CANTERBURY Brilliant Sprinter in Form

Greymouth Evening Star, 18 April 1946, Page 5

CANTERBURY Brilliant Sprinter in Form

Master Dash in C.jkC. Easter Handicap [SPECIAL TO "STAR."].

CHRISTCHURCH, April 18. The Great Easter Handicap, to be run at Riccarton on Monday, closed with a field of 16 and the only doubtful starter may be Findon, who is also engaged in the Sockburn Handicap. As he is one of the- fancied, candidates for the Great Autumn Handicap, he will probably forego his Great Easier engagement and contest the longer race. Master Dash, winner of the race two years ago with 7. 7-4, has pride of place this year with the steadier of 9.12, but taking a line through his performances this season, capped with a win by a wide margin under 10.2 at Hastings last Saturday, he must be seriously regarded. Pensacola is handily placed with 9.2. He was narrowly defeated by Immediate in last year’s race, and is no doubt a better horse to-day than he then was. He came in from a spell in excellent order and although not raced since he has come to hand satisfactorily. Da Vinci won over seven furlongs on his last visit to Riccarton in August after filling third place in the Winter Cup, and he appears to be favoured by soft tracks. Bruce has done well of late, but seven furlongs may not be far enough for him. Grand Forest is capable of being troublesome if he races up to his capabilities but he has to be taken on trust in a race. Donegal Bay has been a previous visitor to Riccarton. He has not won. a race this season. Lord Advocate won the race in 1943 with 7.11- and he now has 7.10. He has been galloping well, but will hardly be ready. Martial Note “could if he would,” and is always liable to spring a surprise. Derene, Whitley and Royal Tor can be expected to be prominent from the early stages, and between them they should set a fast pace.

Leigh Barton will be one of the most interesting of the light-weight candidates. He has had three wins, a dead heat and two second placings in six starts, and on firm ground, which promises to be in evidence., he will be on. hand over the business stages. Wantwood is another with a reputation gained in hack class. He also .will be favoured by a fast track.

The race bears a most open appearance and investors will be faced with a difficult task in summing up the field, but in all probability Master Dash, Pensacola, Leigh Barton and Da Vinci will be most strongly supported. Pensacola Sprints Well at Riccarton [SPECIAL TO "STAR.”] (P.A.) RICCARTON, April 18. Conditions were again favourable for galloping at Riccarton this morning and the course proper provided firm going. Some of the best gallops were: — Half-mile: Love Morn, Lorna Leigh and Springwater 49secs.; Al Sirat 49 4-5; Malanui and Copper Coin 50; Julius Ceasar and Royal Tan 50 4-5; Cloud Song and Palomino 50 2-5; Hart Royal and Grand Melee 50 2-5; Notary 51. Five furlongs: Palm Bearer lmin 2secs; Spiora 1.3 2-5; Wide Range 1.2; Detain, Tropical Night 'and Lone Robin 1.4 1-5.

Six furlongs: Pensacola five lengths in front of Privilege in lmin 15 4-5 secs., the last half in 51 2-5; Koa Manu 1.16 1-5; Golden Souvenir and Bruce 1.16 4-5; Peculate and Robin Gay 1.17 3-5; Denary and Denim 1.19. Seven furlongs: .Foxhaven, Altruist and Lord Elgin together in lmin 31 l-ssecs.; Thornbridge 1.32 2-5; Royal Victor 1.33 2-45; Signal Officer and Bitter Sweet 1.33 4-5; Palfrey and Lady Welbeck 1.33 2-5; Wane and Language 1.33 2-5.

One mile: Double Cross and Avonbridge lmin 43 3-ssecs; Belle Leonne and Lalla Meer 1.45.

Leigh Barton sprinted three furlongs on the plough in 36 2-5. Da Vinci and Findon were given strong work on the plough. Master Dash did easy work on the grass. Prince Dolomite, The Raker and Appeasement were responsible for an attractive display over six hurdles. Palfrey pulled up lame after his work and is an unlikely starter at the meeting.

JVAIRARAPA. Small Field Will Suit Lady Spiral Only a small field will parade in the Easter Handicap, the principal event on the Wairarapa Club’s programme for Saturday, and the chances of Lady Spiral, Flahuluk and

Barrage will appeal. Lady Spiral has been racing consistently and Flahuluk showed promise of a return to his best form when he ran third at his last start at the recent Trentham meeting in the race won by Findon. If the track is heavy Flahuluk will probably be favourite.

Win and place betting will be used and the following horses should race well:—

Maiden Plate: Tomahawk, Rampant, Compliant. Mokai Hack: Colopier, Balcherrie, Trig Point. Tuhitarata Handicap: Havildar, Nanook, The Monarch. Easter Handicap: Lady Spiral, Flahuluk, Barrage.

Wairarapa Nursery: Yalta, Variant Night, Prince Fox. Kahautara Hack: Colopier, Ceremonious, Glen Urquhart. Martinborough Handicap: Master Baron, Foxcatcher, Listen In. Ferry Hack: Tomahawk, Gala Song, Leighon’s Glory. The fields are as follow:— - 11.15

Maiden Plate, of £200; six fur-

longs.—Bonny Banks, Compliant, Flak, Foxspear, Gynee Lou, Hostility, Ko-Uku, Note Raid, Novochord, Omaio; Open Road, Rampant, Salut d’Amour, Sheer, Thoraco, To-Hoo, Tomahawk 8.7. 12.0 Mokai Hack Handicap, of £300; seven furlongs.—Leighon’s Glory 9:2; Balcherrie 8.7; Colopier 8.6; Trig Point 7.12; Superium, Rothnic, Battle

The Egyptian Prime Minister (Sidky Pasha) is reported to be suffering from pulmonary congestion. Because of this and the holidays, the treaty negotiations with Britain are unlikely to begin before next Tuesday.—Cairo, April 16. - , -

Chief, Haere Haku, Gyration 7.7. 12.40 Tuhitarata Highweight Handicap, of £300; one mile and a quarter.— The Monarch 10.11; Lotto 10.0; Fuzzy Wuzzy 9.13; Havildar 9.11; Master Gary 9.9; True Friend, Nanook, Compliant 9.0. 1.30 Easter Handicap, of £600; one mile and a quarter.—Lady Spiral 8.13; Foxcatcher 8.2; Flahuluk 8.0; Barrage 7.13; Montosofrie, Miss Delaware 7.0. 2.15 Wairarapa Nursery Handicap, of £250; six' furlongs.—Prince Fox 7.5; Flying Pigeon 7.5 and Flying Swan 7.3 bracketed, Pindaric, Yalta, Rosswood 7.4; Variant Knight, Forest Bend, Royal Baron, Green Valley, Lady Burford, Bonnie Fair 7.0. 3.0 Kahutara Hack Handicap, of £300; six furlongs.—Ceremonious 9.2; Colopier 8.7; Sir Boswell 7.13; Glen Urquhart' 8.12; Gay Corrie 7.9; First Footing 7.8; Theio Light, Gyration, White Cap, Flak 7.7. 3.45 Martinborough Handicap, of £350; seven furlongs.—Foxcatcher 9.0; Master Baron 8.11; Listen In 8.9; Flying Hawke 8.8; Big Money 8.1; Singing Hills 7.9; High Ideal 7.3; High Order 7.0. 4.30 Ferry Hack Handicap, of £300; nine furlongs and 80 yards.—Leighon’s Glory 9.0; Montosorrie 8.9; Fuzzy Wuzzy, Gala Song 8.6; Atoma 7.11; Tomahawk 7.10; Nanook, Revetir, Cock Robin 7.7;