SPORTING

Te Awamutu Courier, Volume 55, Issue 3941, 18 August 1937, Page 7

SPORTING

PAKURANGA HUNT MEETING SATURDAY. REVIEW OF THE PROSPECTS. (By “Backwood.”)The new racing season is to be introduced, so far as the Auckland province is directly concerned, by the Pakuranga Hunt race meeting at Ellerslie on Saturday next, and the acceptances show a very fine response by owners and trainers to the handicapper's invitation. It may be assumed that some of the competitors will not be up to their best form, in view of the more valuable stake money later in the Spring—for instance, the Avondale meeting in four weeks' time and the Auckland meeting three weeks later still, not to mention the Taumarunui meeting at Paeroa between those two meetings—but horses that raced at the tail-end of last season should be capable of really good efforts at Pakuranga. Futhennofe, the stakes at this meeting are well worth winning, and there should be very few “sleepers." The flrst event is the Greenmount Hunters’ Steeples, about 21 miles, and it looks like the two top weights, Lochiel Lad and .Platter, being much in request. Lochiel Lad is a stablemate of the Great Northern Steeplechase winner, Irish Comet, and he impressed by his showings in minorevents at the same meeting. Rozel and Royal Chips are a couple that might trouble the top weights. The Harris Memorial Hack and Hunters' Hurdles, lj miles, has attracted a field of 15, with the resurrected (in a racing sense) High Commissioner called upon to carry No. 1 saddlecloth. This fellow has been doing well in his preparation, and fit and well would be very hard to beat, for he was good class before he broke down. Chang will be remembered for his effort at the Waipa Club’s winter meeting, and at Wellington a little later. Prince Colossus was a fair handicapper on the flat, but he may need a little more experience as a hurdler. However, if he can jump proficiently lie should win. Of the others, the two that appeal most are Tuaheahe and Cadger, with perhaps Sweet Lap to upset calculations. The Sylvia Park Handicap, six furlongs, is the minor hack event, and the field comprises 27. The number may be reduced to about 20 or 22, but that will be plenty. May Song, Square Acre, Palustra, Ringshot and Alyth are the flrst five on the list, and the winner looks to be included. Probably Square Acre and Alyth will do best. Of those on the minimum there may be money for Rainier, Saccone, Barricade and Locknit. The principal flat event is the Jellicoe Handicap, reduced this year from ten furlongs to one mile, and a very useful field of sixteen is carded to compete. The much-improved Enge is top weight, with 9.4—14 lbs more than Valmint, the next best according to the handicapper—but there may be a disposition to look a little lower down the list. Valmint and Armacourt are specially good in soft ground, while Tybalt and Meriai are another pair of good gallopers. Knight of Australia bobs up at unexpected moments, and is always a possibility. The best of those on the minimum may be Loombination and Dutch Girl. The Pakuranga Hunt Cup, about three miles, is the big jumping event, and Windsor Lad carries 12.2 as top weight. He should be very hard to beat. All Irish and Miss Pango are a likely pair, while London may beat the lot of them, for lie can jump and stay, as he showed at the Waipa Club’s winter meeting. Good class hacks will be meeting in the Auckland Handicap, one mile, for which Tip Toes and Skyway are bracketed top weight with 9.5. Sky way won twice lately at Poverty Bay, but he hadn’t much to beat and should find the opposition much more difficult on Saturday. If Dutch Girl Is reserved for this event she should take all sorts of beating. Young Paddon may find the distance too far, and the same may be said for Bryce Street, but Ellanui and Gay Streak should be sticking on at the finish. Dutch Girl, Tip Toes and Skyway may be in most demand.

The ladies’ Braclet Handicap necessitates gentlemen riders piloting their mounts for twelve furlongs, and usually a lot depends on the rider. Skyway figures at the top of the list, but he may take on the Auckland Handicap in preference, with 3.3. less weight. The rest are a very ordinary lot, with perhaps Hirangi, Diacquedoon and Red Fox the best of them. The locally - trained four-year-old Gallio is called up to carry the steadier of 9.11 in the open sprint, the Dunedin Handicap, and good youngster that he was it is a lot of weight to carry early in the season in such company. Triune, receiving 81bs, should be preferred. Prince Acre’s prominence at Trentham last month took him up to 9.2. Fersen, a New Zealand Cup winner, and Jonathan, an A.R.C. Railway Handicap winner, are interesting acceptors. Bachelor King, a fair sort of two-year-old last season, appeals greatly with 8.2 on an 8.0 minimum. Maori Song, Erndale end Johnny Walls may- come next in public estimation.