VOLOMA’S CUP CHANCE

Southland Times, Issue 23651, 28 October 1938, Page 10

VOLOMA’S CUP CHANCE

Backmarker May Be Favourite NEW TRACK TO BE IN USE The fields for the annual spring meeting of the Invercargill Trotting Club are of good strength and although the majority of horses have not raced for some time, their ability is well disclosed. The card is' an excellent one and promises to provide a capital day s sport. The new trotting track will be in use at the Southland Racing Club s property, and a much better view ot events will be provided than was previously the case. The win-and-place system of betting will operate and the first race will start at 12.30 p.m. Very few of those engaged in the Novice Handicap have any recent form to their credit. Kentucky Sun raced at Gore and after losing some ground at the start, finished a good fourth. This effort was quite a useful one and if he races up to the same form he should be prominent at the finish. Flash Guy has plenty of ability but cannot be depended on to begin correctly. Dunalister finished third to Gold Bank and Charles Russell and the Wyndham pacer is almost certain to be sent out favourite. Nancy Guy raced promisingly last season but was always well back in the running at Gore. The favourites will probably be: Dunalister, Kentucky Sun, Flash Guy. Gold Weed will be an interesting entrant for the Monowai Handicap. He is only a four-year-old, by Wrack from Golden Nut, and he finished fourth in the New Zealand Trotting Stakes for three-year-olds last season. Geld Weed is a much better trotter than most his age and if he is sufficiently forward he can be counted on to give a good display. Indian Scout has not raced for some time but a high opinion is held of the Washdyke trotter and he is likely to be one of the favourites. Jock McGrath shaped well as a four-year-old last season and he can be expected to improve. Late Harvest would only have to begin correctly to have a chance. Lady Ede was a.winner at the recent Methven meeting over twelve furlongs and a-half in 3min 43sec, a useful performance. Traveltone is not the most dependable but Dalaruan is a solid customer. Native Kowhai is a better horse in saddle than harness. Indian Scout, Lady Ede and Gold Weed may be the favourites. CHANCE FOR OASIS The two-mile journey of the Thomson Handicap will trouble most of the runners as not a great number are sufficiently forward to see out the journey. Oasis is well seasoned by recent racing and as he has several firstrate placings against his name he is the logical favourite. Glen Guy and Ghandi will represent a useful bracket as both have shaped well over two miles. Sydney Grand will be improved by the racing he had at Gore and he is entitled to solid support. Directly is conceding 48yds and from this line he may begin correctly. There is little doubt that he will stay on. Gold Bank from 60yds will have to be considered as his task here may not be as difficult as when he won from a similar mark over one mile and a-half at Gore. Gold Bank gives the impression that he will develop into a fine stayer. The choice may be for Oasis, Gold Bank and Sydney Grand. INVERCARGILL CUP The field of nine for the Invercargill Trotting Cup should provide a first class race and the evenness .of the field can be judged by the fact that there has not been any pronounced early favourite. Salalon has by far the best recent form of those off the front line as he has won two of his last three starts. The two-mile journey will be new to him but that should not seriously trouble the Adioo Guy gelding. College Boy, who is now well into the veteran stage, may be something of a surprise. He won twice in saddle last year, while at Riverton at Easter he put up a great performance to run third to Ghandi and Glen Guy over two miles in 4min 34sec. A repetition of that form would see him hard to beat. Happiness started only twice last season, finishing third to Blue Spark and Frisco Silk in the Invercargill Cup. He was unlucky on that occasion and if he is in the same form on Saturday will have to be considered. Suncup may stay on better than most but it is some time since Coherto and Monty Chimes showed any worth-while form. Coherto, however, would only have to race as well as he did as a three-year-old when he finished second in the Wyndham Cup to have a chance. The winner may come from those further back in the handicap. Blue Spark won twice out of five starts last term, and the Invercargill Cup was one of these. He is a fine stayer and much more reliable now than at one stage of his career. Roan Duke did not win a race last season but he finished third in the Gore Cup and second to Vologda in the Southland Handicap, a race he should have won. In the Southland Handicap Voloma, who started off the same mark as Roan Duke, finished third. Voloma is now conceding him 36yds and even that handicap may not be too much for her. Her form was far and above that of any pacer raced in Southland last season, and for several seasons past for that matter. She has yet to win over two miles but there is every reason to believe that she will stay. Voloma put up one of the best performances seen in Southland for some years when she won over a mile and five furlongs at Wyndham last season, and on the strength of this effort, she will give the majority of Invercargill Cup candidates a start and finish ahead of them. She is a brilliant beginner and this will enable her to make up her handicap smartly, while she has done sufficient work to fit her for such a task. The choice is for Voloma, Roan Duke and Blue Spark. CRESCENT HANDICAP The Crescent Handicap field is the smallest of the day. Golden Miller and Mulguy were second and third respectively to Salalon at Gore and this is the best recent form of any of the runners. Golden Miller has been a disappointment in his races in Southland and if he is to be returned a winner he is given his chance here. Edith Grattan was solidly supported at Gore but she did not justify it by her showing.' Hoyle would only have to strike his hopples correctly to have a chance and the same can be said for Seascape. Capri was placed at Gore and he will be improved by that race. Gold Bank is engaged earlier, but if he started in this

race, he would still have a chance from 60yds back. In the probable absence of Gold Bank the favourites will likely be Golden Miller, Mulguy and Capri.

The trotters will make their second appearance in the Travis Memorial Handicap, the best guide for which will be the earlier race. Jimmy Drusus is a newcomer and one who can be relied on to race solidly right through. The earlier event will provide the best guide but at this stage Indian Scout, Lady Ede and Jimmy Drusus will be favoured.

The novices will also appear a second time in the Takitimu Handicap, this time in saddle. Kentucky Sun may move off more quickly in saddle than harness and if he does he will be one of the hardest to beat. Rapidian is a newcomer and as a member of J. Walsh’s team will have to be respected. Willow Bank raced well at Gore and in being defeated by Gold Bank the second day he was not disgraced. Royal Chief holds the best prospects of the handicap lot. The earlier novice race may alter opinions but the best supported at this stage are likely to be Willow Bank, Kentucky Sun and Rapidian. The majority of those engaged in the Members’ Handicap are making their second appearance at the meeting. Tritoma and Grand Meteor will represent a strong bracket and. this pair will probably be the most favoured. Debenture was one of the most likely young pacers raced last season and if she begins at all reasonably well she can be expected to show up. Oasis is giving away time to start, but a success earlier in the day would find him again nicely placed. The back markers are set rather a difficult task and Roan Duke, off 36yds, may prove the best of them. New Ideal has plenty of speed but cannot be relied on to do his work correctly. Favourites may be Debenture, Oasis, Tritcma-Grand Meteor bracket.