LADY INA'S HEAD BAND

Evening Post, Volume CCXV, Issue 13, 17 January 1938, Page 13

LADY INA'S HEAD BAND

When Lady Ina steps oat for the Telegraph Handicap tomorrow she will be wearing a picturesque head band that was presented to her. by a Maori woman admirer at the recent Marton Meeting. The head band was specially woven for the mare, whose owner, Mr. A. Southey, of Eketahuua, has had it incorporated in a new bridle. It is a difficult issue, but among those deserving support ' are The Buzzer (both' ways) and Wild Chase and Lowenberg (places).. RUAPEHU HANDICAP. Many keen struggles have been witnessed in the Ruapehu Handicap. This is a race that has/the unique distinction of having provided two treble dead heats within the last twenty years. Back in 1920 Nursing Sister, Borealis, and Hepta could not be divided; and eight years later Broad Acre, Polydectes, and Ganymede again beat me quick eye of the judge. •' There is a field' tomorrow that might indulge in another thrilling finish. It is difficult at present, to name the likely favourite, but probably: the public will rely mainly on Wagner, Lord Nuffield, Race Call, Nereus, and Mercenary, all horses who have fairly recent good form behind them. ' Wagner failed in his three outings at Ellerslie, but it is ref ailed that he also did not seem suited y the reyerse way of going in Australia. His form at Trentham in October, when he beat everything except Rollicker, was excellent, for several of tLose who finished behind him are now in open class. Nereus has impressed in several of Jus recent efforts, his failure in his first outing at Awapuni .during the holidays being, due to . ill luck. Mercenary has been allowed time to mature, but her win at Oamaru a fortnight ago, only second up this season, indicated her promise. Incidentally Jier dam, Egotism, once ran second in this event. Other horses who may be supported are Rabble, Free Gold, Dancing Flame, Vadanoe, Sam's Choice, Noisy Night, Pekoe, and Trebor. It is still another race in which the favourites have fared poorly, with only two successes (including Broad Acre's dead heat) in the last fifteen years. Horse's who promise to be backed are Nereus .(both ways) and Wagner and Mercenary (places).

TELEGRAPH HANDICAP.

Though the Telegraph Handicap has been reduced at acceptance to a record small field for the race on the Trentham track, it may nevertheless see some keen speculation, if all remaining in hold their ground, for the handicap is a flattering one offering all horses an apparent excellent chance of success. The favourite promises to be the topweight, Paper Slipper, under the services of L. J. Ellis, and this is his opportunity of laying, his Trentham hoodoo. At'the weights he has been given this season he really should have won more races than he has. The favourites, however, have not a good record in the Telegraph in recent times, for since the wins of Statuette, The Hawk, and Tamatete, in 1921, 1922, and 1923 respectively, the only time the public have been right was in Autopay's year, 1933. It may be happy augury that Paper Slipper, like Autopay, 'is by Paper Money. Every one of Paper Slipper's six opponents is possessed of form prospects. Pakanui, who is better than ever he was previously, looks a handicapper's tip, and Laughing Lass and Lady Ina have I both previously done well on the track. Top Rowr has recently been racing very solidly in the south. Alunga has at last come into something like the form that has been expected for some time, and he. is a really good outsider prospect. The betting may favour Paper Slipper (both ways), and Pakamii or Lady Iria (places).

ANNIVERSARY HANDICAP.

Form from other parts of the Dominion may prove superior to the form J;hat ;has recently been disclosed hereabouts in the Anniversary Handicap, another small field that may nevertheless attract a very large pool. If Alma can get a mile, she should lose the others for brilliance, and the fact that her connections have prepared her for miles in preference to sprints is at least significant. After her effortless victory in the C.J.C. Stewards' Handicap she failed to see out seven furlongs in the Criterion Handicap, but, as a Paper Money mare, she possibly was not ready for the two races on top of.one another. She will be having her first start since then, and the Paper Money breed comes up fresh. Dictate is another southerner who will be well fancied, • as, after some disappointing ' displays, he struck good winning form 'over the holidays, and he is a horse of whom a high opinion has always been held. To clash against the southern form is the recent Ellerslie winner Valamito, who is expected by northerners to take a power of beating. Consistent Taitoru, who has previously proved himself- on the track, has a chance, despite the weight he has to concede all round, but he may be a better prospect later on at the meeting. Pukeko. Helen Ford, and Linguist are at least place prospects. On performances the betting seems likely to be dominated mainly by Alma (both ways), and Dictate and Valamito (places).