RACING AND TROTTING

Greymouth Evening Star, 24 March 1945, Page 3

RACING AND TROTTING

MEETINGS TO COME.

March 31: Metropolitan. March 31, April 2: Auckland. March 31, April 2: Riverton. March 31, April 2: Feilding. April 2: Waipukurau. April 2: Beaumont. TROTTING. March 31: Hawera. April 2: Hawera. April 7: Manawatu. April 14, 21: Wellington. April 14: Auckland. May 5: Waikato Combined. May 5: Forbury. June 2 or 4: Ashburton. THE RICCARTON DOUBLE FORM DISCUSSED. [SPECIAL TO “STAR."] ’ CHRISTCHURCH, March 24. , The contests for the Great Easter and Great Autumn Handicaps at the Easter meeting of the Canterbury Jockey Club promise to be the most interesting for many, years past. Good class 'horses from both islands will be contestants, and with many of them racing prominently at recent meetings, the issues in both cases appear open. The field for the Great Easter Handicap is exceptionally strong, with the best available sprinters engaged, and practically all of them have won over a seven furlong journey oi’ further. The three on the top of the list, John Gay, Whackie and Gulf Stream, all failed at Trentham, but all were in need of some racing, and the trip should benefit them. Lord Advocate has had to be eased, but is expected to be right on Easter Monday. Lord Nuffield has run some remarkably good races of late, but will have to give way to youth. Typhoon must be given an excellent chance with 8.9. He carried 10.0 when he won the Challenge Stakes at Trentham, but this did not involve him in any change in his weight in the two Riccarton events. Beau Cheval was considered unlucky at Trentham, but. only through his own failing. He is entitled to every recommendation if he does his work in the right manner. Golden Souvenir makes more appeal in the. Great Autumn Handicap. First In is being seriously discussed as .one likely to add her name to the small list of Great Easter and Great Autumn winners. She has certainly qualified to be one of'the favourites in both events. Immediate was probably a little unfortunate over the final stages of the Thompson Handicap. He is undoubtedly in excellent order. Aurora Australis has shown a return to form in the past month, and such a powerful galloper has always to be regarded. SingSing is also a well-performed Southlander, and her win over seven furlongs at Trentham in January, against the best of the Dominion, must not be overlooked. Pensacola has been more or less a failure since his two successes at Riccarton in November, but he has freshened up in recent weeks. Of the remainder below the 8.0 mark, Bridge Acre will have her usual large following, and others in Listen In, Burberry, Royal Rae, Grand Forest and Donegal Bay are capable of being in evidence at some stage of the race. In Summing up the well-balanced and representative field the prospects of Immediate, Typhoon, First In, Pensacola and Bridge Acre appeal. The result of the Great Easter Handicap will have an important bearing on the Great Aijitumn Handicap, as several horses are engaged in both races. These include Typhoon, Beau Cheval, Golden Souvenir, First In, Immediate, Aurora Australis, Lord Nuffield, Whackie, Pensacola, Boulder Dam, Longsword, Bridge Acre, Gamble, Donegal Bay, and Royal Rae. The winner of the Great Easter is not liable to a rehandicap I for the longer race. The winner-of' the Sockburn Handicap on the first day, in which some of those mentioned may. be produced in preference to the Great Easter, will, however, be subject to a rehandicap. On Trentham. form, both last week and in January, Typhoon is the likely favourite, especially if he should do ' well on the first day, but-he will be closely followed by First In, while Foxhaven, Golden Souvenir, Tara King and Lance Wing will all be well up in the list. Among the lightweight division Signal Officer, Hormuz, Gunga Din and Vafort appear to be possibilities. The final summing up will no doubt be influenced by the first day’s racing, but in the meantime Lance Wing, Typhoon, First In, Foxhaven and Golden Souvenir promise to be in, public demand.