TROTTING AT EPSOM

Te Awamutu Courier, Volume 73, Issue 6283, 20 September 1946, Page 5

TROTTING AT EPSOM

HELIOPOLIS AND BONNY JACK IN FAVOUR ALCAZAR WELL FORWARD FOR SPRINT ENGAGEMENT (By “Old Rowley”) All roads will lead to Alexandra Park to-morrow when the Auckland Trotting- Club will stage their initial meeting of the 1946-47 season. (With large stake moneys offering, (the lowest gross amount is £500) big, classy fields are engaged and patrons should see some very good exhibitions of the sport.

The Introductory Opening with the Introductory Handicap for trotters, there are likely sorts in Sabre, Swordsman’s Triumph and Walter Jingle on scratch, while Best Girlj the very consistent Noble Star, Keen Blade and even Rosewaa should add interest to the contest. Nero, one of the solid trotters in the game, brilliant Pardon Me and the useful Playful are the backmarkers. and they cannot be ignored. It is a very open race. Gung-Ho Attracts Attention

There is a large limit field for the First Improvers’ Handicap, likely ones being Admiral Fraser, Dan’s Triumph, Gung-Ho in particular, and Lone Raider and Scottish Jewel should go well. Clydeside proved fast last season and Indian Lad from 36 yards behind might find the tasfc very hard here.

An Open Race Sixteen are carded for the 2 miles United Handicap, and Caledonian Gold, Fly High, Gold Strand and Indian Quest are very useful limit horses. Paperman might prove the upsetting factor, however. Aranui Jack has disappointed too many times in the past to be a sound propposition and off the same mark Axminster, Professional or Red Ace make more appeal. Of those on 24 yard's, Hey Dey, Sura Wave and Popular Girl are all pretty fail- and Daphne Grattan, not a bad sort hvhen attuned may find the lee-way too much to make up. On the other hand Jacksalette, 48 yards behind is very solid and givert any sort of run might prove the undoing of the front markers.

Heliopolis Favoured It looks as though Bonnie Jack will be the elect of the public on the day, but he hasn’t things entirely on his own, for useful pacers in Albert Tracy, Ann Scott, Sandstone, Bonny Axworth and Desert Lad cannot be treated with disrespect. Brass Buttons is not far behind, and bracketed with Diamond Trust will have a strong following. There is nothing to be gleaned as to the forwardness of either Dunkirk or Sir Victor, but both are useful when attuned, while the brilliant Heliopolis and Galvena are by no means out of things on the back marks. On his day Ngaire’s Pal has proved very useful, and this may be the upsetting factor.

Cam Derby May Surprise The Second Improvers’ Handicap appears to have a fairly weak field engaged, but this, if anything, makes the issue more uncertain for none can -be said to stand out as solid propositions. The form displayed ly Frances Bel, Indian Son and Marshall Ney is good enough to give them many friends, but Tiny Tot is attracting attention also. At. top form Mihine Tere should be difficult to dispose of but may need a race or so. Sonny Jewel disappointed on several occasions and it is quite on the cards that old Cam Derby will prove the hardest to beat.

Pardon Me Has Friends The mile and a half trot will see the very fast High Pressure on the limit, but he has Ken Blade, Nero, Parcjon Me and Playful as co-mark-ers and if they show any dash at all in their first engagement on the day they must be conceded a better-than-average chance here. Danny Malone would only need to trot solidly to make no effort of this race, but he is very erratic indeed. Little Hero is a plodding Hype and Silver Plane, an old campaigner in both gaits which might surprise. Ena Parrish, an improver with definite prospects is sure to be in favour, while Cossack and even Benghazi from 96 yards behind are not to be lightly disposed' of.

Smith Bracket and Single Direct Perhaps the most open race of the day, the Orakei Handicap, presents a real puzzle to punters. Certify and Cold Steel are capable, but never certain pacers, and Durato appears to be perhaps a better proposition, although he is ageing now. Franco might need a race or two and Herald might be a better prospect on the day. Jac alette appears to possess excellent prospects and bracketed with Captain Gaillard is* sure to attract a lot of attention. Master Lawn’s bad behaviour at the barrier preclude him from being taken seriously and then we come to Single Direct, one of the finds of last season and just nicely placed should be forward enough to give of his best- Te Taonganui is a prospect, but not a sound one, while Whanako may not possess the speed to get to the front from this field. Albert Tracey’s effort should be recorded for further use— I am inclined to believe that <he is in need of racing.

Nothing could provide a better wind-up for the day than the Takanini Handicap. On the limit Galvena, Great Belwin and Lucky Loyal seem to possess best prospects, while Alcazar is working well enough to make him a factor. Double Peter is sure to have many friends and remember, he has something behind him that the rest of the field lack—good, solid racing recently at Addington, where he proved a good stake earner. The track is in fine order and given a fine day the Club should make an auspicious beginning. The first race commences at approximately 11.30 a.m. and the system of betting in operation will be win and place. Possible Fancies The following horses have been attracting attention and are possible fancies with the public for to-mor-row :—>

Introductory Handicap, trotters, limit 3-41, li miles: Girl, Noble

Star, Pardon Me. First Improvers’ Handicap, limit 3.33, IX miles: Gung-Ho, Clydeside,

Admiral Fraser. United Handicap, limit 4.44, 2 miles: Jackalette, Caledonian Gold, Ind- - aan Quest. September Handicap, limit 3.22, 11 miles: Bonnie Jack bracket, Desert Lad, Dunkirk—Brass Buttons—Diamond Trust bracket. Second Improvers’ Handicap, limit 3.33: Marshall Ney, Frances .Bel, Cam Derby. Royal Oak Handicap, limit 4.39, 2 miles: Jackalette—Captaffi Gaillard bracket, Single Direct, Durato. Takanini Handicap. limit 2.43, 11 miles: Great Belwin, Double Peter, Alcazar. THAMES JOCKEY CLUB MEETING TWEEDSMUIR DOMINATES PRESIDENT’S HANDICAP Very good acceptances have been received for the Thames Jockey Club’s Spring meeting to-morrow which starts the Auckland country circuit off.

There are eleven acceptors in the President’s Handicap, King’s Pride having been overlooked in the original list sent out. Tweedsmuir, which actually prevailed at the Avondale meeting last week-end dominates all discussions and he should be hard to dispose of. Billy Peach, an improver, Mallee which might not be suited by a turning track, Valley Boy, which will appreciate the easier company are the outstanding of the others, but Flying Jim is a hack of ability with good staying pedigree. The other open event is the Stewards’ Handicap and the field of 18, Gavinmor and Old Scot being late acceptances notified, is very open, although popular choice may be Yorkish, mostly I think, because it is the home track of J. Dufty and the promising young rider G. Hughes has been engaged. However, it should be remembered that Yorkish failed badly last week-end and has had a pretty strenuous campaign and even Grenville Hughes can’t carry a horse. The track should be in good order for this time of the year and a large attendance is anticipated. The first race will start at 11.15 a.m.—the day’s sport concluding with the Parawai Hack Handicap at 4.35 p.m. The Likely Favourites The following horses are being spoken of as likely favourites in their respective engagements:— Hikutaia Hurdles, 12 miles: Irish Fox, Sir Grant, Te Kawiti. Ngatea Hack Handicap, 6 furlongs: Kenwyn, Hunting Camp, Declaim. Tria) Handican, 6 furlongs: First Division: Lola May, Ranger Boy, Alpenza. Second Division: Yusuf, Duncan, Lady Ballater. Thames Hack Cup, I’, miles: Jayquil, Ostentatious, Kurawhi. President’s Handicap, 1} miles: Tweedsmuir, Kings Pride, Billy Peach. Borough H?<?k Handicap, 7 furlongs: Silver Cane, Golden Ballina. Stewards’ Handicap, (’> furlongs: Horonui, Broieallce, Bonny Pay. Parawai Hack Handicap, 6 furlongs: Kenwyn, Bonny Grey, Noble Artist.