WANGANUI SIDELIGHTS

Taranaki Daily News, 27 September 1933, Page 4

WANGANUI SIDELIGHTS

THE HANDICAP HORSES

SFEEDMINT A FIT MARE.

FIJI'S BRIGHT PROSPECTS.

(By

“Hurry On.”)

At the first important spring gathering the performance of the “open” horses were closely watched at Wanganui in view of the .bigger meetings ahead. Good fields contested both the middle distance and the sprint events and the form displayed may work out well during the next two months. Speedmint won the Marangai Handicap on the opening day very decisively, though her task was made easier by Brambletorn going out and forcing tire pace. Over the first couple of furlongs it appeared as though it would be a slow race and this would not have been in Speedmint’s favour as a sprint home would not have suited her. She is wonderfully fit at present and at the finish gave nothing else a chance, winning going away. All going well in the interval she should take a lot of beating in the Avondale Cup next month. The Waikato horseman A. Tinker appears to be able to handle her much better than her previous riders.

Fiji’s Improvement. The win of Fiji in the Higgie Handicap caught not only the public but also the horse’s connections by surprise. In the Seafield Handicap on Friday he was in the picture until the straight was reached and then faded out quickly. This outing must have improved him more than was expected as he ran the longer distance the second day really well after having been in front all the way. The son of Nigger Minstrel showed good form last autumn when he won the Egmont Cup and was third' in the Wellington (Sup. His forward running last week would seem to indicate that he is going to be even better this year. As he has been twice placed over a mile and a half journey—he was second to Bronze Eagle in the Derby two years ago—he appears to be likely to make a good showing for the New Zealand Cup in November, especially in the weak looking lot that were handicapped this week.

View Halloo’s Form, The veteran trainer F. Tilly always produces View HaUoo in good order for the Wanganui meetings, and the horse rarely runs a bad race. He again lived up to his reputation last week. > He suffered in the mix up in the Flying Handicap on Friday and though his chance was hopeless he came home strongly in fourth place. On Saturday he was raced over a distance and beat everything but the winner. He was always handily though not exactly well placed and had to come round a couple of horses on the home turn. He then put in one of his characteristic finishes, but Fiji was just holding his own at the end. These two races should improve him and he should not .be long in getting on to the winning list again, Curie was Consistent,

Two solid performances under substantial went to the credit of Curie. He is now a much more solid looking customer than he was in the autumn, and with the exception of his poor showing on the middle day at Trentham his form has been wonderfully consistent during the last ten weeks. However, it' would now seem that the handicappers have taken his measure and he yzill not win out of his turn in the future. He looked likely at the distance in the Higgie Handicap on Saturday but could not sustain his run and was beaten into third place. He might do better on a wet track. A Great Beginner.

Royal Hunting’s brilliance out of the tapes, combined with his superior racing condition, just landed him home a winner in the Flying Handicap on Saturday. A hundred yards from the post it looked as if both Red Manfred and Curie would beat him, but he hung on grimly. On the second day The Tiger hopped out with him and carried him along all the way. He shook the Hawera horse off at the top of the straight, but the effort and the extra weight told their tale over the last 50 yards and he was unable to hold off Midinette and Pomp. Royal Hunting is better now than at any stage of his career and on turning courses will hold his ovzn with almost any sprint field.

Stable-mates First and Second. Pomp had only one outing, in the Owen Handicap on the second day, but his form in that event was impressive. He was at the tail of the field all the way until the straight was reached but then unwound a wonderful run that just landed him home by a head from his stablemate Midinette. He was ridden by an apprentice, R. J. Feam, who steered his first winner. It was a striking performance and would suggest that Pomp is an improved horse this season. Incidently he is the last of the Absurds. Midinette was also a starter on the opening day but did not begin well enough ever to have a winning chance. On the second day she moved up coming to the Straight entrance and looked a winner 100 yards from the post, but Pomp finished just too solidly for her. For Minor Meetings.

The Hawera trained Little Doubt ran two good races, finishing in fourth place both days. He appears to be racing more consistently than before and on his showings should be able to be placed where he can pay his way. There were three good horses in front of him on Saturday. Had the club raced on the wet track on Thursday the son of Antagonist would have been hard to beat.

King’s Knave Getting Ready. His third in the Seafield Handicap on the opening day demonstrated that King’s Knave is fast coming to his best. He was well back early, and though he never looked like winning he was finishing on in good style. The racing he had at Wanganui and at Marton should do a lot to sharpen him up for the Avondale and Ellerslie gatherings. Will Not Be Long.

After the great race he ran in the Marangai Handicap on Friday many expected Brambletorn to take a prominent part in the finish of the Higgie Handicap on Saturday. However, instead of improving him that outing seemed to have got to the bottom of him as there was very little dash in his effort. Still his fine effort on Friday will not be forgotten, especially as he looked capable of much improvement. The gon of The Ace is a fine cut of a horse who should win a big handicap during the current season.

Not His Best, The Tiger contested the sprint event each day but finished among the “also rans.” He caused trouble to several of the other runners on the first day but on the second he had every chance. He was out in front with Royal Hunting until the straight was reached but then faded out quickly. Either this is not his true form or he is on the downgrade. He may be given a chance to redeem himself on Saturday at Foxton, a course where he won a race in June.