NOTES AND COMMENTS

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 5 April 1928, Page 6

NOTES AND COMMENTS

(By “Maecenas.”)

After a quiet time of a, few weeks, racing, will again be much in evidence for a" few clays dating from Saturday next. It is now generally recognised that the returns irom the totaUsator are a guide as to the financial state of our Dominion. Of late the figures from- that source have been very steady at the big majority of race meetings, so it wilt be interesting to compare this Easter's returns against those of last' year. The elect of Elgar’s stable (Vertigern or David Garrick) should prove troublesome in the Easter Handicap at Wairarapa on Saturday next. As Miss Fat will have the advantage of a 51 b allowance in the open sprint at the Wairarapa meeting on Saturday she will be very hard to iiead off. The much-boomed Ridgemount is amongst the acceptors for the Nursery Handicap at the Wairarapa Facing Club’s meeting. Miss Cowrie and Millais represent good form and may beat him at present. Ceil ran an excellent race on the second day of the recent Masterton meeting, and on the form displayed is certain to extend The Swell at the Wairarapa meeting. Taranaki stables are largely represented in the acceptances for the various meetings, and it will be surprising to those that follow racing closely Bbouid our horses not gain their share of prize money. Whilst a lot of interest will ho centred in race meetings to be held at Ellerslie. Hie carton, Feilding, and "Wairarapa over Easter, the large majority of sports in this province will be satisfied to attend the Hawera Trotting Club’s meeting.

FEILDING AUTUMN MEETING. Taranaki stables are strongly represented at the Feilding Jockey Club’s meeting on Saturday, and at least should get their share of prize money. Modern is at her best just now, and on the strength of her recent victories at Bulls and Upaki is sure to he well supported for the Kawa Ivawa. Hurdles. Matu anil Kilburn should be capable of fully extending her over the mile and three-quarter course. Some smart hacks are engaged in the Onga Handicap”. White Kinglet and Biliikins are a pair that are capable of going well over a short course. Considering the value of the prize money (£500) the Manchester Handicap field is disappointing. If a runner, Jov Bird must run well, while Orazone is capable of running out a good ten furlongs under a fight weight. If able To produce her best. Bisox should be very troublesome in the Taonui Hack Handicap. Kaliu Ariki may be the one to give the Egmonttralned mare most trouble. The field for the Mangaone Handicap i.s not a big one, but the class is good, and any one of the acceptors is capable of effecting a surprise. Possibly the Hawera pair, Silvermine and Benzora, will run good races, but Vast Acre is certain to be troublesome on the' “saucer” course.

A very strong field of hacks are engaged in the Onepuhi Hack Handicap. In view of the Oroua Hack Cup, of £350, to be decided on Monday, Saturday’s back events are likely to be more' difficult to solve. If fancied by their connections Kawhakina and Limosa should both race well. The Halcombe Welter will not be hal'd to win, and in this respect 'Whenuanui may atone for many recenf failures.

AUCKLAND RACING- CLUB’S MEETING. The Easter meeting of the Auckland Racing Club always creates a lot of interest amongst Taranaki sportsmen, and although this year’s fixture has not drawn on our racing stables as largely as of yore, there is still much at this meeting to warrant more than I passing interest. A very even lot of fillies will contest the Great Northern Oaks. After her excellent showing in the St. Leger at Trentham last month, Damans should not lack support in this event. The form of our two-year-olds has been somewhat complicated this season, but it should be definitely decided in Saturday’s Great Northern Champagne Stakes which is our best youngster. No doubt Northerners will fancy Prince Humphrey, and lie will run a great race, while Staghunter cannot be despised. Many who witnessed Episode’s good performance at the recent Wellington meeting give her an excellent chance, but after witnessing some of Raasay's racing one is forced to give him preference lor Saturday’s race. Despite the good prize offering (£550) the Brighton Hurdles will be purely an affair amongst horses trained in or around Auckland. There are one or two fair lightweights in this event, hut Archibald and Wedding March are sure to fully extend the best of them. The Easter Handicap, with its fine prize of £1750, has drawn a fair field, but it does not'reach the class of many former years. Considering his wonderful performances Star Stranger at 9.3 cannot be considered as anything but well treated (though the stablemate, Joy King, is almost certain to be the elect of the stable, and will he one of the very hardest to beat). When one considers that as a three-year-old Advance won this event under 9.6, and Nanette at that young age carried _9.11 (the minimum being 6.7) and won, it is quite clear that owners of today’s well performed horses such as Reremoana and Star Stranger get off very lightly in handicaps. Joy King and Bright Glow paid the dividends in the last Thompson Handicap, and it certainly points to their going close to a like performance in Saturday’s Easter Handicap. Of their opponents, Awarerc and Valkon maygo well, as each is remarkably well treated in view of their recent performances; but after weighing the pros and cons one comes back to Joy King and Bright' Glow. Class is not a strong feature of the Mangore Steeples, so Prince Rufus and

Garzon, who are well, and are also proved ’chasers, should run well; but it Wiltshire does not make a mistake he is certain to prove very troublesome, a.s he is a particularly promising young sLccplcclmscr. The two-year-olds engaged in the Onslow Handicap are not very highclass, but Gasto and Perception are likely to develop into useful stake earners. Possibly Perception will do best on Saturday 7. A big field will contest the Eden Handicap, and more than average luck is required to win, but if Micrometer and Liaison are at all favoured they should be prominent at the finish. A number of useful performers claim engagements in the President’s Handicap. If stripped as well as when at Trentham, Satrap will take all sorts of beating. Valkon and Mandane may be his most dangerous opponents.