EARLE STAKES FIELD

Taranaki Daily News, 19 February 1931, Page 10

EARLE STAKES FIELD

CHANCE FOR IN THE SHADE AUCKLANDER HAS BEEN UNLUCKY SHOULD HAVE WON TARANAKI CUP ROYAL PARADE IS IMPROVING. The deletion of the Wanganui Cup from the programme of the Wanganui Jockey Club’s autumn meeting detracts considerably from the interest of the opening day of the meetihg. This old-established race has been replaced by the Earle Stakes, run over a distance of half a mile shorter, but it has attracted In the Shade, winner of the last Wanganui Cup, as well ais several good ten-furlong horses. The acceptors are:— ' EARLE STAKES. ' Of 325 sovs. On* mile and a quarter. In the Shade 8 11 Chopin 7 6 First Acre 7 13 Shrewd 7 4 Paitonu 7 12 Moutoa Royal Parade 7 12 Treasury 7 4 In the Shade was undoubtedly the unluckiest runner in the Taranaki Cup last week and, with judicious handling, should have won. To-day it is practically certain that Gray will be in the saddle, and no one seems to understand the Australian Sun gelding better than he does. He has ridden nim in most of his wins and should get the best out of his mount to-day. In the Shade is in perfect racing condition and there is. no doubt about what will be favourite. First Acre’s form since returning from Australia has been hard to follow. While he has not really run a bad race, he certainly never threatened danger in any of his races on the Taranaki circuit. Caught in a galloping mood, he would be very hard to beat and his recent strenuous racing should not militate against his chances. Paitonu is not ready yet and will -be passed by in favour of the better conditioned horses.

Royal Parade was considered purely a sprinter until the holiday meetings, but he scored decisively in the Liverpool Handicap on the concluding day of the Manawatu meeting and repeated that good form by winning the Wairarapa Cup in the smart time of 2min. 6 3-ssec. In the Paul Memorial on Saturday he made the pace from the start and it was only in the last fifty yards z that he was caught by Vertigern. The performance was a good one and, up to ten furlongs, Royal Parade must be respected in any field. Chopin ran a really good third in the Egniont Cup and was a close second in the Tonks Stakes, but he ran bad races at New Plymouth. That form, however, was not a true indication of his abilities and he should prove that running, to be quite wrong before long. Shrewd has not raced much since the spring arid it is reasonable to expect him to be all the better for his outing to-day. Moutoa Treasury rgn , a surprisingly good race in. the" Wellington Cup, and a repetition . of that form would give her an undeniable chance. However, it is hard to look past recent form and, while First Acre might bo caught in a galloping mood, form shewn on the Taranaki circuit, very definitely favours IN THE SHADE ROYAL PARADE CHOPIN " ■ \