FIXTURES.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVI, 31 May 1927, Page 6

FIXTURES.

June 1,3, 4—Dunedin J.C. June 3,4, B—Auckland R.C. June 3, 4—Otaki Maori R-L-June 18 —Napier Park R.C June 22—Hawke’s Bay Hunt Club June 24, 25 —Hawke’s Bay J.C. June 25—Oamam J.C.

ZEALAND SAPLING STAKES

;BY TELEGRAPH 'PB.ESB ASSOCIATION.) ASHBURTON, May 30. After payment of final, forfeits the following Temain in the New Zealand Sapling Stakes, of 600 soys; hi nnles: Eriawah, Milo Minto, Vestas, De Oro— Rothschild mare, b.g. Wildwood Junior Lititia Monopole, b.g. Key De Oro Locality, Daphne Die Oro, Logan Pointer—School Girl, Harvest Child, Sdnorna, b.c. Author Dillon—Franzetta.

NOTES AND COMMENTS

(By “Maecenas.”)

The Auckland and Otaki Clubs each received good acceptances for then winter meetings, which open in each case on Friday nest. At the Wanganui meeting the hor-dell-trained Avro was too much for his light-weight rider, but at Otaki Avro will be ridden by L. G. Morris. Although worth £SOO (more than the big majority of clubs can offer for their principal race), the Greenlane Steeplechase for maiden “chasers , to be decided at Ellerslie on Friday next, lids drawn only six acceptors. .. Trentham track watchers give Black Mint a,, good chance in the Cornwall Handicap. That useful hurdler Highway appears in the hack flat events at the Otaki meeting. , _ The English-bred Royal Picture is walloping well at Trentham just now. He is fast in private, but up till the present had not reproduced same in public, but he may do so at Otaki on Friday next. . ' , ~ When running prominently at the late Hamilton meeting Tinakoa fell, but it was reported: that he missed, m- ,, jury. He is nicely handicapped for the Jervois Handicap, to he decided at Ellerslie on Friday. Considering tjie value of the prize (£2000), the class left in the Great Northern Hurdles after taking of acceptances cannot be called strong, and in this respect and also numerically it falls far short of many of its predecessors. \ _ The useful Wedding March has been “set” for the Northerns. While he may not he equal to winning the double, Wedding March will give a lot of trouble to his opponents in both the events. , Mr John Paterson has two useful geldings in Royal Form and Zircon engaged in both the Great Northern Hurdles and Steeplechase. This pair are well, and .those connected with them expect to get some of the good prize money offering in the chief races. Sir Kay, who dead heated with the promising Hathor at the last Hawke’s Bay meeting, appears as an acceptor for" the Jervois Handicap, to be decided at Ellerslie on Friday next. Sir Kay is said to he useful. _ Coming so soon after his good races at the Feilding, Manawatu, and Eg-

mont meeting, it came as a surprise to find! Ngata on© of the last to turn for home in the Empire Handicap at Wanganui. He is engaged, in the Cornwall Handicap next Friday: When Degage went to Eliterslie last winter she was as fit as it was possible to make her. While she is fast getting back to her best form, she may not attain that standard for the opening

day of the Auckland winter meeting, but it will be strange should Degage not produce her best form before the meeting closes. Although Comical is burdened with 12.8 in the Greenlane Steeplechase, to lie decided at Ellerslie on Friday next, he will possibly go out a 'big favourite, but if Rayo shows the same form as he exhibited on the second day at the recent Wanganui meeting he will at least make the event interesting. Even at a differenc of three stone over such easy country Comical may prove too classy. Although those two trying races, the Great Northern Hurdles and Steeplechase, are to be run on successive days this year ,there are many owners optimistic enough to give their horses chances in both races. The following horses are engaged in both events: Kawini, Wedding March, Royal Form, Royal Abbey, Passin’ Through, Alaunga, Zircon, Dick, Glenotus and Day Bell. A remarkable feature about tbe acceptance list is the fact that of those in the Grand National Hurdles, Archibald, Rangatahi, Mount Marta, Kamehameha, and Ivaramu are tbe only ones not engaged in the Steeplechase. As a fair amount of Tain has . fallen of late, the Ellerslie and Otaki race tracks are certain to be very heavy. Judged- on the times recorded in training gallops. Ellerslie is quite 10 seconds a mile slower t-han its fastest state. This is a big factor that bettors rarely give sufficient thought to. A six furlong race at an Auckland winter meeting is generally equal to a seven furlong race on an autumn track, and in reality is more difficult to accomplish. The black gelding Omaha is now 12 years old, but, despite his advancing years,-his chance of winning the coming Great Northern Steeplechase is favoured by his trainer and owner, both of whom are good judges of the capabilities of a jumper. Omaha has contested the big steeplechase at E-l----lerslie on four occasions. He ran second under 10.8 to Coalition in the Great Northern Steeplechase of 1921. and' carrying 10.4 occupied a similar position behind Sea De’il the following year. Omaha did not run in the event in 1923, but in 1924 with 10.13 in the saddle the gelding heat all but one. In the 1923 contest he finished un-

placed under 11.6. and last year he did not compete. Omahu has won the Winter Steeplechase, decided on the third day of the Great Northern meeting, and seeing the great races lie has run in the Great Northern Steeplechase of the past without once winning, it looks as if he is fated not to win that important cross-country event, hut this will not prevent many from supporting him on Saturday with his light impost.