CERNE ABBAS FIT

Evening Post, Volume CXXIV, Issue 96, 20 October 1937, Page 17

CERNE ABBAS FIT

GOOD TRENTHAM CHANCE (Spccial from "Early Bird.") AUCKLAND, October 19. In all, eleven horses from Auckland provincial stables have survived the acceptance for the first day's racing at Trentham on Thursday, and as most of them are in form their prospects are bright. In addition, several of those engaged from other centres have been raced at Auckland meetings this spring, and this has given northerners a line as to their chances of participating in the money. While Enge is the only Auckland representative in the Wellington Handicap, the winner and runner-up in the Mitchelson Cup, Small Boy and Cerne Abbas respectively, are to meet again in this race, and perhaps Cerne Abbas will be found on top on this occasion. However, it must be said that Enge is a very fit horse, and even with good going he ought to be a fair place prospect throughout the meeting. In the Mitchelson Cup Cerne Abbas conceded Small Boy 31b and ran him to three parts of a length, the Riccarton representative just managing to hold her own over the final furlong, perhaps for the reason that she might not have been so seasoned as the winner, who had been racing practically throughout the winter. The shorter distance, by one furlong, and a pull of 61b in the weights may assist Cerne Abbas to turn the tables on Small Boy. This pair, on their Ellerslie running, should put up a strong fight against fresh challengers. Boomerang was running on both days at Ellerslie. Fersen went his best race to date this season when he finished second at Avondale yesterday, and a real stayer's course like Trentham should assist''him. ''SPRINT PROSPECTS. Whirling and Maori Song,, engaged in the Shorts Handicap, represent the best Auckland sprint form. Whirling recently raced at Ellerslie, and was not quite tuned up for such strong opposition, but it was interesting to note that he was closer at the finish each«day than at any other stage in the race, and that was encouraging. Trentham should suit him. Maori Song's record over the past four months, during which he emerged from maiden to success in open sprint ranks, is already well known. Over this period he has had five wins and one third in six starts. An easy track would be preferable in his case, for he has yet to be proved on a firm course. For this reason Whirling may be the better. In all but one race on the first day Auckland is represented, the exception being the open mile. Lady Ruler and Boughal are in the Hurdles. As Lady Ruler won at Ellerslie—the form was not exactly first class, for she might not have been closer than third but for a mishap at the final obstacle —she will have to be considered, for winning form over the formidable Ellerslie hurdles is always a strong recommendation, and she is staying better now. Boughal has not been seen over the sticks for some time, but he is well, and if he fences satisfactorily he should stand a reasonable Cl The°'fact that Nordic Song is to run in the Taita Handicap suggests that she has not lost her private reputation by her defeats at Ellerslie and Avondale. She has the pace all right, and her owner hopes that she will race truer the left-handed way at Trentham than the reverse way round at Ellerslie and Avondale. where she ran off each time. TWO SPEEDY HACKS. In Suleiman and Rollicker there are two speedy northern hacks in the Rimutaka Handicap, with MinLu as a minor hope. Min Lu raced badly at Ellerslie 111 her one outing, but obviously that form was not right, seeing that she still figures in the hack sprint on Thursday. Suleiman is a very fine galloper, and he merely played with the maiden field at Avondale last Saturday, for, as soon as his rider wanted him to go, the race was all over m a few strides. He is a half-brother by Acre to the speedy Namakia, and his effort when having his first start m a race was something to enthuse over Rollicker when at his best is a good sprinter, and as he should be improved with his race at Ellerslie h« ought to be playing a big part in the finish on Thursday, or later at the fix ture. He is certainly more experi enced than Suleiman, but the latter is S °Te Hero impressed by the facile manner in which he beat a lot 01 moderate two-year-olds at Avondale on Saturday. The opposition was jus' as easy as that met by Protector 01 the second day of the First Spring Meeting at Avondale, and the Heroic colt was merely repeating the Riccar ton gelding's effort. Te Hero can b< improved considerably yet, for it 1: possible that he is now at the stag( at which Protector was this time las ""protector improved out of all know ledge on his northern trip, so much sc that it will surprise northerners if he fails to turn the tables on Surmoun ' in the Wellesley Stakes. He is pro bably a likelier prospect at presen ( than Te Hero is. ~ . .. Raepata is the only northerner in thi October Handicap, and as he is stril 1 maiden he will need to make tremend ous improvement to secure a P !ace °' Thursday. He has plenty of pace, bu lacks the ability to stick on.