FIELDS REVIEWED

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26963, 24 December 1948, Page 4

FIELDS REVIEWED

WARRINGTON HURDLES The racing will be opened with the Warrington Hurdle Handicap, for which there is a field of 12. Bridgehead had an easy win in the Temuka Hurdles at the Geraldine meeting with 9.7. He has 111 b more to carry on Monday but that should not stop him from at least reaching a place. Benbecula still has something to learn about jumping, but if he gets round without rapping the hurdles he will be hard to beat. At the Cup meeting he was just beaten in the last stride by Sphere in the Middleton Hurdles. Vanity King was third to Kiloney and Robert at the Southland meeting last month, and should be improved by that race. Knight Crusader won the hurdle event at the Geraldine meeting in October. but failed at the Southland meeting last month. Sailor Boy was second to Bridgehead at Geraldine and comes in on 61b better terms. Bonnie Lancer was second to Gold Song in the hurdles at the Otago Hunt meeting in September, and his recent work nas been good. Tweedside looks the best of the others but the favourites may be Benbecula, Bridgehead, and Sailor Boy. Trial Handicap In the first division of the Trial Handicap the Beaulivre gelding, St. Leonard, with a third and a second in his two most recent races, should be prominent in the running. Robin Redbreast has been placed in three of his eight races this season, and is due to leave trial company before long. At the New Zealand Cup meeting he was third in the Apprentices’ Handicap to those two smart Southlanders. Beaugard and Waicoe. In; fatuate ran third to Idle Jest and Autoshine in the Apprentices’ Handicap at the Banks Peninsula meeting and was considered to be unlucky. Blair Marshall was second to Crease in the Spring Stakes at Timaru in October, but has not reproduced that form since then. Radar and Lights On are due for improvement, but the form horses are St. Leonard. Robin Redbreast, and Infatuate. Jamell has drawn the outside marble In the second division, but even with that handicap he will have to be considered. The brother to Fine Night looks well and his work has been In keeping With his looks. At the Gore meeting on Labour Day, Sylvan ran second to Dad s Pal In a division of the Novice Handicap, and the Royal Chief filly appears to hold a chance here. Chord has not reached a place' yet this season, but the Tiderace gelding looks well and may show imoroved form at any time. Lance Art has a third at the Tapanui meeting to recommend him, but Jamell, Sylvan, and Chord may be among the hardest horses to beat. - Berwick Handicap A field <of 27 Is due to go to the post for the Berwick Handicap. Baygundi, the top-weight, won the Kaiwera Hack Handicap at the Gore meeting with 7.6, but has 8.12 to carry here, and that may stop him. Battle Robe won at his last start, and Fluorescent Light has won twice in seven starts. In the Otaio Plate at the New Zealand Cup meeting he had a big break on the field until the last furlong. Royal Lark raced well at the Tapanui meeting for a win and a second, and in her present form she should win again before long. Speedy went her best race yet to finish second to Eulogize in the Otaio Plate, and if she reproduced that form she would be hard to beat. Night Rider, Anzora, Golden Chips and Irish King all finished in the money at the Tapanui meeting, but they should be held safe by Milly Mandy, who finished third to Solimbine and Waicoe in the Hagley Hack Handicap at Riccarton. Royal Lark, Milly Mandy and Fluorescent Light may be the best supported.

Publicans’ Handicap A good field pf sprinters will go to the post for the Publicans’ Handicap, and the betting is likely to cover a wide range. Magical, with 7.10, looks the pick of the handicap. He is brilliant over the distance. and he has been galloping well at Riccarton. Theocritus is coming back to form, and at the Geraldine meeting he was just beaten by Faithful Pal in lmin 12sec.

Patmos and Red Pickle have not struck form this season, but Patmos is better now than she has been, and may be a winner before long. Geisha Girl won at her last start, and provided she is taken the shortest way round she should be prominent in the run home. Deep Harmony is one of the moody sort who has to be taken on trust. Super Flight is close to her best form, and she can be marked off for an early win. Bath Slipper, Ned Kelly and Balkis have other engagements, and may be missing here. Of those on the minimum, Faites vos Jeux and Jan are capable of setting a merry pace. Magical, Geisha Girl and Faites vos Jeux make most appeal. Dunedin Cup A field of 13 is engaged in the Cup, with the New Zealand Cup winner, Sir Garnish, at the head of the handicap with 9.0. He was on the minimum in the Cup. Prior to that he had won the Soldiers’ Memorial Handicap at Winton by a neck from Gunther, to whom hex gave 61b. The difference between them on Monday is 191 b. Salmon Spear may not be quite ready, but Aganev showed a return to form by winning at the Tapanui meeting, and she is not over-weighted with 7.11. Gunther was an unlucky horse at Gore, and improvement can be expected from him. He meets Aganev on 61b better terms. Brockie hag been racing more generously and his third at Gore was a good effort, as he was wide out most of the way. Maryburn has been showing signs of lameness, but F. D. Jones is not likely to send him to the post unless he is fit. Ned Kelly is doubly engaged Golden Amber, with 7.1, must be granted a royal chance of lifting the Cup and getting her first win of the season. Taking a line through her third in the Canterbury Cup, she looks the pick of the field and she is in fine condition. Of the others, Helio is likely to have a following as a result of his third to The Grate and Riverview in the Fendalton Handicap. The order of favouritism may be Golden Amber, Gunther and Helio. Champagne Stakes Thirteen youngsters are engaged in the Champagne Stakes and on form Gold King and Limpid may dispute favouritism. Gold King, who has been striding out well in his work at Wingatui, has had five starts for a win, a second and a fourth. He won the Winton Stakes from Correct Change and Spice. Prior to that he had run second to Caronia in the Juvenile Handicap, at Wipgatui. Limpid won the Spring Nursery Handicap at

Riccarton from Plausible and Prince Defaulter, and she looks bright and well. Correct Change was finishing on in the Winton Stakes and *vill appreciate the longer distance. The most likely of the others appear to be Espalier and Winning Gem. The order of favouritism may be Gold King. Limpid and Correct Change. Stewards’ Handicap

If Super goes to the post for the Stewards’ Handicap the public will have litUe difficulty In locating the favourite. The English-bred galloper is real class

and he should run out a good mile. Judged on Tapanui form Grill would not have much chance, and Sal’s Pal appears to have his full share of weight. Merry Lancer went a good race for second in the Tapanui Handicap and the mile might be more to his liking. Pageantry was second to Loyal Lady at Gore last Saturday, Balkis was third to Flying Sovereign and Eulogize in the Stonyhurst Handicap, of nine furlongs, at Riccarton, and Bren Gun was third to Brockie and Night Owl in the President’s Handicap at Geraldine. Super, Merry Lancer an<j Balkis should race well. President’s Hack Handicap

The Turk got badly away in his race at the Tapanui meeting, but he is very well at present and with a good start on Monday he should be a hard horse to beat. String Band’s recent consistency entitles him to consideration and he has been doing good work. Winning Thorn has collected a win, a second and a third in his last five starts. He was second to Royal Lark in the Hlgh-weight Handicap at Gore last Saturday and finished well. Bragden won the Wairio Hack Cup. of one mile and a-quarter, with 8.1, and with lib more here he is entitled to consideration. Monylender, Arctotis and Brixton will have support, but the favourites may be The Turk, String Band and Winning Thorn.