WANGANUI FORM

Dominion, Volume 27, Issue 189, 9 May 1934, Page 13

WANGANUI FORM

Fields and Prospects For To-morrow NOTES AND COMMENTS Good Gallop by Lack (By “The Watcher.”) The large fields that are carded for the opening day of the Wanganui winter meeting are going to make the task of backers exceedingly difficult, and it will not be surprising if the results show some outstanding dividends. A winner at Wanganui has to have a certain amount of luck in running, for the course is a turning one with a short straight. The home turp, for instance, greatly favours the horse on or near the rail, as it commences the-turn just after leaving the half-mile barrier and does not straighten up for home until the horses arc just a little over a furlong from the winning post. Horses that are forced over a bit of extra ground here have all the worst of it. Tactics that lead to success on a course like Trentham often fail at Wanganui, and even some of our leading horsemen fail to show appreciation of this fact. Smart horses with speed to occupy a leading position early in a race usually show up.best at Wanganui, and stamina is of less importance than usual. Ninety-six Acceptors. There are seven races on to-morrow’s programme, and with 96 acceptors the club is in a better position than it hns been for this, or any ,other meeting held nt Wanganui for a considerable time. Heavy rain has been universal over the district, bnt owing to the sandy formation of the soil the course never gets heavy in the sense that applies to most courses, and a break in the weather will see the track in good order in a few hours. Evon should it rain on the day, the going will not get extremely had. Trial Field.

There is a field of 13 for the oppning event, the Trial Hack, but as has been the case throughout the season, this class of race sees no outstanding form engaged. The best is possibly that of .Leo Colossus, who won a race at Rangitikei in March and ran second on the same day in the concluding event, finishing in front of Gay Seton. He was also placed at Opunake behind Illuminate and Merry Way, which was his last start. Full Throttle has been racing into places in his recent efforts and was a plose second at Pahiatua to Royal Shift, While at the same meeting Royal Passion was runner-up to Vonia Park. Argument ran well nt Egmont last week, though he finished out of a place. He has, however, a maiden success at Opunake. to his credit. The racing should have improved these three horses. Tudor was tried earlier in the season in similar class races, but failed, and was put to hurdling. He won the hurdle race at Levin in November last and wns also successful in his next start at Waipa. He has hot raced since, and, while the course of jumping has probably made him more solid, it is likely that he will be in need of a race. Alcides showed considerable promise when he first started. racing at the Wellington summer meeting, but he has .not run into a place since. However, lie has had onlv a couple of races and the last was. nt Rangitikei. It would be unwise to dismiss rhe chances of a horse who is a half-brother to Alloway and All Supreme and who has the advantage of being trained on the track. Some time or other he is sure to run up to the promise he showed at Trentham when he commenced his career. v De Trcu and McHeath. from Tlastinss, have both run promisingly in recent efforts, and Mcllcath was second at his last start on his home track. He is raced by his breeder, Mr. J. S. McLeod, the president of the Racing Conference. and belongs to the family which produced Runnymede, Raasay, My Own, and Simba. Kaola has a second to Argument at Opunake. Little or no form has been shown by the rest of the field. Smart Sprinters.

The Winter Oats field comprises same smart sprinting talent. Royal Hunting won the sprint there in February, ami since then has won two more, scoring well at Feilding at Easter, and at his last start he ran third at Hastings to Speed and Souchong with 51b. more on his back.

View Halloo has not raced since his failures at Feilding in November. He is a horse that cannot stand hard ground, and now that the going is soft he should be able to display some of his best form. Practically all his racing and at least all his form has been shewn over a distance. He was second to Fiji over ten furlongs at Wanganui in September. ran third in the Harcourt Uup at Trentham, and was second in the Mitchelson Cup. His form, of course, is good class, and he is not likely to need much racing, but so far as sprinting is concerned he may have lost a bit of his dash. Souchong’s form lately has not been quite up to his best. He finished in front of Royal Hunting last start at Hastings, but the latter disposed of him at Feilding fairly comfortably. Souchong. however, likes winter going, and may be prominent.

Pomp is ou his home tl'ack, and must be one of the possibilities.' Ilis win over Diatomous at Awapuni will not be forgotten, and while it is true that for strong riders he is always liable to run surprisingly well, he has rood winning handicap form as well, and also under L. J. Ellis, wfio will have the mount tomorrow. Pomp, however, likes to settle down well in a race before being asked for his effort, and this will not cb an advantage to him at Wanganui, in view of the fairly large field that is liable to bunch in front of him.

Good Hunting has been running very consistently, and he followed up his thiril at Marton with a win at Pahiatua, though _it was over an extra furlong. Last winter at Wanganui, when running in hacks, he showed exceptional form, winning a double, and carrying big weights. Porotiti was successful in the sprint race, on the last day of the February meeting at Wanganui, and he ran second to Lack at Feilding on Easier Monday, finishing in front of Royal Hunting. Royal Hunting meets him a few pounds better. Porotiti is well suited by the Wanganui track, and may be a better sprint proposition than his stablemate View Halloo.

Royal Bengal has been showing a gradual return to form, and he wns a winner at his last start on the second (lay at Hawera. Heavy going, however, is his particular liking, and in addition lie 'had only a small field to bent. Ho will find it much harder at 'Wanganui, though he cannot be left out of calculations. Cullus has not been good enough in the

company he has lately been meeting, aud it is no weaker to-morrow. Princess Doreen definitely slltFwed at Pahiatua that she is returning to form. She was a brilliant two-year-old, and now that she is back to something like her best, she must be seriously considered in any class. A good beginner, and improved as she n’o doubt will be by her racing at PahiaXim. s he "ill one ot the favourites. Playground is making his reappearance after a long absence. He is a champion mudlark, as he showed at Trentham last July, and though he will not have conditions at Wanganui so much in his favour as they were on that occasion, he is a winter prospect. The Tiger won the Winter Oats twelve months ago. iHis form at Egmont indicated that it might not be long before he won another race. He is brilliant, and though lie does'not stay well, it has been demonstrated without doubt that Wanganui is' a course that suits him.

Steeple Favourite. The Wanganui Steeplechase, which used to figure on the first day’s card, is now reserved for the second day, and the Grandstand Steeplechase takes its place. This race to-morrow looks to be about, the only one in which backers cannot very well go far astray. Riotous is the logica favourite after his Egmont success, and he should hold Manuiri even should the latter show some improvement. Royal Reign did not race at Egmont, but there cannot be much wrong with her'aq she has paid up. The horses in the stable of 11. Dulieu are at present showing good winning form and backers mny be induced to take a line thereby. Royal Reign is a good jumper and although there is nothing in .public recently to go*upon it. is probable that she has been hunted and is well forward. Tunbridge was a winner at Marton, but his performance was not impressive, and a poor second would have been his portion had Acervate not broken her leg. Still, he is a good jumper who must have a chance. • Don Erma will have friends following upon his recent three fine efforts among the hurdlers. Being a good juniper, and with a bit of pace, he seems the type to go to the front at Wanganui and stay there. Bon Aryan will have to improve considerably, and so will Roj-ston.

Strong Hack Field. The. hacks at the meeting are pretty solid, and in the Balgownie Handicap there is hardly a single runner lacking form. Werohia took on some strong opposition at bis last starts jn the north. He was third in the Great Northern St. Leger and went on to Avondale to win in hack company over ten furlongs. West Tor won ot his last start at Pahiatua and now that winter conditions are permanent he should be able to show some more winning form. Gay Court ought to improve with his Egmont racing, where he was close up both days, though lie is not too sound. . t Taitoru is one of the most consistent hacks in training nnd has had an exasperating run of minor placings. In his last eleven starts he lips been only twice out of a place. Rust followed up her winning form on the hranaki-M anganui autumn circuit by running second to Golden Hair in the' Great Northern Oaks. She took on” open company over a mile the second day-and was beaten, but her form is right up to the best hack class. - . Nightguard has run out of hacks, nut is fulfilling the test of his engagements in the class. He won four on end recently and while the class at Nelson and Marlborough is not up to that of tomorrow, Nightguard evidently is a great-ly-improved gelding. Tres See ran two excellent races at Hawera and must run well it he has any luck. Jayson has not shown any form in recent starts, but he ought to be improving. Possibly he may soon retuin to hurdling, at which he has shown a lot of promise. Tea Garden led to the straight the first day at Hawera and then ran in the hurdle race the .second day. but lasted only till the second fence. He is the type of horse to win a race nt Wanganui. Headmistress won at her last start, and although it was a big surprise she deserves lull credit for she made all the running and fought off her challengers. Matorni, another winner nt Egmont. performed similarly nnd won well. He is an improved horse Led Rufus ran a very creditable third at Marton after getting away poorly. He has on occasions shown n lot of promise and he hns only got to ’run up to Marton form to be dangerous. Boon has not done anything exceptional, blit as be has nn* ished on in all his races the extra distance to-morrow may suit him. Silk Sox ran well last week and did not meet.with the best of luck, but.he s a"flinst strong company here. Boudoir ran well at Pahiatua .and appears to be improving, but Freeze lias no form. Good Class Hurdlers.

The Century Hurdle's promises to be an exceptionally good racp. Alakenp, with a solid weight of 11.10,. is still not out of it. but it is liltely that he will need some experience yet before bente seen at lite best. The same applies to Hounslow, though it is difficult to jud=e just how much the Egmont race will have improved him. Both these good class hurdlers may run well. Blacksmith and Easterly, from the stable of Mrs.. McDonald, are well forward and in winning form. Easterlj tails off in her races and comeshome with a strong run, so that BlacksmAh appears the more likely of the pair on a course like Wanganui, especially in a big tiel« • Another stable pair in Consent ami Higii Faintin’ fought out the issue of t his race twelve months ago. Both have had tecent racing ’and have shown promise, though it will take improvement for them to run as prominently this year ns they did last. However, horses for courses may be a good slogan in their case, especially for Consent, who must surely show something shortly if he is to do anv good this winter. knoilmere lias shown brilliant over hurdles. Ho hns not had a hurdle race for a white, but he wns the winner of the Highweight on the second day of the Wanganui February meeting ami was raced at Feilding nt Easter. High Grader is another young hurdlei of great promise who hns raced on the flat for a considerable time. He is a likely sort for the Wanganui track. Invictus won at Feilding and again at Marton. Improvement in some of his beaten opponents must he taking place now. hut Invictus is a form liorse. Million won in good style nt Egmont. and white allowing for improvement in some of those behind her. she cannot he overlooked. Calteiiiart raced--t Auckland and should bo improved. The distance mav not be ouite far enough for him. but such a good jumper and stayer can never be discarded. , , - , , „,n n True Shaft hns had only one huidle r-ce Ito would have been close up nt Hawern had ho fenced better enrlv in the rnce bnt it may vet be too much for him in to-morrow’s field. Brown Abbey hns recently been racing over the big country Tie ini-rht run well. Imi the pace mar bent him. Constant Soil showed hurdle form in tho autumn, bnt tinte»s he has improved in early nnee he will not be suited by tho size of Iho Uoiitnrv field. Royal Limond returns th hnrd’’n'-' after bis’ inglorious dtenbv in tho'Esmont Steeplechase, and. if of his b»st. he shovld run well. Con.nt Lmidroff is a possibility, but Stnnclimn will need a whole lot of improvement.

Empire Handicap Runnel’s. Takakua heads the list m the Empire Handicap, and ns he has not raced since Easter he may be below his best. Spiral ran second to Red Manfred last start in the Great Northern St. Leger. He has been a disappointing colt on the whole, but is a good galloper. . Copper King won well at Pahiatua, where Speed also showed up. Ida Merlins surprised by the Way she ran out ten furlongs at Marton. W anganui should suit her even better, and it is a course on which she has previously run " C Ruri won at Egmont. and even allowin" for the fact that Prince Colossus was caught short of a race Ruri’s form rends well. Senegal ran second to Ida Mer-

ling at Marton, and on that form must have a chance. He meets her 41b. better ou weights carried. . Lack has struck form, and, being a good-class horse, must be one of the favourites. He won last start over seven furlongs, and, although he has yet to run over a longer distance, there appears no reason to doubt h:s ability, aud the Wanganui track will help him. Gay Court is in the back race, but has a chance here. Gibraltar will have to show improvement on his form at Egmont. Chopin will surprise if he wins judging by his form of late, and Stitch also has not run up to expectations raised by her performances at Hastings. Kaihoro should be a possibility on her form in the Pahiatua Cup, as she will be suited by the Wanganui track and soft going. Arvada may not stay. Headmistress might be good enough if she starts in this race in preference to the hack event. Hack Sprinters. The hacks in the sprint race, the Borough Hack, are also a good lot, and represent recent winning form. liadie should have won fit Marton, and, being ridden by A. E. Ellis, will be a factor in his favour. Arena runs well at Wiinganui. but on Marton form Pladie should beat her. Gay Seton is in form, and has to be considered, aud so lias Moatoa. . , , Merry Way won well on the second day at Egmont, and likes the going so ft. Colenso is an interesting runner. It is his first appearance since his suecesstul trip to Australia. There does not appear anything exceptional in his form over there, but he is a good hack. Illuminate is another with winning form. Artful Dodger and Cawbeen had every chanee at Egmont. 1 . Moneygran is so brilliant that on nis form last week he may take a lot oi catehfiig at Wanganui. Of the rest of the field the best recent form is that of Lady Ronnld, but Bon Raplde. Araubne and'Waipiro have to be considered. I his is a race which will tax the ingenuity ioi backers. Good'Gallop by Lack. ' { . An interesting gallop at Woodville on Saturday morning was betweep Lack-, wno had the services of K. Aoitre. Copper King (Glading). nnd Red Rufus (G. .1. Jones), who were associated in a mile trial on the course proper, the trestles being well out. The going was holding. Lack went to the front with Red Rufus ahead of Copper King. The last-named moved up half a mile from home, and he was in close attendance on Lack at tie home turn. Copper King challenged at The distance, but Lack finished strongly, to be ii length in front at the post after running the distance in 1.40. Red Rufus was over a length nway. Lack will be ridden by Voitre at Wnnganui. while the Awanuni horseman will also have the mount on Red Rufus. Although it is uncertain whether Copper King will make the trip, he will have the services of P. Atkins should he fulfil his engagement ’Hencoop Replaced. • An improvement has been effected in the case of one of the obstacles for the Wanganui steeplechase events, the “hencoop” below the distance being replaced py a brush fence, with a facing of just over 3ft. hardwood. The jump will be some 4ft. Bin. in height, being topped with thick brush, which should not be difficult for a tiring horse. Hitherto the “hencoop” has been the final obstacle in the steeplechase events, and it has claimed more thaii one victim. Night Raid’s Winners. Night Raid. as a sire, is having a good season, and his three-year-olds have advertised him well. Blixten, who is trained bv G. Price for Messrs. “F. Smithden” and “G. Stanell,” was successful in the Denham Court Handicap nt Warwick Farm on Saturday. / Equipoise and Phar Lap.' ; By his success in the Dixie Handicap at Baltimore on Saturday. Equipoise is credited with passing Phar Lap on the world's winning list of racehorses, and being second only to Sjjn Beau, another American. The lotal of Equipoise is now £06,592. According to American lists, Phar Lap won £tJ(1.450. but the Australian authority. “Miller’s Guide.’’ makes the total of Phar Lap £66,738. which leaves him still ahead of Equipoise. Sun Beau, who won 33 of his 74 races, is generally credited with £75,348. Some lists, however, credit him with winning £78.488. Equipoise is by Pennant, son of Peter Pan (U.S.A.) from the English mare Royal Rose by Royal Hampton. Has Been Hunted. Count Lendroff. who put up a good performance in the hurdle raee on the second day at Hawera, was having his first race for six months, so his showing was very creditable. Count Lendroff was bred at Waverley by Mr. D. R. Jackson, who hunted him for some seasons. He is now owned by Mr. L. Butler, and is in 11, Dulipu’s stable at New Plymouth. He should not be long in winning a race. Great Chaser Retired. English papers state that the wellknown steeplechaser Gregniaeh ran his last race when he carried 12.7 into seventh place in the Grand National on March 23. His. owner. Mrs. Gemmell, has decided to retire him. Gregalach is now 12 years old, and almost from the outset of his turf career he has been restricted to racing under the National Hunt Club rules. He made his first attempt for Grand National honours as a seven-year-old in 1929. in a record field of 66 runners, and. starting at odds of 100 to 1, he won easily by six lengths. Only nine of the 66 runners were able to complete the course. The next year. Gregalach was somewhat unfortunate, for he was balilkCd as he endeavoured to jump the fence at Valentine’ Brook, which pomprises a fence-sft. high and 3ft. 3in. wide, with a brook sft. 6in. wide on the landing side. In 1631 he made a gallant effort, for. after being in second position for, most of the trying journey, he wns supplanted by Grakle when lending with two fence to go. Gregniaeh. however, passed Grakle about 100 yards from the winning .post, but could not sustain the run, and Grakle again took the lead, to win by a length. " The following year. Gregalach fell after completing only half the course, jind last year ho had to be pulled np owing to having broken n blood vessel. Gregalach began racing as a three-year-old. nnd to the conclusion of last season he had covered 118 miles one furlong and 160 yards in races. Considering that more than 112 miles of this wns registered in some of the most strenuous'stFeplecho''' 1 events in E.’’gland, his remarkable rei l f" emphasises his exceptional constitution. Showed Ininrovenient. Illuminate was one of the surprise winners at Egmont. but as he had run well in his previous start, it called for only a slight improvement to enable him to score. He gave the young Now Plymouth trainer. L. E. George, a good advertisement. and further successes should come his way. In botli his’races Illuminate finished well. The going was good when lie won. but lie is also at home on a soft track. A.J.U. Plating Rule. ,In view of recent events in Sydney the Australian Jockey Club hns resolved thal nt all future race meetings within a radius of 65 miles from the G.1’.0., Sydney. the owner or trainer of any horse entered for n race which has been shnt. or plated off the course shall notify the stewards of that fact at least one hour before the time of starting of such race Renewing Acquaintance. The Victorian trainer and fonner resident of Masterton, M. McGrath, is on n holiday visit to New Zealand, and wits in Wellington this week on his way to the South Island. McGrath recently has had a run of success with the limiting Song gelding Arnunnh. New Sire. The Buzzard was one of the sires whose ' stock were sold for the first time at the Sydney yearling sales at Easter. Ho is a bay liorse, bred in England in 19L.<>. by Spion Kop (son of Spearmint, by Carbine) from Valcscure, by Swyuford from Valve, by Velasquez from Gas, by Ayr- . shire, from Illuminate. The Buzzard was imported to Queensland by Mr. J.

G. McDougall in 1931. lie conics from a branch of the llluniiiuita family that lias been i'epre‘“nted in ' New Zealand by two sires. The first of these. Bezoninn, who left many winners nt Mr. I. G. Duncan's Waiknnae Stud, wns a brother to Valve, by Velasquez from Gas. The other, who wa« imported by the late Sir George Cliffdrd. w’te Sanquhar, by Snntrv from Valve. Uo had a brief career at' the Stonyhurst Stud, whore he sired some smart gallopers, one of them being Miss Mimic, winner of the Canterbury Clinninngne Stakes and the Great Easter Handicap. (iteki Noiniiia/ions. Nominations for the winter meeting of the Otaki-Maori Racing Club will close on Friday at S p.m. Answers to Correspondepfs. “J. 8.. Napier: (1) £2/13/-: £l/9/-. (2) £l/19/6; £l/8/-. “Inquirer. Featherston: The records do not state whether tho Melbourne Cup won by Carbine carried a cup or a I’h'te; It simply says, “and trophy value £150.” This information would no doubt Im obtained if you wrote Io the secretary of the Victoria Racing Club, Melbourne.