STRETTO FANCIED

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23011, 12 April 1938, Page 9

STRETTO FANCIED

MAKE OF GOOD CLASS CHANCE FOR GOLDEN SHEILA SULEIMAN LIKELY IMPROVER BRIGHTON HURDLES CONTEST BY ARCHER - Everything augurs well for the openipg of the Auckland Racing Club's autumn meeting at Ellerslie 011 Saturday and ttio good fields should provide some keen contests. Special interest is being centred 011 the Easter Handicap and the Brighton Hurdles, important events on the first day, and the prospects in these races are being keenly discussed. S tret to is the ruling favourite for the Easter Handicap and she is unlikely to be deposed fro\n that position unless anything unforeseen occurs. She has done very well since winning the Awapuni Gold Cup recently, and it should not bo for lack of condition if j she lails to race prominently. No mare has succeeded in winning the race with over 9.0 since the distance was reduced to a mile in 1898 and it will be necessary for Stretto to I register a meritorious performance to win. However, there is 110 doubt that she is a mare of class and in view of ■ the fact that she finished a good third I with 9.3 in the Thompson Handicap her i prospects appear bright. Two of her ! most formidable opponents may be j Golden Sheila and Suleiman, who are I good gallopers, and not overburdened with weight. Golden Sheila finished well to run second at her last start with 9.0 j f ' over seven and n-quarter furlongs at Matamata recently and that performance indicated . that she will run a sound mile with 8.5.

- Improving Three-Year-Old The three-year-old Suleiman has made marked progress since lie commenced racing in the spring, and it is quite possible that lie has made further improvement since racing at Trentham last month. With 7.12, he has 41b. less than he carried'into fourth place in the Thompson Handicap at Trentham and if he does only a little better than on that occasion he should be very difficult to beat. Hound Up and Royal Appellant have more than once proved their ability to run a mile well, and they should add interest to the contest. With both at their best, the preference at the weights may be for Royal Appellant, who has recorded some of his best performances over the mile course at Ellerslie. Hoyal Appellant is handily placed with 7.12, which is the same as he carried to victory two years ago. Owing to the fact that she has been sore Avith a bruised foot, there is a doubt about Llangollen, whose prospects may be better gauged later in the week. She has improved rapidly in the past few months and at her best would have to be treated with respect. Francis j Drake, who will probably carry a little i overweight to secure the services of Atkins,: may be the likeliest *of the others, as he recently struck winning form .and is not lacking in brilliance. "Whirling may run well, as he does not appear to have shown his best at Trem:ham, and another possibility is Dark Shadow. Tray Bit is also a capable miler, but the fact that he was very sore when he raced last does not inspire confidence. The final gallops may shed some additional light on the prospects, although at the moment it appears likely that there will be strong support for Stretto, Golden Sheila, Suleiman and Royal Appellant. Nine in Hurdles Field Although there are only nine in the Brighton it may be one of the most. interesting contests of the day. The class is even with several likely improvers and the issue is very open. Equation displayed signs of returning to form when he raced at Paeroa last month and he may take a lot of beating. Master Musk was successful recently at Tauranga and is a good stayer who should be seasoned enough to run out the two miles very soundly. Valpai has been schooling well and, although he lacks recent form, may not be out of it. His prospects will be enhanced if rain comes to soften the going.

The Waikato trainer M. J. Carroll has a strong jiand with Kilberis and Bryce Street, who are improvers, Bryee Street is aiso in t,he Mangere Steeplechase, in which Carroll also has a second string with Lucid us, who won over hurdles at Whangarei last week. Kilberis is more brilliant than Bryce ~Street, who may eventually make a better steeplechaser than a hurdler, and will have plenty of friends if started. Celtic Lad is an improver who won twice at Paeroa and ho will disappoint if he fails to give a good account of himself, as his efforts last month were very promising. Killadar and Irish Comet have no recent form to recommend .them and success for either would probably create surprise. The. favourites may be Celtic Lad, Kilberis, Bryce Street and Master Musk. RIDING ENGAGEMENTS JOCKEYS FOR ELLERSLIE 4 Further riding engagements an- * nounced for the,first day of the Auckland Racing Club's meeting on Saturday are:— ft. Vaughnii.—Tray Bit, Balinavar, Vaals Star. N. Trillo.—Bryce Street, Kilberis. L. H. Clifford. —Llangollen, Knight of Australia, High Sea. H* W McTavish. —Valaniito, Kilonsa, Glenogil, N°itaro. G. Gilchrist.—Day Wind. Tybalt, First Gold Money, Fleetwind. S. Treinam.—Barrister. •; N^McKon/.ie.—Golden Sheila. J. F. Fergus.—Valpai, Smilin' Thru. P. Fearn.—High Tea, Milanion, Bronze ' Wing. H. Stokes.—Neil. E. E. Baker.—Stretto. STARTING TIMES EVENTS AT ELLERSLIE Starting times for the first day of the Auckland Racing Club's Autumn Meeting are ;is follows: —12.1 President's Handicap, 12.44 Great Northern j Oaks, 1.2!) Brighton Hurdles, 2.14 j Easter Handicap, 2.59 Great Northern j Champagne Stakes, 3.39 Mangere Steeplechase. 4.19 Onslow Stakes. 5.4 Etlon Handicap. gamble breaks down

,UNLIKELY TO RACE AGAIN [BY TEr.KOHAI'II —PKESS ASSOCIATION] OHRISTCHURCH, Monday Gamble, runner-up in the Inst Now «iftland Trotting Cup and a candidate jor the trotting championships, has Woken down tendon trouble being responsible. [lis trainer, M. B. Kdwards. **id it was doubtful if Gamble would tried again, as the horse has had R . old foreleg for a long time and has Always been difficult to train.