CENTENNIAL CUP MEETING

Southland Times, Issue 24027, 18 January 1940, Page 10

CENTENNIAL CUP MEETING

Old Bill A Likely Favourite SIR BEAU WILL BE IN DEMAND BLACK THREAD’S SPRINT CREDENTIALS (Speical to The Times) WELLINGTON, January 17. The Centennial Cup meeting of the Wellington Racing Club will open at Trentham tomorrow, when one of the largest and best programmes ever presented to racegoers of the capital city will be run. An especially strong field will parade in the chief event, the Centennial Cup, the £3OOO prize having attracted the best class of horse in training from Auckland to the far south. The field at present numbers 29. There is a final payment of £l3 at the post, and while this may weed out a few, there is every likelihood of the majority of them starting. Similar large fields are carded in all the other handicap events, but the response in the Wellington Stakes is disappointing, there being only five two-year-olds remaining, all tlie others, and the three-year-olds, paying forfeit. The weather over the week-end was wet and stormy, and the tracks were softened, but there has been no rain since and the going will be good, if on the dead side. The win-and-place system will be in use. A field of 30 in the Trentham Highweight Handicap, over a mile, will make a good beginning essential, and there is also considerable difficulty being experie .ced in getting jumping horsemen. In the event of a shortage, and having to put up an ordinary flat jockey, the horse will be saddled with an extra 71b. In this race the pure jumpers are overshadowed by several good hacks with recent form. They include Raana, Lockit, White Rajah, Gay Fox, Harina, Colibri, Cymric, Kalika, King’s Toast, Lord Puck, and Scold. With a strong rider Scold should run prominently. The favourites may be Raana, Lockit, and Scold. A SMALL FIELD Absolve and Doria are the only penalized youngsters in the Wellington Stakes. Absolve ; s in winning form, and has improved since he last raced. Doria looked good in the spring, but she disappointed at Auckland owing to being a bad traveller. However, a return to her best will see her dangerous, as there is no doubt she is smart. Kentucky has raced consistently during the season without quite being up to the class, and Lambourne, while showing great promise, appears hardly seasoned enough yet. Sir Beau has had. only two races, but, narrowly beaten in the first and easily winning the second, he created a very favourable impression, and there is little doubt he is near the top rung. The best supported may be Sir Beau and Absolve.

FOR APPRENTICE RIDERS Riders will influence the betting in the Apprentices’ Handicap. Good form prospects are Brazil, Nelumbo, Te Ore, Algerian, Meadow, Not Out, Scarteen, Wings of Song, Classform, Hearth, Lady Tinkle, Millament, Pearl of Asia, Sceptre, Serenata, and Veldette. Freegoers are usually most prominent in this class of race, and most money may come for Wings of Song, Not Out, and Hearth. THE JUVENILES The Fitzherbert Handicap is for two-year-olds that have not won races to the value of £l5O, and there is a lot of second-class form in the field, including one or two winners, while there are also some well-bred youngsters just starting their careers. None of the latter would have to be exceptional to win. Form horses include Grandora, Beau Coureur, Chary, Don’t Forget, Phakron Song, Kadina, Stencil, Croupisino, and Chablis. Actually the best form is that of Don’t Forget, who was second to Doria in the Welcome Stakes, second to Absolve, and third to Enrich and Atreus at the New Zealand Cup meeting. If he has improved at all he should be prominent. The favourites may include Don’t Forger, Grandora and Stencil. CENTENNIAL CUP The Centennial Cup field comprises a wealth of form from classics to handicaps and sprints. The weights were framed on a scale that flatters the form of practically every candidate, and it will be a question of the fittest horse on the day, while luck in the running is likely to be an important factor. Horses that have to come from behind will be at a disadvantage, but in a solidly-run race there should be a minimum of interference. On performances two well-treated horses are Royal Chief and Fils de Vaals, and the ability of the three-year-old to run his race in front will be a big asset to him. A likely candidate in Du Maurier has gone amiss and may not be able to start. There is not a horse in the field without recent form, most of it winning form, and from the point of view of fitness nothing will have an advantage over Malagigi. Beau Vite is also looking in first-rate order after his Auckland racing, and the preparation of Old Bill has been carefully timed for this particular event. Betting is certain to take a wide range, but the favoured division may include Old Bill, Beau Vite, and Royal Chief. HACK SPRINTERS Hacks in the Ruapehu Handicap with likely form include Sir Crusoe, Gold Dale, Autolite, Gold Chase, Siglow, Punarua, Pekoe, Nelumbo, Great Flight, Passenger, Buccaneer, Lord Lynn and Desert Sun. Some stamina will be required here as well as pace. The best supported may be Siglow, Sir Crusoe, and Pekoe TELEGRAPH HANDICAP The form in the Telegraph Handicap is dominated by the Auckland running where Amigo was third in the Railway, which Bronwen won, and Arvakur won a double. However, there is material in the race capable of holding its own. Black Thread, a comparatively fresh horse, ran well at Wairarapa and has worked better than anything on the tracks since. Disdain will have to improve. Counterblast has no recent form, but at her best she is good and is now down to a weight which should see her dangerous. Brunhild and Race Call have both raced consistently, and Spanish Lad’s southern form. is also good. Duncannon is a smart three-year-old whon won at Manawatu. However, there is a possibility that he may not

run, though there is nothing wrong with him. Sleeveless, Alunga, Night Eruption, Olympus, Sternchase and Endorsement are all speedy lightweights in form, and Lord Cavendish is not without prospects on the way he is working. Most money may come for Black Thread, Arvakur and Stemchase. ANNIVERSARY HANDICAP Of the top-weights in the Anniversary Handicap, the likeliest on recent form are Full Hand, Dictate and Flammarion, while Lady Leigh’s excellent displays at the New Zealand Cup meeting should not be overlooked. Sleeveless, if reserved, should run a good mile, and Boldstep is in winning form. Galteemore, Gay Mimic, Rarotonga, Flame Queen and The Wrecker all have chances qn their latest racing. The favourites may be Sleeveless, Boldstep and Lady Leigh. The acceptances are as follows:— 12.12 p.m. TRENTHAM HIGHWEIGHT HANDICAP, £350. One mile.

Small Boy 10 8 War Lap 9 2 Raana 10 8 Harina 9 2 Golden Ridge 10 3 Arabic 9 0 Shy 9 13 Chere Arnie 9 0 Lockit 9 12 Colibri 9 0 Limbohm 9 11 Cymric 9 0 Good Sun 9 10 Esperance Bay 9 0 Silver River 9 9 Kalika 9 0 Hunting King’s Toast 9 0 Moments 9 8 Lord Puck 9 0 White Rajah 9 8 Phil 9 0 Gay Fox 9 6 Ruling Star 9 0 The Ring 9 4 Scold 9 0 Haupongi 9 2 Thrasos 9 0 Little Robin 9 2 Twenty Grand 9 0 Race Boy 9 2 12.54 p.m. WELLINGTON STAKES, £700. For ■ 1 two and three-year-olds. Five furlongs. Absolve 7 3 Sir Beau 6 12 Doria 7 2 . Kentucky 6 12 Lambourn 6 12 1.38 p.m. APPRENTICES’ PLATE, £300. Seven f urlongs. Brazil 8 7 Classform 7 8 Greatford 8 7 Flying Flag 7 8 Nelumbo 8 4 Hearth 7 8 To Ore 8 4 Lady Tinkle 7 8 Titter 8 4 Millament 7 8 Algerian 7 11 Pearl of Asia 7 8 Chief Lord 7 11 Myarion 7 8 Meadow 7 11 Sceptre 7 8 Not Out 7 11 Serenata 7 8 Scarteen 7 11 Veldette 7 8 Wings of Song 7 11 2.22 p.m. FITZHERBERT HANDICAP, £350. Five furlongs. Grandora 8 10 Croupisino 7 8 Beau Coureur 8 9 Courting 7 7 Chary 8 9 Tanne Pango 7 5 Don’t Forget 8 8 Radio Call 7 5 Phaleron Song 8 4 Shikari . 7 4 Stencil 8 2 Chablis 7 4 Kadina 8 2 Locrian 7 3 Lancelot 7 10 Cicada 7 0 Retrogression 7 10 Lady Govern 7 0 Speedwell 7 10 Triple Crown 7 0 3.7 p.m. WELLINGTON CENTENNIAL CUP. £3200. One mile and ahalf. Royal Chief 9 6 Beau Repaire 7 9 Catalogue 9 3 Thermidor 7 8 Beaupartir 8 11 Mishna 7 8 Centrepoise 8 10 Tooley Street 7 8 Malagigi 8 9 Fils de Vaals 7 8 Beau Vite 8 7 Tidewaiter 7 6 Sly Fox 8 4 Laughing Lass 7 4 Willie Win 8 4 Globe Trotter 7 3 Siegmund 8 2 Moorsotis 7 3 Old Bill 8 0 Blonde Princess 7 0 Queen of Song 7 13 Mona’s Song 7 0 Lady Montana 7 12 Raeburn 7 0 Gladynev 7 11 The Wrecker 7 0 Du Maurier 7 11 Windsor Chief 7 0 Norseman 7 9 3.54 p.m. RUAPEHU HANDICAP, £350. Six furlongs. Sir Crusoe 9 5 Passenger 7 10 Gold Dale 9 0 Buccaneer 7 9 Autolite 8 13 Areas 7 7 Gold Chase 8 12 Beauly 7 7 Siglow 8 10 Dark Water 7 7 Punarua 8 8 Desert Sun 7 7 Little Dorrit 8 7 Floral Robe 7 7 Phenomenal 8 7 Golden Melody 7 7 Pekoe 8 4 Gay Gipsy 7 7 Nelumbo 8 3 Lord Lynn 7 7 Great Flight 8 1 Prediction 7 7 Mayfair 7 11 Sky Limit 7 7

4.39 p.m. TELEGRAPH HANDICAP, £1000. Six furlongs. 10 Alunga Amigo 8 7 7 Bronwen 8 9 Night Eruption 7 7 Arvakur 8 7 Olympus 7 3 Black Thread 8 2 Rakahanga 7 2 Disdain 8 1 Sternchase 7 2 Counterblast 7 13 Blonde Princess 7 0 Brunhild 7 12 Endorsement 7 0 Racecall 7 12 Lexden 7 0 Spanish Lad 7 10 Lord Duncannon 7 8 Cavendish 7 0 Sleeveless 7 8 Nigger Boy 7 0 5.25 p.m. ANNIVERSARY HANDICAP, £450. One mile. Paper Slipper 9 7 Galteemore 8 4 Ned Cuttie 9 2 Gay Mimic 8 4 Full Hand 8 13 Rarotonga 8 3 Dictate 8 12 Cricket 8 0 Flammarion 8 12 Flame Queen 8 0 Haughty Le Toquet 8 0 Winner 8 11 Miss Appellant 8 0 Lady Leigh 8 10 Nereus 8 0 Baran 8 9 Solaria 8 0 Trebor 8 6 Tableau 8 0 Sleeveless 8 5 The Wrecker 8 0 Bold Step 8 4 Yogi 8 0