MESALLIANCE ENGAGED IN WEAK FIELD AT RANGITIKEI

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 22572, 27 February 1948, Page 3 (Supplement)

MESALLIANCE ENGAGED IN WEAK FIELD AT RANGITIKEI

(Herald Special Service.)

GOOD fields claim engagement at Bulls tomorrow at the one-day summer meeting of the Rangitikei Racing Club. The track should be in great order after a few showers this week and unless more rain falls the going will be fast.

Maybe the class engaged in the chief event, the Rangitikei Handicap, is not strong, but the top-weight Mesalliance, although failing on more than one occasion over a mile and a quarter, may manage this distance against the present field. Morning Dew, who failed last Saturday at Hawera, is among the open sprint acceptors, and on Wanganui form will be one expected to show up. PUKEHOU HACK HURDLES . .Tribute at 10.2 will have a solid following, despite his second - day failure at Wanganui. Craven will be having his first hurdle race, but his private schooling has been most promising. Rockanui is not without chances, while Tortago, third to Master Guard and Grand Central at Wanganui, is not without bright prospects as that experience should be in his favour. Walk Off has a little place form this season, but of the others, with the exception of Silvcstre, who was second to United Nations earlier this month at Gisborne, there is no form offering. This latter gelding on the minimum will have to be treated with respect. TRIAL PLATE This is a big field, but with little form to help one to a successful summingup. Enard Bay, Determination, Fluctuation, Gay Stitches, Cord Kerry and Nickelby look like being the best engaged. APPRENTICES’ HACK HCP. Colorado Maid so far this season has not raced up to the promise she gave last year as a two-year-old when twice in the money in juvenile classics. Imprint failed in a poor lot last Saturday at Woodville. where Kumari was third and now who might do better. Easter Rose is fair. On his second to Dancing Girl at the Pahiatua iheeting Master Larry is a possibility. I.aekamos was second last week, while Sailor’s Song on a win earlier in the season looks the pick of the others.

MASTER RAYMOND, it will be remembered, surprisingly won the Cup at Bulls last November so if ‘‘horses for courses” why not he? ROYAL CAMBRIA is being tried over a middle distance for the first time, while from the same quarter the last on the card, SUNBURN, is just the type to lead this field a merry dance. NGAIO HACK HANDICAP At 8.9 the recent winner Ella Shields will have a host of admirers as No. 2 on the list. Yalta, ran poorly in a weak field last Saturday at Woodville. Bonny Fair is better when the going is easy.

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MESALLIANCE, 9.0, heads the list and this time should manage to see the distance out successfully. BARRAGE is well overdue. THE STORMOVIK, third in the Woodville Handicap, must be considered. but has 101 b more on his back, the reason being the poorer class now engaged. ALRIGHT may be past his best, but has run some fair races this season. PRINCE WANAKA was not a starter last Saturday so may be is waiting for a turn tomorrow. BEAU JEWEL, BECALM, and BEAU RAIDE were among the "also rans” last Saturday. MOROTAI, back to her spring form, would be very hard here with 7.13, the same applying to EMERGE, who has been hard to follow of late.

Afton Water is reported to be back to his best, while Lady Oratory if only turning on her best would not be without a good show. Tranquil Gold, Lady Barrington (ran poorly at Woodville), and Phoenicia perhaps will do as well as any of this ordinary lot. FLOCK HOUSE HACK HCP. Looking for the probable form horse for this race is like seeking the needle in the haystack as they are a very ordinary lot. The further one studies them the poorer they seem. Conceal (also engaged at Egmont) was third last Saturday to Lord Pilot and Mister Beau in a far stronger hack field then this so would need only to repeat that run. Flirtatious, Middoon, Newel Post and Foxtonian have some claims to middle-distance hack form. ★FLYING HANDICAP DEPRIVE ran well enough at Woodville to suggest him doing perhaps better than that fourth placing. THE PAGAN ran poorly in his only start at Wanganui so maybe has trained off a little as he been racing continuously since earlv in the spring with 16 starts this term. MORNING. DEW has 31b. more than she failed with last week at Egmont when she finished fifth. PETRE MAR, winner twice in succession in open company, might now comnletc the hat trick, but 8.6 is findinc h-'m near the better class. LORD TIIEIO is a surprise possibility as he was third at Wanganui, his last effort. SPECIALIST, third at Woodville. is now again on the 7.10 mark. CASTLEBRAE on Woodville form should again have Deprive ahead of him. Of the lighter weighted, ROYAL CAMBRIA may do best. SANTOFT HACK HANDICAP Petre Mar over five furlongs may find 10.1 too much. This is a big field and over a five-furlong scramble the ones that get the best of the jump out are the hardest to beat wpw'lv. Celebration (7) is better drawn than many others, while last week’s surprise runner-up. Karamca (9). should find flic distance suiting her. With the exception of Petre Mar. all the best performed have drawn wide out.