WELLINGTON RACING CLUB

Evening Post, Volume CXIII, Issue 15, 19 January 1927, Page 7

WELLINGTON RACING CLUB

TO-MORBOW'S PROSPECTS

It is doubtful if for any meeting at Trentham the prospects have been better than for that which opens to-morrow. An unusually large number of visitors will be ia evidence, and they should be provided with some high-class racing, for no better and more representative fields have been gathered together this season. Practically all the highest-class- horses are engaged, and with very few exceptions racegoers this week will see,- the cream of the Dominion thoroughbreds! The track at Trentham will be very fast unless a deluge of rain falls, and good times can be expected. As usual the Railway Department has arranged a complete and expeditious train service, while motorists mil have a good r.oad for the greatest part of the way. ■ • ' •

THE CUP.

From present appearances it looks as if all the eighteenl acceptors will start in the Gup, the only possible defection bem<* one of Mr. R. A. M'Kenzie's mares, Piu° thair or. Clarinda. Both llapine and Star Stranger are to start, and they are in excellent fettle. Rapine has.a big load in 10.2, but he is so well that he will not be far away at the end. His stablernate, Star Stranger, is preferred, however, for he now looks in something like his condition just prior to winning the A.J.C. Metropolitan ■' at Randwiek with- Blb less than he has to carry to-morrow. Count Cavour is very well at present, but 9.13 should stop him. Te Monanui is a great

galloper and was really unlucky" at Auckland, but the preference is for Star Stranger at even weights. Tanadees 8.10, may win, but unless a lot of rain falls the risk is taken of leaving him out. Footfall 8.6, is such a solid galloper that with 1?. E. Jones in the ■ saddle he commands respect. He ran out a mile and a half at Ellerslie in irreproachable . style. Mask and Mandane,' on Ellerslie form, have no chance whatever, yet their form up North was not true and 'either one at best at Trentham would, be- hard to beat. Civility has to be taken on trust at a mile and a half, but'she has stayed on well at middle distances. For all that the last bit should find her. out. Merry Day is well:in on her. best form, and the same applies to Rapier. Hynanna is one of the fittest and most improved horses in the race, and with any luck he should be one of the very, hardest to beat. Piuthair and Clarinda are two solid gallopers with very handy weights. The elect of the pair may be prominent all the way. Star Ranger andl Royal Mint may find the company a little too rich. Oreum may find the journey just too far, but Fresco is a decided possibility as an outsider. Needless to say,: it is a very open race, but the Rapine-Star Stranger bracket, Hynanna,. and Footfall should not be neglected -by- backers.

THE SPRINTERS.

Although the Telegraph Handicap is run on ■ the straight six furlong course, tho positions at the barrier are worthy of more than a passing thought, for good beginners drawn near the rails have a decided advantage. Reremoana has been doing excellent work at Hawera and should be the elect rather than Lady Cavendish. The Hawk is back to something like his best, and 9.11 may riot stop him. Grand Knight's brilliant effort at Feilding against Tamatete and Limited makes him out to have a chance even with 9.9, but possibly he -will be the better for a race. Royal Damon appears to be in his place with 8.7. ■ Comic Song 8.2, likes the long straights, and his Stewards' Handicap last November was convincing. Mimetic is a picture of-condition, and if he fails it will not be for lack of fitness. Hi"h Pitch has a Railway Handicap to his. credit, but for some reason is not being discussed a great deal for to-morrow's race. Shirley, Father O'Flynn, and Cawnpore do not appeal ia this field, but the next four on the list with any luck at all, Deluge, Licinius, Booster, and Paperchase, should set the top weights a stiff task. Then conies Ballymoy 11. at 7.6, a speedy mare and very well. Of. the

others all Taranaki appears to want to back Benzora, who as yet has to prove his class.

Tho post positions may cause- a complete revision of ideas, but a trio who should do well are Licinius, Paperchase, and Mimetic.

WELLINGTON STAKES,

_ Tho small but select field in the Wellington Stakes promise to provide an interesting race. Limited and High Finance will make Lysander carry his 9.6 all the way, and it is more than possible that Silver Mine will trouble them all in the last final pinch. Silver Mine has developed into a solid-looking two-year-old who should take a higli place later on. Lorna Doon, and Auratum will have to do better than their previous best, and Sudden Storm has yet to show anything in public.

THE MINOR EVENTS.

Quite a number of horses in the Highweight Handicap have useful form, but Mint Leaf with L. G-. Morris in' the saddle is nearly sure to be a good favourite. On his best form he should see a short price. Bennanee (W. J. Bowden) and Outfit (F. Jenkins) may be the ones to trouble him.

The much-discussed Stormy no doubt will be a good favourite in the. Apprentices' Plate, a race in which the weights will be altered considerably by penalties and allowances. Amongst Storniy's opponents, Aston, Queen's Choice, and Battlo. Colours, all look likely sorts and gallop well. Any one of them may bi-ing about his downfall.

A very big field of two-year-olds -svill go to the post in the Fitzherbert Handicap. The form of Melissa, Polydectes, Reckless, Mandy, Thaw, .and Panther appears to be superiorl to the pest. Melissa was responsible for.a very smart performance at his first appearance in public at Ellerslie. A good position at the barrier should be a consideration when weighing up this race. Although small, the Anniversary 'Handicap field is decidedly useful. Centrepiece with. 9.5, or 101b above the minimum, is not badly treated, for he is a really good galloper and a master of weight. Inferno, Penman, and Rascal all gallop well, but one takes a risk with Inferno at the barrier." Ring the Bell finished very fast in a seveii-furlong race at Ellerslie and may trouble Centrepiece most.

Final hack handicaps, over sprint courses at Trentham often prove a trap for the unwary, and the Ruapehu Handicap may provide a surprise. Kilmezzo at 8.6, however, may give a taste of his quality. He is a good class galloper. Great Day and Some Lad may do best of the others.