RACING NEWS

New Zealand Times, Volume LIII, Issue 12638, 24 December 1926, Page 8

RACING NEWS

WANGANUI GALLOPS SOME PROMISING PERFORMERS TEAM FOR MANAWATD. I (“Times” Correspondent.) WANGANUI, December 23. W- Dwyer will leave for Awapuni to-morrow with „his team, , consisting of Great Day, Star Area, Limosa and Poleto. The last-named is a bit tender iu front.and has not done much fast work, but; the others , are very well, particularly Star Area. ' Some light rain - fell, during the night,- but it was fine for training operations this morning. Number I track was used, for the fast work, and it. was in very' good order. Musket Vein wasfirst to. work, ■ and ran three furlongs in 38jsec. Royal Elm was sent five, furlongs, which he covered in lmin 6sec comfortably. He is. engaged at the Marton meeting. Elysianor (Head) went six furlongs, being picked iip at the half-mile by break o ,: Day, (McDonald). Elysianor ran past Break- o’ Day, but the latter soon made up his leeway and went right away, being four lengths to the ■ good. Elysianor’s time -was lmin 16 sec. Civility (Head) was Slipped over six furlongs-by herself. The first quarter was done in 24seo, and an even pace was maintained r. over the next - two furlongs. • The last quarter took 26 2-ssec, making the full time lmin ,14 2-ssec. - . Bent proved too- good for, Tamakana. in a gallop voyer a mile, which she covered -in - lmin 44 2-Sseo, the last seven furlongs : being done in lmin 31sec. Halgina ' and . Diamond Ring were companions in a try-out over a mile. Diamond Ring-acted as pacemaker in the early stages, but’ Halgina .then took charge and finished well clear of his companion, in lmin 44sec, the last seven, furlongs taking lmin 31 1-5 sec, a good gallop. Empire Camp (P. McGuire) was given a round over the schooling hurdles. He \ jumped in good style : all - through. I , . Star Area and Great Day, separately, were given half pace work, finishing" up fast;. over a couple of fux r longs. Bent is in better shape than ever, hut some doubt- exists as .to,her going to New Plymouth, owing to the iri- • ability, so far, of securing a suitable rider. 1 . . .. AUCKLANDjCARNIVAL

j WHAT FORM DISCLOSES ! REVIEW OF~’tHE FIELDS. ! (“Times” Correspondent.) i AUCKLAND, December 23. { The Auckland Racing Club’s summer carnival opens at Ellerslie on Monday and promises to be ono of the greatest in the history of the-'club. The track work has been full of interest, although several trainers have not yet put in an appearance. A’ good deal ;of rain' -has -fallen, and it', was commencing to have an effect at the close of'the work , to-day. However, the track was in splendid, ofdfer and - will be at its best on Monday if the rain ceases. , The first race on , Monday, i' the Queen’s Plate, and. of those already at Ellerslie Stqrmy, Magna Charts, Hase and' Alldway, have done best. Mint- Leaf, Paddon - and Antrim Boy are all‘ first-class hacks and a number of horses will be well backed. Stormy 1 , Antrim Boy and Haze may be the trio most, sought after. • One of the best fields, for, many years . in numbers, and quality, will - contest the Great Northern Foal Stakes. Cimabue is the best perforator so far and Agrion, -Royal Cdres, Laughing Prince, - Gascony and - Talisker are all good youngsters. Gascony and Talis- ■ kor made many friends yesterday, but Cimabue should hold his position as favourite with . Gascony and, Agrion next in request. At least fifteen should line up for the Auckland Cup. Piuthair is said to have a slight cold and may not , start,, and there is a doubt whether Diogenes will start. Rapine ; in running a mile and an ; quarter in fast time to-day, -j again recorded'the best among the Cup horses, but- Count Cavour, Te Monanui, Star Straifger and Mask also pleased. The , top weights have all done well sihce their arrival and-are a very even lot. They should all be handy at the finish, being all highgrade stayers. Tanadees went well this _ morning and,'Mask is doing everything asked of him in good style. - He will have his final gallop on Saturday with -Te Monanui. Mandane is in good order and her chance will depend on her staying ability. She would be greatly fancied at a mile and‘‘a’half. 1 Star Ranger was given only a working gallop, but he is a very fit horse. ' Battlement has 'not pleased since reaching the -iscene, . but he may ’ be : a lazy worker.The indications are that the winner will come from the five topweights. A likely trio to find- favour , at tlie last ’ minute: may be Star Ranger, Mask'and Te Monanui. ' . The Grafton Hurdles field is. anothereven one, those to please the track watchers being Highway, Gauntlet, Mauriga and Royal Form, while the Waikato pair,- Rangitahi and • Pehderinis, are also possibilities. ■ A fijiaL. selection may be Royal Form, Gaunt- . let' and Rangitabe.- - - ; A big’field-is , sure to . come out for , the Railway Handicap, and- the- draw for positions , will be followed, to; some extent, in the search: for the winner. ' Grand Knight galloped brilliantly this / ' morning,. and' has come into favour. He may lose it'early with .his weight, but must be greatly respected, • Lady Cavendish has not galloped yet, but is in; demand on last year’s

form.-. She will have a harded task this year. : ‘uoiqipuoa pipuopls m si fepiiqg did not- gallop to-day. on- account of having struck herself. .S., Waddell thinks the injury is not serious, and hopes to get her:to the post.in good shape. . , Limited has not galloped the full distance, • but has twice gone pleasingly over five furlongs. Licinius is also pleasing his - admirers, and looks a fit horse. Ausgie went • very fast over five furlongs, the. best of the morning but he had no shoes on. Others to :. do well have been - Ruffles, High l’itcs and Bally, moy 11. Kjngfield and Tea Bell have, yet to arrive.- : With a reasonable draw Limited, Ruffles ■ and,-Shirley may ,be at the head of, the. quotations. , ,In the Nursery . Handicap: Titree and Paganelli have-fair form,, but there are a number, of improving maidens, notably Cdsmetic, Covent Garden, Panther; ' Doree, Melissa, and IFlying TresSes.ln an open race Paganelli, CoVent ; Garden and Melissa may: be the fancied selections. Any of half a dozen might be favourite for the Ghristmas. Handicap. Le Clioueas showed signs of returning to form at TakapUna,: and is a proved miler. He :is yet to reach the scene. True Blood is assured of heavy support after his ed&vincing efforts at Takapuna, and of the other three-year-olds, Rascal, Csamour and Psaola have been hitting out very pleasingly. Of the older horses Princess Ronnie, Gala Day and Scat are in-good order and can be .expected, to show up. Phaola pleased -greatly ,in easily holding: Desert Glow-over a mile. At the head of the list in. a, great betting-race may be found', the three-year-olds True Blood, Chainour and' Phaola.

TROTTING WAIRARAPA CLUB’S. MEETING Among the number of hciiday attractions the annual meeting of the Wairarapa Trotting Club will doubtless attract a large number of visitors from Wellington and surrounding district's. The course is situate at Clareville, one. mile beyond Carterton, and those travelling by motor can - rely on a pleasant journey, as the roads are reported to be in first-class order. Travellers by train are 1 catered for by the -7.50 morning express; on both Monday and Tuesday, and this' stops at Clareville, which is adjacent to the course entrance. Reports, received ? from the course yesterday indicate that practically all the horses who have accepted are on the spot, and. were seen in action in their final work during the day. The- acceptances create a record for the club, and comprise some really high-class trotters—the best class seen in the Wairarapa to ’ date—and sportsmen who make Clareville their, objective; on either of the/days’ racing appear to be assured of a good day’s sport. The officials of the club have, installed many improvements to the ground - and buildings, and those who ave not visited the meeting previously will be agreeably. surprised at the picturesque surroundings and the accommodation provided for visitors. SOME OF THE"PERFORMERS The programme will commence with the Trial Handicap, in which Aiidubon Mac arid Matenga, which showed form at. the recent Nelson meeting, should ' he most , fancied. For urihoppled trotters, Bon Tapui (wrongly named PBon de' Pui in the acceptances) showed form at Nelson, and must claim consideration. Dentistry has speed, hut has been very unsteady m his recent training work. May Reta showed herself to be a fair saddle mare a couple of seasons back, and may have improved since then. In the Bay'Handicap, Steel Wire, Gr.ey Logan, arid' Lady Ballin may claim most attention. The , next event, : the Wairarapa Cup, has drawn an excellent field. Bald Bill showed winning form at New Brighton last Week, and although on a back mark is siure to give a good account of himself. He has already won on the Clareville course.' Mr Corrigan’s good mare, : Sister Beatrice, is on the limit, and although straight-out trotters have the hardest part to do when contesting pacers’, events, she is so generous that whatever heats her .should win. The Boxing Day Handicap is a mile saddle/event, and a number of smart maidens will fade the barrier. Form shown earlier in the day may assist in the selection of. the winner. Item has shown winning form on the Wairarapa course. In the Members’ Handicap, a smin lOsec class for r#ihopp'led trotters; over a course of tw<* miles, a very fino field, is engaged. The unhoppled races at almost all recent meetinga have proved, the best'contests, and this event looks very open. Black Palm has winning form at Nelson to recommend-him,, -while-the racing Hardy Grattan had at the Wellington meeting should .do him good. Although he is standing up to limit horses, 120 yards, he will-be found ; n the firing line when the judge’s box is reached. Priscilla Dean, another of Mr Corrigan’s nominations, is a strong fancy for the- Clareville Handicap. She may ; find most opposition "from Gold Dial, which raced prominently at the last Auckland, meeting. The racing will be concluded by the Presiderit’aHandicap of one mile and a quarter, and -by this time patrons will ■ have had quite a lot of form to-assist . them in their selection.