OTAKI RACES

Dominion, Volume 31, Issue 60, 4 December 1937, Page 18

OTAKI RACES

Maori Club’s Meeting To-day

FORM AND PROSPECTS

Rere Nikitini Memorial Handicap

(By

The Watcher.)

An attractive programme is carded for the Otaki Maori Racing Club’s summer meeting to be held to-day. All events are well filled, with fairly good class in the open races. The track will he firm and fast after the recent dry weather, but there is a good sole of grass and the going should be favourable to form reliability. With Woodville, the fixture will share the interest of being the only public trial remaining before the holiday racing, so that the running should provide material for discussion.

Betting will be single pool. A convenient railway service is available from Wellington and Palmerston North. A special train leaves Wellington at 9.5 a.m., arriving at Otaki at 10.53 a.m., and ordinary trains leave at 8.30 and 10.15 a.m. Return trains, leaving Otaki at 5.19 and 7.38 p.m., reach Wellington at 7.8 and 9.59 respectively. From Palmerston North a special train leaves at 10.10 a.m., and an ordinary train at 7.12 a.m.

The best of the recent maiden form is represented by Dancing Flame, Ilion, Laughing Chief, Mother-in-Law, Peach King, and Haile Selassie, but they are all overshadowed by the July performance of Haupongi, who ran second to Maori Song at Trentham. He has since had a cold, but recovered, and, provided he is in condition to run anywhere near form he is entitled to favouritism. The three topweights are entitled to most consideration in the hurdle race. King’s Lancer might improve, but the others will have to show considerably better form than recently. Siegmund should be well backed in the Otaki Hack Handicap. His most likely opponents on recent form should be Roaming, Mea Mea and Lustra], The distance might be a trifle short for Lustral, but he is entitled to serious consideration. Lady Hoariri might be prominent, but the most likely form is toward the top of the list. There should be an excellent contest in the Rere Nikitini Memorial Stakes, and it is not easy to predict the public preference. Practically the whole field comes into.the review of the possibles, but the likeliest~form may be that shown at Feilding by Brazen King, Hazoor, and Gay Boy. Sunee has not had a race for a month, and, while he is well, he may be at a disadvantage. This form seems a little better than that at Levin and Napier, but at the same time there is nd reason 'to ,discard the possibilities of Legatee, Helen Ford, and Terry. The improver should be Gay Boy. In the hack sprint the best form, is that of Alunga and Cute Melody, with the preference for the former, who was unlucky not to be closer at Feilding. There is plenty of recent form lower down in the Jjst and Money Raid looks a likely sort on the way she ran at Rangitikel.

In the open seven furlongs backers are faced with form from all quarters, including recent runners and horses who have had a spell from the arena but who, on their last showing, come well into the picture. Taking One Whetu and Taitorn as the best recent trial horses, Feilding form again presents itself, with Lone Raider and Dancing Lady also, but Mattie should be improved with her race at Levin.

The hack mile, though it has a big field, Is not strong in class. Maestro would appeal if at his best, and he had a couple of races at Trentham in October. Sunny Blonde, Earl Colossus, Cricket, Lady Hoariri and Galteemore should be possibilities, and at Levin Nightlass and Raroa both ran fairly well. Fairy Dale has not improved since Masterton, but in this class she might show up. A good beginner is essential in the concluding hack scurry. Horses that fill the bill in this respect are Race Call, Colleen Gain. Nelumbo, Conversion, Black Frost and Final. Mowgli might be capable of a surprise. The following horses may be supported in their engagements : — Manuao Maiden Plate: Haupongi and Dancing Flame. Puketoi Hurdles: Mahala and Top Hat Otaki Hack: Siegmund and Lustral. Rere Nikitini Memorial: Brazen King and Hazoor. Pukekaraka Hack: Alunga and Money Raid. Wairongomai Handicap: Dancing Lady and Mittie. Rahui Hack: Maestro and Galteemore. Rekereke Hack: Race Call and Nelumbo. The card is as follows: — (2.15— MANUAO MAIDEN PLATE, of £lOO. Six furlongs.

Crown .Acre . 8 7 Laughing Chief 8 7 Charmonte .. 8 7 Motlier-in-Law 8 7 Dancing Flame 8 7 Sir Acre 8 7 Gay Marionette 8 7 Peach King .. 8 7 Haupongi ... 8 7 Ruling Spl ... .8 7 Highball ... 8 7 Haile Selassie 8 7 Ilion 8 7 Fairy Dale .. 8 7 Irish Orders . 8 7 Informer 8 7 12.55— PUKETOI HACK HURDLES, of £120. One mile and a half. Southern Te Hiko .. 9 0 Blood 10 7 Polobian .... 9 0 Mahala .... 10 3 Camilla Horn 9 0 Top Hat .... 10 0 Starinond ... 9 0 King's Lancer 9 10 Gabriel 9 0 Aurora’s Love 9 0 Sea Kale .... 9 0 1.25— * OTAKI HACK HANDICAP, of £110. Seven furlongs. Siegmund ... 9 0 Free Gold 7 8 Golden Chest 8 1.3 Lady Hoarlrl 7 . 1 Roaming .... 8 ,1 Revival 7 3 Moa Moa .... 8 1 Perfect Lady 7 Lustral 10 Merryman •• 0 2.20— RERE NIKITIN I MEMORIAL ST. IKES, of £250. One mile and a Quarter. Hazoor 9 0 Helen Ford .. 7 7 Sunee 8 9 Terry 7 4 Gay Boy .... 8 ■1 Gav Hunter . 7 Legatee .... 8 1 Warehi .... I 0 Brazen King 7 13 3.5— PUKEKARAKA HACK HANDICAP, of £110. Six furlongs. Son and Heir 9 0 Happv Heels 7 13 Alunga 8 11 Revival .... 13 Cute Melody . 8 11 Vadanoe .... 7 13 Colleen Gain . 8 b Conversion .. 10 Diamond Le Toquet •• 7 10 Cutter 8 1 Stargono 7 Money Raid . 8 1 3.45— WAI0R0NGOM A I HANDICAP, of £ 130. Save n furlongs. Mata Hari .. 9 0 hone Raider . 8 Jubilee Song 8 11 Mister Quex . .13 Slippery .... 8 8 Beau Gallante 12 Lucullus Md 8 8 Dancing Lady 7 Mittie 8 6 4.25— RAH LI HACK HANDICAP, of £110. One mile. Maestro .... 9 0 Impersonator 8 0 Sunny Blondo 8 11 Raroa 8 0 Earl Colossus 8 8 Nighthiss 8 0 Cricket 8 7 Ngaltahu 8 0 Lady Hoarlrl 8 o Fairy Dale .. 8 0 0 Royal Romance ; 8 5 Kerione .... 8 Galteemore . 8 it Gabriel .... 8 0 Bing Boy •. . 8 o 5.10— REKEREKE HACK HANDICAP, of £110. Five furlongs. Son and Heir 8 10 Final 7 2 Race Call ... 8 9 Cloak 7 0 Colleen Gain 8 , > Ilion 7 0 Nel it in bo 8 .1 SIv Fox ... 0 Hunting Spy 7 12 Jewish Lad . 7 0 Variance 8 Mowgli * 0 Conversion .. 7 7 Royal Toy .. 7 0 Black Frost 7 7