TARANAKI STAKES TO-DAY

Taranaki Daily News, 10 February 1934, Page 4

TARANAKI STAKES TO-DAY

CLASS SPRINTERS ENGAGED

GOLDEN WINGS AND SOUCHONG.

GREAT CONTEST EXPECTED.

(By “

“Hurry On.”)

Though fields are usually small there is something about a classic race, that appeals to the public imagination. Only proved horses take part in them; it is no place for anything but horses of class and these are the kind that the average racegoer likes to see in action. The Tara naki Jockey Club’s policy, of keeping the Stakes on the programme for its autumn meeting has enabled Taranaki racegoers to see in action performers of the calibre of Gloaming, Desert Gold, Glentruin, Reremoana, The Hawk, Lady Quex, Ammon Ra, Golden Hair and Motley. Four will parade for the event to-day and the field is right up to standard, three of the quartet having already run prominently in weight-for-age events. They are:— GOLDEN WINGS, Mr. C. G. Keeble’s ch.g., 5 years, by Lackham-Megalo, 9.0; rider, R. Reed; trainer, H. E. Russell, Woodville. SOUCHONG, P.- F. Wall’s ch.g., 6 years, by Arausio-Suratara, 9.0; rider, K. Voitre; trainer, F. Mullins. . Waipukurau. POMP, G. M. Currie’s br.g., 6 years, by Absurd-Pomyris, 9.0; rider, L. G. Morris; trainer, W. Rayner, Wanganui. BRITISH COLUMBIA, W. H. Maria’s br.g., 4 years, by Top Gallant-Col-umbia, 9.0; rider, S. Tremain; trainer, owner, Kaitara.

Golden Wings is without doubt the best performed horse of the, quartet. He was beaten in this event last year by Golden Hair but afterwards went', from success to success, eventually lumping a‘•Welter impost home from end to .end in the Easter mile at Ellerslie. He has had to shoulder big imposts all this season but on New Year’s Day he .deadheated with Silver Streak at Ellerslie with 10.0 on his. back. He ran five races at Trentham, where with a shade of luck he might have won at least one race. He has freshened since then and . seemed in wonderful order on Wednesday morning. ' . ‘ . Souchong was slow to strike form this season but his two wins . at. Hawera stamped him as a great sprinter. He lost no caste on Thursday when he failed to concede Star Artist 241 b in a fast six furlongs. On the final day at Trentham Golden Wings gave Pomp 351 b and just beat him. In the Flying at New Plymouth Souchong conceded Pomp 261 b and accounted for him fairly comfortably. On these showings there is little between Souchong and Golden Wings. Despite his defeats in handicap events Pomp has shown that he is a different proposition when racing at weight-for-age, especially with L. G. Morris in the saddle. He downed Souchong in the Feilding Stakes last November and a repition of that form would find him disputing every inch of ground with the other pair over the final' furlong. This will be British Columbia’s first appearance in a classic race. On paper he would not appear to much prospect of beating Golden Wings and Souchong but W. H. Maria’s horses .have a habit of winning when least expected and British Columbia will do his best to uphold the stable’s reputation. The logical favourite is Golden Wings; he is the best sprinter seen in New Zealand for some years but weight-for-age races often spring surprises' and Souchong will keep Keeble s Tiorse busy all the way.