AUCKLAND MEETING

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXVI, Issue 101, 9 April 1936, Page 2

AUCKLAND MEETING

Excellent Fields REVIEW OF THE RUNNERS (By “The Barb.’’) The Auckland Racing Club’s autumn meeting opens at Ellerslie on Saturday and will be concluded on Monday. Very fine fields have made the final payments to ensure excellent racing. On the opening day the Great Northern Champagne Stakes, Great Northern Oaks and the Easter Handicap will be contested, while on Monday the Great Northern St. Leger is the chief event of interest. Hawke's Bay stables will be represented by Maine, Happy Landing and Pakanui (second day). The meeting opens with the PRESIDENT’S HANDICAP. Of £350; 11 mile. This seasons Greek Shepherd has won the New Zealand St. Leger and tho Great Northern Derby, as well as four handicap events, tho most important of which were scored at Ellerslie and Trentham, both being over a mile and a-quarter, the same as the present event. This three-year-old has 0.2 and will need to do even better than he has previously done to triumph. Nun Nicer has been withdrawn from this race so as to take his place in the big mile. Mungatoon has won important races, but is anything but consistent. Royal Appellant since winning at the summer meeting has failed to retain that form, but back now to Ellerslie may strike his best gait again. Kilberis has improved considerably of late and is a force here to consider. Gay Broney, Lagoon and Bonny Gay have all winning form on their side. Korero ran one good race at Wellington and is better suited to a holding track. Kelly won the St. Leger this time last season, but since then he has been one of the Dominion’s greatest disappointments. Floodtide’s second in the last Great Northern Derby to Greek Shepherd appeals now with the Tidal gelding holding a 231bs. advantage in weight. Maine is fighting fit and will represent the Bay worthily. Of tho lighter-weighted division Tahurangi, King Tut and Arawa Rose are anything but outsiders. The best backed may be Floodtide, Maine and Bonny Cay. GREAT NORTHERN OAKS. Of £500; 1J mile. Galilee was a smart two-year-old, but this season has failed when tried over a distance. However, with her speed she will be seriously considered. Parquet in Australia was a fair performer and, bred on staying lines, she must attract attention despite want of recent racing. Oratory has demonstrated her galloping ability, but has not been tried further than seven furlongs. Bred to stay, the Gainscourt tidy should put up a good fight. Fulojoy is but a sprinter. Light Comedy has won hack races over a mile, while Lady Graceful won the New Zealand Oaks. Tidalia and Valise also have winning form, but in mediocre company. The favourites may come from Oratory, Galilee and Parquet. BRIGHTON HURDLES. Of £400; 2 miles. This is a good field of promising hurdlers and with the Great Northerns coming on the form will be closely scrutinised. Soloist undoubtedly is a class hurdler, but 12.5 is a big weight to carry over the two miles, ■lthough he has won with 12st. over Ji mile. King's Archer lias good races to his credit. Master Musk is a brilliant jumper as well us showing distinct signs of stamina. Wee Pat is a proved jumper, having won a Great Northern Hurdles. Emancipation appeals on weight alone. Scotch Nation gave a great exhibition recently when winning at his initial attempt, but he has done a fair amount of nunting, so can be regarded as an experienced fencer. Prince of Orange is capable of creating a surprise. Modem Maid is a recent winner, but over a shorter course. Victor Colima and Clan Ronald may prove the best of the remainder. In a big betting pool most may be invested on Master Musk, Scotch Nation and Soloist.

EASIER HANDICAP. Of £800; 1 mile. This year the class is not as high as is generally the case for this particular race. JNevertlieless, some very lair performers figure among the 25 acceptors. Spiral is acknowledged as a good galloper, but on account of so often lading to run up to form is a dangerous one to follow. Itereatu is reported to be in great condition and his party make no secret of the tact that they expect this Paper Money—V icenne gelding to run a wonderful mile. Nun Nicer is a very useful perlormer and having gone over ten furlongs recently with lllbs. more on his back leads one to expect this Chief Ruler gelding to run a great race. 1' riesland was the unlucky horse in the Thompson Handicap when narrowly defeated by Silver Ring, and having won since then over seven furlongs makes this Australian bred gelding one of the contestants to be seriously considered Refresher is now in his ninth year so may have to give way to youth despite his big heart and consistency. Namakia goes fast and given her own rules may see this mile out. Epris won the last Winter Cup over tins same distance. In his races recently down in the other island lie has been finishing fast at the end of six furlongs, so is entitled now to be very seriously considered, although it must tie added that he is not the best of beginners. Kilberis if started will bo considered, while Gay Rose may not be quite brilliant enough. Sinking Fund is a miler that greatly appeals with 7.8. Grateful Wv. over nine furlongs at Awapuni from a good field, so he too enters the summing-up. Of the lightweights Bonny Gay, Royal Secret, Gay Seton, Roman Mascot, Adeline and Tonnerre all have sufficient galloping ability and form not to surprise if found leading this big field home. It is very open, but form may influence in the’ making of the favourites Epris, Nun Nicer and Tonnerre. G.N. CHAMPAGNE STAKES. Of £600; 6 furlongs. It is unlucky that Stretto, Wild Chase, Gallio and Gustos are not engaged, as they are undoubtedly our best youngsters of the season. Nothin)

is a very fair juvenile, but hardly of classic class. Black Friar after his poor third at Pahiatua is dismissed as a possibility. Cricket may win, but has failed to measure up to classic standard so far. Wagner is said to have improved wonderfully since Trentham and Awapuni, and his recent gallops at Awapuni suggest that he will have to be considered. Anion and Quadroon are both galloping attractively up north. Maxown won earlier in the season and will be suited to the six furlongs. Cheval de Voice, Ned Cuttie and Gay Streak have all won in moderate company although the former has done very little racing, so maybe his best has yet to be displayed. Moquette is a big disappointment. Golden Blonde has won four races this season, the last with 9.0 on top. This Gisborne filly is useful, but so far has not been pitted against the best of her age. Merial is said to be something out of the common. So far she has only started three times for one second and two firsts. Birthday Party was unplaced in the Manawatu Produce Stakes. Candico will be at Feilding. Queen’s Counsel and Golden Sheila have won minor races. Out of these 17 acceptors, only Quadroon has failed to win a race. The absence of tho good ones makes this event most open. Three that may appeal most are Merial, Wagner and Notium. MANGERE STEEPLES. Of £275; about 2) miles. Diamond last winter impressed when winning as the makings of a useful ’chaser and as he won at Awapuni over hurdles in his last start he can be accepted as being cherry ripe. Last month Forest Glow won and was second in his next start over country, so that the Palmerston North trained gelding is in the right order to go the two and a-half miles. ,Sandy Dix is a promising steeplechaser, with racing condition behind him, too. London is fair, while The Hiker is making his first public appearance between the flags. Town Beauty two years ago gave every indication of developing into a National proposition, but unfortunately went wrong and it was said he would never race again. Puccini goes last and jumps ditto, but not safely on account of his pecking when landing, but with a stand-up this Gisborne gelding would be very hard to beat. This is the risk one will have to take if investing on him. Semiarch, Dome and Roxy have minor placings to their credit only. The favourites may be Forest Clow, Diamond and Puccini. ONSLOW STAKES. Of £275; 6 furlongs. For two-year-olds. Karl has speed, but so far six furlongs has been too far, but at this time of the season he should be somewhere near the condition to see the extra furlong out. Ned Cuttie is better suited here than in the classic. Rulette is a real good sort that can be relied upon to see the six out. Inver is but fair, as of late he has not measured up to earlier racing and promise. Anion has won, but not in tho best of company. Queen’s Counsel and Cheval de Volee will both be better suited in this race, where they aro possibilities, than to the Champagne. Black Friar is in the same category. Palustre is said to be a possibility on recent track work, but the remainder with the exception of Pari Passu possess no form. Most investments may bo made on Rulette, Karl and Anion, EDEN HANDICAP. Of £275; 1 mile. For hacks. Day Wind has proved himself this season to be a first-class hack as well as having collected two minor place stakes in open company. ILntheos won twice at Wellington and as ue has been taken up for the St. Leger will have to run well hero to have a chance in the classic event on Monday. Sweet Rose has winning form on her side as well as Valmint. I'e Hai H only average. Sebrof has won in his last three attempts and for his double win at Whangarei has gone up 171bs , so that the handicapper must have been impressed. Leo Colossus can hardlv be recommended on recent form, but Killadar on form and weight must appeal strongly. Teak is not racing up to spring promise ana form. Little Artist is a recent winner. Supreme Court must be labelled dangerous, also Pound Sterling, who recently accounted for two highweights. Shy has but two races to his credit. A recent winner is Loombination, while Gallant Knight has not won since returning from Sydney some few months back. Le Grand von well r.t Wellington, although it was only a maiden event. He has now come right, so with 31bs. above the minimum be cannot but appeal strongly. Dutch Girl won on Saturday last, but the balance of the field have little to recommend their chances on. This is another very open race with at least half a dozen with real good form to lead one to expect victory from, Maybe when the final investment is made the most may be earned by oalmlnt, Entheos and Killadar.