BIRTHDAY RACING

Evening Post, Volume CXXX, Issue 143, 13 December 1940, Page 12

BIRTHDAY RACING

OTAKI MEETING *

USEFUL FIELDS ENGAGED

Although not benefiting by a public holiday, the Otaki Maori Racing Club's Summer Meeting has the distinction of being held on the Royal Birthday tomorrow, and it is offering a compact and attractive card for the entertainment of racegoers. The nominations were not too good, but the acceptances are much better than seemed possible. The form, of course, will be valuable witnessing for those who will later on be attending the meetings in the district over the Christmas and New Year holidays. The Otaki course is reported to be in splendid shape, and the going tomorrow should be at its best. Reduced fares are available for patrons by the {railway; Trains leave Wellington at 8.30, 9.5 (special), and 10.15 a.m., and Palmerston North at 9.5 a.m. (special), the usual returns being made after the racing. The betting will be under the wm-and-place system.

TWO OPEN EVENTS. The accepting eight for the Rere Nekitini Memorial Stakes represents the full nomination strength, excepting only Nigger Boy and Harina, who remains in the other open event. Little i Eobin is so hardy that he will probably be made favourite after his good form in the south, but Meamea will retain many of his admirers on his home track, on which he usually races well, and Siglow and Hasten are promoted hacks also capable of forward; showings. One who is likely to be improving shortly is Raana. In the Waiorohgomai Handicap Sir Crusoe, after his narrow defeat at Feilding, promises to be a hot favourite, and the only pair who look like troubling him in. this relatively weak field are Night Eruption and Harina. THE MINOR ISSUES. The recent winning form of Good Sun, Dorado, and Great Quex looks best in the Puketoi Hack Hurdles, but Chat is also a. prospect at her weight if she strips in forward condition after her spell. Talenta will be the hard one to beat in the Pukekaraka Hack Handicap, in which Blue Border and Taiho are probably best of the others. At her last ■start Talenta ran third to Belle Cane and Sanction at Trentham., The likeliest form in the Manuao Maiden Plate appears to be that of Wildfire, Swell Chance, Haughty Rival, King's- Mark, Hunting Squire, and Tristan. In the Otaki Hack Handicap, in the probable absence of Siglow, the form horses are-Sanction, Social Credit, and Tau-uru. , The favourite for the Rahui Hack Handicap promises to be Last Acre, who won under 9.0 at Levin, but Acrobat would require only to run up to track form to extend him, and Arabic is now dropped in the weights. City Song's Woodville form will also ensure her of support. . . The biggest field of the day is in the Reke Reke Hack Handicap, in which the Levin form of the Aucklander Teacony, who is temporarily at Otaki. will probably appeal the most. Valiant Lady, Distress Signal, and Wakarara are others who have recently been among the winners, and the lastnamed is well handicapped. Autolite, at her best, would beat most if not all of them, though she might be better for a race under her present high weight. FORM AND CARD. The following horses will be supported:— Puketoi Hack Hurdles.—Great Quex, Good Sun, Dorado. . Pukekaraka Hack Handicap.—Talenta. Blue Border. / Rere Nekitini Memorial Stakes.— Little Robin, Siglow, Meamea. Manuao Maiden Plate.—Wildfire, Swell Chance, Haughty Rival. Otaki Hack Handicap.—Sanction, Social Credit. Waiorongomai Handicap.—Sir Crusoe, Night Eruption. Rahui Hack Handicap.—Last Acre. Acrobat, City Song. Reke Reke Hack Handicap.—Teacony, Valiant Lady, Wakarara. " The card is as follows:— 12 0 PUKETOI HACK HURDLES, £140; 1% miles. Good Sun .... 11 13 Etruscan ... 80 Dorado ...... 11 10 Boyal Stuart .90 Chat 10 11 Prlnihla 9 0 Great Quex .10 3 Luath 9 0 Hyderabad ..9 7 I-acan 9 « PUKEKARAKA HACK HANDICAP, £120; 6 furlongs. Blue Border \. 8 4 Conversion ... 7 9 Arabic ...... 8 2 Triple Crown . M Talentu ..... 8 a Debretta .... 7 7 Taiho 8 0 KERB NBKITIKI MEMORIAL STAKES, £250; 1% miles. Little Robin . 8 4 Siglow T 5 S£r?..: jS-fS>V::;:: Raana 7 V Titter 7 0 MANUAO MAIDEN PLATE, £100; 6 furlongs. Elmlnola .... 8 7 Ramillles ..» 8 7 Hauehty Bival 8 7 Swell Chance . 8 7 Fauvette 8 7 Thorama .... 8 7 Hunting Squire 8 7 The Monarch . 8 7 King's Mark .» 8 7 Tristan 8 7 Princess Venus. 8 7 Wildfire ..... 8 7 Bed Dash ... 8 7 OTAKI HACK -HANDICAP. £120; 7 furlongs. Sieiow 9 7 Social Credit .80 Doctor Defoe .88 Bide-a-Wee . 7 7 Sanction .... 8 3 Namesake ... 7 7 Tau-Uru 8 1 3 40 WAIORONGOMAI HANDICAP, £200; 7 furlongs. Sir Crusoe ... 95 Race Call 7 3 Catalogue ... 8 « White Rajah . 7 t> Night Eruption 8 0 Sunee ....... 7 0 Harina ....... 8 0 A 25 RAHUI HACK HANDICAP, £130; 9 furlongs. Young Charles: 9 4 •'Acrobat 7 9 Last Acre ... 9 2 City Song .••• \ g Doctor Defoe v. 8 1 Royal Vision . 7 1 Arabic ...... 712 Little Margot . 7 7 S'rEKE REKE HACK HANDICAP, £120; 5 furlongs. Autolite .... 10 8 St. Grace .... 7 9 Valiant Lady . 8 13 First Round ..7 8 Teacony .... 8 11' VVabarara .... 7 B Distress Army Girl .... 7 X Signal 8 4 Hunting Squire 7 7 Coronado ... 711 Tristan 7 7 Conversion .. 7 » Aberdovey ... 7 1