RACING AND TROTTING

Te Awamutu Courier, Volume 78, Issue 7015, 4 February 1949, Page 5

RACING AND TROTTING

WEEK-END FIXTURES PRINCE RANA NICELY PLACED AT MATAMATA (By “Old Rowley”) Summer racing advances a further stage with the conclusion of the Matamata Racing Club’s meeting tomorrow and with a continuation of hard tracks form should work out fairly well. Although there have been one or two unexpected defections from the Matamata Cup, the field of 20, headed by Artificer has sufficient talent engaged to allow for a surprise. When the acceptances closed, 21 gallopers remained, necessitating a ballot to reduce the field to the safety number. Censor drew the alley and if there is a scratching before the race he will automatically become eligible again. Recent racing favours the chances of Saffron Walden and Greekette, the latter showing to advantage on this course on Monday last. The consistency of Kaitawa suggests a major reward for the connections of this Contact mare. Racing over shorter distances Silver Secret has proved useful and Foxfable’s effort at his last start was impressive. Among the lightweights none appeals more than Prince Rana and the Beau Vite 4-year-old raced very attractively at Ellerslie, even though he was outclassed in the Anniversary Handicap.

Provision has been made for divisions in the Hinuera Handicap, and the Putaruru Stakes. The former will be the first race on the programme which commences at 11.50 a.m. The day’s racing will conclude with the running of the Walton Handicap at 5.5 p.m. Emphasis on recent prominent running will no doubt swap public opinion in most cases, but good track gallops by well-bred improvers may also ensure them being included among the more favoured. The following horses have entered discussions during the last few days and are likely to be among the fancied:— .

Hinuera Handicap, 6 furlongs: Ist Division: Tactful Lad, Fairy Fox, The Pimpernel. 2nd Division: South Road, Valrama, Betterboy. Tirau Hurdles, 12 miles: Hazara, Carthage, Dart Gold. Waharoa Hack Handicap, apprentices, furlongs: Gay Ranee, Silver Lap, Rare Fox. Matamata Cup Handicap, li miles and 15 yards: Prince Rana, Greekette, Foxfable. Railway Hack Handicap, 6 furlongs: Major, Huntopay, Speartact. Putaruru Stakes, 2-year-olds, 5 furlongs: Ist Division: Scribble, Good Century, Brazen Duke. 2nd Division: Trench Fray, Oxford Blue, Law Court. Okoroire Hack Handicap, li miles, 15 yards: Brierly, Ututere, Beau Baron. Walton Handicap, 71 furlongs: Foxfable, Ganjah, Marie’s Tray.

CLASS GALLOPERS ENGAGED AT WANGANUI

KING’S RANSOM IN STRONG FAVOUR

After defeating Tauloch in the spectacular finish at Trentham, King’s Ransom is in keen demand for the Wanganui Cup and he is not overburdened with 9.2 on a track which should suit the topweights. Recent racing suggests that Lord Manna (a very good hack indeed), Gay Stroller, Emerge, the three-year-old Buchanan, and Avenger, may prove his most worthy opponents. Blue Seal appeals as a promising handicap performer also. Fancy will no doubt cover a wide •range, but the following horses have entered calculations and may be among the favoured on the day, when racing com’mences at 11 a.m.:— • Westmere Hack Hurdles, about 1 mile 7 furlongs: Aurora’s Song, Voltage, Nepeta. Springdale Juvenile Handicap, 2-year-

• lolds, 6 furlongs: Hit or Miss, Nigra, Brown Jester. Kai-Iwi Maiden, about 61 furlongs: Ist Division: Royal Crown, Reflect, Wembley. 2nd Division: Sil-

ver Line, Sweet Revenge, Rescind. Victory Hack Handicap, apprentice riders, 1 mile: Ist Division: Revel Lad, Foxtonian, Early Bird. 2nd Division: Mount Curl, Dunwold, Sentimental. Wanganui Cup Handicap, about IB miles: King’s Ransom, Blue Seal,

Lord Manna. Tayforth Handicap, 1 mile: Vigilantia, The Missioner, Autoshine. Petrie Hack Handicap, about 61 furlongs: Reward, Mr Justice, Tele-

gram. Flying Handicap, about 61 furlongs: The Pagan, Da Vinci, Blue Skimmers.

TROTTING AT HI*TT PARK

WELLINGTON CLUB’S SUMMER MEETING

A feature of the Wellington Trotting Club’s Summer Meeting is the small number of acceptors in most of the events. The fields are just a nice size to give every horse a chance to produce its best without the usual crowding and rushing for a position early in the race, which is the usual procedure, particularly in the slower class races.

There is not a very strong Auckland representation at the meeting, but those engaged have been racing fairly well and should give a good account of themselves. They include Alec Potts, Democrat, Ivy Goodwin, Dyrham Lea, Colinette and Doctor Ted.

The first race commences at 11 a.m. and the programme will conclude with the running of the Ferry Handicap at 4.40 p.m.

There is a fair amount of winning form in most races and this makes the issue very open, however, the public may pay most attention to the following horses in their engagements: —

Kaitoke Handicap, trotters, limit 3.56, 1 mile, 5 furlongs: Scottie, Single

Task, Globe Son. Wallaceville Handicap, limit 4.44, 2 miles: High Command, Wynleaf, Quarterdeck. Stewards’ Handicap, limit 3.44, 1 mile, 5 furlongs: Old Scotch-Shalimar brkt, On Approval, Royal Gamble. Summer Handicap, limit 3.35, 1 mile, 5 furlongs: Positive, Snowflake, Lady Averil. Kelburn Handicap, trotters, limit 3.56, 1 mile, 5 furlongs: Scottie, Single Task, Globe Son. Waiwhetu Handicap, limit 2.53, 11 miles: Direct Heir, Farnborough, Wynleaf. Sharpe Handicap, limit 3.44, 1 mile, 5 furlongs: Old Scotch brkt, High Command, Sandy Logan. Ferry Handicap, limit 2.45, 1} miles: Doctor Ted, Positive, Mountain Hall. Riding Engagements At Matamata: Engagements for the second day of the Matamata Racing Club’s Summer Meeting to-morrow include:— R. Turnwald: Oxford Blue, Roiho. M. Martinovich: Kaitawa. B. Markwick: Lady Vennachar, Trench Fray, Beau Baron. N. Vaughan: Faithful Lady, Jeep, Turntide, Stable Boy. J. Williamson: Finnisterre.A. Watson: Willa, Marie’s Tray. R. McDowell: Loch Gyle, Princessita, Scotch Meadow. S. Tremain: Bouquet, The Gent, Brer Reynard, Sunny’s Last. D. J. Wyatt: Picardy, Prince Ranr, Tinere, Royal Beau, Faline. G. F. Hughes: South Road, Artificer, Major. L. Carlton: Scholarship, Lord Baffles. R. L. Parker: Scribble, Dakota. E. Spriggs: Gay Ranee. T. Pascoe: Sir Amad. G. T. Chaplin: Forth Bridge, Law Court. W. J. Wudford: Muriel Gay, Gay-

touch, Gay Rosina. D. Lavery: Miss Cione. R. Brown: Billy Peach. T. Curran: Lord Brierly, Red Arch. G. Meehan: Kia Ora Katoa. D. Mackinnon: Dark Victory. C. Farr: Rare Fox, Baffles Moth. W. Sinton: Fairy Fox. A. C. Messervy: Battle Royal. T. Hunter: Vienna View. R. Caddy: Master Ballater, Suzanne. J. Ruru: Stanford King. N. B. Holland: General Supreme, Greekette, Speartact. W. Caddy: Little Duke. A. Morton: Regal Praise, Gay Chance, • Rimini. I. Galvin: Grand Gift, Brazen Duke, Double Chance.

At Wanganui: Engagements for Wanganui include:—

W. J. Broughton: Gay Stroller, The Pagan, Brown Jester, Shiraz,

Announcer. W. L. Aitken: King’s Ransom, Whitley, Autoshine, Eireann. J. Hely: Foxrellio, Reveller. A. C. Messervy: Buchanan, Pitoitoi. D. Collins: Aurora’s Song, Manawa-

nui. B. Carroll: Lady Oratory, Mr Justice. J. Harris: Wembley, Offender, El Bogen. V. J. Sellars: Barrage, Narobi, Ngakoti, Twitter. T. Poad: Royal Sward, Rotofort. G. R. Tattersall: Silverline, Reward,

Gariy, Balcairn. B. Wood: Yasda, Raiding, Broilink. D. Harris: Beau Bijou, Royal Crown, Sheer, Golden Casket.

Only Half The Story A periodical published the following paragraph in its racing columns during the current week:—

Fifth Note’s connections, and place supporters, in the Zealandia sprint at Ellerslie can be considered fortunate collecting the cash attached to her placing. The finish for the minor place necessitated a “photo,” and evidently her youthful rider Koperu had no idea his mount was in the picture, for he was discovered by an alert official rushing off without “weighing

What the correspondent failed to notice though, was that another official had notified M. Koperu to remove himself and his mount from the birdcage. Mentor J. P. Hayes informed “Old Rowley” that his apprentice was confident of being in the photo-finish and was surprised when ordered to leave the birdcage, but jockeys are duty bound to obey officials. It is fortunate for all concerned that the lad was still within call to weigh in, otherwise someone may have found themselves in a very invidious position and it could hardly have been M. Koperu or the connections of Fifth Note. However, that is by the way—it only takes a few seconds to develop the film of a finish in dispute and officials should ensure that under no circumstances are horses or riders allowed to drift away until the judge has announced hisi findings.