Big Programme at Wanganui

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 47, 18 May 1927, Page 6

Big Programme at Wanganui

AUCKLAND REPRESENTED rr'llE last meeting lxrior to the Great Northern fixture of the Auckland Racing Club is that at Wanganui, opening to-morrow and concluding on Saturday. With a large number of Auckland horses engaged, and in addition the appearance of many horses under orders for Ellerslie after their outings at Wanganui invests the gathering with considerably more than the usual interest.

At Wanganui to-morrow no less than fourteen horses from the Auckland Province are engaged, and it is reasonable to suppose that with the quality of their representatives Northern sportsmen may confidently look forward to a fair portion of the stake money coming North. Latest advices from the river city report that the track is in first-class order, as it usually is at any time of the year, with its sandy sub-soil, and consequently there should be some splendid racing.

Fields all round are large, but there will be no divisions, for the course has been widened at the various barriers to enable large fields to line up. Incidentally they don’t like division races at Wanganui, and perhaps they are wise to avoid such where possible, for they are a nuisance to everybody. For the seven races to-morrow there will be an average of nearly fifteen acceptors, and this will tend to make backers cautious.

At 11.45 a.m. the opening event is timed to start. This is the

PURUA HACK HANDICAP, Of 175sovs; 6 furlongs.

On a small turning- course such as Wanganui possesses the draw plays a big part, more particularly as in this case there are no less than twenty-one probable starters. Recent winners in Rising Star, Ber-inthia, Lieutenant Bill, Toapaiti (the Hawera double winner), Miss Pat, together with promising sorts in Green Bonnet, Modest Boy, Royal Elm, Break o’ Bay, Onward, Denier, Nastoria and Subdivision provide plenty of material to make it hard for the backer. Partaga has been racing most consistently of late, but he would be fancied if the journey was a bit further. Ballymoy II won this event last year for Auckland, and once again the stake may come North, for Modest Boy ran some fine races at Ellerslie. The most fancied lot may be MODEST BOY, BERI NTH 1 A, and TOAPITI. This brings spectators to the first of the jumping events, the first of four on the card, the

The majority of the above raced over country at Hawera, so form is fairly well disclosed already. However, there is some likely material among the new blood, and the position is still further complicated by the fact that two of the most fancied ones are also engaged in the big steeplechase. These are Peter Rosa, who ran second to -Llewellyn at Hawera, and Gilgai, winner of the principal jumping event last Saturday. So that until the actual starters are kiipwn it is impossible to say what will be the actual favourite. Eonmark raced consistently last week, while Lady Spalpeen was disappointing. The Wanganui fences should suit her however. Rangi Sarto may be well suited by the bigger fences, and so should Labour Morn, who is in the veteran stage. Banjuke is a fine jumper and if he does not want a race will be one of the hardest to head off. Lupineel went a good race in the Egmont Steeplechase, and Advent and Rayo have light weights’ chances. PETER ROSA and GILGAI will be heavily supported if started, and if reserved for the later event then the public will probably declare for EONMARK and LUPINEEL. The way is now paved for the big affair, the

The top weight is to make his initial public appearance over the bigger jumps, and if he succeeds he will not be the first to do so in his first, for Landbird also did the trick in his maiden effort. Comical has been clearing the fences splendidly in his schooling, his showing yesterday being due to some interference from a companion, which apparently unsettled him. Passin’ Through will be suited by the distance, and he has raced well over this course before. He should be able to show some improvement on last week’s efforts. Tuki has had the benefit of some public outings in the far South, and such a good jumper as he must be considered. Peter Maxwell may need a race to sharpen him up, but he must be well enough if he is to stand a chance in the big Ellerslie event. Omahu is coming along, and on his schooling effort yesterday morning he will have a show. Maunga is a doubtful quantity, but Peter Rosa, if reserved, will have a chance to prove that he was unlucky against Blewellyn. Birkenella did not jump at all well at Hawera, and Gilgai may find the pace too solid, despite his win last Saturday. Bonny Rill and Hallowmorn complete the field, which is much better in quality than many that have lined up for this old-established race. TUKI, PASSIN’ THROUGH and COMICAL is how the punters may fancy them. The hurdlers will have their say next in the

KAITOKE HACK HURDLES Of 175sovs; 1J miles. stlb stlb Enare ... 11 2 Asleep ... 9 2 San Pedro . 10 13 Troilus ... 90 Polyphemus 10 S Lady Acre . 9 0 Gauntlet . 10 4 Just John . 9 0 Mt Marta . 9 9 Whetuhine . 9 0 Tamakana . 9 4 Peshwa ..90 Attractive .92 Pekatahi ..90

In the past this contest has served to introduce some good jumpers, and, incidentally, some moderates. Tomorrow's field is as good as many that have been seen out, and with fourteen runners the horses near the front all the way will play the biggest part. Therefore early speed is essential. Some that fulfil this qualification are Enare, San Pedro, Gauntlet, Mount Marta, Attractive, Asleep, Troilus and Peshwa, and from these the danger will come. The top-weight

would be a good thing if he liad done a bit of racing, but his outing at Hawera 'should have served to fit him for the contest. So ENARE, MOUNT MARTA and SAN PEDRO promise to be well supported.

With a dozen left in the big hurdle race, a good contest is assured. This is the

Although the fences to be negotiated are not as severe as at Ellerslie, the pace is usually made very warm in the event, so that genuine stayers have attained their success. This is where Nukumai will be dangerous. He ran quite well on the flat at Hawera last Saturday, and he has only to be in something like his old form to be hard to beat. Koauau too is a good sort, and a fine hurdler. Zircon will see the journey out, and together with the other Hawera winner, Brigadier Bill, will be found playing a prominent part. Euchre is not fancied much over such a journey, and Ardath, a brilliant performer when at his best, appears to have lost confidence through recent mishaps.. Elvaette is a good sort, but over' the journey has to be taken on trust. Sottano is a bit of a puzzle, although if he takes it into his head to jump he has the pace to beat the field. Kalakaua is regarded as a promising recruit to the hurdlingx game, and the distance will not bother him. Day Bell will carry a lot of Auckland money, for he has done everythng asked of him. He is a bit young for such a race, but he has got through the work, and with the pace and jumping ability he will not be far out of It. Comedy Prince is too erratic to recommend, although when in the mood he will foot it and jump with the best. Rangatahi will also have many firends, despite the fact that he is up against the good ones. DAY BELL, BRIGADIER BILL and ZIRCON appear to be the most probable to carry the confidence of turf followers.

The two concluding contests are on the flat, and the next of these is the

CONNOLLY HANDICAP, Of 350sovs; 14 miles.

There have been some startling surprises in this race in the past, and there are one or two capable of keeping up the reputation of the event in this respect. The two top weights are very forward, but Civility is preferred on the strength of that rattling performance at Awapuni, which was even better than her Elllerslie efforts. Royal Divorce, Day Guard, Tresham, Alloway, Royal Mint, Shining Armour, New Moon, Vivo, Orazone and Rouex are also likely to be in the limelight, making up a field rich in quality and quantity. In fact the field is too big for the course, and the element of luck will enter into the contest to a large extent. This makes it an exceedingly difficult event to sum up. Perhaps three that will come in foi* big support are CIVILITY, ALLOWAY and ''HINING ARMOUR. An interesting card is to conclude with the BOROUGH HANDICAP

This is a reasonably-sized field, and with a few smart beginners engaged it is a much easier race—on paper—to sum up than its predecessor. Grand Knight showed a glimpse of returning form at Hastings a fortnight ago, and he is one of the possibilities. Tukia ran good races at Awapuni, while Benzora was an impressive winner at Hawera. Lady Cavendish is in comparatively light, and she reads the best at the weights. She was written down by some scribes for her Awapuni failure after her success in the All-Aged Stakes, but they apparently overlooked the fact that she was drawn on the extreme outside, and although she was in the van at the mile, there were several horses almost up with her on the inner, and so. ~he could not come across to the rails, nor could she come round the bend outside so many. It then appeared that she was not persevered with, and for this nobody could blame her rider. Bonogne is unreliable or unlucky, perhaps a bit of both. Oration will be well suited by this track, although he lias not been seen in a particularly favourable light on this course. Deluge is to make a reappearance on his old home course, and then there isS Papaponga, and the unlucky Tip Tree. However, it is expected that those at the top of the list will monopolise the market, with LADY CAVENDISH, BENZORA and TUKIA as the elect of backers. NOTES AND COMMENTS With H. Burt on Comical in the Wa nganui Steeplechase, another rider will have to be found for Passin’ Through in that race. Among W. J. Bowden’s mounts iomorrow will probably be Nuki - mai and Eonmark. It is possible that he will be on Passin’ Through. A. Jenkins, who was successful on Gilgai at Hawera, will again ride the P .tea-owned gelding in his engagements. B. H. Morris’s mounts to-morrow will be Civility, Grand Knight and Partaga. L. G. Morris has been engaged for Tukia, Diogenes and Rising Star. Roy Reed w.l- pilot Degage and Oration. J. Barry will ride Lady Cavendish in he open sprint. Latest advices from Wanganui will be found on the late news page of this issue.

st lb st lb Rising Star . 9 4 Royal Elm, . 7 11 Partaga . . 8 13 Break o’ Day 7 10 Berinthia . . 8 12 Onward 7 10 Rowley . . . 8 6 Denier . . . 7 9 Lieut. Bill 8 4 Nastori . . . 7 7 Toapaiti 8 2 Subdivision . 7 7 Green Bonnet 8 1 Violet II. . . 7 1 Modest Boy 8 1 Calculation . 7 0 Miss Pat . . 7 13 Romantic . . 7 0 Joy Germ . . 7 11 Tinwhistle 7 0 Monsogne . . 7 11

HACK STEEPLECHASE Of 175sovs; about 2 miles, st.lb st.lb Peter Rosa . 10 12 Rang! Sarto 9 12 Eonmark . . 10 12 Labour Morn 9 12 Little River 10 10 Banjuke . . 9 12 Crown Coin . 10 4 Lupineel . . 9 10 Gilgfai 10 2 Advent . . . 9 7 Lady Gold Jinks . 9 0 Spalpeen . 9 12 Rayo . . 9 0

WANGANUI STEEPLECHASE Of 600sovs; about 3 miles. st lb stlb Comical . . 11 12 Maunga . . 9 10 Passin Peter Rosa . 9 9 Through 10 13 Birkenella . 9 9 Tuki .... 10 7 Bonny Rill . 9 3 Pet. Maxwell 10 4 Hallowmorn 9 0 Omabu ... 10 1 Gilgai . . 90

CENTURY HURDLES Of 450sovs; about 2\ miles. st lb stlb Nukumai . . 11 9 Elvaette ..99 Koauau ... 10 5 Sottano ..98 Zircon ... 10 5 Kalakaua ..96 Euchre . . . 10 2 Day Bell . 9 6 Ardath . .. 10 1 Comedy Brigadier Prince . 9 2 Bill .... 9 10 Bangatahi . 9 0

Degage . . . st lb 9 9 Royal Mint . st lb 7 3 Civility . . . Diogenes . . 9 7 8 13 Shining Armour 7 3 Roy. Divorce 8 6 New Moon . 7 0 Dayguard . . 8 3 Vivo .... 7 0 Tresham . . 7 13 Orazone . . . 7 0 Income .... 7 13 Diamond Ring 7 0 Avola .... 7 8 Rouex . . . 7 0 Bennanee . . Alloway . . 7 8 7 7 Capitulation 7 0

Of 250sovs; 6 furlongs. st lb stlb Grand Deluge .,.79 Knight . 9 8 Bevis ... 7 8 Tukia ... 9 1 Papaponga .72 Benzora ... 91 Tip Tree ..70 Lady Miss Hupana 7 0 Cavendish S 9 Matinee ... 7 0 Bonogne . . 8 2 Joy Germ ..70 Oration ..80