HOLIDAY FORM AS GUIDE

Southland Times, Issue 23407, 14 January 1938, Page 10

HOLIDAY FORM AS GUIDE

Counterflight’s Good

Credentials

JANET GAYNOR IN FORM The annual fixture of the Vincent Jockey Club will open today and conclude on Saturday. Wingatui stables are strongly represented and as the majority of the entrants raced over the holidays, this form will be accepted as the best guide. The fields for this year’s meeting are the strongest for some years. On the strength of his double success over the holidays Valmarch is likely to be a firm favourite for the Ophir Hack Handicap. He is well seasoned by recent racing but endeavoured to run off the course when he won at Invercargill. Counterflight with 8.12 is at the top of the handicap and a good showing may be expected from him as he also scored at Wyndham and Invercargill. Adina will be better suited by the six furlong journey than the races he contested at Invercargill while of the others Gipsy Fair has the best credentials. In spite of her rise to the top of the weights Janet' Gaynor should be the hardest to beat among the open sprinters but Song Boy is returning to form and he may upset calculations. Valarth has been galloping well and at his best he would keep this field busy and recent efforts indicate that he may not be long off the winning list. Of the others Natty and Silver Lark will have to be taken into account. The Clare Memorial Handicap has drawn a particularly good field. Both Hanlon and Stratosphere have shown useful form at times but the form horse is Counterflight who won over the distance during the holidays. The Iliad gelding has improved with recent racing and there is good reason to favour his chance. Pink Robe at the top of the handicap will not be troubled by the distance while she has proved herself well up to weight. Night Wings is a recent winner, and Auctor, although still a novice, is one not without a chance and he may be responsible for a surprisingly good showing. The trotting fields are at least strong in numbers but there is not a great deal of form to go by. Blue Spot raced well enough on the southern circuit to indicate that he was capable of winning a race and the opposition he will meet today will not be as strong as in earlier races. Guy Azaleas is an improver while Awatea has quite a reputation. Off 36yds in the New Year Trot Capricorn should be placed. The field is much the same in the Vincent Trotting Stakes in which King Drusus, Lord Zetland and Gracious are likely newcomers.

The betting will be under the singlepool system and the following are likely to be favoured: OPHIR HACK HANDICAP: Valmarch, Adina, Counterflight. MATAKANUI HANDICAP: Janet Gaynor, Valarth, Song Boy. NEW YEAR TROT: Blue Spot, Mandrell, Capricorn. CLARE MEMORIAL HANDICAP: Counterflight, Pink Robe, Auctor. SPOTTIS HANDICAP: Straightdell, Bellerive, Slayer. VINCENT TROTTING STAKES: Mandrell, Blue Spot, Lord Zetland. OMAKAU HANDICAP: Queen Dorothy, Daring Deed, Trivet. The acceptances are as follows: 12.30 p.m. OPHIR HACK HANDICAP, £lOO. Six fur-

longs. Counterflight 8 12 Roseman 8 0 Valmarch 8 9 Great Empire 7 13 Dollar Prince 8 7 Adina 7 11 Gipsy Fair 8 6 Dazzler 7 7 Volo Dale 8 5 Philein 7 7 Golden Vision 8 3 1.15 p.m. MATAKANUI HANDICAP, £100. Six furlongs. Janet Gaynor 8 13 Hanlon 7 13 Silver Lark 8 6 Stratosphere 7 9 McHeath 8 4 Natty 7 9 Trivet 8 3 Ramo 7 7 Valarth 8 3 Golden Vision 7 7 Song Boy 8 3 2.0 p.m. NEW YEAR HANDICAP, £100. One mile and a -half. Allen Wrack It Mandrell It Awatea It Undaunted It Blue Spot It Young Ardgour It Gratanella It yds bhd Guy Azaleas It Lady Olds 36 Happy Erin It Sansaveno 36 Hytemoana it Capricorn 48 2.45 p.m. CLARE MEMORIAL, £100. One mile and a distance. Pink Robe 9 3 Great Empire 7 12 Hanlon 9 1 Illora 7 9 Stratosphere 8 11 Gusterina 7 7 Counterflight 8 9 Au ctor 7 7 Nightwings 8 4 Pride of Central 7 7 Gipsy Fair 8 2 Joy Boa 7 7 Volo Dale 8 2 3.30 p.m. SPOTTIS HANDICAP, £100. Six furlongs. Straightdell 9 2 Nice Kid 8 11 Combat 8 13 Honour f. 8 11 Slayer 8 13 Weathervane f. 8 11 Bellerive 8 13 Quid? Return 8 10 Bad News 8 11 4.15 p.m. VINCENT TROTTING STAKES HANDICAP. £100. One mile and a-quarter. Allen Wrack It Mandrell It Adois it Nelsondale It Awatea it Scotty Black It Beau Geste It Young Ardgour It Blue Spot It yds bhd Gracious It All Kings 24 Gratanella It Hazel Russell 24 Guy Azaleas it Cirrus 36 Hytemoana It Lady Olds 36 Inquisition it King Drusus 48 Lord Zetland it Master Garry 48 5.0 pan. OMAKAU HANDICAP. , £100. One mile and a-distance. Queen Dorothy 9 7 Silver Lark 7 9 Daring Deed 8 4 Last Link 7 8 Trivet 7 10 Pink Robe 7 8 Valarth 7 10 Ramo 7 7 McHeath 7 10