A HOPEFUL OUTLOOK

Evening Post, Volume CXX, Issue 148, 19 December 1935, Page 22

A HOPEFUL OUTLOOK

HOLIDAY RACE CARNIVAL1

LEADING NORTHERN EVENTS

A'pleasing feature about: the lists that have been received for the holiday meetings this year is the general ■ increase-in the numerical size of the nominations, and also in the acceptances that have so far been received. The improvement is well distributed . among the various meetings, so that good fields arc-practically assured for all fixtures. From the figures purely it would appear that there are now • more horses in training in the Dominion than there have been for several years past, which should be very gratifying to those who have the interests of the sports in the Dominion at heart. One may anticipate with some confidence that turnovers, providing there is good weather, will be> well up over the holidays. '■ '• . Another point- that •seems; apparent from the various lists is that owners for the main part are patronising the meetings nearest" home. The rule in past years.has been to send the good horses ■ travelling afield to the big meetings, especially Ellerslie, during the holidays, but the Auckland Meeting: has probably drawn fewer outside Horses than for many years. The Riccarton patronage is well below the average of recent years; and Trentham .is sending" only one horse, whereas anywhere up to eight or ten has been the -usual' order. Twelve months ago ho.rses from outside the province won fourteen events at Ellerslie, Riccarton's successes numbering five and Trentham's three, but it will probably be found after the conclusion. of the coming meeting that the outside successes have been much fewer this. •year: ■■■■'■■ v'■;.". ■.•■•■ ■ ■ :'■.-.'. ■'■- ■ : With' so many horses at present in active commission in the north, howeven the Auckland-fields will fill at -least near their average strength. The meeting will be particularly interesting, as it will provide further illustra-. tion of whether single-pool batting can' bring the same'returns at metropolitan flxtur.es as the win-and-place used 'uv fecent--years''-;witb. such success at Trentham,' Biccartdn, and' Wihgatui. It may be found that the Ellerslie executive will be hard put to it to produce any substantial increase over.the investments of recent years.. .■-■■. ; = The acceptances for the Auckland Meeting are. due tomorrow evening, and with their announcement fresh, enthusiasm will be shown in the Boxing Day double at Ellerslie,. the Auckland, Cup^arid the Railway .Handicap. ; . At present it seems .unlikely; that the fields for these ; big handicaps -will be any stronger numerically than they were last year. ',"••' *N TWQ-tfEAR-OLD CLASSIC. ■ One of the most important items on the.opening day in the north will Joe the Juvenile classic, the Great Northern Foal Stakes, which, will provide the first important clashA of the season between the best northern and best southern; two-year-olds, and also the ■first" test for horses of the age beyond five furlongs. The majority of the crack youngsters promise to be on hand, so it should be a.true discrimination merit between the two. sets , The diily material omission from the south" is Paper Slipper, who has been laid aside owing to.kneetrouble,.but; thestable luckily-,s,till has. Wild, Chase to represent it* and al/six furlongs this colt might be the better, though Paper Slipper's speed might _ have helped tactically, as Symcony'sidid for her stablemate Legatee last, year. Wild Chase, as1 winner of-the^Ashburton John 6risg Stakes and C.J.C. Welcome Stakes, is jope of the logical choices. The -South Island's other candidate, is also a worthy contestant, for the has been the winner of the D.J.C. McLean Stakes and the # W.R.C. Wellesley Stakes.' In the C.J.C, Welcomeshe also looked the likely winner till Wild Chase dashed up near the finish and beat her decisively. On this form Wild Chase should again be the better at a furlong further, though the tutnihßsCourse will be a factor in •favour,of the filly. ■ ■, ; „ ' Three likely aspirants Irom the southern endof the North Island will be Kindheart, Wagner,-, and Moriuette; and Gay Chief, who has already had a fair amount of. racing in the north, might also be sufficiently improved to play a part, as he was a winner at the Dargaville Meeting at' Avondale last start; Kindheart was successful in a handicap at Trentham first, up, and though he subsequently /missed the money:at Feilding it- -is* probable the best was not'rseen of him. that day. Wagner impressed with t^his;^ winning effort.1 at Woodville, and he:looks a well-balanced colt who might develop into good class. Moquette, who ■was the winner of the Wahganui Debutant Stakes, is a filly reputed _ta possess more ordinary pace, ,b,esides which she has had experience on the Ellerslie course. - ."■■:...:■. .■:.■; STRONG HOME XEAB^. The home team to oppose the campaigners from without is on. paper a powerful one, but they have yet to be measured against'the best of tlje T)o> minion's other juveniles. Outstanding among them, of course is the flying Stretto, -winner of the Avondale and A.R.C. -Welcome Stakes at her onjly two starts to date. In a half-mile sprint at Te Awamutu last Saturday she was caught and beaten by Gallio, but she was on the big side and not quite Jierself on the day, so that it is reasonable to expecV a better effort from, her dn Boxing Day. -She is a. daughters of The Begum, whose fuubrother.: Supremacy won this-race in the same colours seven years ago. ■• i Gallio is the other powerful string of the northern defenders. He.».is a colt, somewhat difficult to manage/in his races, but a strong galloper; who should 'be better and (better as the distances increase, as he is a son of General Latpur ; arid Ammon Ra's halfsister Proidice,; winner of the G.N. Guineas and Oaks. .-. He was beaten by, Moquette:at'Wingatui and by Stretto in both the Avondale and A.R.G. Welcome ibiit in' his two other startsthewas winner'of;the handicap events'on the second day; at Avondale and Ellerslie; respectively. ; : Among the other,.; northerners s^ill in the field are Surview,: Maxowh, and Abbess of Whitby, who have been winners, ftut they; do not yet quite; meas^ ure up to\.;classic; standard 'on- their: performances.' ,A likelier one than theyare may be Anion, a half-brother 'by Chief^Ruler.tb'Ammon Ra and hence' a ' close, riplatiye- of Gallio, for she'was placed*'in^thg two" northern"Juvenile classicsj^andjialso .placed :in:;his; one other 'starttio'datei' Queen's; Counsel was highly considered by her" connections .earlier in the season^ but so: far she has failed to fulfil Hopes,-though^ she may' 'one-.of these days surprise .a; t?6od field,.-The"youngsters.s.till in the Foal Stages who are also .engaged in the Nursery ,;Handicap:*on',the same' day are 'Surview, ,•Anion, Maxown,Wagner, and, Mazzini," so - perhaps the field that-lines up for the classic will not -number above ten.", The'remaining- events on the first day at Ellerslie cater .for a good class, of horse. The Queen's Plate, run over .a. mile, will provide several Derby candidates with their - first race at the meeting, the "number including Shu, Cprroboree, Bantry, Greek Shepherd, Hapoy.-Landing, and Karohia. OtherDerby aspirants,, such as Lowenbefg. Haut 'Monde< Legatee, Dv Barry,' and Lady Graceful will race in' the open mile Christmas' Handicap. Heritage and Entail are not engaged for any race' on this day.

The latest addition to the team of Mrs. J. Campbell at Riccarton is a well-grown four-year-old gelding by Polazel. His dam, Miss Florence, by Masterpiece from Prayer Wheel, is a half-sister to Entreaty, the dam of Phar Lap.