SPORTING NOTES

Te Awamutu Courier, Volume 56, Issue 4056, 3 June 1938, Page 5

SPORTING NOTES

HOLIDAY MEETINGS. REVIEW OF FORM. (By “Backwood.”) There will be plenty of racing to focus attention during the next few days, for the Auckland Trotting Club he Ids its winter meeting to-morrow and on Wednesday, and the Auckland Racing Club’s Great Northern meeting takes place on Monday (King’s Birthday), Thursday and Saturday. The Great Northern Hurdles are run on Monday, and the Great Northern Steeplechase on Thursday. SATURDAY’S TROTTING. There should be good racing at Alexandra Park on Saturday, for some very well-balanced fields will be competing. Proceedings open with the Winter Handicap, 11 miles, for trotterrs, and th ci public will probably make Dick Redmond, Canadian and Moira Bingen the principal fancies, with money also for Frontier Boy and Lady Bunker, recent winners at Claudelands. If a surprise is in store it may come from Riptide. Ratepayer has been penalised four seconds in the first division of the Mangere Handicap, 11 miles, for his win last Saturday, but he still seems certain to be one of the favourites. Lady Potts and Neon Oro should also be well supported. The Hobson Handicap, 11 miles, has two rehandicapped horses in the field,. Roma Girl 3sec and Vanora 2sec. They still have good chances, on paper and if the public prefers anything to them it may be Isabella Pointer* Wall Street and Kia Kaha are both worthy of consideration, especially by place bettors. The Adams Memorial Handicap, 11 miles, has better-class horses engaged than appeared at Claudelands, and the job of finding a favourite is difficult. It may be that Nawton Parrish and Star Pronto of the front markers and Gold Dredge and Kewpie’s Triumph of the back markers will be most fancied.

The Stewards’ Handicap, 11 miles, for trotters, will probably see- investors watching for the draw before going to the totalisators, for the whole twenty acceptors were on the limit until Win Huon was rchandicapped 4 sec. for the Claudelands win. A couple that make strong appeal are Within and Lady Bunker. Another half-dozen could be named, also, and it is a very open race.

Th e sixteen acceptors in the Marconi Handicap include Vanora and Sandusky, winners at Claudelands, who have been rehandicapped. Transwell and Bold Venture are two sure of support and Lucky Love may be the most likely to effect a surprise. The Cornwall Handicap, the big sprint event, concludes the day’s sport, and starters earlier in the day will have been watched with close interest. Among the newcomers are Great Chum,- Our Peggy, and Sir Frank, the latter a winner at Claudelands last Saturday. He may be favourite. Imposter and Argolis make most appeal of those on the limit. THE GREAT NORTHERNS. Whereas there will be win and place betting at Alexandra Park, the Auckland Racing Club has decided for single pool betting at Ellerslie, and investors need to keep this fact in mind. There was such a big array of acceptors for the Jervois Handicap, the hack flat event, that it has been decided to run it in two divisions. The first event of the day is the Greenlane Steeples, about 2i miles and this should suit Kinkle and London better than the others. Royal Mimic was a wonderful hurdler, and if he has learned to negotiate the brush fences and water jump, the impost of 12.9 would not be so bothersome ns the weights the other horses have to carry. However, he may lack experience and also need more racing.

The first division of the Jervois Handicap, seven*furlongs, has a nice half-dozen at the top of the handicap, and at present the preference is for Melvanui and Barrister. General Ruse has quickly climbed in the handicaps, and may still be good enough. Young Paddon will appreciate the state of the ground, and if one of the bottom weights is to be a nuisance it may be Rajanya.

In the second division Prival and Vaalso may be preferred to Loombination, and down among the mini-mum-weighted horses is Fleur d’Or, a three-year-old that might be capable of winning. The Penrose Hurdles, 11 miles, is a nice even field, but investors will probably make Porotiti favourite. Lady England and ‘Celtic Lad are reasonably placed to tqke hand in the final issue, while High Star and Bass appeal most of the others. The prospects of all the competitors in the Great Northern Hurdles have been discussed ever since the declaration of weights, and there is no need to recapitulate their performances here. Suffice to say that the public will probably find most money for Huskie, Jolly Beggar, Kilberis, Windsor Lad and Erination in that order. The same comment also applies to the Cornwall Handicap, ten furlongs, and the improving Enge may be favourite, for last w’inter he was in great form. Valamito and Valmint will also be solidly supported, for they are good in soft ground. Kilonsa and Knight of Australia make moist appeal of the others, though Tybalt might be in the final fight. Two miles over hurdles is the task of acceptors in the Hunt Club Hurdles, and nothing appeals more than Smilin’ Thru. Hirangi and Sirrom have earlier shown evidence of ability in this class, and maybe this trio wii] carry most of the money. The Members’ Handicap, six furlongs concludes the day’s racing, and Maori Song and Hunting Blood look like carrying most public support. Prince Acre- and Trilliarch may be preferred to Tradesman among the first half of the weight-list, and Land Girl and Te Monowai should be preferred to Surella and Palustre at the other end of the handcap. The second day’s racing includes the Great Northern Steeplechase, about 31 mile® (nearer 33 miles), and if all goes well meantime it seems probable that Huskie will be popularly expected to complete the double.

It is a very fine field, and examination of the credentials indicates that at least half the acceptors have reasonably good prospects. Clarion Call and Jolly Beggar are good ones, though the latter may need experience over steeplechase country. The same applies to Royal Mimic, but Irish Comet (getting old now), Windsor Lad and Riotous do not need any introduction to steeplechasing. Of the trio Windsor Lad may do best, but Erination and Bryce Street both make more appeal.