RACING NOTES

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXX, 19 June 1936, Page 2

RACING NOTES

REVIEW OF TO-MORROW’S FIELDS WANGANUI, NAPIER PARK, AUCKLAND, DUNEDIN (By “Cuddle”) The officials of the Wanganui Jockey Club must be disappointed at the small acceptances for their Winter Meeting. Three fields of seven horses and one of eight is very poor, especially considering the stake money which was raised to attract good fields. The Bracelet, of a mile and a distance, looks easy for Cometra. Donegal should be second. The main sprint, of six furlongs, is next and an even field has accepted. Gold Mission is the form horse, but will find Limulus tough, as she will scamper round the small track. Dungarvan might be a surprise packet. Chile is the best hurdler in the Century Hurdles, of two miles and a distance. Speed, Silk Sox and Sporting Song have lots of pace on the flat, and if their jumping has improved will make a good race of it. The experience and jumping of Chile will probably prevail over Sporting Song and Silk Sox.

After his recent Auckland performances Mustang should be the right way in the Balgownie Hack, of one mile and 100 yards. Le Grand, Hunting Queen and Silvanus, all recent winners, will be in the hunt, while Supreme Court, freshened up after a spell, is working well, and a great race should result in the first three fighting it out, with preference for Mustang over Hunting Queen. The Open Steeples over 2i miles looks like a hack field. Tangled should not be extended to win after his Auckland form, and Windsor Lad seems to be the best of the remainder. Cotsfield is a safe jumper but a bit slow. One Whetu, 9.8, heads the open mile and a distance, and will be the toughest to beat. Prostration, .four pounds less, is weighted well up to his class and should go a good race. Hazoor and Gay Boy, both recent winners, will find this distance to their liking. West Tor is well-treated with 8.3, while Alchemic is back on the minimum. It looks like the two top-weights, with preference for One Whetu, while Alchemic might upset them all. The six furlong hack appears to be one for the “goats.” Bantry has the best credentials, while First Chapter, Garter Red and Golden Rill might show up. NAPIER PARK, FIRST DAY Very good acceptances have been received for the first day of the Napier Park Racing Club’s winter meeting to-morrow and concluding on Tuesday next. The following should run prominently in their respective races:— Hurdles—Blue Boy, John Charles, Curie. Maiden—Lucullus Lad, Le Touquet, Essex. .Meanee Hack—Hunter’s Morn, Royal Feast. Steeples—Dozie, Strome. Ladies’ Handicap—The Grasper, Sunny Sky. Flying—Passion Flower, Bodyline. Settler’s Hack—Granvale, Master Cyklon, Trailer. DUNEDIN JOCKEY CLUB The Dunedin Winter Meeting opens to-morrow and will be continued on Tuesday and Wednesday of next week. The acceptances are good and while no champions are engaged the events have filled well and some capital racing should be seen.

Pahu is top weight with 11.10 for the opening event, the Tahuna Steeples, 2J miles, but will probably be kept for the open event. Arctic Star and Lycidas, two of last season’s hurdlers, look to be the best bets, while Te Ahuarangi on the minimum has been schooling well. The Trial, of seven furlongs, looks like anything winning. Tautau Maid, Chief Lama and Last Dance have shown a little promise in their work. Black Duke, the evergreen, looks to have the hurdles at his mercy, but Signaller has had a good preparation and Courtyard will be greatly improved by his recent effort. Jack Ahoy looks to be the pack of a poor lot in the Brighton Mile. Poniard, Vantoon and Fireguard will make the race interesting.

The Otago Steeples of 2£ miles should be a great race as it has a good field of eleven. Royal limond, at his best, would win, but on account of the break in his work, Pahu will probably be favourite and- will be hard to topple. Parasang will need a race most likely, while High Speed might spring a surprise. Free Air, Quinopal, Red Lance and Velvet all have chances, especially the last one, who has gone some good races into places. Epris looks to be the winner of the open I 4 miles. Royal Gallant, on a heavy track, Golden King, doing great track work, Milford and Amelita are all lightweights who will keep Epris up to scratch. On the high scale of weights the top weights appear to be in light in the Winter Handicap of 7 furlongs, and Greek Gold will probably be given preference over Dollar Bill and Fairweather. Travenna and Moneyless appear to be the best of the lower division. The last event of seven furlongs looks made to order for High Glee. Last Refrain winner in hollow fashion over 1J miles at his last start, will probably be favourite and will be hard to beat. These two should fight it out with Silver Lark in the hunt. AUCKLAND TROTS The Auckland Trotting Club’s Winter Meeting opens to-morrow, and will be concluded on the King’s Birthday, on the following Tuesday. The Club must feel very pleased with the fine acceptances, although it is a little surprising that Canterbury trainers did not take advantage of the excellent stake money and get their winter oats. De Soto and Mocast are the only two from down South and they should not return empty handed. It is also encouraging to see the two trotters’ events well filled—eleven in the intermediate two miles and no less than eighteen in the slow trotters race, of 1J miles. The opening race is the Winter Handicap of 1| miles, 3.49 class, for trotters. Young Rodney off 132 yards is obviously the best performed, but is

too far back to expect to win. King' Franz and Franz Derby both raced prominently on the recent North Island circuit, while Native Leaf is very speedy, and ran a good second in Nelson to that improved trotter Winnie Parrish. Nelson’s Glory and Nelspear have both shown patches of form. The three horses on 36 yards should be near at the finish. Great Jewel showed good form in placed performances about twc months ago. and with Sir Frank (doing good track work) and Stargum appear to be the best in the “mug” 1$ class. If Baron Grand starts here and has improved his starting manners, he would have a great show of collecting a winning bracket.. In the Hobson 1£ miles, ,3.36 class, the much-boomed Electric Bell has a wonderful show <of proving himself. Baron Alfonso (if reserved) and Proletarian off 36 yards look to be the ones to make a race of it. The disappointing Red Frontier might spring a surprise. F. J. Smith appears to have a mortgage on the Adams Memorial Cup of £350, 4.32 class, with the bracket Bonny Azulre—King’s Warrior. In the last few months, they have both proved their stamina over two miles, and now that the weather has broken and the track is likely to be heavy King’s Warrior will be in his element, as he showed a liking for heavy going in his trip to Wellington, when he lost ground at the start and then defeated some of the best horses in New Zealand. The only one that appears to have a show' of bringing about the downfall of the bracket is the South Islander —De Soto. In his race last Saturday De Soto showed what a brilliant pacer he is by losing 50 yards at the start and then running second to the brilliant Cloudy Range in the very fast time of 4.21. Wee Machine, Prince Pedro (who like muddy conditions), Pegau'ay, Smooger, Kewpie’s Triumph and old Auto Machine go to make up the field of nine, but the judge' will probably put De Soto’s and the bracket's numbers dp on the box. The Stewards’ Hahdicap of tw r o miles, for trotters, should be a great race. Polly Pan should win this but cannot afford to make any mistakes or she will find Arapai and the solid Waikato Prince trotting past her up the home stretch. Young Rodney is also a good horse with decided possibilities. Our McKinney and Nervie’s Last (imp.) appear to have the Marconi Handicap of 1$ miles at their mercy and these two should have_a great race with the vote going to the imported horse. The fast H miles appears to be at the mercy of F. J. Smith’s bracket of three good horses —Bonny Azure, Tra - vis and King’s Warrior. Mocast will probably divide the honours with the bracket.