BRIGHT PROSPECTS AT AWAPUNI.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVI, Issue 93, 19 March 1936, Page 10

BRIGHT PROSPECTS AT AWAPUNI.

MANAWATU MEETING OPENS. SELECT FIELD IN AWAPUNI CUP. The stage is set for one of the inoet successful autumn meetings yet conducted by the Manawatu Racing Club and tomorrow all roacte will lead to Awapuni. The course proper is in perfect order and, with good weather promised, racing should bo held under ideal conditions.

2.55 ? CLOVERLEA NURSERY HANDICAP, of £l4O. For two-year-olds. Five fur-

Notium is paying for his Taranaki Stakes success and, with such a solid impost, the Lysander gelding is asked a lot to concede 161 b to Candico, who recently ran right away from Mandamus at Napier. Candico has started only four times til's season for two wins and two placings. Moquette ran just fair races at Trentham and will need to improve. Waiongona may have an outside chance, but the public no doubt .will give their support to Candico, Notium. 3.35 AWAPUNI CUP, of £350. One mile and a quarter. Senior ' 9 2 Greek Shepherd 8 4 Entail 8 4 Though this is but a small field its quality compensates for the lack of acceptors, and tlio public are offered something worthy of speculation. .Senior met with all the possible trouble going in his races at Trentham, and so was not able to give of bis best. This season ho has run second in the Auckland and Dunedin Cups to Cuddle and Silver Ring respectively, and so there is no doubt as to his class. He* should keep the younger horses very busy. Entail suffered a loss of form after winning the Great Northern Guineas and was not impressive at the Auckland summer meeting. However, improved by his race in the Rangitikei Cup, he went on to Trenthem to bring about the defeat of the considered certainty Greek Shepherd in the N.Z. St. Leger Stakes. On the day he appeared possibly a trifle lucky to annex tho classic, but there was merit in his performance for he fought out every inch of the last quarter of a mile with Green Shepherd, thus proving his gameness. On tho other hand Greek Shepherd was unlucky inasmuch us he was forced to make all tho running and then have sufficient in reserve to meet the challenge from Entail. He appeared to be going just as well as the Posterity gelding at the finish, but Ellis was cramped in the last fifty yards and was unable to do justice to his mount. Greek Shepherd won uie Autumn Handicap tho second day just as lie liked. Even making a concession for tho fact that this race was falsely run Greek Shepherd had success in hand at any stage and he could do no more than win. The throe-year-olds certainly appear to dominate tho position and the public arc likely to again make their favourite Greek Shepherd. 4.15 J. M. JOHNSTON MEMORIAL lIAN-

Reduced admission charges should add to the popularity of the meeting, and as usual the totalisator will be operated on the 75 —25 per cent, basis. The splendid duel Entail and Greek Shepherd provided in the New Zealand St. Leger Stakes at Trentham last week arouses keenest interest in the Awapuni Cup, fully compensating for the defection of Silver Ring, who sails to-morrow for Sydney. These three-year-olds will bo opposed by Senior, who ran a close second to Silver Ring in the Dunedin Cup, and the race should bo well up to the standard set in Awapuni Cup contests in preceding years. The meeting concludes on Saturday when the 28th Manawatu. Sires’ Produce Stakes will be decided, and the ruling favourite Gustos is promised a still battle with Birthday Party, Wagner, and Laughing Lass, who raced prominently at the Trentham meeting. To-morrow’s racing opens at 12.15 with the

KARERE HURDLES • HANDICAP, of £l5O. One mile and a half.

Diamond reappeared at Trentham last Monday to run a fine race on the flat behind Lc Grand. Last winter ho made a good impression in winning three races consecutively over the obstacles_ before going on to the National meeting, where ho ran second to Make Up in his only start. He has developed into a fine stamp of horse and appears likely to pay his way. Gold Cure is well seasoned and was unlucky -on the flat at Bulls, while Kaola, in his last four starts, has won three races and been a close second. He is remarkably well treated here and promises to find favour with the majority. Aga, Khan and Glenvane have been schooling well and, though they lack the experience of the topweights, their running will bo invested with more than usual interest for they arc class horses. Caswyn and Widdon are hurdle winners this autumn whoso chances cannot bo despised. Most support should be forthcoming for Kaola, Diamond.

12.55 AUTUMN PLATE, of £IOO. Maiden conditions. Seven furlongs.

Diatomous raced so badly at New Plymouth that it seems as if he lias lost ail form. Aliy where near right he would have a wonderful chance here, but - tho majority will prefer to see the Diacquonod horse come back to form before being confident about his chances. Land Tax has gone hack again and has performed poorly in her last few starts. Haut Monde, on the other hand, has run some good races recently, while Limulus scored so decisively at Bulls that, it would appear as if she is back to her best form again. Courtega and Severe have not been impressive in their most recent races, but Gold Miss on is duo for an early return to form, her races at New Plymouth and Opunake being eminently satisfactory. Lordly Knightis rapidly approaching his best form and his second to Rereatu on Tuesday was a good effort for this little raced Paladin gelding-. Lavina and Bodyline arc both smart, though the former is more solid and is in good winning form. The favourites may bo Lordly Kuiglit, Lavina. 5.0 TE MATAI HANDICAP, of £l5O. Hack conditions; minimum weight 7.7 One

The Awapuni trained Alloa succumbed only in the last few strides to Le Grand at Trentham and is definitely improving with racing. He should do well on his home course. Aotopcen would need to show improvement, but Battle Pomp ran second to Sansfoy and to Fleeting Arrow on the two days ol the Woodviile meeting, that form being a distinct improvement on his Wanganui running. Donegal was only narrowly beaten by Happy Landing at Wanganui, and was very unlucky at Bulls. He will run on better than the majority of horses engaged here and will be suited by the weights. Tlio two-year-old International, though improving, meets the older horses under very unfavourable conditions and should bo held safe by Martial Lady, who ran good races at Trentham. Further down the list is Silvanus, who has done well since racing on the Taranaki circuit. She is a distinct possibility. Favouritism on the totalisator should bo shared by Donegal, Alloa. 1.35 PRINCE OF WALES HANDICAP, of £2OO. Ono mile and a furlong.

Spiral has 121 b more than ho won with at Trentham on Tuesday, but ho. is right hack to his best form just now, and the rise in the weights may not seriously inconvenience him. Big Book now meets him on 71b better terms and the shorter distance will favour the Gisborne gelding. Still, Spiral represents class and may again prove his master. Davistock is coming down in the weights and, on his spring and summer form, will have to be seriously considered. He has done well since ho raced unsuccessfully at New Plymouth. . Ethiop was not one of the lucky runners at Bulk, and the course conditions here should be more in his favour. A repetition of his Douro Cup form would find him prominent at the finish. Arctic King is on the upgrade again and Gay Boy ran so well in the Thompson Handicap that . he cannot bo denied a chance. Oncwhetu will appreciate the drop in the weights and, judging by his second in open company at New Plymouth, ho will not find it difficult to mako the higher grade. Passion Flower would need to improve a lot on her race on the last day at Trentham, her Thompson Handicap effort apparently having got to the bottom of her. Windsorecn and Lord Moutoa will not be entirely neglected, but among the lightweights St. Clara appeared to bo a good thing beaten in the Opunako Cup. This is a race which will tax the ingenuity of bettors, hut it would occasion no surprise to find the public faith placed in the topweights Spiral, Big Dook. 2.15 WOODHEY HANDICAP, of £125. Hackconditions; minimum weight 7.5. Six furlongs-

Solaria is racing without luck, but his •form is consistently good, and he would need only to begin reasonably well to break his run of’ minor placings. Though ho has beon racing over longer distances, lie is a particularly smart sprinter and will lack nothing on the score of condition Ilias has now won at her last two starts, Her success at Bulls being a very imp res sivo effort. She is susceptible to further improvement and the handicapper may not yot have found her measure. Ilis double success at Opunake stamped Corowa as a good sort of hack and the fact that ho has improved s : nco then will draw attention to his prospects here. La Crown may stage one of her surprises. Sansfoy and Brown k't.arl raced well enough at Trenthem to suggest the likelihood of an early success, while Silver Wings appears to be coming back to form again. She won at this meeting as a two-year-old. Whyte Melville was a New Year winner, while War Lap and Golden Chest were successful at Bulls. The latter will improve. When the totalisator closes there should be good support for , Solaria, Corowa.

Diamond . 10 9 Gaswyn 9 3 Gold Cure 10 8 Widden 9 2 Kaola 9 12 Royal Record 9 0 Invictus 9 11 Bacchus Marsh 9 0 Aga Khan 9 8 Indiscretion 9 0 Glen vane 9 5

Alloa 8 1 Maestro 8 7 Aotopecu 8 7 Martial Lady 8 7 Battle Pomp 8 7 Mozcltovc 8 7 Cloudy Bay 8 7 Otaki 8 7 Donegal 8 7. Prevail 8 7 Eka Tore 8 7 Princess la F oi'um 8 7 Jean 8 7 Garter Red 8 7 Silvanus 8 7 Golden Anno 8 7 Waroiii 8 7 International 8 7

Spiral 9 1 Red Rufus 7 5 Big Dook 8 11 Oncwhctu 7 3 Davistock. 8 6 Grateful 7 1 Slippery 8 5 Passion Flower 7 1 ICthiop 8 3 Windscreen 7 0 Arctic King 8 0 St. Clara 7 0 Pladie 7 11 Lord Moutoa 7 0 Gay Boy 7 9

Solaria 9 5 Tail Light 7 9 Contact 8 5 War Lap 7 9 Ilias 8 4 De Trop 7 6 Corowa 7 13 Golden Chest 7 6 La Crown^ 7 12 lTortcno 7 6 Snnsfoy 7 12 The SandBrown ' Pearl 7 10 wich Man 7 5 Silver Wings 7 10 Joviality 7 5 Whyte Melville 7 10

longs. Notiuin 9 3 Mazzini 7 0 Moquotto 8 2 Waiongona 7 0 Canclico 8 1 Black • Briar 7 0 The Buzzer 7 10 Mirth 7 0 Sardius 7 4

DICAP, of £175. Six furlongs. Diatomous 8 12 Severe 7 7 Land Tax 8 8 Gold Mission 7 7 Haut Mondo 8 8 Lordly Knight 7 6 Limulus 8 0 Lavina 7 2 Councga • 7 9 Dodyhno 7 0

mile a furlong. Royal Banquet 9 9 Colcnso 7 10 Dungarvan 9 6 The Imago 7 9 Red Sand 8 9 Muggins 7 7 Waipiro 8 6 Night Lass 7 7 Soho 8 5 Vonia, Park 7 7 Confiscation 8 2 Waitohu 7 7 Blue Garter 8 1 Tiger Bill 7 7 Royal Banquet is nearing liis best form, but ho may yet require a race. The Colossus three-year-old Dungarvan was unlucky the first day at Trentham, but on the second and third days ho ran great races, and was very unlucky to lose the Champion Hack Cup. He has a big weight, but ho is at the top of his form now and can bo expected to make a very bold showing. Red Sand won attractively at Bulls, where Waipiro disappointed, but Soho has been showing useful form and in his last start beat Maine at Napier. Confiscation is always liable to be in the picture, but one should look to pdenso to make a big improvement on his running at Opunake, where he was far from well handled. lie has done everything right at Ilawera since and is confidently expected to run well. The Image, Muggins and Nightlass will all be supported, but the favourites should be Dungarvan, Colcnso.