CLASS FIELDS ENGAGED

Evening Post, Volume CXXVI, Issue 98, 22 October 1938, Page 22

CLASS FIELDS ENGAGED

MAIN EVENTS AT HUTT PARK

FERRY POST MAY BE EARLY FAVOURITE

(By "Ariki Toa."j

; The patronage that has -been accordjed the New Zealand Cup Trial in recent years has not been encouraging, and the club decided to eliminate the event from the programme on this occasion, and to substitute the October Handicap, a 4.33 two-mile event. That this has proved a good move is shown by the wealth of material entered. Additional interest will be lent to the contest, for the reason that the Auckland Trotting Cup limit has been made 4.31, which means that most of those engaged at Hutt Park are on the fringe of the big northern event, and a win next Saturday would automatically reassess them back to a 4.31 line.

It was particularly pleasing to record such a successful meeting as that held last month, and it is worth noting that the club has pursued its progressive policy by further increasing the stakes for the forthcoming carnival. The October Handicap carries a prize of £500, or £200 in excess of last month's chief event, and the stake for the sprint contest has been raised to £300.

The chief attraction, the October Handicap, should be productive of a thrilling contest, but the form shown by Ferry Post in his last three outings should result in the Jack Potts pacer being elevated to favouritism. After being beaten by Philario in the Methven Cup he made amends by taking the Walter Thompson Handicap, 2 miles, at New Brighton on September 17. In the early part of his career he was inclined to be a trifle slow to strike a gait at the start, but his brilliance enabled him to wind. up the season with the creditable record of five firsts and a third in eight starts. This term he has been in the money on; three occasions. In all races he has exhibited splendid stamina, and he is generally looked upon as the most promising stayer in the Dominion. Silver Guy's last two appearances over two miles have yielded two successes, and he is a most promising young horse. At the Metropolitan Meeting in August he filled third position on the two opening days, but made amends by scoring in the middle-class two-mile event on the final day in 4min 24sec. There was undoubtedly a good deal of merit in the effort, for he covered an extra amount of ground, and was then equal to disposing of the opposition comfortably. He followed up his Addington success by leading all the way in the Burwood Handicap at New Brighton last month, but on that occasion the track was slow and he was required to' register only 4min 39 2-5 sec. He has come solid with age, and there is every reason to regard his future optimistically. TWO WINS ON END. The manner in which Philario outclassed the field in the Bollard Memorial at the last meeting at Hutt Park will-assure the pacer of plenty of support on this occasion, and his backers should be well satisfied with the run I they receive. At this meeting the disItance of the chief event was one mile and a half, but he showed that two miles was not beyond his capabilities when he accounted for the Methveri Cup last month, registering 4min 27 l-ssec. On that occasion he reecived 12yds from Ferry Post, but they meet on even terms on Saturday next. According to southern reports, the gelding has trained on splendidly smce, and lie should be a bright prospect for a place. ■ . Toorak is one of the unluckiest horses in commission, for no matter how well he goes he invariably has to be content to share some of the minor stake-money. Last season he started on nine occasion's for one first and five placings, and this season has been in the money in his three outings. He has progressed since he last raced, and he is likely to parade a very fit horse. No distance is too far for the Wrack gelding, and if a surprise is in store he is the most likely to effect it. He is best suited by a hard track but has been placed in soft going. Navy Blue is now a member of M. Stewart's team at Te Awamutu, and a line on her form will be gained from her displays at the Auckland Meeting this weekend. In the past she has shown a partiality for short distances, and maybe the class she will meet at Hutt Park over the longer journeys will prove a shade beyond her. Mystery Yet is a fine stayer, but he cannot be relied upon to leave the mark with alacrity; He scored over two miles at

The Wellington Trotting Club has no reason to regret its decision to advance its October Meeting to Saturday next in order to avoid a clash with the Levin Racing Club on November 19, as the fields engaged at Hutt Park are a better class generally than has appeared in this centre for some time. An additional attraction will be the appearance of Harold Logan in the two-mile race, and keen interest will be taken in his showing in view of his New Zealand Trotting Cup engagement.

Addington in August, but he will not need _to loiter on the mark to figure prominently in this event ™J h<£ fo,? n-,# Sandusky of recent the promise he showed in the early part of his career, and even though SrJVre t0 £ c weU supported his prospects not appeal. With all due respect to Sea Gift's brilliance as a trotter she has yet to prove a winner S? St Pacers, and she has her work cut out to score next Saturday. Frisco Boy's form is puzzling. One SX- %X « ?S ual t0 acc°unting for the best of fields over any distance, and wwi 1 another i ay hte effort is nowhere near his best.

At Addington in August he was very unlucky to be beaten by Marsceres over two miles, but Ms displays since have been most disappointing. In any event he will be assured of plenty of friends if for no other reason than that he will be coupled with Philario as both horses are members of M. B Edward's stable.

Casanova is another in-and-out customer, and he will have to show big improvement on recent form to par-ticipate-in the finish. Southern-Smile is a useful mare over a middle distance, , but two-mile journeys have formerly proved beyond her capabilities. Pride of place on the back mark is Harold Logan, who can have ho chance whatever off 120 yds. Still a*1 lot of interest will be taken in his showing, for he has survived the first payment for the New Zealand Trotting Cup, and providing all goes well . with him in the meantime he is to compete at Addington. At this early juncture a trio that may be fancied by .early speculators are Perry Post, Silver Guy, and Philario. THE OPEN SPRINT. Another difficult problem is set backers in the Electric Handicap, and the class engaged is representative of some of the best improving material in commission. Undoubtedly the running in the October Handicap will throw a line upon the respective f a.v-' ourites, but Horse Power is sure to be in solid demand. He had had only one start since being purchased by Mr. G. J. Barton for over four figures, this being when he ran fourth off 60yds in the Walter Thompson Handicap at New Brighton last month. The outing is stated to have brought him on a great deal in his preparation, and he is likely to be one of the hardest to beat on this occasion. He' is a smart beginner, and no matter how tight the finish he will be staying on when the others are feeling the, pinch. ■■:•,. Marsceres has built up a most creditable record for himself during the past three months, and in six starts, has gained four firsts and two second placings. He was responsible for the outstanding feat of scoring four wins in five starts at Addington in August, and on that form he will have to be seriously considered. An added factor in his favour is that he is a brilliant beginner, and this will ensure him gaining a prominent position in the running early. Waipahi was backed as if the mile and a quarter event on the final day at Addington in August was all oyer, and it must be admitted that his supporters were unlucky in .that he collided with Red Ranger at the turn ' just when he was going up to challenge the leader and eventual winner Cantata. There is no gainsaying that he is a smart sprinter, and those who lost money on him at his last appearance are likely to follow him next Saturday, especially as'he is on the front of the handicap. , . Navy Blue should be better suited by this distance, as she has some good form to her credit over a mile and a quarter. One thing in her favour is that she is brilliant out of the barrier, and she is likely to be one of the pacemakers for the greater por- ; tion of the journey. Philario and Sandusky have proved capable sprinters and they should be in the picture for a long way. Silver Guy would have to be considered should he es- : cape a penalty for his running in the ; October Handicap, and the same ap- ■ plies to Ferry Post, although the latter may be a trifle slow in picking iup speed. Iraq and Agile should add interest to the contest. ■■ The race is full of possibilities, and . some that may be prominent are , Horse Power, Waipahi, and Marsceres.