EASTER HANDICAP

Dominion, Volume 31, Issue 162, 5 April 1938, Page 17

EASTER HANDICAP

Francis Drake’s Weight At Auckland NOTES AND COMMENTS Lowenberg For Riccarton

(By

The Watcher.)

Although there is a big field in the Auckland Easter Handicap, the majority of the entrants may be dismissed as not being up to the standard required. Stretto has a solid weight with 9.6, but, all things considered, jt is not prohibitive. She was third in the Thompson Handicap with 9.3, and was distinctly unlucky, and since then she has won the Awapuni Gold Cup. Oratory has gone up 101 b. from her Thompson Handicap win, and she will find it difficult to remain in front of Stretto. Smoke Screen is up 21b. on his Thompson weight. He won on the second day at Trentham, but failed badly in the Awapuni Gold Cup. Freshened up for Ellerslie, he.might be one of the hardest to beat. Catalogue must ’be regarded as well treated. He is in lib. lighter than in the Thompson and, after being beaten in the last stride |he next day, he went on to Manawatu and scored brilliantly in the King George Handicap under 8.10. On the same reckoning Francis Drake is the pick of the handicap. He was fifth in the Thompson with 7.8. He ran second to Catalogue at Awapuni with 7.7 and, although out of a Pbice in the Hawke’s Bay Cup with 8.2, he won on Saturday in hollow style under 8 2 To be dropped to 7.1 at Ellerslie is remarkably lenient treatment. Suleiman was fourth in the Thompson with 8.1. He failed over six furlongs the next day when favourite, finishing fifth. He is down 31b. for. the Easter Handicap. There is ample material from the district talent to provide the winner, but the general experience has been that, with few exceptions, the northern form is below that of the visitors. There is no doubt that Francis Drake is the pick of the handicap, though, of course, that does not make him a winner. With all her weight Stretto will be a hard nut to crack.

This Week’s Racing. The Whangarei meeting on Friday and Saturday is the only racing in the North Island this week. In the .south the Westport meeting will be held on Saturday and Monday, and the Otautau meeting on Saturday. The Waimate Cup,

The Waimate Cup was run at a very slow pace early, Salient Knight slowing up the field in front and being permitted to remain in charge until they had reached the straight, but Rebel Lad ran home an easy winner, anj the aged Silver Sight finished fast in third place. The favourite, Studley Royal, pulled hard and appeared at a disadvantage on the turning track. The going was also a bit hard for him. Lowenberg for South.

Lowenberg, winner of the principal race at Stratford on Saturday, is engaged at the U.J.C. Easter meeting and it is the intention of his. connections to make the trip. Lowenberg is looking particularly well at present and, although be did not have much to spare at the finish of Saturday's race, he had 9.0 up, and it could be regarded as a satisfactory trial for Easter. No rider has been engaged for him at Riccarton, but overtures are to be made to P. Atkins to fly from Auckland and ride him in the Great Autumn Handicap. Alma.

Alma fairly beat Janet Gaynor in the President’s Handicap at Waimate at a difference o£ 181 b, The latter mare began well and she seemed to have the race, in keeping when Alma bore down on her to win by a neck. They meet on the same terms in the Great Easter Handicap and over the extra furlong Alma is likely to be preferred to most of the other runners, although L. J. Ellis was engaged provisionally to ride Janet Gaynor. Alma has already won at Riccarton over seven

furlongs, the rage being tSe August Handicap, which she won under 8.11. Rebel Lad. Rebel Lad’s success in the Waimate Cup was his first since winning at the Wellington Cup meeting lust season. He looks in good shape ht present, and may be worthy of note for engagements at the Great Autumn meeting. Maiden Winner. Steer Clear, winner of the Trial Plate at Waimate, is a three-year-old filly by Lord Warden from Sea Raid, and is trained at Washdyke by E. J. Ellis. Silver Sight. Silver Sight was always with the leaders .in the Waimate Cup, and the race should sharpen him for future engagements. On the Improve. The recent failures of Francis Drake have been inexplicable to ?vho have seen his track work at Woodville, but he showed'his true form at Hastings on Saturday when he spreadeagled a useful neici. Unlucky.

Nolana, the favourite, had an unlucky run in the Waitangi Handicap at Waimate, as she was hemmed m until the race was almost over. Then she divided Bellerive and Amount on the post. The Easter and Autumn.

No serious shrinkage took place in the Great Easter and Great Autumn fields as a result of the declaration of acceptances Silver Ring, Davolo, and Willie Win dropped out of the Great Easter, but figure in the Sockburn Handicap. Silver Ring, Waitaka, and High Glee dropped out of the Great Autumn Handicap. Silk Sox Sound.

Silk Sox pulled up sound after his race at Stratford on Saturday, and the gallop should do him good for events ahead.

Coming on. The three-year-old Gascony gelding Shaffgri La was in the picture all the way in the Budge Memorial Handicap at Stratford. It was his best performance to date, and he looks like being useful.

A Winning Family. Red Witch, who performed well in trial class at Hawke’s Bay, is by Nigger Minstrel from Enchantment, a sister to Ringing Cheer, Gallant Fox, and Noisy Night. At Whangarei.

The win and place system of betting will be used at the Whangarei Racing Club’s meeting on Friday and Saturday. As a result of hie victory in the Hinuera Handicap at Matamata, Silver Eagle is now ineligible for the ’Trial Stakes, which is for horses that have not won a race at the time of starting.

Answers to Correspondents. “Curious,” Foxton: The Hawke’s Bay Cup started at 2.53 p.m. “Dick,” Otaki: (1) £2/13/6. (2) £1 15/6. (3) £l/8/6. (4) £l/14/b. (5) £3/5/6. (6) £2/17/-.. “Interested/’ Karon: Fenella started twice at the Westland trotting meeting on Saturday, in the first and seventh IQ “Eivaette,” Manukau: (1) £4/17/6.

(*“A.RJC,” Plimmerton: (1) £2/15/6. Wanganui: (1) f 7/1 2 /6; £3/5/6. (2) £2/17/-; £l/10/-. (o) £2 Reader,” Patea: £2/15/6. “DIV.,” Wanganui: First day, £2 5/6; £l/7/6. Second day, £4/1/-. 'T.T.8.,” Wellington: £3/14/6. “G.V.,” Wanganui: £B/9/6. “Old Sport.” Otaki Railway: (1) £o 13/6. (2) £2/4/-. (3) £4/2/6; £1 14/6.- (4> £l/18/-.. „ “Gloaming,” City: (1) £l. (2) £1 13/6. (3) £l/14/6. (4) 18/6. (5) Yes, Tybalt and Huntette both started on the second day at Tauranga. “Petone’’: Information sent for. “Urgent/’ Levin 1 :- (1) 13A. (2) £4 17/6. (3) £l/14/6. (4) £2/0/6. (5) £2/4/-. (6) £3/7/6. “Otaki Rly.”: £5/13/0. Riverton Rehandicaps.

Rehandicaps for the Riverton meeting are:—Aparima Handicap, Alma, 10.0. Longwood Hack Handicap, Balmenter 8.12, Bellerive 7.13,

Waverley Nominations. Nominations for the Waverley Racing Club’s meeting, to'be held on April 23, will close to-night at 8 o’clock.

Daniievjrke Nominations. 'lt was erroneously stated that the -Dannevirke .nominations for the meeting on April 29 and 30 closed last evening. The closing date is next Monday at 8 p.m.