SUPPORT FOR MISS BAIRNSFATHER IN OPUNAKE CUP

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 22584, 12 March 1948, Page 3 (Supplement)

SUPPORT FOR MISS BAIRNSFATHER IN OPUNAKE CUP

(Homlo special Service.l Good acecplaneos have been received for the Opunake Racing Club’s annual meeting, 'which used to lie held on St. Patrick’s Day, but is now held as near to that day as possible. The Unworn racecourse tomorrow will hardly be as hard as for the Hginont meeting two weeks ago.

*ST. PATRICK’S HANDICAP Eighteen are listed for the chief handicap, the £6OO Opunake Cup, with DUNBAR, third in the last Wellington Cup, wearing No. 1 saddle-cloth and carrying 8.13. Maybe the distance is a trifle short for him. but in the class engaged he must be taken into serious consideration. MISS BAIRNSFATHER, winner on the first day over seven furlongs at New Plymouth, is assured of solid support, despite her failure in the sprint last Monday. PRINCE VVANAKA of late has been scratched three times in succession so maybe he is not 100 per cent right. GAY YOUTH revealed improving form at Taranaki and may soon come back to the form of last winter, although he would be better for an easy track. BARUCH, second earlier this week, enters calculations and has won over a middle-distance. BRAMERTON is also engaged at Wellington. where, in all probability he will race. FAULTINA is a filly that seems to be getting anything but a fair spin racing over all distances, but at 8.3 is a possibility. GAY SLIPPER likes the distance shorter, while MERCIAN LAD has twice let his supporters down lately. However, he may make amends tomorrow. TE WEPU was third over seven furlongs on Monday. Of those weighted under 8.0 ROTIINIC appeals best over the distance. *OPUNAKE CUP

PRINCE REVEL, who has not raced of late, heads the list in the St. Patrick’s Handicap, the open sprint, and is just the kind to surprise. MORNING DEW is assured of support, but .MALLOW, owing to his inability to get going early, is hard to sum up confidently. BRAMERTON is also in this race and if he does not make the Trent ham trip would be fancied in this event. FORT ROYAL is well overdue, while LADY MERIT, if started, would not be lightly passed over. DYMONDY seems to have slipped. FRANADA failed to make the grade at New Plymouth. Of those lower down in the handicaut

the promoted hacks ELLA SHIELDS andTRAVEL KING make most appeal. THE MINOR EVENTS There is plenty to choose from in the opening event, the Patiki Higliv,'eight and if started Tc Wcpu would be given a fair chance. Atomic, too, would enter calculations. Sari, if back Uj last July's form would be ‘‘rushed’’. Ella Shields, Dark Morning, Tortago, Valued and Dawn March look like being the best of the many others. The Pihama Hack is for two and throe-year-olds and there is not. a great deal of form offering, but wnat there is favours the chances of Martianair, Curlana, Royal Reserve and General Rule, but, wiio knows, there may be a “dark horse” among the unknown quantity. Another race in which form as conspicuous by its absence is the Borough Stakes. All three hack races itavc filled well and on general appearances should furnish close and interesting racing, with nothing outstanding in any so that possibly surprises are in .■•tore.