FINAL DAY AT WINGATUI

Southland Times, Issue 23839, 9 June 1939, Page 10

FINAL DAY AT WINGATUI

Black Banner And Gold Wren To Meet LAZYBONES IS SPRINT FAVOURITE FIREGUARD EXPECTED TO SHOW UP The Dunedin Jockey Club will again present an interesting card for the final ; day of its winter meeting tomorrow. I For a third day the fields have filled J particularly well and the high standj ard of racing provided the first two 1 days is almost certain to be maintained. I The chief event will be the Dunedin ; Steeplechase, in which a clash bej tween Black Banner, Gold Wren and ■ El Caballo is being keenly awaited. The ; weather again promises to be fine and I the track will provide a fast surface I as was the case for the first two days. I Several horses are engaged twice during the day. The first race will start at 11.30 a.m. and the win-and-place system of betting will operate. GREENFIELD HURDLES The top-weights are certain to be in most demand in the Greenfield Hurdle Handicap. When Pink Robe beat Recollection in the June Hurdle Handicap there was no fluke about her success as she jumped better than he did and at the last fence did not leave the issue in doubt. Recollection has been raised to 11.5 and Pink Robe has I gone up from 10.2 to 10.10. Pink Robe comes in on 41b worse terms but if Recollection does not shape better than he did the first day she may beat him again. Most opposition may, however, come from Fireguard who has improved by the racing he has had at the meeting. He finished fourth in the Otago Hurdle Handicap and a good second to Trevenna in the Duke of Gloucester Cup. He now meets Pink Robe, who beat him the first day, on lllbs better terms, and at this difference Fireguard should certainly beat Pink Robe. Last Link has raced fairly well but will require to improve to have a chance with those above him. Vantoon is the most likely of those further down in the weights . but a heavy track would suit Baitruin. The choice is for: FIREGUARD PINK ROBE ’• RECOLLECTION. ELECTRIC HANDICAP The novices engaged in the Electric Handicap are not a particularly good lot. Airdrie was narrowly beaten by Prince Ruenalf on Monday and if he reproduces this form he may be the hardest to beat. Airdrie appears to have improved since raced in Southland, earlier in the year. Royal Style was a good third to Prince Ruenalf and Airdrie and if that form is to be taken as a guide he should be in the money again. Black Bard has been racing fairly well and Neptune went a better race on Monday than he did on the first day. Colonel French will be having his first start at the meeting. He has been raced over hurdles in recent starts but this should not stop him from showing up as the three-year-old has more ability on the flat than most. Strathalbyn was confidently supported in her only start at the meeting but she missed the jump out and lost all chance. She is inclined to race greenly but if she jumps out with her field she will keep the others busy. The most likely are: AIRDRIE ROYAL STYLE STRATHALBYN. EMPIRE HANDICAP Strip, who will be making his first appearance at the meeting, will probably be the favourite for the Empire Handicap. He has won in his last three starts and the manner in which he spreadeagled a field of sprinters in his first start in open company at Riverton was a great performance. The set back he had last week may, however, place him at a disadvantage. Straightdel beat all but Lazybones on Monday and he should beat the majority again. Fleet- Street will be better suited by the six furlong journey and his good second to Nightcalm the first day cannot be overlooked. Fleet Street now meets Rebel Mate on 21b worse terms and in a smaller field Rebel Mate’s chance must be highly rated in spite of his 9.10. Phalanx’s form at the meeting has been good enough to suggest that he will win a race. He put in a promising run in the straight in the sprint on Monday but did not sustain it. Flagman is a smart beginner and the furlong shorter will be in his favour. Skyrena won the hack sprint in decisive style the first day but she was well beaten over 10) furlongs after being one of the leaders to the straight on Monday. She will run a better six than the majority. The field is full of possibilities but the following mav be expected to show up: STRIP REBEL MATE STRAIGHTDEL. DOMAIN HANDICAP Spearthrust beat a useful field of milers the first day and a repetition of ' that form will find him hard to beat , in the Domain Handicap. The Irish Lancer three-year-old is highly rated

and he will only require to race up to his first day’s form to take some. beating. Disband was well beaten in his two starts at Washdyke and Combat will require to shape better than he did on the second day. Kippen has been racing solidly at the meeting and he was a good second to Green Boa on Monday after making most of the pace. ' Astaire has not shown up in either of his two races but Green Boa is a form horse in this field. When he won on Monday he did not secure a good run in the middle stages but once clear in the run home he soon put the issue beyond doubt. Hunting Chorus has !been a disappointment so far and so I has Silver Choir. Astral Flash was decidedly unlucky ,in the Southern. Handicap on Monday as she lost a lot of ground at the start and then finished right up behind, the placed horses after putting in a promising run in the straight. The most likely are: SPEARTHRUST ASTRAL FLASH GREEN BOA. DUNEDIN STEEPLECHASE Black Banner will be making his first appearance over country since he won a treble at Riverton at Easter when he takes his place in the Dunj edin Steeplechase. With 12.10 he has been dropped 31b by the handicapper for not starting and in comparison with their first day’s weights he now meets Gold Wren, who has since won the Otago Steeplechase, on 161 b better terms. Gold Wren is a better horse now than at any part of his career and the manner in which he won on Saturday with 10.13 points to his running out a great race with 101 b more on his back over a quarter of a mile less. Black Banner has not raced over country for some time but he has been kept up to his schooling work and the race he had in the Duke of Gloucester Cup would assist him. At the weights the writer is inclined to favour the chances |of Black Banner. El Caballo is another who will have to be considered. He has won the two hack steeplechase events at the meeting very easily and a jumper of his class cannot be overlooked. The two top-weights may, however, prove too solid for him. La Boca is the only one of the others who would be entitled to consideration as he is a first-class jumper. The favourite may be: BLACK BANNER. GOLD WREN. EL CABALLO. KING GEORGE HANDICAP Speculation is likely to take a wide range in the King George Handicap, as the majority of leading sprinters and middle distance horses are down to clash over a mile. Nightcalm beat a strong sprint field in brilliant style the first day under 9.7 and under the same weight over two furlongs- further he cannot be counted out. He is a smart beginner and this will be a factor in his favour in a big field. Thermidor has only to be kept up to the leaders in the early running to have a great chance. On Monday she was always in the leading division but in several of her races she has had a lot of ground to make up over the last half mile. Second Innings has won over all distances and is always to be respected. The brilliant burst of speed he unwound the first day in beating Passaform gave some idea of his worth. Araboa is a better miler than most but has yet to show up at the meeting. Spanish Lad carried the field along at a fast pace over 10J furlongs on Monday and beat all but Thermidor. He now meets Thermidor on exactly the same terms over the shorter journey. Petersham is just the type to run out a great mile. He was one of the sprint favourites on Monday but did not show up. Sir Hugh carried the field in the Duke of Gloucester Cup along at a fast pace on Monday and under his big weight he did well to finish third. This will be his first start in open company but judging by some of his efforts in hack fields he should make a race of it. Auctor is another who will be having his first race in this company and he will not be disgraced. The issue is very open but a likely trio is: NIGHTCALM. THERMIDOR. SPANISH LAD. TAINUI HANDICAP Several of those in the Tainui Handicap are also engaged in the King George Handicap and there are likely to be several scratchings. Monday’s winner Lazybones is certain to have a big following as his success in the Members’ Handicap was one of the features of the day’s racing. He has been raised from 8.3 to 9.1 and now meets Straightdel (second) 61b worse and Silver Streak (third) on 141 b worse terms. Even at these differences Lazybones should win again as he won under difficulties on Monday. Second Innings is just the type to run out a great seven furlongs and if he is reserved for this he will have a chance. Araboa would appeal more over a mile. Skyrena, Sir Hugh and Valantua all have other engagements. The most likely are: LAZYBONES SIR HUGH SILVER STREAK ALDWORTH HANDICAP The distance of 10£ furlongs in the Aidworth Handicap may trouble a good number of the runners. Green Boa gives the impression that he will stay as when he won on Monday he was doing his best work at the finish. Hunting Chorus has yet to win over a mile • but in spite of this will have a followi ing. Spearthrust has an earlier engage- ! ment but if reserved will be one of the favourites. Doctor Duthie has lightened up with the racing he has had but this did not prevent him from giving a good account of himself when he finished right up behind the placed horses under a big weight. Merry Simon has only raced once at the meeting so far but did not show up. In all his races he has been staying on and his stamina here will be a big factor in his favour. The others do not appeal and Sunny Jean may be the best of them. The most likely are: MERRY SIMON DOCTOR DUTHIE GREEN BOA