BROOKBY SONG MAY HAVE OPPOSITION FROM M. MERUIT

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 22637, 14 May 1948, Page 2 (Supplement)

BROOKBY SONG MAY HAVE OPPOSITION FROM M. MERUIT

WAIKATO SECOND DAY

(Herald Special Service.)

STRONG FIELDS in all ciglit events are listed for the middle day of the Waikato winter meeting, this being the first occasion that this club has staged a tliree-day meeting at Te Rapa.

There is every indication of another interesting day’s sport. The chief event tomorrow will be the three-mile Waikato Steeplechase, in which the brilliant steeplechaser Brookby Song is fancied, with strong opposition for certain coining from the Gisborne-owned Master Meruit and others. The going may be easier than on the opening day. Track conditions tomorrow will play an important part in the final decisions of the public. *WAIKATO STEEPLES HOP. IiKOOKBY SONG Is perhaps today the most brilliant steeplechaser in commission and 12.0 is a weight that has to be carried: nevertheless the maj-

ority, the writer thinks, will consider him capable of doing so successfully. MASTER MERUIT, 11-6, has not raced over country for just on two years and although he has pleased in his schooling essays may be in need of a race between the flags before being in the right condition to run out two miles. BRIGHT FOX, 10.7, jumped splendidly the first day, but over half a mile less than now failed to see the distance out. On the same mark is. GOOD ARMOUR, winner of last season’s Wellington Steeplechase, who has had three or four hurdle races this last month so should now be somewhere near his best order. Should the track be really holding his chances will be enhanced. TOWN SURVEY the first day ran oIT, but at the time had had enough. Last, week’s ..winner,.. HUNTING DINK, 10.1, is up 81b for that success and is going to be very hard to beat. By Beau Pore’s half-brother, Dink, and out of a full-sister to Brookby Song, the extra half-mile should not worry him a great deal. MERRIFUL. 9.13, is a fast jumper, but it is problematical if be will see the journey out, while BRAVURA, with 31b less, failed to complete the course the first day. being pulled up. MASTER PLAY and ROMAN NED, on the same mark (9.9), are useful 'chasers, with perhaps the latter, on his third the first day, the pick of this pair. DUALIN is being started in preference to his stable companion, Red Glare. Dualin, with 9.8, enters calculations as until he made a mistake in the A.R C. Autumn Steeplechase he looked the winner, so that he should be forward enough. Of those weighted below Dualin, PERI A PRINCE and STAR DUCHESS read best, but are not strong recommendations.

★SEDDON HURDLES The top-weight, PETER’S CHOICE, 11.0, so far has only proved up to hack class as a hurdler and with only one race this season, when he was well back at Wavcrley, can hardly be ready yet. AIRPORT, 10.13, has won good class hurdle races and may be a danger here

FRAN ADA, 10.0, may be one of the most fancied this time and on his third last week has to be included in a final swmming’-up, as also does FOXSTAR. 10 3 Last week-end the latter ran second to Corineus over a slightly longer course, coming from well back to do so, but this time may be kept up nearer the leaders and in this case would be as tough as any.

PERIA PRINCE, 10.0, is also in the Steeples, while BRITISH MINT, 9.9, on his consistent form earlier in the season is a consideration. Last week’s winner, JAY WIND, 9.0, and his stable mate, SOUTH RIDING, (they race in different ownership) and TOWN ECHO. 9.0, (second in the amateur rider’s race the first day) read the best of the lightweights. FOUR FOLLOWS ★PRESIDENT’S HANDICAP FOXWYN, 9.8 and VALLEY BOY, 8.9, No. 1 and 2 on this card, good though they have been in the past are for the present being passed over. The extra furlong should suit SYLIS, 8.9. up lib for his close third last Saturday. CONSPIRACY, 8.6, on the opening day was a creditable fourth, while now if the going is soft may do better. LEIGH HARK, 7.12, is another that would be suited by real winter going and with 7.12 might be one of the most sought after. TAIMAITI KINO, 7.8, was disappointing jn his last effort. IIUNTORE, 7.7, is just an outside possibility but the next on the list, BEDIVERE. 7.6, on his close second to HOT PURSUIT a few days ago, is assured of strong support. Further down the handicap SWIFT OUARRY, 7.2. on his placing in the Hawke’s Bav Cup, enters calculations, as also do DISTRIBUTOR. 7.1 (apt to surprise) and the promoted hack CENSOR, 7.0. ★STEWARDS’ HANDICAP In this race the maximum number are listed after nine had been balloted out. SLEEPY FOX, 10.0, may be a little past his best, nevertheless no risk will be taken with him.

SHIRAZ, 8.7, occasionally pops up, but has not come up to the form predicted she would. CONTANGO, 8.6, an honest galloper, is never left out of calculations. MASTER TED, 8.5, after surprisingly winning earlier in the autumn, ran third in his one other effort; he is best when the going is worst. BROCKTON, 8.4, on his day is hard to beat, while TIGEII TAN, 9.3, only requires soft going to be in the final ballot. GENERAL MENTEXTH, 8.2, is overdue, but KIA ORA KATOA, 8.1, is racing fit and in winning form, two factors greatly in his favour. BARUCH and OPULENT, on the 7.10 mark, are decided possibilities. The latter in the mile and a quarter on Saturday last was one of the leaders into the straight so that with three furlongs less and the benefit of that run this time should go very close to earning some of the money offering. RULING MASTER is passed over in favour of ROBIN LEIGH, 7.8, GAVINMORE, 7.7, GWEN VAALS, 7.C, and

BRIDGE WATCHER, 7.5, all of whom in the past week or so have cither won or been placed. On the 7.5 mark, SHIRLEY FOX reads dangerous, but on account of her two recent failures at a country meeting is not being recommended, but at that weight she would be hard as she is good when right. The winner may come from those not mentioned, but the writer does not think so.

THE MINOR EVENTS A big field is listed for the Hack and Hunters’ Steeplechase with the best recent form on the side of Shepherd’s Ace, Whirlwind Star, Nepeta, Carthage and Uganda, but others like Sporting Gold, Golden Reign and Welldrop are not without chances. A capacity field faces the starter in the seven-furlong Hack event in which the Hastings winner, Swift Robin, heads the list with 8.9 and a hard entrant he should prove to be. Stiffest opposition may come from Silver Lap (last week’s winner), Dominie, Concise, Ninth Week, Bouquet, Thole, and the consistent Our Dink. However, there are others engaged who on recent showings are place possibilities. Another big field is carded for the six-furlong hack, as in the mile, and in both form will be closely scrutinized before making final decisions. RIDING ENGAGEMENTS F. Cleaver.—Peter’s Choice. A, Messervy.—Double Chance, Moonee Valley, Censor. It. Caddy.—Kia Ora Katoa, St. Chriatophe, Cairuwhin, Swift Quarry. W. Skiflington.—Welldrop. B. Jones.—ltuaina, Kelowna Boy. G. F. Hughes.—Horonui. Highland Lad. J. Chaplin.—Brookby Song. Bronze Man. B. Markwick.—General March, Tamaiti Kino, Lyn Vaals. J. Williamson—Titter Tan. C. Sargent.—Sporting Nation. J. Winder. —Bronze Night, British Mint, Sleepy Fox. D. J. Wyatt.—Maid of Sherwood, Turkhudi, Brierly, Faline. R. Parker.—Ruling Master. Ranger Boy. D. MacKinnon.—Victory Song, Roman Ned, Sporting Gold. A. T. Wilson.—Camp Queen, Blue Ghost, Robin Leigh. R. McDowell.—Lady Contact. Spandau. W. J. Mudford.—Swift Robin, Jon Rosa, Opulent, Speedy Jack. T. W. Green.—Driving Creek. O. Mclnally —Fairy Story. J. It. Gillies.—Kouraeka. J. McLaughlin.—Te Ruru, Two Pals. It. Samson.—Conspiracy, Little Acre, Venerable, Woolooga, Tommy Cun. T. L. Lyons.—Chantilly, Queen Opal. S. J. Green.—Ballaview, Sunny’s Last, Beb. E. Harrison.—Beau Pari, Golden Pay, Pukka Gen. S. Trcmain.—Bouquet. L. Carlton.—Master Red, Mollie Bon, Silver Secret. W. R. Hooton.—Sylis, Dominie, Bengal Bay, Master Ballater. U. Gibbs.—Star Duchess, Jay Wind, Nepeta. J. R. Gillies.—Abaris, Cay Town, Prince Chat, Contango, South Riding. M. Martinovich.—Happy Issue, Silver Lighting, Connie’s Birthday, Concise, Our Cold. W. O. Ensor,—Air Port, Merriful, Whirlwind Star. P. McD. Brady.—Hunting Dink.