The South Still Is Main Centre of Attraction

NZ Truth, Issue 1273, 24 April 1930, Page 13

The South Still Is Main Centre of Attraction

ASHBURTOTxTS BIG HEAT The Easter Fixture Will Be A Good Barometer BACK DIVISION HAVE APPEAL , (By "The ITofE") . , y Form at the Easter meeting at Addington will act as a telltale as to what is likely to run well at Ashburton next Saturday.

WITH only the handicaps to go pn, the task of sorting ou£ likely winners is not an easy one. Fortunately, the class for the chief event at Ashburton is different from those staged at Addington, but, notwithstanding, the doings of several c;mdidate.s over > lesser and similar journeys at Addington will be a big guide for Ashburton. Muriel de Oro only has to earn a penalty, at Addington to lengthen her dividend at Ashburton. Off her present handicap of 4.32, she only has to be herself to win. She is a great pacer and she has done a lot of work. „'-.■ Arikitoa looks a very hard horse ' 'to beat. He has 4.30 2/5 against him, but under the new handicapping system his mark is 4.32. He is m wonderful order, and- being a genuine stayer he must take a lot of beating. • ■ ' Sitting on the front of the handicap is Great Logan. ''. " His best time over two miles is 4.27 1/5, which he did when he ran second at Addington m February, but like Arikitoa he enjoys the privilege of the new handicapping system and is placed on 4.33. If Great Logan repeats his 4.2J 1/5 on Saturday he will beat Muriel de Oro and Arikitpa. That is doubtful, for the Addington track was m an electrical condition when he registered his g.27 1/5. The Auckland, gliding, Carmel, •which has won several races this' sea-son,-is assessed at 4.32. His last ef-

fort to date was accomplished at Addington m August last, Avhere he won going 4.31 1/5. Since then he has ,captured a big race at Auckland, but his time on that occasion was not as fast as that done at Addington. Carmel's form at Easter will act as a barometer for Ashburton. Orphan is'able.but "iffy." D. Withers, is doing ..his utmost td make a generous racehorse of him, but until he has worked that improvement m the gelding, speculators will prefer to allow him to pay a long price. Two pacers on the limit at Ash'burton that will appeal to the crowd are the brilliant pacers Venflomm'e and Wrackeen. . In her track essays, Vendomme has been perfect, and two miles is not beyond her staying ability. Wrackeen has her phenomenal performance over a mile and a-half at Forbury to offer m support •of her •chance at Ashburton. An extra four furlongs should not distress' her. Fair Wave's recent showings have, not suggested that she can beat Vendomme, Wrackeen, Carmel - or Muriel de Oro. She may uncork something, but that seems . unlikely. Of the back-mai-kers The Shrew is the best. She is very well, ; but it is doubtful if Kennerley will start both Vendomme and The Shrew. At time of writing, Muriel de Oro, Arikitoa/ Wra.ckeen find Kennerley's representatives are most favored.