CUP MEETING TO OPEN

Southland Times, Issue 24056, 21 February 1940, Page 11

CUP MEETING TO OPEN

Counterblast Sprint Favourite CHANCE FOR KING’S CHORUS GOLD FLIGHT AND DORIA TO MEET The Dunedin Jockey Club’s autumn meeting—one of the most important fixtures on the southern racing calendar —will open at Wingatui tomorrow. The programme right through has filled well, and with Canterbury, Wingatui ** and Southland stables strongly represented, the clash of form will make matters interesting for speculators. The principal events tomorrow will be the Dunedin Cup and the Champagne Stakes, while on Saturday the James Hazlett Gold Cup, a weight-for-age event, and the Dunedin Jockey Club Handicap will be the chief attractions. The track promises to provide good going, if on the dead side. The win-and-place system of betting will operate and the first race will start at 12.30 p.m. WARRINGTON HURDLES There are 11 acceptors for the Warrington Hurdles, but very few of the runners have any form to their credit. The top-weight, Ballad, was a double winner over hurdles at the Dunedin meeting last month, and if he is able to produce anything like this form he should be the hardest to beat. In his last start he won with 10.1 and a-rise of 111 b should not stop him. Milford was twice placed over hurdles at the Southland meeting in weak company and as his jumping has improved since he last raced at Wingatui, he must be given a chance. McHeath has not done much racing this season, but Fundy Bay has some rather useful performances to his credit. King Willow looked a greatly improved horse at Winton where he ran a useful race and can be expected to do even better over hurdles. The majority of the others are novices at the game and the best of them may be Night Scout. The best backed may be: Ballad, Fundy Bay, Milford. TRIAL HANDICAP Some useful novices are down to clash in the Trial Handicap. The topweight, Gay Lancer has failed more than once, but he will always be a danger. At Wingatui last month Airline was a good second to King’s Chorus, whose subsequent form enhances the value of this placing. Turncoat would have won a novice event with ordinary luck long before this. He was beaten a head by Scarteen at Wingatui last month and a repetition of ■ this form would give him a great chance. Slamannan was twice second at Winton and he has improved with each race he has had. The others are not a good lot and The Joker may be the best of them. Those best supported may be: Slamannan, Turncoat and Airline. BERWICK HANDICAP King’s Chorus, who is to tackle the Berwick Handicap in preference to the President’s Handicap, is entitled to be a firm favourite. The field will be the best that he has been opposed to but he is improving all the time and with 8.11 is nicely placed. In his last start at Winton he was narrowly beaten by Cherokee, but with ordinary luck he may have won as he was required to cover extra ground. On that occasion he had 9.1 and with 8.11 tomorrow he will be in firm favour. Miltiades will be improved by the racing he had at Gore, where he finished third to Spendthrift- and Phalanx in the open sprint the second day. He has the best part to do, however, to give King’s Chorus 51b. The same applies to Combat, but Great Swoop, who is within lib of King’s Chorus, will not be counted out. He has failed in his last four starts, however, but at the top of his form would be considered. Counterlunch, who requires a firm track to be seen at her best was second to Night Pal at Winton. She meets King’s Chorus on 101 b better terms than when he won at Gore but King’s Chorus may still be her match. Pink Dress won a double at Tapanui against weak opposition. Of the others Pink Bond reads as well as any. Most support may come for: King’s Chorus, Counterlunch, Miltiades. PUBLICANS’ HANDICAP The open sprint, the Publicans’ Handicap, has drawn a small but select ] field. It is likely that Paper Slipper - will tackle the Stewards’ Handicap and j the stable will rely on Counterblast. j She has yet to win a race this season, , but she has been working in brilliant ‘ style and on the strength of her track ( work she promises to be a good , favourite. Disdain is a problem. There ] is no doubting her brilliance, but she ( is not a generous race mare and in 12 j starts this season she has failed to win . a race. In her last start she carried ' 7.12 and was third to Night Eruption ! and Stemchase at Trentham, the un- , placed lot including Sulieman, Arvukar, Counterblast, Rakahanga and ! others. Counterblast, who was fourth , on this occasion, received 21b from Disdain and now comes in on 51b better ‘ terms. Spanish Lad will also have a < following. He was regarded as being ‘ unlucky when Arvukar beat him at Trentham and as he can act in any ! going he is entitled to be one of the favourites. Spendthrift, who will be able to claim the full allowance, will be a possibility with 7.4 as he has raced very solidly this season. His ; dead-heat with Nigger Boy during the . holidays was one of his best efforts. . The others do not appeal greatly and j the favoured division may include: j Counterblast, Spanish Lad and Spend- , thrift. j CHAMPAGNE STAKES J It has been reported from Riccarton * that Doria may not take her place in ‘ the Champagne Stakes field. If this is ’ so it will be unfortunate, as a meeting ( between Doria and Gold Flight was 1 being keenly awaited. In the Middle ' Park Plate Doria beat Gold Flight at a t difference of 41b, but with 71b between £ them tomorrow it should be a great < duel between the pair. There was only 1 a length between them at Riccarton, s at the end of six furlongs run in Imin 1 10 3-ssec. On the Wingatui track Gold 1 Flight may be preferred to the Riccarton filly. Retrogression beat a strong field of two-year-olds in the Lyttelton Plate in his last start, but he will be J

much more severely tested here. A high opinion is held of Shikari, who was backed to beat both Doria and Gold Flight in the Middle Park Plate, but lost his chance at the start. At Trentham he was narrowly beaten by Sir Beau, but the form of both Doria and Gold Flight is much more reliable. Platform has only appeared on one occasion and may require racing. Although the field is a small one it lacks nothing on the score of quality and those most favoured may be: Gold Flight and Doria. STEWARDS’ HANDICAP The top-weight, Papex- Slipper, has been set rathex' a difficult task with 10.6. There is no questioning his class but some of those below him will make him carry his weight. Swordstick has several useful placings against his name while he won over 8£ furlongs at Vincent from Sir Hugh and Hanlon. He now meets Hanlon on 71b worse terms, but Swordstick is almost certain to claim a full allowance. Chirp should be improved by the racing she has had at Gore and Winton. In hex- last start at Winton she finished third to Valantua and Peony Rose, with Waitoru in fourth place. She now meets Waitoru on 21b better terms than when she beat him, so she should hold him safely. Travenna has done most of his racing over hurdles this season, but he has the ability to win in this company. Straightdel has not raced for some time. The best supported may be: Swordstick, Chirp and Travenna. PRESIDENT’S HANDICAP King’s Chorus will be missing from the President’s Handicap field. The favourite will probably be Islay Downs, a winner over this distance in his last appearance. After finishing second to Blissful Lady the first day at Gore Islay Downs beat the hack milers the second day rather comfortably. On that occasion he carried 8.2 or 71b less than he has tomorrow, and the three-year-old should be again the hardest to beat. Scold won a liighweight event at Riccarton early in the month when he beat Cape Gabo and Master Dingle ovex - a mile. Royal Style was twice placed in highweight fields at Gore, while Cherokee was a winner at Winton and finished third to Blissful Lady and Merry Simon over a mile. Crack o’ Dawn has been racing solidly while Raroa has been placed in her last three starts. It is quite a useful field and those most in demand may be: Islay Downs, Scold and Cherokee.