EGMONT RACING CLUB

Taranaki Daily News, 9 May 1929, Page 4

EGMONT RACING CLUB

RACING AT HAWERA TO-DAY ■STEEPLECHASE SEASON OPENS. DISCUSSION OF RECENT FORM.

(By

“Moturoa.”)

Tho Egmont Racing Club’s winter meeting, which opens to-day, marks the debut of the 1929 steeplechase season in Taranaki, and both steeplechases scheduled to be run to-day contain sufficient material to make the opening a complete success. Big fields are the feature of the meeting and everything points to the club holding a record winter meeting. Special train arrangements have been made from New Plymouth and from Wanganui, and patrons will be able to travel to the meetings at reduced fares. With Secretary W. P. Cox in his usual position, the meeting should be run off to time, and racegoers will be home in good time to-night. The first race, which is timed to start at 11.40 a.m., is the

This race has been, divided into two divisions, but as the original programme was only a seven-race.;one', the totalisator will be opened separately on each division. Coolmint is‘’highly rated by the handicappers and with the sting out of the ground must 'be, considered. Denier has not done as 'well as he promised earlier in his career, bait Richfield is a brilliant galloper -and won at his last start at Feildin'g. Flying Binge is disappointing and the erstwhile New Plymouth-trained Annoyer has not done well since he was taken away. Of those on the minimum Rillet, Golden Flower and Hopwood have shown form and of the trio the .chances of Hopwood may appeal most. The public favourite may be Richfield.

Red Fuchsia ran a great race to get within a head of Red Batik’ a,t Marton, and his good showing J augurs well for his race to-day. He ’will be bracketed with Locarno, and-the Vallaqce bracket will carry a lot of money.; ‘ Glengariff is not very well treated, but he- is a good sort and he may go well while his condition lasts. Atareria has a ton of pace, and when he takes 1 .e; bit in his mouth he is always a dangerous proposition. He won in good style at Hastings last month.- Mister Gamp, who won last year, may not be forward enough, but Vivo ran a fine Second to Wiltshire at Te Rapa. Horomea will require a race or two yet, but "Ripon Ab; bey raced well b’for© Easter, ’.; Gala Day has admirers, while Polyphemus , would only have to reproduce some of his good track work to be accounted dangerous. Golden Wedding is a promising sort, but the public may favour the; Vallance bracket.

Airway has been a good winner this season and seems to be partial ; to the heavy tracks. The rain- of* yesterday will certainly have taken, tlje sting out of th© going, and with ’all her weight she must be respected. Callapat was backed and beaten at Marton, but .he missed the jump out,, from the rails, and was kept scratching all- .the- way. He does not like the slippery going and he may run better on Saturday. Second Thought has raced well in much better company than this, -and the Wel-lington-trained gelding may be fancied. Havering is not solid, though she is galloping well on the tracks. The others may not make much appeal, and when the final bell is ringing there may be a big following for Airway and Second Thought. The hacks will line-up for their outing over the big fences in th©

Kapuna was a winner at Easter and the southerner should do well before returning home. Mountain Crag is one of the most promising of the ’chasers down this way, and his fall at Marton was caused through his being’ jumped off his feet by that brilliant, lepp.er, Puwhero. But for tliat,' Mountain Crag would surely have been the- money at Marton, and that form may influence the punters to follow- ’the - jAwapunitrained gelding. Uralla. has meed well over small fences, and the “country” at Hawera is not difficult; ■ ;Alaric is said to be a good jumper,* but he may need a race or two to get him in form. Trouble tipped out early at Marton, and little could be gauged on hit chances for to-day. Pikimai is a safe jumper and so is Maidos, but they may require a race to get them ready. Further down the lists, Huirangi Girl 'is given a jumper’s chance, but most money may bo forthcoming for Mountain Crag and Kapuna. The main event of the day is the

That fine ’chaser Puwhero heads the list with a solid impost, but over the minimum steeplechase course the weight may not be prohibitive. Brigadier Bill won last year, but his form at Marton was bad and lie has become frightened

of the big fences. Star of the East let the punters down badly at Marton, but that race may effect a big difference to the Aucklander. Passin’ Through has not raced for some time, but Roman Abbey is a newcomer who should do well at this branch of the game. He has been accorded nomination for the A.J.O. Hurdles, and Steeples next month, and if he is to be taken across to Australia he must have shown his connection some form, iVexatious is a careful jumper, but the others are poor cattle. The three top weights and Roman Abbey should make things interesting, and two who may be prominent at the finish arc Puwhero and Roman Abbey.

Benzora is back to form and he won well at Te Rapa, though he had little to spare at the finish. He is a good sort and now that he has struck form there will be a lot of Hawera money for the Bisogne horse. Punters may prefer to ‘‘look on” at Booster, Black Duke'and Valkon as yet, though Black Duke is a speedy sort. Lady Quex does not mind the sting out of the going, and she is in great heart. Considerable money will 'be there for the New Plymouth filly, and it would occasion little surprise to see her go out the actual favourite. Oration may be in need of a race, but Bonogue is in form and he may go well. First Acre has not yet struck form, and Atholspear may find the distance just too short. The big race the second day may suit him better, Of the others Broad Acre may claim most support. The race presents a very open aspect, but Taranaki money may be the deciding factor in the betting market which may favour Lady Quex and Benzora. The big flat race is the

Yoma ran second last year under 01b less, but his form this season has fully merited his increase in weight. He won th© Egmont Cup in the summer and he always goes well on this course. Nukumai failed pitiably at Marton and he may be passed over for a while yet. Bisox is making her first appearance this season, but she is a rattling good mare and in view of her Cornwall Handicap nomination, must be accounted fltirly forward. Mendip won over this distance at Easter, and he is suited by the roomy track. He is galloping well and is one of the ante-post favourites. Blimp is expected to go well, or at least much better than at Marton, where the track, was toe hard for the son of Gasbag. Manly galloped well yesterday morning, but the shorter race on Saturday may see him to more advantage. Royal Damon cannot quite see out a hard ten furlongs,.but is a good sort up to a mile. Teri has been galloping well, fpid with his light weight he may make the task of the topweights a difficult one. Dayguard won last year and he is already spoken of as a Cornwall Handicap possibility. Hipo is in form and Speaymiss and Goodwill may be seen when the whips are cracking. Money may be forthcoming for Mendip, Teri and Blimp A big programme concludes with the

Tenacre has been given a stiff impost and on Marton form Royal Acre should be able to give a pound to the Acre gelding quite easily. Calamine has not done as well as expected, while Kawhakina, who won last year, has also been a disappointment. He has shown good form on the tracks this week and the old saying, “horses for courses” may be applicable here. Gasnapper has let down his supporters several times lately, while Warfillo has also been beaten. Skyrider has been consistent, and of th© others Clover Leaf is a promising sort. A good betting rao may see money for Kawhakina and Royal Acre. RIDING ENGAGEMENTS Tj-DAY. The following are some of th© riding engagements a- unced for to-day:— J. Barry—Royal Damon, Bonogne, Flying Binge and Fortalico. L. G. Morris. —Airway and Denier. B. H. Morris. —Coolmint. R. Reed.—Bl vp, Benzora. T. Webster.--Annoyer, Keddar. . H. Wiggins. —Hopwood, Kawhakina. H. Dulieu.—Star of th© East, Gala Dav. L. Dulieu.—Ripen Abbey, Roman Abbey. A. McDonald—Red Fuchsia, Mountain Crag. A. McCormae. —Bisox and Tenaere. T. Green. —Lady Quex. W. Bowden. —Glengariff. M. Conway.—M;’dos. L. J. Elli -Mendip. A. G. Murray. —Latakia. M. Nichol.—Mandarine, Vexatious. A. H. Burt— uwhero. H. Goldfinch. —Manly. SCRATCHINGS AT HAWERA. Hawera, May 8, Nucleus was scratched for the Tongahoe Hurdles, on the first day of the Egmont Racing Club’s meeting, at 4.45 p.m. yesterday; and Seatoun for all engagements. Orazone was scratched at 10.30 this morning. AUSTRALIAN TOPICS. (By “Moturoa.”) . Among those nominated for the Australian Jockey -Club Hurdles, of two miles and three furlongs, to which a stake of £2OOO is attached, are the New Zealanders Wedding March, Zircon, Glendowie, Stormy, Roman Abbey and Beaumont. Piratic, Dr. Grace, Seafit, Cobranveil and Pirate King are well known Australian hurdlers, while Alurray King and Stony appear among the entries. # • • « Glendowie, Wedding March, Tuki, Zircon and Roman Abbey figure in the

A.J.O. Steeplechase, of £2OOO, about three miles. Roman Abbey is to race at Awa to-day and he should run well if he is to- warrant a trip across the Tasman this month.

Lighthearted, by Greyspear from Sweet Smile, who won at the Kensington “ponies” on April 17, followed, up this win by taking the Ascot Handicap at the Ascot ponies under 8.11 (51b allowed). The New Zealander won by a length and a-half and the time, Imin 41Jsec, equals the race record. Three days later Lighthearted was stepped out again in the Kensington Handicap, and under a light impost of 7.12, wou by two lengths, beating some good performers in the £5OO race. In ten days Lighthearted won about £7OO in stakes, and the five-year-old was backed confidently by his party. * # *

Tone (Leighton—Class), a four-year-old mare, formerly owned by Mr. Vivian Riddiford, won only one race in New Zealand, that being the Maiden Plate at the Manawatu Christmas meeting in 1927. She si-ply strolled in in the Novice Handicap at tho Ascot ponies and was sent out at big two-figure odds. She is well bred and ran well enough among fair maidens on this side to suggest that she should pay her way among the smaller gallopers.

The former Wanganui gelding, King Mart (King Mark —Martinea) has yet to run a bad race in Australir, and at the Victorian Amateur Turf Club s meeting last month ran Cosy Rug to a neck in the Glenhuntly Handicap, one mile and three furlongs. Cosy Rug was in receipt of 221 b from the erstwhile New Zealander, who was weighted at 8.3. King Mart was third in the order of betting, and among the unplaced division were Kalloni, Red Sea and Mondiaga, all good performers on the other side. # « # # At the Brisbane A.T.C. races on April 27, Apache (Solfcrino —Directoire) won the second heat of a seven furlongs race. Apache ran in the nomination of Mr. W. T. Hazlett last season, and won three races, besides running into places on several occasi ns. With 7.11 f he ran Celerity II to a neck in the Provincial Handicap last June, and that is probably his best performance. He is now seven years old, but may pay his way at th© minor meetings. R. P. Morrissey and Co. advertise particulars of their sale of thoroughbred horses to be held to-morrow at Gillander’s stables, Union Street, Hawera, commencing at 10.30 a.m. AUDACIOUS DROPS DEAD. Christchurch, May 8. The well-known pacer Audacious dropped dead after a work-out at Lauriston yesterday. His owner was 0. E. Hooper.

TELEGRAPH HACK HANDICAP. Six furlongs. First Division. Coolmlnt 9 5 Spring Abbey 7 2 Denier 8 8 Jokeform 7 0 Richfield 8 6 Latakia 7 0 Otaire 8 3 Billet'.. 7 0 Flying Binge 7 12 Finey 7 0 Warflame 7 7 Golden. Flower 7 0 Annorer 7 2 Hopwood 7 0

TtJNGAHOE -hurdles. One mile and three-quarters. (Race starts at 12.15 p.m.) Red Fuchsia 11 13 Ripon Abbey 9 7 Locarno 11 10 Gala Day 9 7 Glengariff 11 5 Polyphemus 9 4 Atarerla 10 13 Umtali ' 9 0 Mister Gamp 10 7 Golden Vivo 10 1 Wedding 9 0 Horomea 9 7

TELEGRAP” HACK HANDICAP. 'Six furlongs. Second Division. (Race starts at 12.50 p.m.) Airway 9 4 Grand Lupin 7 2 Callapat 8 7 Biforte . 0 Second . Mint Belle 70 Thought 8 5 Good Cheer 7 0 St. Melba 8 2 Nga whine 7 0 Havering 7 12 Bione 7 0 Monsogne 7 8 Animated 0 Boundary 7 4 Good Tree 7 0

HACK STEEPLECHASE.. Two miles. (Race starts at 1.25 p.m.) Kapuna 10 5 Highwayman 9 9 Mountain Royal Elm 9 8 Crag 10 2 Son o’ Mine 9 2 Uralla 9 10 Huirang! Girl 9 2 Alarlc 9 10 Mandarine 9 0 Trouble 9 10 Mandate 9 0 Plkimal 9 10 Chyrria 9 0 Maidos 9 9 Marcellus 9 p

EGMOXT STEEPLECHASE. Two miles and a-half. (Race starts at 2 p.m.) Puwhero 11 7 Roman Abbey 9 10 Brigadier Bill 11 0 Vexatious 9 2 Star of the Gilgal 9 0 East 10 10 Calithe 9 0 Passin’ Through 10 0

FLYING HANDICAP. ■Six furlongs. (Race starts at 2.40 p.m.) Benzora 9 5 i Keddar 7 12 Booster 8 12 Birst Acre 11 Black Duke 8 I Atholspear 7 10 Valkon 8 6 Epistle 7 6 Lady Quex 8 6 Royal Mint 5 Oration 8 1 Broad Acre 7 0 Bonogne 8 1 Whenuanui 7 0

McRAE MEMORIAL HANDICAP. One mil© and a-quarter. (Race starts at 3.20 p.m.) Yoma 9 3 Teri 7 8 Nukumai 8 5 Dayguard 7 6 Bisox 8 4 Hipo 7 2 Mendip 8 1 Rowley 7 2 Blimp 8 1 Goodwill 7 0 Manly 8 0 Lady LImond 7 0 Royal Damon 7 13 Spearmlss 7 0

TAWHITI HACK HANDICAP. Eight furlongs and. a-half. (Race starts at 4 p.m.) Royal Acre 9 1 Warfllle S 6 Tenacre 9 0 Fortalice 7 10 Calamine 8 16 Remora 7 5 Kawhakina 8 9 Clover Leaf 7 5 Skyrider 8 9 Fine Acre 7 5 Gasnapper 8 8 Miss Pakake 7 0