Hack Sprinters in Strong Force at Woodville

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 842, 10 December 1929, Page 12

Hack Sprinters in Strong Force at Woodville

PROSPECTS FOR TOMORROW'S RACING

WHILE the open events at Woodville tomorrow have tilled exceptionally well, it is in the hack races that there arc really great possibilities, for the class is right up to the metropolitan hack -standard, while there will be no lack of runners.

Being: one of the last meetings before the big holiday carnivals, the Woodville fixture is assured of plenty of runners, and good ones at that, but the public patronage is hot generally in keeping. In their present racecourse Woodville possesses one of the best racing, circuits in the country. For the opening day tomorrow the first event is the Mangataua Hurdles A surprise in this race would only be in keeping with the history of Woodville events. Fine Acre is capable of doing better than he has done recently, and Delude is not the luckiest hurdler, judged by his latest displays. This pair should play a prominent part. Aurora Borealis is good, but may want a. run. Panorama has disappointed often, and High Heather and Wilmoreana are possibilities. Schorr, Air Force, Vinella, Red Lane and Some Red may be the best of the others. Favourites may be FIX 33 ACRE DELUDE. Trial Plate Fifteen are left in the race for nonwinners; and from all accounts the class of some of them is expected to be above the ordinary. Particularly is this the case with Pedestal, Arrowzone, Callamart, Platina (from the Forde-11 stable), . Tigrano, Portray, Grattus, Dancing Star, Grecian and Habit. Of this lot the elect of backers will probably be PLATINA TIGRANO. Bolton Handicap This, the big handicap event of the day, has attracted a rather even field of a dozen. Kick Off in the spring showed a return to his best form, and he should go well. First Acre has yet to show form since his return from Australia; he is nicely paced here. Merry Damon is said to be in excellent fettle, and so is Spearmiss, whose third and second in the New Zealand Cup and C.J.C. Metropolitan Handicap respectively was really . good form. Talisker won at Levin, only scrambling home, and he. will have a harder task here. Merry -Mint does not appear to stay too well, and Blimp, although reported from Woodville, his new headquarters, to be never better, is a difficult horse to follow. Mountain Heath ran a fine race at Levin, and Avro and Courageous both require strong riders. Imperial Spark and Moepai complete an interesting field. In what should be a good pool the most money should be forthcoming for SPEARMISS MERRY D Ail OX. Mangarawa Hack There are no less than 22 in this affair, and the speed merchants from the barrier will have a big pull. Knightlike is returning to form, and Tahoma and Royal Parade are two very promising three-year-olds. The latter showed splendid form at Riecarton last month, and he reads very well here—the pick of the basket if ho gets a run. Brown Sugar, Glenartney, Auda, Blue Paper, Repay, Statuary, Great Lady, Head Serang. Cuticle, Manifesto, The Budget, Warzone, Rule Brittania, Pari and Paiko all go to make up an exceptionally fine field. Perhaps the public fancies will be ROYAL PARADE GLEXARTNEY. Oete Handicap Of course, few will take Star Stranger’s appearance in this sprint

very seriously* for the distance is about half a mile too short for him. Kailioro beat all but Cimabue in the Feilding Stakes, and with all her weight as a result she i*> going to take some heading off on this course. Admiral Drake is a good sort, for his Riccarton running was very good. Atholspear is a good one, but he may not bo able to go with such speedy ones as Kaihoro and Admiral Drake, although the good straight will be in his favour. Royal Duke is br®liant when at his best, which remains to be seen, and Moa Bird has nut shown form for some time. Aspiring is very speedy, and if she runs straight will take a lot of heading off. Veronese has been racing well of late. It is a very nice field, full of possibilities, with the favourites probably ADMIRAL DRAKE KAIHORO. Nursery Handicap A big field from this barrier, which is not too well placed, will make the task of sorting out the possibles in this two-year-old race s>newhat difficult. Princess Betty and Cylinder rather dominate the situation, and as she begins well the former may have the call. There is a good deal of promising material in this contest, and for this reason the result will be interestingly awaited. The favourites may be CYLINDER PRINCESS BETTY. Whariti Hack The three-year-old Count Palatine has a solid impost, but he is a big sort and may carry it. Thrift is getting down in the weights, and then there is Austerity, Royal Black, Chopin, The Masher, Royal Opera, Shortly, Gold Bag, Malahat, Goldlike, and those further down, all making for an open race* Two that will have strong riders and also the pace are THRIFT AUSTERITY (if absent) COUNT PALATINE. Borough Handicap The wide range in the scale of weights makes it rather difficult for Toxeuma, who is called upon to concede from 221 b to 401 b. He should go well, as befitting a horse that stands a good chance in the forthcoming A.R.C. Railway Handicap, but it is probable that something further down the list will prove too good. Rameses, Maui, Queen's Choice, Briar Root, who went two rattling good races at Takapuna, Royal Lineage, Discourse, Austerity and Billion are those that can be borne in mind. Best backed may be BRIAR ROOT AUSTERITY. The following are a few of the riding engagements made for tomorrow: L. G. Morris: Platina and Thrift. R. J. Mackie: Royal Opera. K. Voitre: Imperial Spark and Brown Sugar. T. Metcalf: Manifesto, Henry of Navarre, and Fiery Comet (second day). H. Wiggins: Nimble, Royal Parade or Blue Paper, and Gesture (second day). R. Reed: Knightlike, Cylinder, Kaihoro or Star Stranger, Chopin and Tigrano. T. Green: Merry Damon. W. H. Janes: Billion. A. H. Burt: Delude. C. Robinson: Vinella. A. McDonald: Air Force. B. H. Morris: Princess Betty and Pedestal. W. Broughton: Gold Bag and Cuticle. The acceptances are as follow