LAST CUP TRIAL

Evening Post, Volume CXL, Issue 148, 20 December 1945, Page 12

LAST CUP TRIAL

(BY "BINOCULAR."*

PAHIATUA HANDICAP

THREE TOPWEIGHTS OUT

The defection of Duality, Lady Spiral,' Broiefield, and Theolateral from the Pahiatua Christmas Handicap, three of them having been at the head of the weights, materially weakens the field for Saturday's contest at Woodville, but considering the'richer prizes offering at Awapuni in the following week, the scratchings are not altogether surprising. Duality is an' acceptor for the Manawatu Cup, but with the winner's portion amounting to £1000 no allowance can be claimed should the stable apprentice, W. E. Hardman, have the mount at Awapuni on Boxing Day, Actually, Duality is the only one who survived the acceptance for the Manawatu Cup, both Broiefield and Lady Spiral, who were also entered for the, Grandstand Handicap, 9 furlongs, hying been accepted for the shorter race only. Theolateral, who has been mixing his racing of late, is also engaged in the Grandstand Handicap at Awapuni.

In Higher Grade,

The Croupier mare Lady Chips, who closed her hack career when she won the Hagley Hack Handicap on the final Saturday at the C.J.C. Meeting, is down to have her first race in the higher grade in the Christmas Handicap at the Pahiatua Meeting. Based on the manner in which she has finished in her races this mare should develop into a useful middle-distance performer. However, she also figures in the open sprint. »

A Preliminary,

With Longsword contesting the Auckland Cup in preference to the Manawatu Cup, Typhoon is now at the head of the handicap for the latter event. The Defoe gelding is down to have an outing in the Eketahuna Handicap, 7 furlongs, at Woodville on" Saturday, and his showing will give an insight into his possibilities at Awapuni on Boxing Day. Since returning from Australia Typhoon has enjoyed a short spell, but the race on Saturday should bring him along nicely. More Severe Test. The Rhodes Scholar filly Lady Scholar, who won the N.Z. Oaks at Riccarton quite impressively, is down to contest the Manawatu Cup on Boxing Day, and she is entered for the Wairarapa Cup on New Year's Day. Kashmiri, who was beaten into third in the "ladies' classic" at Riccarton, is to race in the Pahiatua Christmas Handicap on Saturday, but will not contest the Wairarapa Cup, Lowry Bay representing the stable in that instance. Appearance Delayed. Despite the fact that he had no form to recommend him in the current term, Dileas came in for surprising support in the Riccarton Handicap, 9 furlongs, on the opening day of the C.J.C. Meeting. However, he weakened some distance from home. The Dink gelding claims an engagement in the open seven furlongs at Woodville on Saturday, but his appearance at the Manawatu Meeting, the track on which he is trained, is apparently being deferred till one of the later days. From Trentham. Four three-year-olds from this end of the North Island are due to contest the Great Northern Derby on the third lay of the Auckland Meeting, and • three of them hail from Trentham. Another clash between Al-Sirat and Master Robin will be an attraction in itself, quite apart from the presence of so many northern candidates of undoubted ability. Riverview, the third Trentham representative, may find the jourriey a trifle far, but the Marton entrant, Calm Courage, might well be a possibility. For Wellington Cup. It is reported, from the south that Vafort may not do much racing during the holidays, as after the Dunedin Cup it is intended to keep him for the Wellington Cup. It was -at Trentham that the chestnut closed his hack career by winning the Douro Cup and Kaitoke Hack Handicap last January. More Open. The defection of Irish Note has materially weakened the field for the Publicans' Handicap at the Dunedin Meeting on Saturday, but as the chestnut had dominated the field his absence will leave the event much more open. It is not improbable that Irish Note will be on hand for the James Hazlett Gold Cup. May Be Useful. The Royal Chief gelding Prince Wanaka, a plain bay who carries the colours of Mr. J. H. Mac Donald, of Ashhurst, ran a very creditable race in the jiovice company at Otaki. He was handy to the leading division throughout, and a winning turn should come his way before long. Well-bred Sort. - Included in J. S. Wilson's team at Levin is the two-year-old Blank Cheque, a half-brother by Salmagundi to Lyndall and Irish Note. Although as a rule the females by Salmagundi do better than the males, Blank Cheque is very attractively bred. •

Lengthy Absence

Despite the fact that she had not done any racing this or last term, Denary was not at long odds when she won her division of the novice event at the Hororata Meeting last Saturday. No doubt the fact that she is a sister to the brilliant Density and Botany attracted attention to her.