TO-DAY'S RACING NEWS

Greymouth Evening Star, 9 August 1938, Page 11

TO-DAY'S RACING NEWS

Trotting

August 10. 12.—Metropolitan. August. 27.— Auckland. September 3. —New Brighton. September 3. —Waikato. September 24.—Wellington. October I.—Methven. October B.—New Brighton. October 15. —Waikato. October 15— Manawatu. October 22, 24.— Greymouth. October 22, 24. —Auckland. October 24.—Oamaru. October 29.—Invercargill. October 29—Thames.

METROPOUTA X T-. 1.

prospects FOR TO-MORROw

[special to “star.”]

CHRISTCHURCH. August 9

’rite acceptances lor the second day of the New Zealand Metropolitan Trotting Club’s meeting are not very numerous, but there are enough horses engaged to provide first-class racing. On a. good track', first, day’s form may bo upset, and with a good number of fresh horses competing, backers will have little form to guide them.

Improvers’ Handicap: Walter Wrack does not handle a heavy track to advantage, but. on the opening day. while he was all at sea, lie did not make a serious mistake. This was something unusual for ihe Wrack trotter. If lie strikes conditions Io suit, him to-morrow, he may make things interesting for all concerned. lie lias a lot of speed, and can stay. In the Improvers’ Handicap, lie may find Prince Harvester and Pilot Peter, a pair to lie reckoned with.

Mile in Saddle: , Mile saddle races at Addington are all too few and far between, but for the Dash Handicap to be decided tomorrow a good acceptance has been made, and a short, limit of 36 yards will see the field well bunched threughoui. In this class of race, horsemanship counts a great deal, and thero is possibly no better rider in Now Zealand than G. McKendry, who will have the mount on .Vlarsceres. The Man-o’-War gelding showed on the first day that he was in rare form, and a. handicap of 12 yards should not ho beyond him. Ho is also engaged in’ the Canterbury Handicap, but the saddle race should ho his mission. Colonel Grattan, Esplendor. Southern Smile, and Worthy King are the horses most, likely to trouble Marsceres.

Xaliomil Stakes: A good deal of interest is being taken in the National Stakes, a contest between pacers and trotters, but the Committee has only considered the claims of four trotters in the race, against the pacers. Peggotty, Sea Gift, and Wahnooka represent the best available in the trotters' class, while Discord, who was also eligible, will compete in the Avon Handicap, in which another, in Waikato Prince, is also engaged. The public took a great fancy to Peggotty, when she won on Saturday, and her 5.8, for two miles, was li(tlo worse than the time the crack, pacers registered in the August Handicap. Sea Gift failed badly in tho bad going, but on a better track she and Peggotty will carry a big sum of money. Further interest will centre in Lucky Jack, possibly the best, pacer in Now Zealand to-day. With a quick beginning, he may get within range of the trotters in the early stages, and with him will be Ginger Jack and King’s Warrior. If ■the trotters are to have a chance, they will have to be kept up to their work from the start, and then be prepared to withstand hot challenges over the last half-mile. The race is an experiment, and will create interest, but backers will prefer the chances of

Lucky Jack. Ginger Jack, and King's Warrior.

Wai pah i Fane led: Waipahi finished third in the Selwyn Handicap, of a mile and a-quar-ter, on the opening day, and' he looked as though the race might improve him. He appears to be a decided possibility for the Canterbury Handicap of a. mile and a-half. Toorak and Mystery Yet. may prove his most formidable opponents. Both appear to be in excellent order.

Lincoln Handicap: Donor did not show his true form in the heavy going on the opening day, but. with a firmer track he may do better in the Lincoln Handicap. In this race he will meet strong opposition in Southern Chief, who was not started on Hie first day. Cavan Chief, who did not race generously on. the first, day. will also do better, next time out.

. Unhoppled Trotters; In the Avon Handicap, a great race , may be expected between the uu- ; hoppled trotters, over a mile and a- ; half. This is the favourite distance for Bittersweet, and possibly Discord and Flotsam will also take a hand in ’ the finish. Crack Sprinters: The crack sprinters will have their chance in the Speedway Handicap, and even from 36 yards behind. Reporter will have to be considered'. Blair Athol, however, is racing consistently. and with King’s Play may fully extend Reporter, in what might prove an unusually fast mile and aquartor. The fields are as follow’: — 11.30. Improvers’ Handicap, 4.49 class. Two miles. —Guy Hugo, Kotinga, Manna's Son, Parrish Chimes scr., Indolent, Prince Harvester 24, Parrish Guide 36, Pilot Peter 72, Walter Wrack SI. 12.10. Dash Handicap, 2.14 class. One mile. —Aircraft. Bing Crosby, Colonel Grattan, Esplendor scr., Marsceres. Peter Locanda. 12, Carver Doone. Southern Smile 24, Worthy King 36. 12.55. National Stakes. Two miles. —Trotters: Waikato Prince, Peggotty, Sea Gift. Wahnooka scr. Pacers: Rocks Ahead, King’s Warrior, Ginger Jack, Lucky Jack, War Buoy. Graham Di roci 72. 1.40. Canterbury Handicap, .3.23 class. One mile and a half. —Casanova, Marsceres, Toorak scr., Mystery Yet, Waipahi 12, Double Great, Frisco Lady. Worthy King 24. Gold Dredge, Guy Junior 36. 2.20. Lincoln Handicap. 2.51 class. One mile and a-quarter. —Ace Pot, Cavan Chief, Donor, Doubt, Embark. Full Hand. Sky Wink, Southern Chief, Treasure Bond. Twenty Grand, Heather Queen. Racketeer scr.. Red Ranger 12. 3.0. Avon Handicap, 2.53 class. One mile and a quarter. —Helen’s Bay. Lament, Little Reta, Parrish Belle, Writer scr.. Aristotle, Bittersweet, Discord. First, Wrack, Flotsam. Great Admiral 12. Waikato Prince 48. 3.40. Belgium Handicap, 4.37 class. Two miles. —Golden Cross, Policy, Red Ranger, Shrewdy, Silver Guy. Zincali scr., Bing Crosby. Morewa, Noll Gratian 12. Harlequin 24. 4.25. Speedway Handicap, 3.19 class. One mile and a-half. —Blair Athol, Ginger Jack. Ironside scr., Evicus Renown’s Best, Re.v Spec, Satin King 12. Glenrossie, King’s Play, Village Guy 24. Reporter 36.