WELLINGTON SPRING MEETING

Evening Post, Volume CXXVIII, Issue 72, 22 September 1939, Page 11

WELLINGTON SPRING MEETING

HORSES WHO WILL CARRY SUPPORT TOMORROW

(By "ArikiToa.")

The light-harness season at this end of the North Island will be opened tomorrow with the • Wellington Trotting Club's Spring Meeting at Hutt Park. Satisfactory fields are listed for all events, and a special feature will be the Wellington Stakes, a three-year-old contest that was inaugurated two years ago and is now the first of the season's classics in the Dominion. Excellent racing is promised throughout the day.

The trotting sport in Wellington has made rapid strides in popularity during recent years, and, as Hutt Park is splendidly situated for access from both islands, it should continue to maintain its present rate of progress. The stakes offered by the Wellington Club | are now among the best in the Dominion, and the class of horse competing iat the Park is the highest that it is | possible to secure. The recent mild and improved weather has had a beneficial effect on the track, and, unless rain should I fall prior to tomorrow's racing, the i going will be excellent. | Extra accommodation has been provided by the joining up of the main and stewards' stands, but it has not i been covered because this would I obscure the view of patrons on the I main stand. | The usual road and rail facilities will ibe available to the Park. Special trains !to the course leave Wellington at 11.5, 11.15, and 11.25 a.m., also ordinary trains (change at Woburn) at 11.48 •a.m., 12.9, 12.22, and 12.41 p.m. The following is a review of the form:— THE UNHOPPLED HORSES. A fine field is down to contest the Nai Nai Handicap, for unhoppled trotI ters, and it is possible that Allworthy I and Shadeland will dispute favouritism, especially after the former's impressive win at New Brighton re- ; cqptly. Shadeland rarely runs a bad :race, and his consistency should find him playing a prominent part. Sphinx and Biworthy may upset, but a better prospect might be Chudic, who would j require only to begin correctly to make matters interesting. Violet Wrack has the speed but is not steady in her gait. The best of the remainder may be Gracie Fields, who won impressively at Addington last month. Several unknown quantities are engaged in the Sharpe Handicap, and it is possible that a surprise is in store. Durability showed encouraging speed as a two-year-old last term and started favourite in the Sapling Stakes, which suggests prospects for him on this occasion. Inquisition is an improver and so is Excel, who was placed at Hawera at Easter. Mackscot is a smart beginner of whom the best has yet to be seen, while Neon Oro would require only to leave the mark to be in the picture. Kohua and Scotty Direct merit consideration, and the best of the others may be First Shake and Top Hand. A QUALITY FIELD. Some real speed merchants are expected to parade in the Wilford Memorial, and betting is likely to be widely distributed. Although not strong numerically, what is lacking in quantity, is made up for in quality, and it is doubtful if a better field of intermediate pacers has yet assembled at Hutt Park. Great Jewel is the makings of a first-class pacer, and from the front of the handicap he is likely to take some beating. He has a winning record of 3min 15sec and is now handicapped on 3min 24sec. Jackaranda and Marlene are coupled, and the pair are both solid pacers a mile and a half. Red Pigeon was placed at Addington last month, Bill B. winning over two miles at the same carnival. Great Divide and Windsor Lass complete the field, and they are assured of strong support. Neither has a mile and a half record, but Great Divide has won oyer two furlongs less in equal to 3min 16sec, and Windsor Lass over the same journey in equal to 3min 13sec. Three Tens and Gallant Chief stand out in the Wellington Stakes, a three-year-old classic, and the form of the pair is much superior to that of the other candidates. Three Tens registered 3min 21 3-ssec when narrowly beaten by Sir Julien in the Sapling Stakes, while Gallant Chief, three lengths further back in third place, ran 3min 22 2-ssec. A repetition of either of these times would provide the winner. Durability has a previous engagement, but. if started here, he will have friends. Josette and Latest Edition have been placed, and the former appeals the better. Shady Glen was a winner last season, while Imperial Jade has speed. A second opportunity is afforded tne unhoppled horses in the Stewards Handicap, two miles. Trotting form has consistently worked out well at Hutt Park, and it is possible that the placed horses in the Nai Nai Handicap will prove a reliable guide. Sphinx, Biworthy, Chudic, and Shadeland have all been winners over the distance, and Allworthy should not be troubled by the extra half-mile. Violet Wrack and Gracie Fields will help to make matters interesting. A SECOND OPPORTUNITY. The novices are catered for the second time in the Hutt Park Trial, and once again earlier displays may furnish a sound line. Newcomers in Maratua, Plate Armour, and Mongolian will attract attention, especi-

ally the first-named, who impressed as a very likely improver when he finished close up behind the placed horses in a maiden event at Epsom in June. Mackscot, Neon Oro, and Inquisition all possess plenty of speed, and- Top Hand will appreciate the longer distance. First Shake and Max Havoc have previously been placed at Hutt Park, and they should hold the remainder safe. The Railway Handicap is expected to provide a thrilling clash between two fine pacers in Josedale Grattan and Blaydon, and on recent form there is little between the pair. Josedale Grattan is an American-bred horse with two impressive victories to his credit at his latest appearances, and his future is regarded optimistically. Blaydon won two of his four starts last term, winning over a mile and a half in 3min 22 2-ssec. He is seen to best advantage on a hard and fast track. Huguenot and King Country are useful, and Becky Direct has the early brilliance to ensure the pace being on from the outset. Great Don has won over the distance in a shade worse than 3min 18sec, and Pop Eye is a well-known performer at Hutt Park. The programme will be concluded with the Wellington Handicap, and a wealth of speed merchants are engaged. From the front of the handicap Bill 8., Great Jewel, Marlene, and Red Pigeon must attract attention, especially as they are all good beginners. Great Divide has a record for the distance of 2min 43sec, and Windsor Lass has gone 2min 40 4-ssec. Lightning Lady is a top-notch sprinter and will be racing over her pet distance. Horse Power and Nervie's Last cannot be left out of calculations. Altogether, it is a race full of possibilities. FORM AND CARD. Betting will be on the win-and-place system, and the following may be fancied:— Nai Nai Handicap—Allworthy, Shadeland. Violet Wrack. Sharpe Handicap—lnquisition, Durability, Mackscot. Wilford Memorial—Great Jewel, Great Divide or Windsor Lass. Wellington Stakes—Three Tens, Gallant Chief. Stewards' Handicap — Allworthy, Gracie Fields. Chudic. Hutt Park Trial—Maratua, Inquisition, Neon Oro. Railway Handicap—Josedale Grattan, Blaydon, Great Don. Wellington Handicap — Lightning Lady, Windsor Lass, Marlene-Jacka-randa bracket. The acceptances are:—

NAI NAI HANDICAP, £200; 3.35 class; trotters; 1% miles. Allworthy scr Violet Wrack .. 12 Sphinx scr Bill Grattan ... 24 Biworthy 12 Shadeland .... 24 Chudic 12 Gracie Fields ... 36 Glorietta 12 Franz Derby ... 66 12.50 SHAEPB HANDICAP, £200: 3.5 class; 1% miles. Brungasta .... scr Neon Oro scr Don Walla .... scr Scotty Direct ... scr Durability .... scr Top Hand scr Excel scr True Guide scr Freeworthy ... scr Wishful ........ scr Inquisition .... scr First Shake 12. Kohua scr Max Havoc .... 12 Mackscot scr Rollalong 84 1.30 SIR THOMAS WILFOKD MEMORIAL HANDICAP, £300; 3.24 class; iy 2 miles. Great Jewel .... scr Great Divide .. 12 Jackaranda ... scr Marlene 12 Red Pigeon .... scr Windsor Lass .. 12 Bill B 12 2.(0 WELLINGTON STAKES, £600; three-year-olds; IY2 miles. Three Tens Shady Glen Josette Responsive Gallant Chief Latest Edition Durability Imperial Jade Bracket: Responsive and Latest Edition. 2.50 STEWARDS' HANDICAP, £225; 4.49 class; trotters; 2 miles. Allworthy .... scr Chudic 12 Sphinx scr Bill Grattan ... 86 Biworthy - .... 12 Shadeland .... 86 Glorietta 12 Gracie Fields .. GO Violet Wrack ... 12 3 30 HUTT PARK TRIAL HANDICAP, £200; 3.43 class; XV 2 miles. Inquisition .... scr Top Hand scr Latest Edition . scr True Guide .... scr Mackscot scr Wishful ecr fllaratua ....... scr First Shake .... 12 Neon Oro scr Mas Havoc .... 12 Plate Armour .. scr Mongolian 84 Scotty Direct ... scr 4 10 RAILWAY HANDICAP, £250; 3.34 class; iy 2 miles. Blaydon scr Becky Direct ... 12 Guy Zolock .... scr Bill Grattan .... 24 Huguenot .... scr Great Don 06 Josedale Grattan scr Pop Eye 48 King Country .. scr Ropata ........ 48 Rollalong scr WELLINGTON HANDICAP, £275; 2.48 class; 1% miles. BUI b scr Great Divide ... 12 Great Jewel scr Horse Power .... 12 Jackaranda scr Lightning Lady . 12 Marlene scr Nervie s Last .. 1^ Red Pigeon .... scr Windsor Lass .. 24