RACING FIXTURES.

Evening Post, Volume CXIII, Issue 62, 15 March 1927, Page 7

RACING FIXTURES.

March 17—Opunake R C. March 17, 19—Ohinemuti J.C. March 17—Waimate H.C. March 17, 19—Wellingten R.C. March 23, 24—Hangitikei R.C. March 23, 24—Oamaru J.C. March 26—Bay of Plenty J.C. March 30—Otautau B.C. March 31—Waipapakaurl R.C. (at Whangarel)

The Opunake and \Vaimate Meetings will be held ou Thursday, and. the Wellington and Ohinemuri Meetings on Thursday and Saturday. The tracks, course, and grounds at Trentham are looking at their best at the present time. The Wellington Racing Club has concentrated on making Trentham a racecourse and not a show place, but there is evidence at present that the aesthetic side has not been overlooked. The grounds present quite a gay appearance, for the flowers have done very well, a bright display almost hiding the tea kiosk, while the rockery made up of the old paving stones is a blaze of colour. \ The grass gallops and the sawdust" are in good order, while progress is b'eing.'j made with: the formation of . a plough. The course proper has benefited by: the recent rains, and, although it would be improved from the point o£ view o£ some trainers by still more rain; it will provide really excellent going. Thaw and Covent Garden, and Cosmetic, Wit, and Tone will be brackets in the Plunket Nursery at Trentham on Thursday. Mister Gamp will be ridden by L. G. Morris in the First Highweight Handicap on Thursday. Morris has a particularly, good record in these events at' Trentham. J. H'Combe has decided not to bring the Comedy King two-year-old, Court Jester, to the Wellington Meeting. .rA. Jackson, who for some considerable time has filled the position o£ private trainer to Mr. Frank Orinond at Napier, has resigned. He has been succeeded by W: M"Kinn6n. At the present time Mr. Oririond ' has but on© horse in work, Inner Harbour, but he intends shortly', to have some of his coming two-year-olds put in hand. ■ 8. J. Reid is exercising Mr. Vivian Eiddiford's two English fillies at Trentham, both of whom rate as two-year-olds now. Black Eyed Sue is the name claimed for the black filly by He from Anthracite, and looks the more likely one of the pair. The chestnut by Skyrocket from King's Feather willrace as Sky Bird 11.

Betting should take a wide range in the Thompson Handicap, for it looks as i£ half the field will have admirers. • At present Reremoana appears to be the most discussed. Silver Coot, who has won a two-year-old event at Trentham, galloped a brilliant half-mile at Riccarton on Saturday. With Paper ,Boy he covered the distance in,,48 3-ssec, being held back to his mate. ;;Agrion is doing good work at Riccarton, and he is expected to more than hold his oyrn in whatever races he contests at Easter time. ■' Paperchase is not being asked to do her best on the tracks at present, but it looks as if she will not be lacking much in condition by the time Easter comes lound. Rapier and Nincompoop galloped an attractive six furlongs at Riccarton on Saturday. It seems to be agreed generally that Ninconipoop ia a much-improved horse. In referring to Manfred "Pilot," of the Sydney "Referee," remarks:—"Manfred has lost more stake money through stopping at the starting post than any other horse that has raced in Australia. A Caulfield Guineas of £2362 and a V.R.C. St. Leger of £1756 were two certainties for liin if his rider could have got him tb: niove off, and it is probable he would have" won the A.J.C. Sires' Produce Stakes of £4963 if he had left tho starting post." It is fairly safe to conclude that, had Manfred proved reliable at the starting post and raced in a manner to be expected he would be disputing the position for the leading stake-earner, if he had not already have attained the position at the head of the list.

B. Price, a well-known Melbourne jockey, is paying a visit to Auckland, and he intends to do some riding here if the opportunity is offered. Price commenced riding as an amateur, but soon joined the ranks of the professionals. He has ridden a^ number of good winners, and among his successes are. the VjR.C, Grand National Steeplechase on Flash Jack, the Australian Hurdle Kace on Silver Heart,* the Kaudwick Steeplechase on Flash Jack, and the Cup Hurdle Kace at Melbourne last November on Talarno.

Jericho was able to stand on his injured foot last I'riday, and it is intended shortly to turn him out iv the country. Every hope is entertained that the colt will gradually throw oif the effects of the mishap, and that later in his career he may make his reappearance on the turf. Some of the Kiccarton trainers are at present busy with their yearlings, which have been broken in and ridden to the tracks daily. P. V. Mason has in charge the Absurd—Cherry Mart gelding, purchased at the Wellington sales, while the Absurd—Makepeace filly bought at the same time has not yet been ridden, as sue is on the small side. F. D. Joneß's pair by Kossendale and Orby's Pride have attracted much attention, hut one of the most promising youngsters, .j the filly by Psychology from Lovelock (MartianLovelorn). She is very compact, with a decided Martian likeness, and although not overblessed with size she gives indications of developing into a fast galloper, says the "Press."

Oreum had the ground against her in both her raceß at Napier Park, and in addition she looked just a little on the burly Bide. She should Bhow up well in the Thompson Handicap, and even if she fails at Trentham should be a great proposition for one of the Easter gatherings. Kalakaua, who scored his first success as a jumper at Napier Park last week, might easily turn out something extra good over fences.' He has the size and is a good stayer. At present he is not a neat jumper, but does his work quite well for a novice. Obviously he is at his right game now. Eapier, the Wellington Cup winner, is to be raced at Waimate and Oamaru, and it is expected that he will be a fit horse for Easter racing at Eiccarton. Those who are on the look-out for the unusual may be inclined to speculate a few shillings on Mimetic at Trentham. It was not intended to persevere with him after the Napier Park Meeting, but to retire him for stud duty. However, at the last minute it was decided to bring him to Trentham as a galloping companion for Joy King, and while here he will contest the sprint events". There is no doubt about Mimetic's galloping ability, but in his races he has not shown his true form lately, owing to a certain abnormality. It is on the cards, however, that he will , run good enough to win a race at the coming meeting, even if he cannot be recommended as a betting proposition. Assurance, Master Clarence, Silver Coot Paper Boy, Sayonara, Beau Geste, and Countersign were due from the South this morning. Countersign has many admirers lor tlie ihompson Handicap, in which her probable rider is T. Metcalfe On the strength of a good gallop with Count Cavour on Saturday, Chickwheat has come into favour for events ahead in the South. The course at Waimate on Thursday may be against him. F. P. Claridge leaves Lyttelton for ■ Trentham to-night with Thorndale Waterlow -was, to have made the trip

also, but broke a blood vessel when working at Riccarton on Saturday. _ Assurance will be ridden by F. E. Jones in the bilverstream Handicap at Trentham on Thursday. Count Cavour and Footfall are to leave Kicearton to-day en route for Trentham Neither will race until the Gold Cup on tne concluding day.