FIELDS IN REVIEW

Evening Post, Volume CXXX, Issue 113, 8 November 1940, Page 12

FIELDS IN REVIEW

GOING SHOULD BE GOOD

November is usually one of the most delightful months of the year in Canterbury, and the New Zealand Cup Carnival has only rarely experienced wet weather, Cup Day itself having been fine except on only a couple of occasions in its whole history. Though the spring this year has been more unsettled than the rule, it had been fine up till yesterday in the south, and there is still a good prospect of its remaining so for the coming week. The going tomorrow, unless rain should unexpectedly develop, will be firm, and probably faster than it has been in recent years. The betting will be under the win-and-place system. NEW ZEALAND CUP. j The consensus of critical opinion is that the New Zealand Cup this year is not so open as usual, the issue with the majority being fined down to Royal Chief and The Buzzer. Yet, the Melbourne Cup result on Tuesday was a, revelation of the uncertainty of the j certainty in racing, and many of the J public will now be less diffident about the chances of the others. It is believed that the stamina of The Buzzer will dominate over the class of /Royal j Chief, who is not so favourably weighted in relation to the rest of the field as he was recently at Trentham. Judging through stamina again, the likeliest among the others to reach* the money may be Capricious, Dictate, The Raker, Serenata, Te Kawiti, Sword-Stick, and The Ring. It will have been observed already by" most that The Buzzer is by the same sire as Tuesday's Melbourne Cup winner, Old Rowley, and, somewhat remarkably, he is also out of a Syce mare. ' STEWARDS' HANDICAP. The Stewards' Handicap is a race in which a quality three-year-old is always dangerous, and the favourite this year will without much doubt be Sir Beau, or, if he should be withdrawn for any cause, his stablemate Belle Cane, who is brilliant enough to win with her light weight even if' both should be produced. Other three-year-olds with likely prospects are Don't Forget, Doria, Kentucky, and Enrich, while Gold Flight, from the Comic Song territory, was backed to favouritism recently at Gore and is speedy enough at her best to effect a surprise. Of the older horses the likeliest appear to be Not Out, St. Cloud, and Density. THE WELCOME STAKES. Many a good winner of the W.R.C. Wellesley Stakes has missed in the C.J.C. Welcome Stakes, to mention only Gay Son, Beaulivre, and Enrich in the last three years. But North Islanders still look upon Foreign Coin as next to a good thing to retain his unbeaten certificate tomorrow. The South is relying mainly on Salutation and Silver Lady and others with likely form prospects are Par. Avion (beaten by Foreign Coin in a previous meeting but improving with every race), Flying Spray, and Willow Wood. A colt who may show better form at the meeting than at Trentham is Varuna. THE REMAINING EVENTS. On August form Dividend looks the logical way in the Spring Hurdles, but Recollection, Jewish Lad, and Dorado are others with chances on recent showings. • • The Spring Plate is nearly always won by one of the three-year-olds, and the favourite is only rarely out of the money, Sternchase being a notable instance last year. If Belle Cane starts bettors will tumble over themselves to back her should she be paying any Erice at all, but Poutatau might worry er and Boloyna, Gayest Son, and Schoolgirl are older horses with place chances. In the Linwood Handicap the favourite promises to be Blandisher, who won the second novice event at Trentham

as easily as Belle Cane did the first. This race was won last year by Duncannon, who succeeded in the same event at Trentham as Blandisher did. Others who will be backed are Nightglass, King's Toast, All Night, Augment, Blue Coat, and Phyto. The Apprentices' Handicap will find the main support going to Sir Amyas, Cymric, Tissue, Ferriby, Stylist, and Alias. The Riccarton Handicap will provide the final Derby trial for Beau Leon, Lambourn, and Sir Cameron, and these horses promise to supply the favourites. Of the older horses the best recent form is that of Night Pal, Wild Career, Night Dress, and Lockit. SUMMARY OF FORM. The following horses will have confident support:— Spring Hurdles. —Dividend, Dorado. Spring Plate. —Belle Cane, Poutatau, Gayest Son. Linwood Handicap. — Blandisher, King's Toast, All Night. New Zealand Cup.—The Buzzer, Royal Chief, The Raker or Serenata. Welcome Stakes.—Foreign Coin, Salutation, Par Avion. Apprentices' Handicap.—Sir Amyas, Alias, Cymric. Stewards' Handicap.—Sir Beau or Belle Cane, Don't Forget, Not Out. Riccarton Handicap.—Beau Leon, Lambourn. Sir Cameron.