PAKURANGA HUNT RACES

Te Awamutu Courier, Volume 79, Issue 7096, 19 August 1949, Page 5

PAKURANGA HUNT RACES

VALCONIA AND SAVILE ROW IN FAVOUR SAREEL HAS PROSPECTS IN HARRIS MEMORIAL (By “Old Rowley”) There is every reason to expect a record attendance at the Pakuranga Hunt Races which will be staged at Ellerslie to-morrow, for this is the first galloping meeting of the new season and enthusiasts will be keen to take up the sport again after a spell. A very evenly balanced field is carded for the Pakuranga Hunt Cup, of £l5OO and gold cup valued at £5O, about three miles. Valconia is top weight with 10.9 and it will thus be seen that no horse is being handicapped by excessive weight to prejudice its chances. Valconia succeeded in the Mt Albert and New Lynn Steeplechases at the last Avondale meeting, carrying 10.12 on the latter occasion. He jumps well and Is at home under most winter conditions. Second on the list is Pimlico, which will be bracketed with Charivari and both have raced with a measure of success around the Taranaki circuit. Modern View raced prominently at Trentham and he has the advantage of knowing Ellerslie terrain—it will be recalled that he ran well at the Great Northern meeting. Griffin also hails from the southern end of the Island and has shown to advantage, in fact he may be one of the favourites on the day. However, Griffin will have to contend with Savile Row, a very‘consistent performer which finished second to Flying Attack when he won the Whau Steeplechase in July and behind him was Hazsoult which has performed creditably at Riccarton. Savile Row will be favoured by the Ellerslie hill, for he appeals as a stayer rather than a spectacular and fast jumper. Further down the list the runners have little to recommend them. However, it is worth recording that Greek Comet raced promisingly at Avondale and Welldrop and Jemmy Button have experience. An interesting acceptor is the game little ’chaser Paid, which has succeeded at Ellerslie on previous occasions. Paid must be getting on in years now, but he is a fairly safe seat for a jockey and this may stand him in good stead. Pimlico and Charivari claim an engagement in the Harris Memorial Hunters’ Hurdles, which is the second race on the programme. Both have the speed to succeed against the opposition. However, Sareel gave several good exhibitions prior to his lapse when contesting a steeplechase at Avondale and he is a young horse; he should prove hard to dispose ofNiloch can jump well enough, but so far this well-bred novice has failed to stay. To date the other acceptors have not displayed sufficient form to warrant optimism. Unless rain falls in the interim the going should be quite good for winter racing when the programme opens at 11.5 a.m. Although the issue is very open the following horses may command most respect in their engagements:—

Greenmount Hunters’ Steeplechase, about 2i miles: Murphy, Cleverton, Dukeron. Harris Memorial Hunters’ Hurdles, about 12 miles and 60 yards: Sareel, Pimlico—OhariVari bracket, Niloch. First Sylvia Hack Handicap, 7 furlongs: First Division: John Silver, Alpenza, Gold Spoon. Second Division: Probation’s Pride, Soft Heart, Shirley Dale. Jellicoe Handicap, 1 mile: Rating, Florida, Kyrat. Pakuranga Hunt Cup, about 3 miles: Savile Row, Valconia, Charivari —Pimlico bracket. Second Sylvia Hack Handicap, 7 furlongs: First Division: Kilfenora, Town Hero, Lord Mayor. Second Division: Brer Acre, Roy Vaals, Bainbridge Pat. Bullock Webster Handicap, amateur riders, 11 miles: Roll Over, Corondal, Mission School. Admiralty Handicap, 6 furlongs: Bridge Watcher, Highland Lad, Tiger Tan. FINAL DAY AT RICCARTON SPECIALIST IS FAVOURED -FOR BEAUFORT STEEPLES The Canterbury Jockey Club will conclude its Grand National meeting at Riccarton to-morrow, and good fields are once again carded. Specialist has come into favour for the Beaufort Steeplechase after his impressive performance on Saturday last when he galloped on strongly without any assistance from J. Harris, who lost his irons at the last fence, in the Hunt Cup Steeplechase. The field is not strong and this may help the Auckland trained Hazsoult to gain another placing. Homespun, Light Tea and San Quentin are others with prospects. With 11.8 the New Zealand Grand National Hurdles winner may find it difficult to hold off the challenges of some of his lightweight rivals in the Sydenham Hurdles, particularly Our Gold, Batal and Gay Fellow, all of which have shown ability at the meeting. The going is likely to be easy again and should favour those horses which raced prominently last week. During a day on which public fancy is sure to fluctuate considerably the following horses may be favoured: — Aylesbury Handicap, 7 furlongs: First Division: Fantasy, Braemorn, Wicche. Second Division: Hobgoblin, Reformed, Marcus. Styx Hack Hurdles, 13 miles, 60 yds: The Stormovik, Money Lender, Sailor Girl. Longbeach Hack Handicap, 1 mile: Robin Redbreast, Snow Saint, Beau Soir. Sydenham Hurdles, 2 miles: Gay Fellow, Our Gold, Batal. Heathcote Handicap, 9 furlongs: Western Front, Angell, Dark Arrow. Beaufort Steeplechase, about 2i miles: Specialist, San Quentin, Hazsoult. Red-lifts Hack Handicap, li miles: Detract, Double Bid, Flibbertigibbet. Selwyn Handicap, 7 furlongs: Julius Caesar, Lorna Leigh, Infatuate.