WELLINGTON MEETING

Evening Post, Volume CXXXIX, Issue 87, 13 April 1945, Page 8

WELLINGTON MEETING

SPLENDID ARRAY OF TALENT

(By "Ariki Toa.")

h a rr? htn™? ll ington jTTo-\\ing Club>S i Autumn Meeting, which opens at Trentham tomorrow and will be concluded on the following Saturday has drawn an excellent list of acceptances, and judging by the wealth of intermediate alent engaged, in the. respective races 8 some briSt expositions of light-harness racing are assured. Included in the fields are visitors from both the North Isjand and South Island, and the clashes between the best of them should* provide thrilling finishes -provision his been made for the Eastbourne and Hutt Handicaps to be run in divisions and several withdrawals will be required to eliminate the necessity so that there is a likelihood of a ten-race programme. "cv-caany,

The break in the weather during the past few days has resulted in the track at Trentham receiving a thorough soaking and in all probability the going will be soft. Betting will be on the win-and-place system. CARD AND REVIEW. The following is the card and review of tne respective races:— 11.45 AUTUMN HANDICAP, £275; trotters; 3.49 class; 1% miles. Benghazi scr Playful .. .'. 24 British Victory . scr Bel Espirit ..... 36 Contraband scr David Dryden .. 30 iu-auk Scott scr Quartermaster .. 36 Little Jean scr' Royal Dale 3«j Port Chalmers .. scr King Parrish ... 48 Rerewaka scr Suzerain 48 st- Mary scr Blomfleld 120 Walter Jingle ... scr There is not a great deal of form to commend most of the limit horses, except, perhaps, in the cace of Port Chalmers, who has been in the money in each of his last three outings, and he would require to show very little improvement to win. Benghazi and Rerewaka have the ability but are not too solid, while Contraband and St. Mary have shown a useful turn of speed on occasion. Bel Esprit is a consistent sort who won at Hawera, but she may be held safe by David Dryden, a winner at his last start. Quartermaster displays promise and is solid, and with Suzerain should be the best of the others. It is not a good field, and probably the favourites will be DAVID DRYDEN, PORT CHALMERS, QUARTERMASTER. 12.27 EASTBOURNE HANDICAP, £275; 3.43 class: 1% miles. First Division. Calumet Queen scr Red Setter scr County Clare ... scr Scottish Lord .. scr Golden Dancer . scr T.ask Force scr Indian Quest ... scr Templar scr Little Trevor ... scr Ursula scr Loyal Lass scr Plunder Bar ... 24 Petermox - scr Second division.* Ayisha scr Plate Armour .. scr Ben Doo scr Rawerie Grattan scr Direct Medium . scr Sandiford scr Golden Imp ..... scr Sir Vesta ...... scr Loyal Chief .... scr Stammel scr Opaque scr. Wade Lane scr In' all probability the Eastbourne Handicap will be run in two divisions, with a wealth of material likely to j parade in each. In.the first it is probable the favoured selection will be County Clare, who has quite a reputation and at his last start was second at Oamaru. Indian Quest went a solid race to secure third money at Awapuni last week, and Red Setter has previously been placed in a similar class of event at Trentham. Scottish Lord has the reputation, and even though beaten at Hawera his showing suggested better things to come. Task Force should be the best of the others. In the second division Loyal Chief and Sandiford are likely to dominate the betting, and it is difficult to go pastithis pair. Loy~al Chief ran a great race to finish second to Jack's Son at Addington at, his last start, while Sandiford is. certain to be improved by his experience at Awapuni. Opaque is one of L. F." Berkett's team, and Sir Vesta has plenty of early speed, although not too good a stayer., The favourites may be FIRST DIVISION: COUNTY CLARE, SCOTTISH LORD. SECOND DIVISION: LOYAL CHIEF, SANDIFORD. 1.9 \ FEATHERSTON HANDICAP, £350; 3.19 class; 1, mile ancl 3 furlongs. Atawhero- scr Chinook 12 Fulwood ... scr Gamble King ... 12 Leonin scr Honest Peter ... 12 Margaret Hall . scr Julyssia 12 Mine Host scr Noble Reta 24 Rose o" Day scr Toushay ....... 24 . Blaze Away 12 There is no gainsaying that the performance of Mine Host in .winning the Longburn Handicap at Awapuni was very impressive, and he is certain to have an army of supporters in the Featherston Handicap. He has made substantial improvement with racing, and now bids .fair to make his way into the best classes. Atawhero and Fulwood have speed, and Margaret Hall and Chinook are recent winners with form to commend them. Gamble King is an improver who possesses a brilliant turn, of early speed, and the distance should suit him admirably. Best of the others should be Toushay, who would have won at Hawera but for striking interference. He has previously been' placed on the course. It is likely.'to be a good betting race with most support accorded MINE HOST, TOUSHAY, GAMBLE KING. 1.51 R. A. ARMSTRONG MEMORIAL HANDICAP. £550; 3.31 class; IV2 miles. Bonny Axworth scr Princess Maritza 24 Bromley Boy ... scr Scottish Emperor 24 Castlebar scr Technique 24 Elation scr Volusta 24 Ingle Belmer ... scr Come Away 36 Jervis Bay scr Play Safe 36 Lftfissa scr Loyal Nurse ... 43 Vlmy Ridge .... scr Paul Collette .. 48 Caledonian Girl 12 Golden Shadow . 48 Lady Bligh 24 Bill Scott 72

in the Autumn Handicap, and this form has usually proved the most reliable guide towards the solving of trotting events in this district. Most money may go on DAVID DRYDEN, SUZERAIN, PORT CHALMERS. 3.15 HUTT HANDICAP, £275; 3.23 class; 1 mile and 3 furlongs. First Division. A/ lsha ••: scr Red Setter ..... scr Beau Vale scr Sandiford scr Direct Medium . scr Scottish Lord . scr Indian Quest ... scr Task Force ... scr Loyal. Chief scr Templar .... scr Loyal Lass scr Wade Lane scr Opaque scr Mine Host 48 Second Division. Beau Bingen ... scr Lucky Scott .... scr Ben Doo ....... scr Maalesh scr Calumet Queen . scr Plate Armour .. scr C0"? 1? Clare .. scr Sir Vesta scr Golden Dancer . scr v Stammel scr Golden Imp .... scr Ursula scr Little Trevor ..scr The! Hutt Handicap may also be run in divisions, and the candidates, with the exception of Maalesh, will have raced earlier in the day, when a line upon their respective prospects will probably have been gained. Maalesh is a promising novice of whom the best has yet to be seen, but he has shown enough speed on occasion to suggest that he should experience little difficulty in winning his way out of this class. The best-backed may include FIRST DIVISION: LOYAL CHIEF, SCOTTISH LORD. SECOND DIVISION: MAALESH, LUCKY SCOTT. 3.57 jCARTERTOX HANDICAP, £350; 3.38. class; l\'z miles. Atawhero scr Chinook 12 Fulwoqd scr Gamble King ... 12 Leonin scr Honest Peter ... 12 Margaret Hall .. scr Julyssia 12 Mine Host scr Noble Reta 24 Plunder Bar scr Toushay '4 | Rose o1 Day s«-r Bien Sur 43 Blaze Away 12 The extra furlong of the Carterton Handicap, as compared with his earlier engagement, is likely to favour Toushay, and in all probability he will start favourite. He is one-of the everyI day sort who handles any kind of going, while his ability to begin should assure his being in the call all the way Mine Host, Margaret Hall, Chinook, and Gamble King again have to be considered, especially the first-named, who is a very promising sort. The others would require to show improvement. The bulk of the money may go on TOUSHAY, MINE HOST, CHINOOK. 4.39 FERRY HANDICAP, £400; 4.49 class; 2 miles. Certify scr Lord Brooklyn . 12 Dillondale ..'.... scr W'orthern Lass . 12 Dinghy scr Ovend > 12 Gay Pal scr Cameronian 24 Margaret Hall .. scr Frances Easton . 24 Netherby scr Stylish Boy ... 36 Cry Baby 12 Ingle Belmer .. 60 Grelba 12 The programme will, conclude with the Ferry Handicap, a race for improving young stayers, and there is no gainsaying that the race is lull of possibilities. From the front lof the handicap Dillondale would only require to leave the mark to take a power of beating, while Dinghy,' in securing a place in his last two starts, has shown both courage and stamina. Gay Pal disappointed at Hawera, where Cry Baby was a dual winner, the latter also. scoring again at Awapuni last weekend. ■ She is on the way to better class. Lord Brooklyn is a proved stayer who is likely to be in the firing-line all the way, and Cameronian would require to show little improvement on his latest displays to be well in the picture. Betting is likely to take a I wide range with the favourites comprising/

The chief event, the R. A. Armstrong Memorial, claims a representative field of intermediate pacers who are likely to provide a first-class race. Bonny Axworth, Bromley Boy, and Castlebar are all winners this season, with Castlebar responsible for a brilliant performance to register a shade worse than 3.27 to win over a mile and five furlongs at Addington in February. Elation has shown promise in the far south, and Jervis Bay was a winner at Hawera at his last start. Larissa is a splendid beginner who will appreciate racing oyer a shorter distance than of late, while Vimy Ridge has the ability if she could be relied upon to leave the mark correctly. Caledonian Girl will probably start favourite, but will require to make a much smarter beginning than in her latest races. The soft track is likely to be in her favour as she has previously proved at home in such going. Scottish Emperor has raced with extremely bad luck at his latest appearances, and a break in fortune is due. Further back in the handicap, Loyal Nurse is a promising mare, and Golden Shadow is equal, to securing a minor placing. It is by no means an easy race, but a trio who appeal are SCOTTISH EMPEROR, CALEDONIAN GIRL, LOYAL NURSE. - 2.33 PALMER HANDICAP, £275; trotters; 5.7 class; 2 miles. Benghazi scr Walter Jingle .. scr British Victory . scr Playful 24 Contraband scr Bel Esprit 48 Frank Scott scr David Dryden .. 48 Little Jean scr Quartermaster .. •48 Port Chalmers . scr Suzerain GO Quite Right .... scr King Parrlsh .. 72 Rerewaka scr Blomfleld ;. 163 St. Mary scr With one exception, the field likely to contest the Palmer Handicap will have been in action earlier in the day