WANGANUI WHISPERS.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume IV, Issue 163, 22 June 1936, Page 5

WANGANUI WHISPERS.

MINTS ABOUT HORSES Straliord Deserves Extra Racing spxtuEs. NOTS6 AND COMMENTS. TARANAKI AT WANGANUI. (By "SIR ORACLE.") If it were not for the large contingent of Taranaki horses competing, the Wanganui Jockey Club's winter meeting, whiish concludes to-morrow, would assuredly have drawn disappointing fields. All told, the Wanganui acceptances for the first day totalled under 70 horses, and of this total, approximately 25 of the performers hailed from Taranaki stables. In this respect, it it worthy of passing- comment that the Wanganui contingent engaged numbered oriiy about a dozen, or half the size of the Taranaki bunch. As Wanganui offered' lucrative stake-maguey, each of the jumping razees, the Century Hurdles and the Grandstand Steeplechase, being worth £350, it is difficult to understand why these two time-hon-oured races did not attract stronger and bigger fields. Had it not been for the T.aranalri competitors, who numbered five in an acceptance list of eight horses, the Century Hurdles field must have been about the poorest numerically in the history of the Wanganui Club. With a "moderate" in Cotsfielcl as topweight with 10.1, the steeplechasers which contested the Grandstand Steeples, also hardly came up to the standard of the jumpers regularly patronising Wanganui of past -f.ea-

sons. Except that Wanganui lias the new King's Birthday date (a racing date naturally desired by most provincial dubs), for the conclusion of its meeting to-morrow, it is doubtful if the River City' club is tetter served by racing between Ellerslie and Trentham, as at present, than by holding its- meeting early in the winter (and as. something of a rehearsal for Ellerslie Great Northern candidates), as in the past. r TARANAKI WINTER FIXTURE WANTED. However, the excellent Taranaki patronage given Wanganui goes to suppsrt- the contention that Taranaki certainly deserves an additional winter racing fixture, to bre'ak the monotony of the spell of inactivity in the province in the interim between early May (the Egmont Racing Club's fixtare) and the end of August, when the eombined Hunt Clubs race aft New Plymouth. And in the event of another raeing permit being allotted the Taranaki district, there is no doubt but that the Stratford Racing Ciub (one of the most enterprising provincial racing organisations in the North Island), deserves every consideration for an additional meeting. It is a bappy fact that visitors to the Strajtford New Year Meeting almost invariably are impressed with the local course and its appointments, and also with the hospitality extended patrons from outside towns and provinces. Therefore, owners and trainers, and the racing public generally, are oertain to welcome and to support an additional fixture held by the Stratford Racing Club. LIKES THE WINTER-TIME! The New Plymouth-trained hack, Mustang, is obviously right at home under winter racing conditions, and has caught the judge's eye in his last two starts at Ellerslie and Wanganui. Mustang is a hardy sort, and appears capable of reaching good open company class. Mustang should again run well in the Champfon Hack Handicap at Wanganud to-morrow. However, the field is likely to touch strong hack class, and Boomerang for one looks dangerous opposition if started. WANGANUI STEEPLES PROSPECT The Grandstand Steeplechase winner at Wanganui on Saturday did not have at all strong opposition to beat, but he lias to be regarded as a very promising type of 'chaser. Among the jumpers entered for the Wanganui Steeplechase to-morrow, Forest Glow is undoubtedly the bestperformed candidate, and this consistent fencer should make his-, presence felt', if his connections elect to give him a race between' the big carnivals at Ellerslie and Tr'entham. Diamond is also better class than any of the 'chasers seen in action on Satur-

day, biii Windsor Lad can be looked to to run another solid race over the Wanganui "country," which seems well to his liking. Also worth watching if he competes may be Manawatu, which raced rather impressively at his last outing a week or so ago. FOR TO-MORROW'S CONNOLLY HTANDiCAP. At time of writing, the result of tbe Empire Handicap at Wanganui on Saturday was not available, and this race is .certain to have given a fair line on to-morrow's prospects for the Connolly Handicap. However, if runners, Onewhetu should be right at home over the extra furlong to-mor-row, while the Wairarapa candidates., Hazoor, Prostration, and West Tor all seem to be near peak form just at the present time. Like, Onewhetu, Prostration's form of recent months has been really consistent, and this pair have claims to being close to the most-improved horses of the present season. Once he strikes form, Hazoor is capable of holding his own in the best middle-distance handicap class, while for the past two winters West Tor has regularly come into the picture as a real winter prospect, at home over sprints' as well as middle-distances.

AMONG THE WANGANUI HURDLERS. Now that Ruaform has returned to the winning list, he is quits likely to carry on with the good work through the winter. Ruaform seems to run his best races on the Wangauui course, and should be well supported if he starts in the May Hurdles tomorrow. However, if the highly-bred Trentham hurdler, Chile, and the former good Hawkes Bay flat performer, Speed, are als,o produced, they are like':- to; dispute favouritism with Ru; onn' Both Chile and Speed have a lot of pace lor hurdlers, and both have been schooling well lately. EXTRA FAST OVER FsVE FURLONGS. There are few hacks in the North Island capable of. footing it with Flammarion, whose record since Christmas has been very consistent. Despite the fact that he is sure to have a big weight, the Farewell "five furlongs flutter" at Wanganui to-mor-row may be made to Flammarion's order, if he be a runner. Caen is another with lots of pace over a short sprint journey.