Citril In Form For Railway Handicap

Greymouth Evening Star, 12 March 1948, Page 1 (Supplement)

Citril In Form For Railway Handicap

Signal Officer’s grand performance to win at Wingatui in record time for the mile and three-quarters on the second day of the Centennial meeting will probably send him out one of the best-fancied candidates in the principal distance event, the Autumn Handicap, of £3500, run over a mile and a half, at the Wellington Racing Club’s meeting at Trentham tomorrow. The Salmagundi—Morse Signal gelding has a splendid record this season and he may well extend it tomorrow. Sharing topweight with Signal Officer is Howe, the most consistent and hardy handicapper of the season, and though he was beaten at Dunedin, mainly because of the muddling pace, he was finishing on in fifth place and he is entitled to considerable respect here.

Indian Dawn will have to improve on Dunedin form to have a chance but she has previously shown her best form at Trentham, and the fact that she is to fulfil her engagement is an indication that her connections are satisfied all'is well with her. Desert Fox was a disappointment at Masterton, but that form can be discarded and he is reported to be in great fettle. Further down the list Tenor Royal, Morotai and Se.las are all recent winners with some prospects in this race, while Yasda has gained friends as the day of the race approaches. In a good betting race the public may select Signal Officer, Howe and Indian Dawn.

The Thompson Handicap presents the usual difficult problem but recent form horses in Revolte, Brown Derby and Mesalliance will all attract attention, while the brilliant but rather inconsistent Frances is not likely to be at any fancy price. The Railway Handicap field appears to be dominated by the Riccarton sprinter, Citril, Deprive and The Pagan. Under the win-and-place system of betting the following horses should race prominently:—

Bimu Highweight.—Glad Fox, Gyneri.o, Culloden Moor. Plunket Nursery. — Buchanan, Irrestible, Vadoz. N.I. Challenge Stakes. —Voltaic, Excellency, Magical. Autumn Handicap.—Signal Officer, Howe, Indian Dawn. Tinakori Handicap.—Ronald McDonald, False Step, Diana Reynard. Thompson Handicap. — Revolte, Mesalliance, Brown Derby. Railway Handicap.—Citril, Deprive, The Pagan. Silverstream Hack. — Mayburn, Earnbridge, Foxflame.