SPORTING NOTES

King Country Chronicle, Volume XXXII, Issue 4731, 21 December 1938, Page 5

SPORTING NOTES

THE WAIPA MEETING. BIG FIELDS, BIG DIVIDENDS. (By Glentruin). The Waipa Racing Club’s annual meeting, held at Te Rapa on Saturday last, attracted large crowds in spite of the uncertain weather, and a highly successful day’s racing was provided. As most of the events were contested by very large fields, it was not surprising that outsiders paid some of the dividends, and an increase in the totalisator figures of over £SOOO for the day, in view of this must have been particularly gratifying to the Waipa officials. As was only to be expected after so much rain during the week, the Te Rapa track was very soft, and many of the competitors appeared unable to gallop up to their usual form.

Bachelor King Takes Flying.

The Lapidary gelding, Bachelor King, which had failed badly in his two previous starts, showed greatly improved form to win the principal sprint event, the Flying - Handicap, decisively, if narrowly, from Te Monowai. Bachelor King, which was a good stake earner as a two-year-old in a season prolific in smart juveniles, has previously shown ability to act on heavy ground, and was no doubt assisted to some extent in winning by the state of the going on this occasion. Still this four-year-old may be coming to his best, in which case he may have won under any conditions, and, as he has not been rehandicapped for the Railway Handicap on Boxing Day, he must now be regarded as a dangerous lightweight in that race. Te Monowai, runner-up to Saturday's winner, was overhauling the latter at the finish, and on a dry track, might turn the tables on her conqueror. She. will be meeting Bachelor King on level terms in the Railway, whereas in Saturday’s race the Lapidary gelding was in receipt of five pounds from Mr. Tim’s good mare. Farland again raced consistently to take third place, but the form of the remainder, which included some Railway Handicap aspirants, was not good.

THE MANAWATU MEETING. PROSPECTS FOR AWAPUNI ON SATURDAY. Splendid fields are carded for all events to be decided on the first day of the Manawatu Racing Club’s summer meeting at Awapuni on Saturday next, the class of performer engaged in the two principal races, the Manawatu Cup and Fitzherbert Handicap, being exceptionally strong. The singlepool sytem of betting will be in operation at this meeting, and the following horses may be strongly fancied in their respective engagements:— 12.15.—Maiden Plate, 6 furlongs: Chere Amie, Mimicry, Yours Truly. 12.55. —Tokomaru Highweight, 1 % miles: Ambition, Nereus, Roya! Record. 1.40. —Tararua Handicap, & furlongs: Thrasos, Lady Rosette, Raratongaw 2.20. —Manawatu Cup, 114 miles: Peerless, Corroboree, Happy Landing. 3.o.—Nursery Handicap, 5 furlongs: Baran, Sleeveless, Greek Queen. 3.40. —Gillies Handicap, 6 furlongs: Sternchase, Sigurd, Viracious. \ 4.20. —Fitzherbert Handicap, 6 furlongs: Race Call, Majority, Florence Mills. s.s.—Grandstand Handicap, 9 furlongs: Silver River, Rustem, Mea Mea.