STEWARDS' HANDICAP

Otago Daily Times, Issue 27567, 8 December 1950, Page 5

STEWARDS' HANDICAP

Chance For Red Pickle The card win be opened with the running of the Stewards’ Handicap, for which there is a field of five. The fact that the handicap is started as low as 7.12 shows that the horses are a very even lot, and Red Pickle appears to hold a great chance of scoring an overdue win with only 7.10 to carry. White Robe has finished in a place in her last two races, and she is iiable to put a break on the field at the start. Glenlivet is a very useful sort for the minor circuit, and at the recent Wairio meeting he rah third to Waicoe and Merry Lancer over seven furlongs. Slick has another engagement, and those selected are Red Pickle, Glenlivet and White Robe. Lilting May Improve A number of the horses engaged in the Trial Handicap have not been started this season, so that there is little by way of form in the field. Ash and Scuttle, who will be bracketed, were both placed last season and a very likely improver before long is Royal Spanish. Chatswin finished fourth in the Ferry Novice Handicap at the Wyndham meeting in October, but it was not a good fourth. Lilting had her last race in the Maiden Handicap at Washdyke in October, and she finished fourth to Royal China, Upshot and Asaf Jah. Way Home looks the most likely of the others, but those selected are Lilting. Royal Spanish and the Scuttle bracket. Amarant a Form Horse Amarant has been placed in each of his three starts this season, and has claims to be made favourite for the Tuapeka Saddle Trot, in which he will be ridden by D. M. Kerr. Horses raced by J. Walsh generally race prominently at meetings in Central Otago, and for that reason Cubit is assured of a solid following. He has not been raced since the Gore Racing Club’s meeting in February, when he was unplaced. The Gore trainer. H. R. Reid, has a likely bracket in Dark Hour and Subordinate, and it may follow Amarant and Cubit in the order of favouritism. FIRST LEG OF DOUBLE One of the best fields of the day is engaged m the Wetherstones Handicap, the firs* leg of the double. . Faustina has not been faced since June, but she will be one of the hardest to beat if she is at anything like her best. A. E. Didham has Gay John and Highthorne engaged, and Gay John may be the better prospect of the two. He looks improved by his recent racing. Urbino is due to strike form, and Flying Trixie, the half-sister to Delayed and Deploy, looks in good racing condition. Those selected are Flying Trixie, Gay John and Faustina. ARCTOTIS IN CHIEF EVENT The principal race of the day is the Summer Handicap, and provided the bends do not trouble him, Af.ctotis should beat those opposed to him. , His third to Pierre and The Rip in the Fendalton Handicap makes him look a particularly good prospect. Zealander, who is now trained at Oamaru by J. C. McKerrow, is engaged in the High-weight Handicap, and high-weight conditions might be more to his liking, consequently he may not be started in the • Summer Handicap. Bobby Dazzler has not been at his best for some time, but Merry Lancer was placed recently and so was Benevolus, who should race well within the minimum. Arctotis, Merry Lancer and Benevolus may be at the top of the betting order. THE SECOND LEG If Zealander is reserved for the Highweight Handicap he will have to be considered, and the same applies to Slick, who also has an earlier engagement. Munlockie was placed in his last two races, and Don’t Listen won over a mile and 35 yards at the South Canterbury meeting in October. Shelbash has been placed in two hurdle events this season, and Fine Art has had four starts for two placings, the more recent of which was in the Benio Stakes at Gore, when he finished particularly well for fourth. Ember has not yet reached a place, and Munlockie. Don’t Listen and Fine Art may be prominent at the finish. FRESH HORSES FAVOURED The only fresh horses engaged ■in the President’s Handicap Trot are Clinker Hall, Brooksby Hall and Plausible, so that the running of the earlier trotting event should throw some light on the prospects here. Clinker Hall's best performance this season was in the Innovation Handicap at Invercargill last month. It was a saddle event and she finished third. Brooksby Hall and Plausible will be bracketed and the more likely of the two is Plausible, who was placed at the Wyndham meeting last month. Those selected are Clinker Hall, Amarant and the Plausible bracket. CONCLUDING EVENT The Royal Chief filly Nan is one of the form horses for the Wood Memorial Handicap. She won the Trial Stakes at Winton in very easy fashion. She had been placed twice prior to that. Golden Wonder has recorded four placings in a row and a win for the Haughty Winner horse would not come ■ out of its turn. Salmon King may be in need of a race and Cricket Field appeals more than he does. Those selected are Nan, Golden Wonder and Cricket Field.