MANAWATU RACING CLUB.

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 152, 24 December 1926, Page 21

MANAWATU RACING CLUB.

'All that is required for the Summer Meeting at Awapuni to lie a huge success is fine weather. The fixture is one of the best of the year in the south of the North Island, and quite holds its own with the powerful Northern meeting, lne track should be in first-class order. T.he fixture is the .one that makes the greatest appeal to Wellington residents, and each •day can be attended from Wellington if need be. The Daylight Limited .express caters well for travellers to and trom Pahnereton in one day, and m addition there is a special train on the 27th and 28th. The return train to Wellington leaves the covrse each day at 5.31 p.m. The roadway leading up to the gates has been widened to its full extent and the scheme of improvements having been completed the road traffic will be handled with all celerity on Monday. The customary hurdle race opens proceedings. Enare should show up well for all his 11.3. Santiago and Comedy Prmce are a moody pair, and the latter would do well with only 9.13 if in the right frame of mind. Glenidle, Blood Red, and Lady Passenger are a group in the handicap who might trouble Enare. Blood Ked, Enare, and Lady Passenger may do best. If Kalos has gone on the right way since racing last it is little use discussing the rest in the Maiden Plate. Powhin may be the next best. Some useful gallopers are engaged m the Tararua Hack Handicap. Brigadier Bill, Kihnezzo, and Ladykiller should all nnd favour. „ Merry Day and Kilfaire are not badly treated in the Manawatu Cup, but Rapier at Bst promises to start a good favourite, and moreover be very hard to beat. Euphonium was disappointing at Feildmg, but the track conditions there were appalling. Fresco ran two ■ sterling races last time out at Riccarton, and as he is a rare sticker he may trouble Rapier more than any of the Northerners. He tan a, great race in the last Great Autumn Handicap, being right up with Grand Knight, Royal Divorce, and Listening Post at the end. Novar should do well on a firm track. Of the light-weight brigade Joy Bird and Perle de Leon merit most attention i£ capable boys are found for them, especially Joy Bird. She is a menace at the barrier, but once on the journey she has shown herself to be an improved galloper. Polar can have no chance if his Woodville form was correct. The two' Southerners, Fresco and Kapier, look like being a very tough proposition for the local brigade, of whom the best may be Novar. Arrow Lad is easily the best performer of the Juvenile Handicap field. Tom Bracken can gallop, but is rather a handfijl. Reckless and Mandy should be the hardest for the topweight to beat. Reckless is a smart filly who has been unlucky. Mandy appears to be leniently handicapped on Woodville form. Paleto showed some promise at Wanganui, and has not been seen out since. Possibly Arrow Lady, Mandy, and. Reckless will do best.

Some smart hacks arc engaged in the Gillies Hack Handicap. Tekoroke has good form in the North, and Cerf, Royal Game, Helen, Outfit, Lin Arlington, Bronstell have all done well in this part of the island. Merle and Gourmet are two lightweight possibilities. The riders in this race should be the deciding factor, for it has a very open appearance. Helen and Merle may be a pair to be kept on the right side. Orchid and Civility are a good class pair at the top of the Fitzherbert Handicap, and they should keep the lightweights busy. Inferno at 8.1 is to be ridden by R. J. Mackie, and lie should not be far away at the end. Royal Damon should beat his stablemate Epistle. Plain Sailing is certain to be well backed, for she is a great beginner, and an easy horse ' for a lightweight to ride. Lady Bentinck may be the best of the others, but one returns to Plain Sailing, Civility, and Orchid.

A very useful field has been left in the concluding event. 'Tiega at 8.8 and Chickwheat at 8.3 certainly take the eye, especially the Southerner, who is well handicapped. Bennanee makes the most appeal of the others.