Will Gay Crest Defeat Nightmarch

Manawatu Times, Volume LV, Issue 6838, 20 April 1932, Page 4

Will Gay Crest Defeat Nightmarch

Outstanding Fields Engaged at Awapuni To-Day

Course Never in Better Order The Manawatu Racing Cluh’s autumn meeting, which opens at Awapuni to-day, promises to establish now records of popularity. Particularly good fields are engaged in the different events, and racing enthusiasts will he afforded the opportunity of seeing the Dominion’s finest performers in action. Particular interest attaches to the meeting between the famous galloper, Nightmarcli, and the brilliant performer, Gay Crest, which will meet in the Awapuni Cup. There have been prolonged arguments over the rival merits of these horses, which represent the best Australian and New Zealand form, and the outcome of to-day’s race will be of widespread interest.

The Sires’ Produce Stakes will practically decide the two-year-old premiership for the season, and with Inflation, Tea Trader, Midinctte, La Modernc, Tout le Mond and many other star performers engaged the race will attract the attention of all racing people of the Dominion. In addition to these events there is the open sprint, which has drawn another high-class field.

appeal are High Faintin’, Shrewd and Great Star. Woodhey Handicap There is a good field of 15 acceptors in tho Woodhey Handicap. Ganpat tops the list with 9.5, but his burden will not eliminate him from consideration. Royal Hunting was a dual winner at Hastings over the same distance. Alpinist will not start. Royal Bengal raced well forward at Wellington, while Orby’s Clioico won on the second day at Opaki. Wcathcrstep is a good performer on tho track, but is disappointing on the day with tho colours up. Seneschal was in the money at Feilding. Of the others, Lady Court, Grand Review and Lady Ronald appear to have the best credentials. Seneschal, Lady Ronald and Royal Bengal will have plenty of friends.

The first race is timed to start at 12.2 p.m. The course has never been in better order, and a prominent visiting trainer said yesterday: “If a horse cannot gallop at Awapuni to-morrow, he cannot gallop anywhere.” following is a short review of the fields: — The Hurdles The first event on the programme is the Ivnrcre Hurdles, which has drawn a splendid acceptance of 14, including some good performers. Mister Gamp is at the top of the card with 11.9. He may want a race or two. Avro is another that is nicely treated, and ho would only have to bo right to bo in tho money. Royal Lineage has been running well of late, as have Just an Idea and Arrowhead, but Easterly has been disappointing. Omeo may need the race, but Balloon is pretty well at present. He won the Highwcight Handicap at Masterton last Friday and will have to be taken into account if he has improved at all in his jumping. Adventus is a newcomer to the game and may want a race over tho battens. Pahu is on Ihe same mark and may have to be considered. Gueress has been very disappointing. The Sun has had a few races over the hurdles and should bo about right now. Henry of Navarro and B a skier may be better for the race. The issue is fairly open, but tho public may elect to support Avro, Balloon and Royal Lineage.

Sires’ Produce Stakes There is a high-class iield of youngsters in the Sires’ Produce Stakes. Inflation (S. 10) will carry the No. 1 saddle cloth, and he is a well-performed colt. Tea Trader, another good colt, is in receipt of 51b. Farmer won the maiden the second day at Feilding, showing a lot of speed. Late Jest has been consistent, and he stays pretty well. Speed won both two-year-old races at the recent Hawke’s Bay meetings. Tout le Mond won well at Trcm tham last month. Fleeting Glance is reported to be well. Freeze won the juvenile event at Waipukurau, but she will meet a different elasu to-day. La Modcrno and Midinettc. have proved themselves. Clangor was a winner at Masterton. Inflation and Tea Trader are almost certain to carry the bulk ot tho money, but Midinctte will have plenty of friends.

Awapuni Cup With Gay Orest and Nightmarcli engaged the Awapuni Cup will be of particular interest to race-goers, for it will afford the chance of drawing n comparison between the Australian weight-for-age form and the best Now Zealand form. Nightmarcli, which has been quartered at Trentham since he returned from Australia, galloped well at Trentham on Tuesday morning and appears to have suffered no ill-effect.': from his trip. Gay Crest, on the other liana, has been racing very consistently this season, and he can be depended upon to give of his best to-day. Nightmarch won the Melbourne Cup in 1929, and the places were filled by Paquito and Phar Lap. Nightmarcli won the Awapuni Cup last year, but he will have to show his best form to repeat the performance, for Gay Crest will keep him busy all the way. Whichever way it goes it will bo a great race. The chances of the others engaged— Gibraltar, View Halloa and Spccdmint, cannot be overlooked, as they are speedy sorts and well capable of seeing the journey out. The public, will pin their' faith'to Gay Crest or Nightmarch.

Autumn Plato There is a good field of maidens for tho Autumn Plate, and the betting should take a wide range. Most of the acceptors have been in the money recently. King Thomond ran two good races at Tauhcrcnikau 'at Easter and was just beaten each day. Porlock, from Ricearton, is reported to be a good sort, and he has shown pace. The Awapuni-trained Riotous has been in tho money. Copper King is a good sort of two-year-old, and he has run some good races. Thornproof will not start and Gay Bong is not eligible, having won at Masterton. The favourite may bo provided by King Thomond, Pollock or Riotous.

Prince of Wales Handicap A really good field will go to the post for the Prince of Wales Handicap, over a mile and a furlong. Great Star is at the top of the card and has proved himself a good sort, winning the Easter at. Ellerslic and the principal handicap on the second day at Avondale. With all his weight he will have to be considered. Grand Jury is second in the weights, having incurred a penalty of 61b. as the result of his win in the Masterton Cup. King Colossus ana High Faintin’ are both weighted at S.G, and High Faintin’, on Feilding running, appears to be tho pick of tho two. Chopin is another good performer, and ho raced well at Masterton. Straightcourse may need a race, though he is well in with 7.11. Rational II won the big race the second day at Masterton. Gold Dawn won the big handicap on tho first, day at Feilding, and lie won it at the right end. Joio do Val appears to bo well in with 7.6. Richfield has been disappointing recently, as also has been Esteem. Shrewd, well in with 7.2, nearly sprung a surprise in the Masterton Cup, just being topped off. He will not lack friends to-day. Eastertime was a disappointment at Masterton. Of the others, Jayson appears to be the pick. Three that will

J. M. Johnston Memorial A good iield of 16 has been accepted for in the open sprint, and with a number of the Dominion’s best six-furlong houses engaged it promises to be a very fine race, with the issue in doubt all the wav. Autopay lias pride of placo with 9.6 and is a good ono when right. Lady Quex, with 9.4, is well in, and she will have to be considered. Great Star has a prior engagement and may not start. Cimabue, if well, is another which will command respect. Historic may be all the better for the race lie had at Marton. Aston is a good performer, and he is reported to be well. Consent did not perform too well at Feilding. Arisus is reported to be working well at: Wanganui. Arrow Lad has not the brilliance he used to have, and the distance may be a bit short for him. Green Linnet was a winner at Feilding at Easter, but this class may be a bit too good for

her. High Comedy has run some good races and he looks pretty well. Hunt the Slipper ran some good, races in Australia. Ganpat has a prior engagement. The race bears a very open appearance, but most support may be accorded Lady Quex, Autopay and Arisus.

Te Matai Handicap The day's programme will be brought to a close with the Te Matai Handicap. Joic de Val, at the head of the weights, may be reserved for the Prince of Wales Handicap. Pomp, which is in receipt of 71b. from the top-weight, has been working well at Wanganui. Winsome Hind, the Ricearton candidate, appey.ro to be very well, and she galloped boldly at Awapuni yesterday morning in company with Gay Crest. Lyrical ha-, not raced too well lately, but Attentive, Davistock and Fairway all won races at the Feilding Easter fixture. Others that will command respect are Saltpot, Tho Mirror and Capetown, the lastnamed going up a stone in weight as the result of wins at Masterton last week. Three that will carry plenty of support are Winsome Hind, Pomp and Saltpot.

riNAL GALLOPS AT AWAPUNI NIGHT.MAItCJH ARRIVES T'Tiorc was some interesting work at Awapuni yesterday morning, •when a number of horses were sent alone: against the watch. The course proper, with -the flags well out, was available, and the'going could not have been better. Snltpot (Thompson) was much too good for Freeze in a half mile flutter, which took 54sec. King Colossus (K. Voitre) was trotted round before being sent away over seven furlongs with The Mirror (H. N. Wiggins). King Colossus was favouring a leg, but lie quickly wftnncd to his work, The Mirror setting the pace to finish a shade in front after running the distance in .1.33 2-5.

Fleeting Glance and Porlock were not required to do their best to run half a mile in 52 4-ssee. The Awapuni Cup candidate, Gay Orest (Brodic) had another southerner in AVinsome Hind (A'oitrc) to net. us pacemaker over six furlongs. AVinsome Hind began best and set, a, fast pace, soon establishing a lead of a couple of lengths, which siie held as they turned into the straight. Gav Crest closed on her a bit over the final stages, but she was a.length to the good as they passed the, post, the distance taking 1.21.

SCRATCHINGS ANNOUNCED The following horses will not fulfil their engagements to-day:‘ Grand Jury, Alpinist, Thornproof, Princess Bell, Araios. RIDING ENGAGEMENTS A. E. Ellis: Nightmarcli, Arisus and Arikira. L. G. Morris: Inflation, Pomp and Consent. B. H. Morris: Historic, Lyrical, Midi netfc and King Colossus. D. O’Connor: Autopay and Tho Bun.

Gaswyn (Faulkner) acted as pacemaker to Pnteuroa (AViggins) and Decree Nisi (Voitre) over seven furlongs, which took 1.55. Gaswyn was well out in front at the entrance to the straight, and he finished well. Tout, le Aloud (Brodie) luid too much pace for Senegal (McDowell) in a fourfurlong effort, and the Sires’ Produce Stakes candidate covered the distance in 52 J-ssee. Specdmint, the Cup candidate, was

galloped alone over six furlongs, She took 1.21 2-5 for the journey, the last four furlongs of which occupied 1.7. Seneschal (Voitre) was just in front of Riotous (McDowell) at the end of six furlongs, cut out in 1.21. Lady Quex was sprinted half a milo and she hit out freely to get to the post in 52 2-ssoc., the last three furlongs taking her 38sec. Eastertime and Gibraltar were sent along on the plough, and they cut six furlongs out in 1.18 —a very good time. The Cup candidate, Nightmarcls, arrived at Awapuni yesterday.