FIELDS REVIEWED

Otago Daily Times, Issue 27211, 14 October 1949, Page 5

FIELDS REVIEWED

'Tahuna Handicap

A field of nine is carded for the opening event to-morrow and it includes the three horses who filled the places last Saturday. Ripcord has gone back 36 yards for his win in the Bayfield Handicap and that will make his task much harder. He is a solid type of trotter, however, and his ability to keep to a level gait may carry him into a place. If there was a guarantee that Dictation would travel evenly all the way he would be a solid favourite, as he is the speediest horse in the race. Lochinvar was not orominent in the early running of the Bayfield Handicap, but his finishing run was most impressive. Dame Durdin. and Finale are the most llkelv to improve on th'e first form, but Dictation, Lochinvar, and Ripcord may dispute favouritism ST. HILDA HANDICAP Nine is also the main for the St. Hilda Handicap, and Mystery Dillon and Nature Girl, who finished second and third respectively in Clair Handicap, are likely to claim most attention. Mischievous had every chance last Saturday but was weakening towards the finish. She may go better if the going is firm. Cottesloe went a fair race for fourth without ever looking like a winner. The fact that Opindale. a fresh horse, comes from M. Holmes’s stable will no doubt bring him support, even though he has been unplaced in his two starts this season. Vicereine might take part in the finish if she makes a better beginning than she did last Saturday, but Nature Girl, Mysterv Dillon, and Quindale may have most support. DOMAIN HANDICAP Peggydale, winner of the corresponding race last Saturday, has gone back 36yds and has a field of 16 in front of her. She will need to have everything in her favour to win this time. Grey Streak went a good race for third last week, and the Van Derby gelding has been working well during the week. Desert .Flight, with conditions to his liking, romped home in the St. Clair Handicap, a 4sec looser class, and the going mav b= di rferent to-morrow. The consistent Direct Power was finishing on for fourth last Saturday, and should be a batter horse to-morrow. Vigilant was an unlucky runner last Saturday, as he began slowly, but he showed a nice turn of speed on the journey. Daisy Bar was involved in a collision and is a likely improver Nebula was second to PeggvdMe and Double Deck is capable c f upsetting calculations. It is an open pee, with Grey Streak. Direct Power, jVieilant bnd Nebula likely to be in most demand.

PRESIDENT’S HANDICAP In the field of nine for the principal event of the day. the President's Handicap, two of th“ runners, Democrat and Prince Hall, will be bracketed, and the ano'-aranee of the New Zeal"nd Cun candidate, Attack, will be watched with interest. Ace'of Diamonds does not make anv special appeal, nor does Right Royal, but the bracket of Democrat and P’-ince Hall will have a big following. They were both prominent for a long wav on Saturdav. <jnd may do better on finner going. Minoru does not appear to b’ at his best, and P-omi-r Royal may b« preferred to him. The Grattan Loval rc’ding did not start smoothly in the sprint last Saturdav. On Approval nos cone back 24yds. but he won well last Saturday and apparently with something in hand. Dragoman appeared to have every chance in the King George Handicap,' and Attack’s prospects will not be improved bv the fact that the v e is a gao of 48yds between him and the nearest horse to him When the totalisatoe is balanced it will probably be foimd that the heaviest investments are on Premier Royal, the Democrat-Prince Hall bracket and On Approval.

CHURCHILL HANDICAP If form works out right, Bessie Grattan should be the hardest horse to beat in the Churchill Handicap. She went a solid race last Saturday for second to Single Task. Lady Inehcape beat Conceit’ for third place, but Conceit is the more likely of the two show improvement. Nydia' and Noble Star will be bracketed. Noble Star has been working attractively. Sandv Duval may be in need of a race, and the best of the others may be Vinceremo. Bessie Grattan is the' logical favourite, and the next best backed runners may be Conceit and Lady Inehcape. ROYAL HANDICAP s A good field of 16 Is carded for the Roval Handicap;' and the betting is likely to cover a wide range. , Great Wonder was in the picture all the way -in the. Peninsula Handicap, and finished third, and Air Mail came home strongly for second. These two are on the same marks as last Saturday, and should race prominently again. Slavonic was the leader most of the way in the Peninsula Handicap, and if he could carry his speed a bit farther he would reach a place. Allanah lost her chance last Saturday by beginning slowly. Constellation and the Sirocco-Coliseum bracket look the best of the Others, but G-eat Wonder mav be preferred to Air Mail and the Belle Potts-Allanah bracket. VICTORY HANDICAP With last week’s winner, Islaburn Lass, out of' the way. Systematic is the form horse for the Victory Handicap. He beat the other 'runners easily. Sandy Logan paced a fine race to win last Saturday, but he is on a two-second tighter maik. He is bracketed with Foreign Lady and the bracket looks a good one. Another bracket is that of Fabric Silk and Wedding Ring who were third and fourth spectively last Saturday. Provided h starts correctly, Gold Strand will go close to reaching a place and he may follow Systematic, the Fabric Silk-Wedding Ring bracket, and the Foreign Lady-Sandy Logan bracket in the order of favouritism. farewell handicap A fine field of 19 will contest the final event of the meeting and a fresh horse is Sir Peterson, who won a double at the recent Auckland meeting. He will be bracketed with Oh Approval and if On Approval is reserved for the race the bracket will make a big appeal. Positive generally races prominently at Forbuvy Park and last Saturday he went a good race for second to Victory Globe. Baby* Grand made most of the pace in the Flying Handicap and if the race has improved him he should finish further up. Black Machine made a bold showing for fourth in the Flying Handicap and may improve on that at any time. Ace of Diamonds, Right Royal, On Approval, Minoru, Premier Royal, and Dragoman are engaged earlier in the day. and some of them may be missing from the sprint. As the field stands, the favourites may be the On Approval-Sir Peterson bracket, Positive, and the Baby Grand-Right Royal bracket.