D.J.C. RAGES

Evening Star, Issue 25067, 7 January 1944, Page 4

D.J.C. RAGES

PROSPECTS FOR TO-MORROW THE FORM HORSES [By St. Ci.aih.J If the vain falling Lo-day does nol continue inio 10-morrow it will do llie track at Wingatui a great deal of good, as during Ihe past two or three weeks it has become very linn and hard—loo hard for any horses showing any signs of tenderness to stride out freely. The ground is so dry and warm that it would lake a great, deal of rain to spoil it. The fields for 10-inorrow, excepting in three races—(he Novice, Abbotsford, and Waihola Handicaps—will not, be so confusing to backers, but are quite large enough to provide interesting racing and good wagering. The first race is timed to start, at 11 a.in., and an excellent train service has been arranged both lo and from the course. The following are the fields and a review of recent form of the horses engaged : 11 :

Numerically this is one of the strongest fields of hurdlers seen at, Wingatui l'or many years, and should provide an excellent introduction to an interesting afternoon’s racing. Nightcalm won very easily from Gold Nugget and Native Chief on Boxing Day, and now meets them on 71b and 101 b worse terms! Midgard won at Invercargill when m receipt of 271 b from Heidelberg, who appeared to have his measure when he crashed through the second to last hurdle, and in to-morrow’s race will meet Heidelberg on 61b worse terms. Nightcalm’s winning time was 2.42 2-5. and Midgards 2.45 4-5, and on paper the former is likely to start favourite, and his most dangerous opponents ma.v he Green Boa and Heidelberg, but both of them are only seen at their best on firm going. 11.44:

■ In such a big field the draw for positions at the barrier will count. Good Cast was very unlucky in a. similar race at Waikouaiti on New Year’s Day, and will only have to draw a good berth to be hard to .beat, and he will have the advantage of a more experienced rider than lie had at Waikouaiti. The strongest opposition may come fvom Twelve Pointer, who finished second in a division at Invercargill last Saturday, and Even Calm, who was also second in a division in a seven furlongs race at Wingatui on Boxing Day. 12.28: : ! FLYING FORTRESS HANDICAP. £IOO.

Hearth 8 4 Lord Advocate won the Publicans’ Handicap on Boxing Day under 8.3, and ran a good third to Invulnerable and Silver Lily at Wyndham under 9.6. He will meet Invulnerable on 91b and Silver Lily on stlb better terms thau at Wyndham. At Invercargill Monetary gave Invulnerable lib and nearly a length beating, and at a difference of • 31b' should beat, him again, as Uhe extra furlong should suit Monetary the better. Hearth won very easily at Waikouaiti, carrying 8.7, in 1.13, and with 31b less promises to be dangerous if started in this race .in preference to the Jockey Club Handicap. Night Lancer has two good seconds to his credit, but is also engaged in the Hazlett Memorial. At Wyndham Sister Sal carried 8.13 and won over six furlongs in 1.12 4-5. With 271 b off his back this Salmagundi mare shouid prove the hardest to beat, and if Silver Lily runs up to her true form she and Wooetary should also he wort.li consideration. 1.12: ■

Scottish Dale will not be a starter, ns she is to he reserved for the Hazlett Memorial. The Joker is not likely to be quite ready, yet, and unless more rain falls the going is likely to be against Amorlad showing his best form. The Raker will have 4Ub more to carry than when he ran Palfrey to a head in the Dunedin Cup. Sascha has now won over a mile twice, and a mile and n-quarter in the last fortnight, and is right at the top of her form. When she won over a mile at Invercargill last Monday she carried 8.7 and registered 1.39 —a track record. With 8.2 she has been very nicely treated, and will only have to repeat her Wyndbam Cup performance, in which she won in 2.5 2-5, t. 6be very hard to beat. Hearth has yeti to prove herself over the distance. Bascule was unlucky to be beaten in the W’aikouaiti Cup, and again looks the most likely of the light-weights. Sascha, Bascule, and The Raker are .the likely favourites. 1.56:

Sir Saladin ... 713 > •Bo Hi Honest &;>! and .Sir Saladin are also engaged in tlie AVailiolu Handica.p later in tlie afternoon. Bonnie Chela won over live furlongs ar Wyndham in 60 3-5, and over six at 'lnvercargill in 1.13 1-5, carrying 8.11 in the latter race. These were I two smart performances tha.t are likely io install her favourite. Nigger Bad won over seven furlongs under 8.8 in 1.27 3-5. Night I Fighter under 7.7 over five furlongs at AVaikouaiti in 61 3-5, Full Chase over seven furlongs with 7.9 in 1.29 4-5 at Wingatui, and Sal's Pal under 8.8 over six furlongs at. Wa.ikouaiti in 1.15. Of these performances Bonnie Chela’s record stands out as the best, and she, Nigger Lad, and HonestSal. if started, are likely to he the public’s favourites. 2.40:

In the Champagne States on Boxing Day Joygiver and Lynda! stood out. much above i ihe others, and the latter now meet Joygiver on ,31b belter terms t'or a head heating, which should allow her to turn the tables. Tbe newcomers are Velvet Slipper, Rahiri, Tnapeka, Lady Deceiver. Eastertt Slipper, and Espadrille.

Had Kindergarten, been an acceptor for this race the held would probably have been much smaller, and the prospects of a good contest very poor. The field promises to he the most even that has contested this well-endowed mile weight-for-age event for many years. On her three last performances. all winning ones, Aurora Australis is iikelv to be preferred to Scottish Dale at a difference of 171 b, and Lord Advocate, if reserved, the most likely of the others.

This field is just within the safety limit, but much too large lo give all the'horses, particularly those whose riders draw outside positions at the starting barrier, a fair chance, and punters will be well advised to study the barrier positions before making their investments. If Aurora Australis is started in the previous race most attention will be paid to Abdicate and Bridgehead, both double winners during the holiday fixtures. On Boxing Day Abdicate won a similarly conditioned race, carrying 8.3. conceding Gunga Din lib and Gamble 81b. He followed up that success by winning over eight and a-half furlongs under 10.0 at Wyndha.ni, and in to-morrow's race will meet Gunga Din on 91b and Gamble on lib worse terms. Bridgehead won over six furlongs under 8.8 in 1.14 at Wyndham and under 8.2 over' a mile the next dav at invercargill in 1.41 1-5. In the latter race he finished on as if the extra two and a-half furlongs would not . worry him.' •Tusfitia, who lias been running fair races in open company, was fourth in the Dunedin Cup, and fiflli in the Invercargill Cup, and may race better under a stronger horseman', and Retriever, who finished a good second to To Twc Awe at. Waikouaiti oyer nine furlongs, is also entitled to consideration.

OWHIRO HURDLES, £1300. 4 m. Native Chief 11 9 Phalanx . 9 0 Niglucalni 11 7 Pocket Flash 9 0 Heidelberg 11 3 Red Wind . . 9 0 Green Boa .. 9 13 Atua Rore . . 9 0 Midgard Roseman 9 10 9 6 Ba'.lyaggan . Prince . 9 0 Gold Nugget Edward 9 4 9 2 Dolomite . 9 0

NOVICE HANDICAP, £200. 6f. St. Nattnr .. 9 0 Dark Folly 7 13 Good Cast .. 8 10 Fluorescent 7 13 Chestnut Glow 8 8 Legislator 7 13 Twelve Lance Wing 7 13 Pointer 8 7 Nurnie 7 13 Even Calm .. 8 5 Old Glory 7 13 Killoney 8 3 Doctor Mac 7 13 Bonnie Night 8 2 Grand Forest 7 13 Sally Lux 8 2 Immediate 7 13 Contemptuous 8 1 Night Robe 7 13 Country Lad 7 13 Pay Book 7 13 Cliellow Dene 7 13 Prize Ring 7 13

Lord Ad vocals 9 7f. 0 N'isrht Lancer 7 4 Monetary 8 8 Rawhamai 7 4 Royal Chorus 8 5 Silver Lily 7 z 0 Invulnerable 8 4 Sister Sal 7

JOCKEY CLUB HANDICAP. £600 • The Joker lm ..9 6 2-i'f. Hearth ... 7 12 Aiuorlnd ... ..8 6 Bascule .. ... 7 1 The Raker ..8 3 Foxhaven ... 7 0 Saschn. ..8 2 Paladeo .. ... 7 0 Scottish Dale 7 13 hi vincible ... 7 0

ABBOTSFORD HANDICAP, £250. 7f Cruden Bay 9 1 Sal’s Pal 7 12 True Male ... 8 8 Honest Sal ... 7 10 Bonnie Chela 8 3 Money Bird ... 7 9 Ann Mio 8 3 Full Chase ... 7 8 Co.v 8 2 Standby 7 7 Night, Fighter 8' 1 True Wav ,.. 7 7 Nigger Bad ... 8 '' 1 Voung Bob ... 7 7 Gay Lancer 7 13 Old Glory ... 7 7

HOPBI'UL HANDICAP, £300. 5f. •loygiver 8 n TiiapeUa 7 9 Lyndal 8 8 Bonny Fliglit 7 8 Periwig 7 13 Piccolo 7 6 Runaway 7 a Lady Deceiver 7 6 Velvet Slipper 7 9 Eastern Slipper 7 S Railin’ 7 9 Espadrille 7 2'

3.54: HAHLKTT MKMORIAL, £600. lin Lord Advocate 9 10 Silver Sox .. 9 0 Lord Nuffield 9 9 Royal Flight 8 11 Scottish Rale 9 9 Aurora Night Lancer 9 5 Australis . 8 6

4.8: WAIIJOLA HAX-DICAP. £400. ltn 2'f. Abdicate ... 9 1 Gamble 7 10 Aurora Kolia ra 7 10 Australis ... 8 11 Stavros 7 8 Justitia ... ... 8 9 Honest Sal ... 7 8 Courtdress ... 8 6 Georgia 7 8 Gunga Din ... 8 5 Arabian Night 7 8 Royal Rae ... 8 4 Standby 7 7 Bridgehead ... 8 2 Chiding 7 7 Boolamsken 7 13 Brightl'onn ... 7 '7 Gay Thread 7 12 Pink Clover 7 7 Retriever ... 7 11 Pastern Coin 7 7 Sir Saladin ... 7 11 Sixpence 7 7 Irish Ruler ... 7 10