SPRING RACING

Te Awamutu Courier, Volume 79, Issue 7102, 2 September 1949, Page 5

SPRING RACING

FIRST DAY OF AVONDALE MEETING KEEN INTEREST IN JUVENILES

(By

“Old Rowley”)

Most interest to-morrow will be centred on the 18 two-year-olds which are carded for the Avondale Stakes, of £lOOO, 5 furlongs. Colts and geldings will carry 8.0 and fillies 7.9. Breeding sometimes has a bearing on the running, all things being equal and it will pay to take more than a cursory glance at the official card. It would confuse the issue to try and assess the value of any parades in which the acceptors have appeared and the safest plan would be to watch the race for potential improvers, but if an investment must be made, then good breeding, from a good stable with a good horseman in the saddle is the only logical method of selecting a fancy, in the absence of any really exceptional track form. The Avondale Jockey Club has a well-filled programme with good-class horses engaged in all races. Among ✓the hacks are some of last season’s top two-year-olds, including Lord Cranleigh, Treasure Fox, Lady Ruthex, and Lady Zenib. Gold Script, Standfred, Tudor Prince, Dixie and Dark Treasure are others claiming engagements in open company and they comprise the nucleus of what promises to be a boon season for quality gallopers. With 24 acceptors, the Avondale Cup presents a difficult proposition to racegoers, although there is a certain amount of form on which judgment may be based. It will be recalled that last season Double Chance led all the way and just managed to hold off Ascot Lad in a tight finish. Bedivere, Florida, The Bat, Redingote, Wonder Boy, Bridge Watcher, Beau Astaire and Conspiracy have given good accounts of themselves and are likely to dominate public fancy. The three-year-olds are expected to dominate discussions in the Sheriff Handicap, of £lO5O, 6 furlongs, and the Borough Mile, with a good field engaged may find Gollen and the Oklahoma—Te Paerata bracket vieing for favouritism, with Rating, Our Dink, Marie’s Tray and Maricrana also having many friends. Racing opens with the Cornwallis Handicap at 11 a.m., the Avondale Cup being run at 1.15 p.m. and the day’s racing will conclude when the all clear is given for the Borough Handicap timed to commence at 4.2.0 p.m. In most events the issue is very open, but the following horses may be among those to attract attention: — Cornwallis Handicap, 6 furlongs: Lord Cranleigh, Oslo, Lord Moss. September Hurdles, 12 miles: Kind Regards Gay Youth, Fianna Fail. Henderson Hack Handicap, 7 furlongs: Brer Acre, Silver Blue, Gold

Spoon. Avondale Cup, 1 mile 3 furlongs: Florida, Beau Astaire, Redingote. Avondale Stakes, 5 furlongs: Aggression, Tamaki, Flying Shah.

Swanson Handicap, 1 mile: Kilfenora, Major, Mary Marvel. Sheriff Handicap, 6 furlongs: Gold Script, Dixie, Stanfred. Borough Handicap, 1 mile: Gollen, Oklahoma-Te Paerata bracket, Maricrana.

WANGANUI MEETING OPENS

LORD HOLLAND IN FAVOUR Good fields ensure a successful meeting for the Wanganui Jockey Club which stages its September meeting to-morrow. There are eighteen acceptors for the Debutant 2-year-old Stakes, of £3OO, run over 4£ furlongs. Dark Treasure was balloted out, but will be eligible to start if there is a withdrawal. After his victory at Foxton, Lord Holland is well favoured for the Marangai Handicap, but he will be meeting a good class of gallopers, including Brample Leighon, Precedency, Snow Saint, and Bronstar. The track is likely to be in fairly good order if the present fine weather continues and recent form should prove a fair guide. For this reason the following horses may command most support:— Debutant Two-year-old Stakes, 4| furlongs: Concealment, Knockninnon, Pictawin. Okehu Hack Hurdles, about 12 miles: Carey, Coronara, Leigh Hark. Maiden Handicap, about 6i furlongs: Paddy Joe, Dennis O’Kelly, Indian Moon. Seafield Hack Handicap, 1 mile: Clear View, Beau Couer, Master McGrath. Marangai Handicap, about 12 miles: Lord Holland, Brample Leighon, Snow Saint. Durie Hack Handicap, about 6£ furlongs: Glide In, The Dolphin, Cyclops. Putiki Hack Handicap, about 12 miles: Lady Finis, Waimanu, Ace Pilot. Flying Handicap, about 6 furlongs: Golden Spa, Brown Derby, Glide In. TROTTING CONTINUES AT ADDINGTON The New Zealand Metropolitan Trotting Club continues its meeting at Addington to-morrow and after last week’s racing there are sure to be some short-priced favourites, for the public are very definite in their summing up at a meeting such as this. Conditions should favour form followers. There may be one or two upsets for some horses were in need of a race to top them off. The trotter, Renflap, will no doubt run on more solidly this week and may do better than the fourth which he achieved at his last start. Two races of note are the Addington Trotting Stakes, of £750, 1 mile 5 furlongs, for 4 and 5-year-old trotters, special handicaps, and the Metropolitan Stakes, of £lOOO, 1 mile 5 furlongs, for 4-year-old pacers, special handicaps. Reports indicate that track conditions will be much the same as last week and fast times are expected. The following horses may be favoured in their engagements:— Handicap, limit 4.31, 2 miles: Gaintree, Remlap, Loyal Nelson. Queen Mary Handicap, limit 4.29, 2 miles: Duncraig, Novelda, Caledonian Gold. Addington Trotting Stakes, special

handicap, 1 mile 5 furlongs, Single Task, King’s Brigade, Forearmed. National Handicap, limit 4.23, 2 miles: Commander Scott, Attack, Maori Home. Advance Handicap, limit 4.27, 2 miles: Seacraft, Gough’s Pride, Dillondale. Winter Handicap, trotters, limit 3.34, 1 mile 5 furlongs: Betty Maxegin. 14 Fantom, Bellisima bracket. Metropolitan Stakes, special handicaps, 1 mile 5 furlongs: Ascot, Perpetua, Lawn Grattan. Speedway Handicap, limit 2.43, 12 miles: Attack, Globe Direct, Captain Sandy.