THE TAKAPUNA MEETING.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19496, 27 November 1926, Page 16

THE TAKAPUNA MEETING.

OPENING DAY'S PROGRAMME. The Takapuna Jockey Club's Soring Meeting opens to-day, and the popularity of the gathering at the North Shore is so well established that it will only require weather conditions to be in keeping with the season to ensure a large attendance at the marine suburb. The acceptances for the eight ovents which form the programme are all round very satisfactory, and a capital day's sport should result. The first event ia to be started at about 11.45 a.m.

REVIEW OF THE FIELDS. BY ARCHER. Racing will commence with tho Melrose Maiden Stakes. There is a big field engaged and luck in the early stages will be an important factor. Town Bird shaped well at the recent meeting at Ellerslie, while King Emerald. Royal Picture, and Bahama have been working well enough to have good .chances. Dimmer is a smart beginner and may be improved with his recent racing. Town Bird, King Emerald, and 'Royal Picture may be well fancied. The Tiri Handicap has drawn a moderate field. Royal Form, who has been racing unluckily. will probably be a popular selection. The improving Pouri, who won the Ladies' Bracelet at Cambridge on Labour Day, and Pentagram should be at home in the company, and may also be strongly fancied. A decent field is carded for the Borough Handicap. Le Choucas has shown good form this season. Archibald. Mosaic, and Charlady are recent winners and have been galloping attractively. Tall Timber is another that has been pleasing the trackwatchers, while Ring the Bell is due to return to form at any timo. It should be a good betting race, with Le Choucas, Mosaic, and Archibald in strong demand.

A field of 11 is carded for the Alison Cup. Master Doon. whose latest form has been excellent, heads the list and must have a chance, but Tresham, who meets him 74b better for a head beating in the Waikato Cup, reads better. Desert Glow has been second in two important handicaps this season and is partial to the Takapuna course. Town Bank and Ruapapa have not yet shown any form this season, but it is on the cards that they may do so at any time now. Town Bank has been working in good style and so also has Princess Ronnie, who recorded excellent track efforts on Tuesday and Thursday. She would be better suited if the journey were a little shorter, but she may run well all. the same. Nippy has raced unluckily in big handicaps this season. invariably running well without winning. It may be his turn at any time, but Lord Star, Spoony, Transformer, and Boomerday will have to improve considerably upon their recent form to be prominent. It is a very open race, but baefcers may give most support to Tresham. Nippy, and Desert Glow. The iuveniles engaged in the Cambria Handicap are an ordinary lot. High B'inance has shown the best form, and, as she has decisively beaten Chips, who won a double at Te Rapa, on the two occasions they have met, she may do so again. TiTree is a winner and Carinthia has been sprintine with some dash. A number of the others will be having their first race and the chances are backers will stick to fortn and support High Finance. Chips, and TiTree. The Takapuna Plate, a seven-furlong hack event, at special weights, has attracted a good field, and nothing will be lost if there are a few defections. The three-year-olds usuallv shins in events of this description, and two of that age in Tinokoa and True Blood should have rosy chances on their showing in the Great Northern Guineas. R. Reed will be on True Blood, who may nd handle the course as well as Tinokoa. Newbury is a Bmart beginner that may get a forward position early and go well round the turns, even though the distance may be a little far. Valkon is a good sort and may have improved. Ned Kelly. Ruffles. Delightment, and Dobbin are good hacks, but they may find it hard to give weight to Tinokoa and True Blood, who will probably share favouritism. Ruffles ma.y also be solidly backed.

The top-weights, Golden Krist "net Wen day. stay better than most of those engaged in the Ponui Handicap, but thev mav bave enough weight to steady them. Quondong and Bracken Abbey are improving sorts, while Maveelish has been sprinting well. Quondong, Wenday, and Bracken Abbey ma? be the popular selections.

The Cheltenham Handicap will be contested by a decent field of sprinters. YorE Abbey has had his prospects spoilt in a couple of his recent engagements by failing to get away well. With a good start he should take a lot of beating. Le Choucas is a consistent horse that will go well ii reserved, but some keen judges are disposed to fancy his stable mate Tea Bell, despite a failure at his last start. Dave and Nancy Lee are a consistent pair that are very well, whi'e Hoariri. at his best, would be considered well placed. If he is free from soreness he will make a bold showing, if the. ground is soft. Aurumavie has .been sprinting well and is a possibility awftnE the lisht-weights. Tea Bell, Dave, and Nancy Lee may find most support. SECOND DAY'S EVENTS. The weights for the second day's events will bo published, in Monday's Hebald, and acceptances for the same will close at 12 noosS «a Monday.

THE ACCEPTANCES. MELROSE MAIDEN STAKES, Of £250; 7 fur. st. lb. st. lb. Anolo .... S 0 Abbey Day . . 8 0 Kyngzcme . , 8 0 Star Comet . 8 0 Town Bird . . 8 0 Charis . . .8 0 Queen Kewa . 8 0 Ballachulish . 8 0 Cantab . . . 8 0 Modest Boy . 8 0 Creation . . . 8 0 Royal Picture 8 0 Alonsoa . . 8 0 Dimmer . . . 8 0 King Emerald 8 0 Arch Queen . 8 0 Te Kawana 8 0 Cynelli . . 8 0 Sir Gilbert 8 0 Wonder Star. 8 0 Harbour View 8 0 Bahama ... 8 0 Corinax . . 8 0 Ototoa ... 8 0 Miss Astron 8 0 Ambrosia . . 8 0 TIEI HANDICAP, Of £275. i mile 3 fur and 40yds. st. lb at. lb Black Cruiser 10 12 Kamebameha . 9 1 Wed March . 1.0 4 Hangawera . 9 0 Royal Form . 10 0 Sea Comet . 9 0 Pentagram 9 6 Lord Bruce . 9 0 Pourj . . 9 5 Fair Abbey . 9 0 Daddy's Girl 9 3 BOROUGH HANDICAP. Of £400: 7 fur. at. lb st. ib. Le Choucas . 8 11 Ring the Bell 7 3 Charlady . 8 0 Muscari . . 7 1 Mosaic . . . 7 11 Uralla . . 7 1 Archibald . . 7 10 Gold Fern . . 7 0 Arch Anne . 7 6 Curraghmore . 7 0 Tall Timber . 7 6 New Moon . 7 0 Naxnutere . . 7 4 Thuraby . . 7 6 ALISON CUP. Of £800: 1 mile 3 fur. and 40yds. st. lb. st. ib. Master Doon 8 9 Lord Star . 7 12 Desert Glow 8 7 Prince Ronnie 7 11 Town Back . 8 3 Spoony . . 7 8 Tresham . . 8 3 Transformer . 7 0 Ruapapa . , 8 1 Boomerday . 7 0 Nippy . . . 8 1 CAMBRIA HANDICAP, Of £500; for two-year-olds: S fur. st. ib st. lb. Finance 9 3 Arihana ... 7 7 Chips . . . 8 10 Lorna Doon . 7 3 Ti Tree , . 8 7 Exalted . . 7 0 Auficulus . . 7 10 Gold. Wedding 7 0 Whakarite 7 7 Carinthia . ■ 7 0 Standfast . . 7 7 , TAKAPUNA PLATE, Of £600; 7 fur. st. lb. st. lb Ned Kelly . . 8 9 Quondong . . 8 0 RaLepoto . 8 9 Tinokoa ... 8 0 Quinsilia , . . 8 9 True Blood . 8 0 Dobbin . . . 8 9 Valkon . 8 0 Adjuster . . 8 9 King Selwyn. 7 13 Delightment . 8 9 Salamander . 7 13 Ruffles • . 8 9 Ballachulish . 7 7 Te Koroke . . 8 9 Bold Front . 7 7 Luxurious . 8 9 Dimmer ... 7 7 Joy Germ . . 8 0 Jemidar ... 7 7 Newbury . . . 8 0 War Officer . 7 7 PON U] HANDICAP, Of £275; 1 mile and a furlong. st. lb st. lb Golden Krist . 9 4 Air Queen . 7 13 Wenday . . 8 18 Blue Sky . . 7 10 Quondong 8 4 Bracken Abbey 7 9 S'chorr . . . 8 2 Bizarro . . 7 7 Judge's Bos . 8 0 Nassoclt , >. 7 7 Maveelisb 8 0 CHELTENHAM HANDICAP, Of £600; 6 fur. st. lb. st. lb. York Abbey . 8 13 Merry Damon 8 0 L« Choucas . 8 12 lea Bell . . 7 13 King Merv 8 11 Archeen . . 7 10 Dave . . . 8 9 Heisler . . 7 4 Pavo . . . 8 3 Aurumavis . . 7 3 Nancy Lee 8 3 Tutankhamen 7 0 Hoariri . . 8 3 Value ... 7 0