HOLIDAY CARNIVAL.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIX, Issue 21, 23 December 1938, Page 5

HOLIDAY CARNIVAL.

MANAWATU MEETING. I-II&H-CLASS fields. PROGRAMME UNDER REVIEW. (By “Spectator.”) Opening to-morrow at the picturesque Awapuni course, which generally is in splendid order, the first day 'of the Manawatu Racing Club’s three-day summer fixture will mark the start of the Christmas and Now Year racing " carnival throughout New Zealand.

Big fields are carded for Awapuni, where the first event is scheduled to start at 12.15 p.m. There is a strong South Island contingent present, - besides horses from all parts of the North Island. Fifteen have accepted for the Manawatu Cup, which should be a great race, while the open sprint has virtually the strength of a Stewards’ Handicap field. Some of New Zealand’s best horses arc engaged at the meeting. There are probabilities, after the recent heavy rain, that the going at most centres will be on the soft side Manawatu is establishing a precedent in racing to-morrow, but the wisdom of this policy has been amply shown by the acceptances received.

The meeting will be continued on Monday, when the Auckland, Taranaki, Waipukurau, Dunedin and Westland fixtures will bo under way, besides trotting at Ashburton, Carterton, Gore and Westport. The Manawatu Cup, with its £7OO stake, is one of the best prizes to be won outside the three big metropolitan centres during the season. It is contested over the popular distance of 1), miles, and it is’ usually won by a horse that has proved its ability to stay.

A complete review of the first day’s card for the Manawatu meeting to-morrow is as follows: 12.15

There is some guide to form in this event, but there are a number of newcomers whose prospects arc difficult to review. Brazil has made great progress of late, and has been galloping exceedingly well, though he has not raced since the Pahiatua meeting last January. Chero Amie has been placed twice, at Otaki and Levin, but was galloped on in her race at Feilding. Colonel Bogey, who likes an easy track, showed speed at Woodviile in his first outing. Daregain has been dis* appointing, but Elettra has revealed early pace. Both Yours Truly and Drachma filled’ second pfacings at the last Otaki meeting.. Tidal Gift has the speed if he can be persuaded to jump out properly. Snigger is on the upgrade, and Taitoa, who ran off when leading the maiden field at the end of the first two furlongs at Levin, should have distinct prospects. Little Dorrit was second in the maiden event at Bulls, but subsequently failed at Feilding. The public may show a preference for BRAZIL, COLONEL BOGEY. SNIGGER. 12.55 TOKOMARU HIGHWEIGHT HANDICAP, of £l5O. One miio and a quarter.

Erebus was quite a good performer on the fiat before being put to hurdling. Xereus was a winner al Woodviile and should now be at top form, lie won at the last Manawatu summer meeting. Porotiti does not appeal greatly after his failure to finish on well in his recent outings, but Royal Record is very well and must be given a chance in this event. Lustral is a good horec for highweight events. Ambition has speed and, with Boatsong, who has been working well on the East Coast,, should threaten danger to the others. Favouritism may rest between:

NEREUS ROYAL RECORD AMBITION 1 1.40 — TARARUA HANDICAP, of £175. Nine

Royal Choice has been very unlucky in his last few starts and is due’ to make amends. Earl Colossus won nicely at Feilding over a similar distance and was. fourth under a good woight at Otaki. Flying Comedy had a good record last season and was second recently in the Stewards’ Handicap at Woodviile. Rarotonga, on Feilding form, must make a strong appeal. ’Colfort failed over a distance at Woodviile, but went a fairly good race. Lady Rosette is a southerner with good credentials. Eurotas .was sec and at Woodviile and failed to finish in a ! place there on the second day, when he received a bad run. Seyfried has shown considerable improvement of late. Thrasos, who won a maiden event well at Feilding, was galloped on in his race at Woodviile, and has not yet shown his best, but ho is an unlikely starter. Kindly is an East Coast horse which may improve upon his third at Woodviile. Similarly placed there over this distance, The Ring is a good horse. Bumble may be capable of a. surprise, as he raced well on the first day at Woodviile. When the totalisator closes the favourites may be: ROYAL CHOICE, FLYING COMEDY, RAROTONGA. 2.20-

There is a strong field for the principal event of the day. Wild Chase has sighs of returning to his old form. He galloped in great style at. Awapuni yesterday, and as he has previously won the Gold Cup on this course in 1937, lie must be hard to dispose of. Argentic, handicapped four pounds below him, has likewise pleased of late with his work. He is i a true stayer who has twice been placed in the Auckland Cup, in which field he still remains, and he may be hard to head off at Awapuni. Much the same can be 1 said of King Rey, second in both the Manawatu and Marton Cups last year. He likes the Awapuni course and will appreciate the drop in poundage from the big weights he has been carrying in the north. Brazen King has a great record in middle-distance handicaps this season, and gave nothing a chance when he won the St. Andrew’s Handicap at Feilding. Siegmund won three races at the Maliawatu meeting last year, but lias yet to improve on recent performances. Play On will be in demand after his two very easy wins at Levin and Otaki. This horse is now' right and may take a lot of beating. A formidable candidate may be Happy Landing, who lias some good performacncs to his credit this season, and won well at Woodviile. •Peerless is very favourably regarded in some quarters, but the New Zealand Oaks winner would have to make history to win the Cup, as no three-year-old has yet succeeded, and she is being set a very stiff task. However, he is in great fettle. Hunting Cat won the Cup in 1935 un'i recently ran two attractive fourths at Woodviile, but ho seems to be past his best. The Bigot’s form since he won over a mile at Riccarton has not been encouraging, but he finished fast into third place in this race last year. Conveyor has done well since he returned from Australia, but might not be properly tuned up, and would have done better with a race. Sunee has no appeal, and Galteemore, though consistent, will prohably find the class too strong. Both Corroborec and Old Surrey, on ■ the minimum, have plenty of followers. The going will suit the former, who is back to his best. Old Surrey won very easily over seven furlongs at Feilding, and is much more solid than formerly, but may find the distance too far. The public’s final choice on the machine may rest between: WILD CHASE, PEERLESS. PLAY ON. 3.0

NURSERY HANDICAP, of £2OO. Five furlongs.

Varimond, Sleeveless, and Sunola are all bracketed in this event, and it is a group which must find favour with investors. Baran is one of the best of this season’s youngeslers, and will be having his first ! race since his dual success at Riccarton. 1 Globe Trotter is a good horse who won at Feliding. Ruku, a Gascony gelding, and Bronzeshar will be having their first race. I La Bru and Vascones are a promising Awapuni pair, and despite the. fact that she has started only once, when she ran unplaced at Feilding, the former may be preferred on recent track form. Katosbridge has been placed on several occasions, and Nanda, a Bulandshar filly, •is speedy. Loyal Queen, then having her first start, impressed by the manner in which she ran fourth at Woodviile, where Duncannon finished second in- the name race at his second start. Most sqpport. may be forthcoming for: BARAN, VARIMOND BRACKET, LA BRU. 3.40 ; GILLIES HANDICAP, of £175. Six

Hagen is a. fit horse who will not lack ; friends for this event. Since winning at Bulls Golden Ridge has not raced, but ho j has done plenty of work, and will go to the post well ready. Joe Louis is resuming i after a long spell. Phalanx won two races at the last Manawatu autumn meeting and : has been placed at his last two starts in 'the south. Sternchaso won well recently at Te Rapa. Sigurd beat a poor field recntly at Otaki, and Sudan, though well forward, has had no recent racing. Kathbolla was very unlucky at Woodviile, and seems to be exceptionally well placed in the handicaps. Great Flight is a likely southerner from the Clifford stable. Puriama. raced well earlier in the season, but disappointed in his last outing at Otaki. Rowana lias a string of minor placings to her credit, and Gay Laura is an East, Coast horse who has shown form. Investors may prefer. the chances of:

PHALANX, KAT! I BELLA, STERNCHASE.

4.20 FITZIIERBERT HANDICAP, of £250. Six furlongs.

Majority is regarded as an improbable starter as be has engagements at New Plymouth. Lucullus Lad is in good order, lias won on the Awapuni track, and may be hard to dispose of. 'The race bears a very open appearance, and Dungarvan showed signs at Levin of returning to form. lie is nicely weighted if he is ready. Strong appeal may be made by Laughing Lass, who has improved since running second at Feilding, and is exceptionally fit. Lady Ina always runs well at Awapuni, but may still not be quite ready to reveal her best. Racecall, under his weight, will appreciate the difference. He has not raced I for over a month, but his record has been good this season, as he has just been miss ing the major end of the stakes. Counterblast-. who won at Trentham and ran. third in the Stewards’ Handicap, should have good prospects. Florence Mills, who beat Counterblast at Trentham when in receipt of 51b, now receives 111 b. Her failure at Feilding was not a true indication ol her merits. Having his first race for some time, Black Thread was unlucky not to win the open sprint at Woodviile. Russian Ballet has previously won at Awapuni, but her form has slipped since she won the Wanganui Guineas. Rakahanga is a wellperformed sprinter likely to make a good showing, as is Royal Star II on Trentham and Otaki form Ivar, who won at his last start in Hawke’s Bay, is very. ; . well and must be dangerous. Haughty Winner’s prospects would be bettgr if the going were firm. Notium was second in an open sprint at Awapuni last autumn. Aureus failed at Otaki but always runs well at Awapuni. Joviality dqes not seem to be the horse he formerly was. When the totalisator closes favouritism may be shared by: !

RACECALL, LAUGHING LASS. COUNTERBLAST. 5.5

Gay Chou raced very well earlier in the season, and was a-winner at Riccarton, but failed at Woodviile. Master Cyklon is veiy fit and has performed well at Awapuni previously. Jazz Boy is improving all the time, and will have plenty of friends after his two seconds at Woodviile. Lady Montana can be expected to improve upon her showing there. Amigo may run well, but Ned Cuttle has yet to make a return to form. Te Hai is capable of running a very good race. Cricket may have freshened up, but Rustem seems one to threaten danger. Rabble and Night Hawk, both of whom have won at Riccarton, are two. good southerners. There is nothing wrong with the condition of Silver River, but- Dainty Sue may need a race. Possibly the most support will be accorded:

JAZZ BOY, RABBLE, RUSTEM.

MAIDEN PLATE, of £130. Six furlongs. Brazil 8 7 Lady Whotu 8 7 Chore Amio 8 7 Mimicry 8 7 Colonel Bogey 8 7 Night Eruption 8 7 Drachma 8 7 Oriwai 8 7 Daregain 8 7 Red Chief 8 7 Doctor Defoe 8 7 Taitoa 8 7 Elettra 8 7 Snigger 8 7 Floral Robe 8 7 Telamon >8 7 Gold Chase 8 7 Tidal Gift 8 7 Golden Garter 8 7 White Rajah 8 7 Hyderabad 8 7 Yours Truly 8 7 Little Dorrit 8 7

Erebus 10 11 Ambition 9 4 Ncrous 10 8 Boatsong 9 0 Porotiti 10 6 Rolling Home 9 0 Koval Record Lustral 10 3 Pound Sterling 9 10 9 0

Royal Choice furlongs. 8 12 Sunbeam 7 11 Earl Colossus 8 12 Torn Tom 7 7 Flying Comedy 8 11 Hinorawe 7 7 Rarotonga 8 7 Kindly 7 7 Col fort 8 6 Patches 7 7 Lady Rosette 8 0 The Ring 7 7 Eurotag 7 13 Twenty Grand 7 7 Beyfried 7 13 Bumble 7 7 Thraeos 7 11

MAXAWATU CUP, of £700. One and a half. mile Wild Chase 9 0 Hunting Cat 7 7 Argentic 8 10 The Bigot 7 5 King Key 8 9 Conveyor •< 7 2 Brazen King 8 6 Suncc 7 2 Siegrnund 7 13 Galteeinoro 7 0 Play On 7 12 Corroboree 7 0 Happy Landing Pcerltvs 7 8 Old Suirov 7 8 7 0

Baran 9 3 Nanda 7 4 Globo Trotter 8 9 Serenata 7 4 Varimond 8 2 Bronzeshar -7 4 Duneannon 8 0 Katesbridge 7 4 Sleeveless 8 0 Loyal Queen 7 4 Vascones 7 11 La Bru ■ 7 4 Kuka 7 9 To IVlaari , . 7 4 Bronze Flight 7 9 Greek Queen 7 4 Gay Fox 7 9 Dainty Dell 7 4 Gymnotus 7 9 Wedding Eve 7 4 Sir Crusoe 7 9 Allez 7 4 Beau Vite 7 8 Cl ass form 7 0 Sunola 7 5

Hagen furlongs. 9 6 Punarua 8 1 Golden Ridgo 8 12 Reasonable 7 13 Joe Louis 8 9 Royal Pageant' 7 12 Phalanx . 8 8 Gay Laura 7 10 Stcrnchaso 8 5 Great Flight 7.10 Trebor 8 5 Diamond Cutler 7 9 Sigurd 8 5 Rowana 7 9 Kathbclla 8 3 All Blood 7 7 Sudan 8 3

Majority 9 5 Rakahanga 7 12 Lucullus Lad 8 10 Royal Star II 7 11 Uungarvan 8 7 Ivar 7 9 Laughing Laos 3 3 Notiuin 7 7 Lady Ina 8 2 Joviality 7 5 llaco Call 8 0 Haughty Counterblast 7 13 Winner 7 5 Black Thread 7 13 Aureus 7 2 Russian Ballet 7 12 Florence Mills 7 2

GRANDSTAND HANDICAP, of Nine furlongs. £250. Gay Chou 9 11 To Hai 7 13 Master Gyklon 9 2 Roaming 7 13 Jazz Bov 8 13 Cricket 7 11 Ned. Cuttle 8 12 Rustem 7 11 Amigo • 8 8 Night Hawk 7 11 Lady Montana 8 7 Dainty Sue 7,11 Babble 8 3 Silver River 7 11 DeMiam 8 2 Accomplice 7 11 Notiurn 8 2 Good Sun 7 11 Mea Mea 8 0 Mendelssohn 7 11