SPORTING NOTES

Te Awamutu Courier, Volume 59, Issue 4186, 15 September 1939, Page 5

SPORTING NOTES

THE AVONDALE MEETING. PROSPECTS FOR SATURDAY. (By “Backwood”). The first of the important spring meetings in the Auckland province is the Avondale Jockey Club’s meeting, which opens on Saturday, with splendid fields engaged, notably in the Champion Plate and Flying Handicap. The Trial Plate, also, has a very large acceptance list, involving the probable necessity of racing in two divisions. The Avondale Cup has a very nice field of thirteen good gallopers engaged and it should provide a decidedly good contest. The first event is the Kingsland Hurdles, 1J miles, with Royal Dance, carrying 11.5. This fellow showed at Tauranga last March that he can get over the obstacles, and his pace is far beyond that of any other competitor. A good rangy sort, he should not find trouble in lumping 11.5 to victory. The most danger will probably come from Mea Aprea, Gadger and King Musk, and probably the quartette will be supported in that order on the totalisator. Tutor looks to be the best of the light-weights. The Trial Plate, is. a fixed-weight affair, run over seven furlongs, and there is a lot of rubbish engaged--enough to get in the way of the better gallopers. A half-dozen that have shown distinct promise comprises Pern, Meadow, Beverley, Glen Connell, Every Port and The Dozer. Pern is in E. Dayis’ care, and was considered a fairly good but unlucky s rt last season. Meadow is a near relative of the successful Farland,. but last season she failed to run a decent six furlongs. Hunto is another that may find the distance a bit of a nuisance, though he has been doing good track work. Pern will probably be favourite over Every Port, with Meadow and Beverley also well supported. The Henderson Handicap, six furlongs, provides for a good class of hack sprinter, with Mintlaw topweight carrying B.l3—not a, difficult load for a horse like him. Sebrof, with 8.10, has shown himself in form, and he will carry a lot of support. Of the next three, The Trimmer, Spearford and Foxmond, Spearford makes most appeal, for he has undoubted pace. Bronze Moth, little Ruse and Noisy Night are a useful trio, while further down are Wyndora and Royal Message. Maybe Sebrof will be made favourite over Spearford, Royal Message and Bronze Moth.

King Rey is top-weight in the Avondale Cup, and it remains to be seen whether a course of hurdling has affected his pace on the flat. The weight wouldn’t bother him. Ned Cuttie is preferred to Master Brierly; and then comes Lowenberg, Tidewaiter and Jack Tar two of a trio' that caused such a remarkable dead-heat (a triple one) at the winter meeting at Riccarton. Lowenberg’s second at Wanganui the other day should keep him right in the limelight, and, in fact, he will probably be a good favourite. Tidewaiter is also a good prospect, for he is now very fit. Next cames The Cardinal, a promited hack that is in the boom at present, but he will need to be all that his admirers claim for him if he is to beat such as Lowenberg and Jack T,tar. Kena was not far behind Lowenberg at Wanganui, while Black Musk and Jayola are a pair of useful gallopers. The investing public will probably give most support to Lowenberg, Jack Tai’, Tidewaiter and The Cardinal.

Next comes the Avondale Stakes, a four furlong flutter for the babies. Wanganui reports, that Te AwamutuOwned Beau L?on (Beau Pere—Lady Bede) was unlucky, but that he finished verv resolutely. In the absence of disclosed form by others, it is probable Beau Leon will be entrusted with most support. Then there are some promising sorts included in Kentucky, Stratford, Merrymeer and Miss Hallomet. The Champion Plate, is a seven furlong affair at special weights, ranging from 8.9 down to 7.7. If Hagen is produced, his recent winning form will almost certainly send him out favourite; but he should meet with stout opposition from Veritable, Vai Lu, Eriick, Dragon Moth, and the game little three-year-old Brazen Bold, while Silver Stick was a good two-year-old last season. Our Jean won at the Pakuranga Hunt meeting in very attractive style. Surmise rather lost the lustre surrounding him when he failed a,t Wanganui; but he is still capable of putting up a good showing. Hagen will probably be most sought after, with Brazen Bold, pur Jean and Silver Stick next in order. -

The man who tried to pick the Flying Handicap would be “capable of anything,” as the saying, goes, for the handicapper has set a very severe task. Majority was a winner at Trentham two months ago, but has failed in his two or three starts since; Francis Drake gives the. impression of not yet. being tuned up;.. Orate should go well, and this applies also to Royal Bachelor. Of the next quartette—Gold Vaals, Royevrus, Kathbella and Valimeen—the preference is for Kathbella; and Prince Acre seems to hold Aero King, Palustre and Gay Seton. Next Cbmes Marie’s Acre, a winner at Avondale last spring, in great time; if he could reproduce that form the others would only see his dust. But Marie’s Acre has disappointed since the Tauranga meeting in mid-June. Bronwen won at the Pakuranga Hunt meeting at her first attempt in open company, and will not be overlooked on Saturday. The most likely of the others may be Bachelor King and Birthday Boy. Bronwen, Kathbella, Prince ner, with Royevrus and Te Monowai good place prospects. The day’s racing closes with the Swanson Handicap, one mile, and Susan, a winner at New Plymouth, has to carry No. 1 saddle-cloth and 9.0. She should take some beating, too. Eriick, Valdene and Gamos are a trib that appeal as likely to make it difficult for the top-weight.