Prospects For Successful Race Meeting At Whangarei

Northern Advocate, 3 April 1941, Page 9

Prospects For Successful Race Meeting At Whangarei

PROSPECTS FOR SUCCESSFUL AND ENTERTAINING RACING HAVE NEVER BEEN BRIGHTER FOR THE WHANGAREI RACING CLUB’S AUTUMN MEETING.

Opening at Kensington Park tomorrow, the meeting has attracted excellent lields. and the second day on Saturday should he equally well patronised by owners.

Since the last meeting the racecourse has been in almost continuous use by the Army authorities, but care has been taken to interfere in no way with the course proper, which is in first-class order. A continuation of the recent fine weather is indicated, and with good fields, fast track and fine weather, only the usual crowd of district spectators will he needed to mark another successful meeting.

The Opening Event

The opening event, the Portland Hack Handicap has a good field. Hunter’s Rose won well at Rotorua and was third the second day. She was second in this event to Sir Robin 12 months ago, and even with 9.0 must be given a good chance. Biddy Girl has failed in her last three starts. Mayfair and Ohmaha are recent winners, the former especially impressing. Bronze Ora was a winner at Thames in January, his first in 13 starts. Land Court, if started here, will be well supported, but most likely will be entered in the Maungatapere Hack Handicap over seven and a half furlongs., Onetea won over the course last December, and since then has been placed three times, her latest a third at Franklin last month. Heroic Star won well at Ohinemuri a fortnight ago over this distance, but it was his only placing in nine starts. None of the others has form to recommend them.

this field is much stronger. Miss Bridge won well over a mile at Tauranga and the extra two furlongs should not trouble her. Orate was recently placed on the schooling list for unruly barrier behaviour so is an unlikely starter. Hunting Bee had an overdue win at Taranaki, but finished well back in her next start. Over the Jumps Gold Spot and Hackenschmidt stand out in the Norhern Hack Hurdles, with chances favouring the former. The Open Sprint In the Stewards Handicap, the chief sprint of the day, pre-race discussions have centred around the chance of Rex Maitland, and his consistency must be rewarded soon. Dinky Di and Grandora will also be in demand.

Miss Gay a Warm Favourite The Trial Stakes has the biggest field of the day, and is for non-win-ners at time of starting. Miss Gay stands out as the logical favourite. She ran close seconds at Te Aroha and Waikato and in her last seven starts has never been further back than fourth. Veyana has also been unlucky in some of her races; a fourth and a third at Ohinemuri a fortnight ago bring her more to notice. Expellant has not been raced since he started here last December. Mr L. G. Abel’s black three-year-old filly is the “picture” horse of the field and is sure to be well backed on that account, but her efforts this season have not been worthy of note. The connections of Den Pasa have entered the filly for the Onslow Stakes at Ellerslie next week so she should have a good chance in a field of this class. River Plate in eight starts has never repeated the form he showed at Avondale seven months ago.

The Mclnnes Memorial

High Delight deservedly has the top weight for the mam event of the day, and is likely to be favourite. He has a win, two seconds and a fourth to his credit in his last four starts. The 9.0 impost should not unnecessarily trouble him. Tellsom is sure to be well backed on recent form as he has been placed seven times in his last nine starts, including, a win in the Shaw Handicap over nine furlongs, when High Delight ran fourth. Rarotonga will appreciate the drop to 7.12 after some o’f his recent weights, but he does not seem to be able to mix hurdle and flat racing like the topweight. If The Dozer could repeat his form of last December when he won the Whangarei Cup so easily, this race would not be hard for him. He has won three times on the course and will be well backed on that account. Clipper’s chances must not he disregarded, hut he appeals more in the Autumn Handicap, run over a mile on Saturday. Venture won over nine furlongs, carrying 9.1 recently, but

Settlers’ Plate

Kaalooa and Hineiti are the. only horses with form in the Settlers’ Flate, but any of the others may surprise.

Maungatapere Hack Handiest

The Maungatapere Hack Handicap bears a very open appearance, with Vitement, Court Favourite and Land Court being the form horses likely to be in demand.

Concluding Event

Mr R. G. Hosking’s entry, Brahman, is the logical choice for the Waipu Handicap. Some of the others have previous engagements, but the chances of Night Hawk, Brazen Bold and Hunting Bee must be respected. 12.10 u.m.

PORTLAND HACK PIANDICAP,

Of 140sovs. 6 furlongs. Hunter’s Landcourt . 7 11 Rose ... 9 0 Cnetea . . 7 10 Biddy Girl . 9 0 Heroic Star 1 10 Mayfair . . 8 7 Fairfield . . 7 7 Ohmaha . . 8 7 Voorlouper . 7 6 The Pacifist 7 7 Valdene . . 8 7 Bronze Gra 8 12.50: 1 TRIAL STAKES; a sweepstake of ; £2 each for starters, with lOOsovs. added; five furlongs: Voorlouper . 8 8 Harmony . . 8 8 Thurnavaals 8 8 Sir Grant . . 8 8 Veyana ... 8 8 Owing ... 8 8 Flying Vixen 8 8 Master Vaals 8 8 Expellant . . 8 8 Den Pasar . 7 11 La Rosita . . 8 8 River Plate . 7 11 White Mark 8 8 British Camp 7 11 Golden Tom 8 1.30: 8 Miss Gay . 7 11 McINNES MEMORIAL HANDICAP, Of 350sovs. li miles. High Delight 9 0 Ventui’e . . 7 8 Tellsom ... 8 7 Eastern Heir 7 4 Rarotonga . 7 12 Orate ... 7 2 The Dozer . 7 12 Hunting Bee 7 0 Clipper . . 7 10 Miss Bridge 7 0 2.10: NORTHLAND HACK HURDLES, Of 150sovs. li miles and 282 yards. Mintlaw . . 10 0 Hot Shot . . 9 0 Gold Spot . 10 0 Prival ... 9 0 Glen Abb . 9 7 Rival .... 9 0 General Sun Boy . . 9 0 Riske . . 9 Hacken6 Paladin Star 9 0 schmidt . . 9 1 2.55: STEWARDS’ HANDICAP, Of 200sovs. 6 furlongs. Aero King . 8 0 Trilliarch . 7 3 Valmint . . 7 13 Noitaro . . 7 0 Rex Maitland 7 13 Veritable . . 7 0 Dinky Di . 7 12 Happicoat . . 7 0 Grandora . 7 3.40: 9 SETTLERS’ PLATE; a sweepstake of £2 each for starters, with lOOsovs. added; six furlongs: Northlander 8 0 Hin'eiti ... 7 9' Successful . 8 0 White Mark 7 9 Northern Sun 8 0 Flying Vixen 7 9 Kaalooa . . 7 9 Gold Bloom 7 9 Acquest . . 7 •1.25: 9 MAUNGATAPERE HACK HDCP, Of 140sovs. 7i furlongs. Court Lady Favourite 9 0 Acushla . 7 10 British Mint 8 4 Orient Vitement . . 8 3 Dawn . . 7 7 Bronze Ora 8 0 Miss Valerie 7 7 Landcourt . 7 5.15: 11 The Pacifist 7 7 WAIPU HANDICAP, Of 150sovs. 1 mile. Brazen Bold 9 13 Brahman . . 7 13 Clipper . . 8 4 Eastern Heir 7 12 Small Boy . 8 4 Brazilian . . 7 8 Night Hawk 7 13 Queen City 7 7 Jewelled Hunting Bee 7 7 Girdle . . 7 13