deluge is another who requires a firm track. Mimetic may prove difficult. Cureaform and Rangitahi are a couple of lightweighted hurdlers who may show up in the Grafton Hurdles. Ti Tree, Cosmetic and Melissa have all shown good pace amongst the two-vear-olds in the Nursery Handicap. The Christmas Handicap will be a hard one to win. Le Choucas is well handicapped, and he preferred this; race to the Railway Handicap. True Blood and Rascal are three-year-olds capable of running a good mile.

DUNEDIN MEETING Dunedin horses in the past have come to Trentham in January and raced well, so that more than ordinary interest attaches to the holiday meetings in the south. The critics in Dunedin were rather disappointed at the acceptances received, but there is ample material, for good racing. The principal handicap has seen Centrepiece a firm favourite since the weights. He will be tried out oyer ten furlongs for the first time, and while there is no reason to suspect that he will be troubled by the journey, Set Sail, on Timaru form, may prove his superior. Pink Terrace has freshened up since she failed at Timaru, and she is well handicapped. . Booster and Arpent mav be in most demand for the Federal Handicap, but Countersign is a speedy filly, who has previously won at Wingatui, being successful in the Guineas in the spring. For the minor events, Adjutor, Dark Spot, Tholomon. Money Peer, Blue Dragoon, and Monoxide appear well placed. TARANAKI MEETING Horses that may run well at New Plymouth ar e Arch Arrow, Jazz Baby, Highflowu, Kareao, Tip Tree, Flying Shot, Bonhoinme, Monaghan, Lady Anstruther, Pop-Off, The Lamb, hirst Acre. Quillfire, Whenuanui, Skypoint, Royal Picture. ELLERSLIE TRACK NOTES SHIRLEY SCRATCHED FOR RAILWAY . BY Telegkaph. —Press Association. Auckland, December. 24. There was little work at Ellerslie this morning. Rapine moved nicely over three furlongs on the course proper. Cimabue sprinted three furlongs in 38 4-ssec. , . Nippy and Eden Hall ran round in 2 mins. 7 4-sscc. Tea Bell and Lc Choucas were on terms over six furlongs in Imin. 20 2-5 Se ßing the Bell and Ti Tree covered half a mile in 52scc. Manciane and York Abbey worked on No. 2 grass track, but neither was timed. . • C. Davies will ride Town Bank, owing to Diogenes being scratched for the Cup. THE FINAL GALLOPS.

Auckland, December 25. Heavy rain fell before the final gal lops at Ellerslie. Rapine went nicely over a mile, rum ning the last seven furlongs in Imin 34sec. Tanadees was slightly in front of Lomint at the conclusion of a round in 2min. 5 4-ssec. Count Cavour galloped a mile and a quarter in 2min. 16 3-ssec. . Star Stranger, accompanied by Mimetic over the last five furlongs, ran six furlongs in Imin. 21 l-ssec. Te Monanui defeated Town Bank.JTe Kara, Battlement, Star Ranger, and Lord Star over a mile and a quarter in 2min. 19sec. Mask and Clarinda ran five furlongs in Imin. llsec. High Pitch fan six furlongs in Imin. 23 l-ssec. Grand Knight ran three furlongs in 39 3-ssec. Nadarino taking 42sec. Deluge defeated Lady Cavendish over four furlongs in 51sec. Aussie. Licinius, Ruffles, and Archeen were in that order at. the end of five furlongs, Aussie running the last four in 51 2-ssec. The Hawk did five furlongs in Imin. 10 3-ssec. Magna Charta did seven in Imin. 37 3-ssec. Limited dashed over four furlongs in 52sec. Commendation, picked up at the furlong post bv Many Colours, ran a mile from the old post in Imin. 51 4-ssec., the last seven furlongs taking Imin. 34sec. Lysander and The Thorn reeled off five furlongs in Imin. 7 3-ssec. Shirley, who met with a mishap, was scratched for the Railway Handicap at 7 a.m. on Saturday. TO-DAY’S FIELDS. Dominion Special. Auckland, December 26. The summer meeting of the Auckland Racing Club will open to-morrow, and the prospects of fine weather are not very good, A considerable amount of rain has fallen during the past few days, and to-day it has been showery. Excellent fields are engaged in the various events, and there should be some good racing. Nineteen figure in the Queen’s Plate, and, after his performances in Australia, Stormy may be favourite, with Antrim Boy and Magna Charta also in demand.

The Great Northern Foal Stakes has drawn the best two-year-olds in the country, and Cimabue, who is aS yet unbeaten, and is coupled with Cosmetic, is sure to have plenty of followers, while Royal Ceres and the Greenwood bracket (Agrion and Eulalie) may be the best fancied of the others.

There is an excellent field engaged in the Auckland Cup. Rapine has been doing good track work, and, after his recent successes at Riccarton, he is sure.to have plenty of admirers, for he lias Star Stranger coupled with him. Te Kara and Te Monanui may be next fancied. Highway, Carawock, and Mia Bella should run well in the Grafton Hurdles. ... In the Railway Handicap, Licinius, Limited, and Grand Knight may carry most support. Ti Tree, Anriculus, and the Stead bracket (Cosmetic and Laity) may be the elect in the Nursery. In the Christmas Handicap, Chamour, Seatown, and True Blood may be prominent. Nominations for all events at the Hawke’s Bay Trotting Chib’s annual meeting close on Thursday at 8 p.m. with the secretary, Mr. H. P. Sf’ratton, Hastings. riXTUßiss. December 27—Wnlpukurau J C. December 27. 28— Westland RC. December 27. 28—Taranaki December 27. 28—Du 'din December 27. 28. sn-MannwatU K c. December 27. 28- Wnirarupn Ttottnig December’"?' 29. January I- «-Auckla.ua R Cl December 41. January > u-Greymoutb J.C.

1927. January 1-Waikouaiti K.O. January 1-Wyndham R.O. January 1. 5-Hawke e Bay J.O. January 1. J—Stratford R.O. January I. J--Marton J.O. January 1. 3- Wairarapa R.O. January 3. 4—Southland R.O. January 7. 8 Reefton J.O. , January 8 or 15-Waipapaltaun R.O. January 8 IJJ- Vi . nc e-nt J.O. ■tanuarv 15—Wnlrjo J.O. January 18. 20-- Woirpa R.O. January 20. 22. V Wellington R.O. January 2t. 22- Foxton R.C. January 26. 27 Pablatun RO. January 29 31 Takapuna R.C. January 2? Bay of Islands R.O.