The Big Double

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 669, 22 May 1929, Page 12

The Big Double

HAWKE’S BAY’S FIRST DAY East Coast and June Events AS the Hawke's Bay Cup is not run until the second day of the fixture, the chief events on the opening day, East Coast and June Handicaps, will provide the popular ‘ double” and in these events hackers are set a fairly diffi-. cult problem to solve.

Tn some respects the handicap for these two items is a flattering one, and several prospective candidates have beer encouraged to say, “Yes, we will bo there.” A few, however, are bound down hard and fast, but in view of the hopeful prospects on the (second day in the Cup event, where they expect to be on their right marks for two miles, these, too, will probably be seen in action on the opening day. In both events a fair number of Kpsom-trained representatives are listed, and this lends additonaj local interest to the proceedings on the East Coast. SeveraJ of these raced prominently at Te Aroha and Cambridge, and their form at these fixtures has evidently been taken note of by the handicapper, who unfortunately did not see the racing at either place. However, the local horses are in form, and those that make the trip will be given a good chance by stay-at-home speculators. East Coast Handicap The principal event on the opening day is the East Coast Handicap, run over the peculiar distance, for the North Island at dny rate, of thirteen furlongs. As the class for this event is 3.54. equal to a 4.4 S two-mile, which is one second slower than the limit set for the richly-endowed Hawke’s Bay Cup on the King’s Birthday, and the field includes practically all those who are listed for the King-pin item, this contest can be taken as a trial for the star event. In a race of this description, backers will naturally look for genuine stayers, and there is no scarcity of horses who are gifted with stamina as well as speed billed to take part in the Hastings heat. Of the limit lot. Nathaniel, Rich- j mond Lass, Electric Gold and All Red are recent winners, while Zealous has been several times in minor placings. All Red and Electric Gold won at Wanganui over twelve furlqngs, and while the former ran second to Hilltop over two miles at Taranaki, Electric Gold, penalised 48 yards in a simi- ; Jar distance at Wanganui, finished second to Richmond Lass. It points, therefore, to Electric Gold and All Red being the most favoured of this line. In the next division is Lord Haldane,who is suited by this particular journey. Polly’s Picture. Regime and Denver's Hind. The first-named has had an interrupted preparation during the! autumn, but at Cambridge went a good

thirteen furlongs, finishing close up to Great Ballin and Zealous, but for this effort ho has come back 12 yards. Polly’s Picture won a mile and a-half race at Te Aroha in 3.34 3-5, coming at the right end, while Denver’s Hind, who hails from Westport, has won practically everything this last couple of months he has started in. The company may not have been of a high 'order, but Tom Bennett’s pacer won in easy fashion. Regime was a big failure at Wanganui, but may do better at Hastings. Dealer Knows the Course Of those on the next mark Dealer, Hilltop and Te Wahia have the best

credentials, and if the former has gone on the right way since Cambridge, he will be hard to keep out of the money, as he was very close to Lord Haldane at the finish after giving him 36 yards. Dealer has previously performed well at Hastings. Hilltop beat All Red easily at New Plymouth, but the Hastings pacer showed to better advantage at Wanganui. There is a smart lot on the

succeeding line, but Arachne has rone the best of it, and the ex-Canterbury mare appears to be taken a good hold of for her second at Hawera. Hostess and Queen Elizabeth, or whichever one the Corrigan stable elects to start, must be taken seriously, and perhaps at the journey Hostess will be the elect. Bell Dial will delight in such a journey, and is sure to run a solid race, while Horizon is now staying on a distance better, and if he tackles this heat will be there at the end. Logan’s Pride Well In A point further back comes a real good sort in Logan's Pride, and while he did not show up at Wanganui in the light of a stayer, he impressed as a possibility over a longer distance. Third in the Cup (4.44 3-5), second irt the ten-furlong Morton Memorial (2.56 2-5), he finished up by winning the mile Farewell easily in a tick under 2.19, equal to 3.46 for the distance, therefore he must be labelled dangerous in this .event. Native Hero is a splendid stayer and one of the bulldog breed at the finish, and in registering 4.42 at Wanganui over two miles put up his best performance, and one that will entitle him to respect in a race of this description. Nelson Dillon is on too hard a mark in such company, and Waipuki, who is another second back, has been made to Bulfer for cleaning up the Blenheim crowd, but the grey mare cannot have much hope of conceding 48 yards to Denvers Hind. Wakefield, after going 4.39 2-5 into second place at Wanganui the second day, will not find much to complain about on 72 yards, and may be the best of the rearguard, although Great Delight (108) is a classy customer Half a dozen that will appeal to early fanciers are All' Red, Electric Gold. Lord Haldane, Polly’s Picture, Dealer and Logan’s Pride. June Handicap Quite a number of those appearing in the list for the chief event on the opening day are billed to take part in the June Handicap, of a mile and a-quarter, which concludes the first day’s card. On the day the running of several candidates in the earlier item will throw further light on their prospects of success in the shorter contest. Electric Gold looks well in off the

front line, and should th© Gold Bell gelding escape a penalty, or be reserved for this flutter, he would be well supported. Benefice will probably do a lot better off the front, but the Rey de Oro mare does not seem to handle the grass track too well. Lord Haldane is a good beginner and this is worth a lot in a short flutter. Vanity Boy is a possibility, and if A. McMillan takes him to the East Coast, it can be taken for granted he will be ready to give the opposition a Denver's Hind wil probably appreciate this journey in preference to the thirteen-furlong one, and if this is the West Coaster’s mission, he will be worth keeping on side. Te Wahia is on the same peg and can muster up a good turn of speed, but his stable companion. Enawah may be preferred. The filly has not fulfilled her early promise, but her turn cannot be far away, as on a couple of occasions during the Taranaki racing she showed a rare turn of speed. Queen Elizabeth has Chance On the next mark is Bell Dial, a useful sort, Lady Jewell, a speedy mare, and Queen Elizabeth, who can set a merry pace up to a mile and a-half, and of the trio, the Hawera-trained mare will probably have the largest support, and she will be one of the hardest to dispose of. At a longer point comes Logan’s Pride, who looks to all intents and purposes the pick of Ihe handicap. He is a made-to-order customer over ten furlongs, and provided he is kept in pickle for this heat, it "will take a good one to beat him. Horizon can go a solid mile and a-quarter, and if in the mood might upset calculations. What of Ngahuia Of further back. Ngahuia will attract most attention. He was in fine form at Hawera and New Plymouth, where Zella was lucky enough to beat him. but at Hastings, with 12 yards in his favour, the local horse should turn the tables. High Sea can scamper over this distance, too, and his Hawera form of a first and second, both over ten, furlongs. was quite good. The crack trotter, Peterwah, has a big task, but he is such a great trotter that his chances cannot be discounted altogether. A likely sextet must include Electric Gold, Denver’s Hind. Queen Elizabeth, Horizon. Logan’s Pride and Ngahuia.

ther it be draught, hack or light harness horse, the man from Mount Roskill knows at a glance its calibre, and he has in consequence been a successful dealer in this line. For some time past, Bob Saunders has been associated with the treating

sport, and his Gold Bell gelding, Respect, has been a public favourite with racegoers in the district. Latterly he has trained another good one in Lord Haldane, which he converted from the trotting to the pacing gait. Last season, the son of Good Gift showed promise, and put up some good performances, while he is now in forward condition for a trip to Hastings, where he claims several engagements. Several novices are receiving tuition at the hands of the Mount Roskill mentor, and they do him credit. A two-year-old by The Triumph, three-year-old by Peter Moko, and four-year-old by Gold Bell are likely sorts, while a square-gaited gelding by Peter Moko from a Petereta mare (fine trotting strain on each side) is at present showing splendid promise on the Epsom track. Further particulars and prices will be obtained from the owner.