NEXT SATURDAY’S RACES

Te Awamutu Courier, Volume 72, Issue 6243, 17 June 1946, Page 5

NEXT SATURDAY’S RACES

EVENLY BALANCED FIELD IN WOODSTOCK STAKES

SMALL ENTRY IN Wl. G. PARK STEEPLECHASE

(By “ Old Rowley ”)

As most racing men expected, the acceptances for the Waipa Racing Club’s winter meeting on the local racecourse next Saturday did not attract big fields with the exception of the Arapuni Hack Handicap which will be divided into two separate races, thus making eight totalisator events on the programme. Racing is likely to be all the better for the handy-sized fields carded and in the main the acceptors appear to be very evenly matched. The Steeples Field

With the exception of winning the McGuire Steeplechase at Paeroa in March, when he carried 11.6 and never faltered Gold Cape has failed to fill a place. He has, however, been meeting fast and good performers, and in a weaker field is likely to be dangerous if the track happens to be any way decent.

Diamond King’s hurdling efforts have shown him to be a very competent fencer. He has yet to show that he can handle the journey in winter going, and his prospects may be questioned. One of the hardest to beat may be Tltaro. Last Saturday, at Pukekohe, he ran second to Betterman, and while the field was not strong it showed him to be in great heart. Yank is another which is at home in winter going, his chancy fencing having so far brought him to grief several times when he was in a handy position. It will be remembered that this Lilliputian gelding won the Tourist Hack and Hunters’ Steeplechase at the Rotorua meeting at Easter time, and on both occasions the track was heavy after much rain. .

Bisquit May Surprise The veteran Bisquit very seldom runs a bad race, and on paper this looks about the weakest field he is likelv to meet this season. At Ellerslie he showed improving form, and is bound to have friends on Saturday next. If he faces the starter Gay Vaals will be having his first outing of the season; in fact, he has not been seen on a racecourse since racing in the Waikato Cup of October, 1943. On the other hand, recent racing seems to have improved Hunting Chief, which gave promise at Waikato and then went on to Ellerslie to race creditably. He may be a light-weight prospect. Sir Waimai is the other acceptor; he ran second to Paid at Ellerslie, falling at the last hurdle and being re-mounted. Prior to that he raced prominently in th e early stages of the hack and hunters’ steeplechase at Te Rapa, when he was having ffiis first start after a spell of six months.

The Woodstock Stakes After his fine win at Te Rapa and a very determined finish for second money in the Cornwall Handicap, Leigh Hark is entitled to every respect, and 9.0 should not unduly hamper his galloping. The form displayed by La Fillette lately has not been very good, but she has shown improvement with racing. Her connections elected to miss the engagement at the Franklin Club’s meeting last Saturday, and provided nothing is amiss with her she should show up in this field.

Of course Cracroft is attracting a lot of attention. His fine victory in the last race on the final day of the A.R.C. meeting was full of merit, and he is meeting a suitable field to make his debut in open company. Cracroft is bred to stay, and he has shown his best form in winter going. It is likely that he will share favouritism with Leigh Hark. Valley Boy’s last start was in the Matamata Cup nearly four months ago; he is at home in wet going, and should add a deal of interest to the contest. It will be remembered that he beat a useful field in the Christmas Handicap at the Ellerslie Christmas meeting, when conditions were not very good. Black Ace has so far failed at more than a mile. His breeding is quite interesting, and suggests that he should be a better horse than he has so far shown himself to be. His connections declined to start him in the big race at Pukekohe, but he can hardly enter calculations if recent form means anything. Landfall hasn’t run a bad race this season. His last start was over six furlongs, when he finished fourth to Kindroon, Royal Scot, and Theophilus. He is a grand finisher, and may be the surprise element of the race.

South Riding Has Prospects After showing much promise at Te Rapa, Observatory has failed in his latest starts. However, he will be in a small field here, and must be given some consideration. It is hard to exactly place South Riding; he has shown great promise at times, and with 8.5 should have prospects. Lady Bertha has shown some promise this season, but she has hardly been consistent enough to place much reliance on, while Esmonde has little to recommend him in such a race as this. Early discussions are focussed around Cracroft, Leigh Hark, Valley Boy, and South Riding.