THE OTAKI MEETING

Evening Post, Volume CXXI, Issue 130, 3 June 1936, Page 13

THE OTAKI MEETING

FORM FOR OPENING DAY

SEVERAL TRENTHAM HOPES

Althodfeh fields will not be quite up to average strength numerically, there are sufficient acceptors in most events on the opening day of the Otaki Maori Racing Club's Winter Meeting at Otaki tomorrow to ensure interesting racing. A particularly bright spot in the acceptance is the response for the Ptaukawa Cup Handicap, which promises to 'be keenly contested by a field of good handicappers. The weather at present is settled, and the Otaki course is reported to be in splendid order. There will be a day's interval between the two days this year, with the concluding day on Saturday. The betting will be under the singlepool system, with two dividends in fields of five, or more chances. Specially-reduced fares will be available for patrons using the railway. A race tram leaves Thorndon on both days at 8.55 a.m.,. not stopping between Johnsonville and Paekakariki; and ordinary trains leave at 8.18 and 9.55 a.m., the last-named stopping only at Paekakariki. From Palmerston North trains depart at 7.5 and 9.40 a.m., the latter a race special. Return trains leave after the racing. The fields and a review of form'are as follows:— 12.0 TARARUA HACK AND HCNTERS" STEEPLECHASE, £70; 2ft miles. Royal Banquet 10 U The Ranger .. 9 S Taura Lad .. 9 13 Sir Ronald ... 9 0 The Tararua Hack and Hunters' Steeplechase is an innovation in place of hurdles, and unfortunately it has drawn a very small final field, though this is due mainly to recent mishaps in racing and training. Royal Banquet, who was going like a winner when he was brought over by another horse at Foxton, should be hard to beat here, especially as the distance is a quarrer-mile less. Taura Lad is his most experienced opponent. Sir Ronald- is a promising recruit. • The Ranger is safe, but has little pace. Form points to Royal Banquet.

KUKU MAIDEN, £60; 6 furlongs. Blue Bell .... 8 10 Terry S 10 Cosmic Ray .. 8 10 Warehl 8 10 Golden Anno . 8 10 Lavish ,8 0 Highball .... SlO Except for Goiden Anne form J is completely lacking in the Kuku Maiden Race, so it is fairly apparent who the favourite will be. All that, can be said for the others is that Highball and Warehi had a rac.e not long ago, Terry has once or twice shown a lot of pace after slow beginnings, and Lavish was twice placed in juvenile events early in the season m the only two starts she has had. A favoured pair may. be Golden Anne and Lavish. 1.20 YTAITOHU HACK HANDICAP, £80; 6 furlongs. Vinco 9 5 Mid Acre .... .8 2 Yousslpof .... . 8 5 Minnow' '8 0 Garter K?d ~.. 8 5 Mister Quex * 8 0 Gladium 8 3 There is more form to give a line to the public in the Waitohu Hack Handicap, though none of it is outstanding. Vinco, not too lucky in the running at Foxton, looks to have his chance here, with a stone higher minimum and only 51b more on his own back than he had last Saturday. Yous[sipof and Garter Red are recent .maiden winners who are improving, and Gladium has benefited With his race at Carterton, his first, after a lengthy spell. . Minnow is a possible upsetting element., A (favoured pair may be r Vinco and: Gladitim.

RAUKAWA CUP HANDICAP,-£ 175; l'i miles. • Might-.- : 8"11' Xnpel ' ;;'... 7 12 Arctic 'King' . 8 '9," Rp'se : .... 7 10 Hazoor. '...... .8' 7- Hiiijtlhg, Lodge 7 4 Peter JaclssOn. 8 5 1 Glenyano ..7 4 Gay Boy .... 8 5 Stitchbird .... 7 0 Slippery "..... .8,. ,0 :•

There are several horses who will be in favour fortheßaukawa Cup, but, taking a line through Prostration, who beat him narrowly at Carterton, Arctic King is the logical choice. Arctic King will have the hurdle horseman D. W. Bush aboard, which may deter some from supporting him, but Bush is a keen lad who has as yet had few chances on the flat. Lapel, Hunting Lodge; Hazoor (better ridden than at Carterton), and Gay Boy are all in form and worthy of followings, I and Might, though he looks rather big I at present, is always liable to show up. There may be an upset, but on form a good pair read to be Arctic King and Lapel.',

OTAKI HACK HANDICAP, £80; X mile and 55 yards. 3Slue Boy »... 9 7 Windward ... 8 2 Chile 9 6 Ayreslelgh .... S 0 Stitchbird ...8 6 Script 8 0 The Otaki Hack Handicap may give investors trouble because nothing stands out. Chile is unreliable on the flat, and Blue Boy may not yet be sufficiently forward. Stitchbird, however, is capable, of better than he gave at Foxton, where the track may have troubled him, and Script also went easily his best race yet in finishing " fourth after leading to the straight last Saturday in Stitchbird's race. Windward is honest, and Ayresleigh looks to be coming back into form. A pair who may justify Support are Stitchbird and Windward.

HUIA HANDICAP, £100; 6 furlongs. Beau Gallante 8 10 Miss Hushabyo 8 3 boomerang .. 8 5 Bodyllno .... 8 0 Lavlngton .... B'3 Royal Bengal 8 0 Boomerang, unlucky at Foxton, will be the public choice in the Huja Handicap. The field is poor in ''quality, with the veteran Royal Bengal best of the others on recent form. Beau Gallante, however, was finishing on at Foxton, and Miss Hushabye and Bodyline have past achievements that may one day be repeated, though they will require to improve on thpir latest efforts. The main support Jftay come for Boomerang and RoyaH3engal. 4.0 - TK nono HACK HANDICAP, £80; 7 furlongs. Ylnco 9 4 Royal Solo ... 8 5 State Bank .. 9 1 Cloudy Bay ..8 2 Maestro .... 8 8 Otauru King . 8 (I Revival 8 7 Minnow .... 8 0 If. Vinco were reserved for the Te Horo Hack Handicap he would again tough but it isjikely that he will keep his earlier engagement. In liis absence Revival and Royal Solo appear best of the recent form, but Minnow and Cloudy Bay are not without chances on their best autumn efforts. State' Bank* Maestro, and Otauru King will require to improve on their Foxton form, but State Eanlc is one who might on his home track. There will be 1 followings for Revival and Royal Solo.