LATE SPORTING.

Thames Star, Volume LXIII, Issue 17570, 8 March 1929, Page 5

LATE SPORTING.

PUKEKOHE RACES.

THE BOMBAY DIVISIONS

NOTES BY “CANARD.”

The two divisions in the Bombay Handicap at Pukekohe to-morrow give the most seasoned of punters food for ample thought. In the first place,* two of the runners most likely to be fancied for the race are ranged against one another in the same division, and as there is only the one can win there is a pretty problem for a start-off.- For a second there is the fact that the majority of the contestants are, comparatively speaking, without any definite form, and in the bulk of the cases without any form at all. All these factors combine to make the punter’s task one of considerable difficulty.

On the strength of recent work thei'e is sure to be a good deal of money for Hiata in the first division, and the same applies to Atapai. Handstitch has been accorded nomination after nomination without reaching the post, and his party are not paying out good money for their horse for the fun of giving it away. The 4-year-old daughter of Mullingar must have given her party some encouragement. Atapai is not overburdened, even with 8.10. Hiata is really well. One that was expected to prove very hard as soon as the sting tame out of the tracks is Asmodeus, and the Te Rapa-trained son of Nassau should be suited by the recent rain. Copey is one of the unknowns, and Joy Girl has not done much either. Then comes Liona, and she has been showing her Mercer trainer some very nice gallops on his private track. Her party are expecting the chips, but she is in her sixth year, and it is time she did something to pay the oat bill. Lord Hopetoun has nothing to really recommend hipri. Going down the list two more which are better known than the others are The Dansant and Salamander. The issue is very clouded, but form points to: Hiata, Liona, The Dansant, from: — BOMBAY HANDICAP, of £l2O. Six furlongs. (First Division.) Atapai 8.10, Hiata 7.11, Handstitch 7.9, Asmodeus, Copey, Joy Girl, Liona, Lord Hopetoun, Merry Lu, Night Comet, Panawhaka, Prince Efectra, Salamander, ,Standfast, The Dansant, Tukunoa, 7.8.

The second division has rather a more open appearance than even the first, and he will be a bold man who can select the actual winner. Queen Comet has wins at Ngaruawahia to her credit, but last year she started 14 times for one minor placing. She is six years old, and it looks a case of now or never. Red Lion ran quite a decent race at Te Aroha, but did not last the six furlongs out. - Perhaps he has come more solid in the meantime. He reads well if fit. Whakama has only figured as a starter once this year, but report has it that he is a bit out of the ordinary, and that his track work has .been of a high order.. It must not be forgotten, however, that the Franklin track is fairly fast. Last year the times for these two divisions were 115 and 1.16 respectively, and there is- the usual likelihood of a surprise Bonny Day, another of the Day Comet tribe, figures little in the limelight, but should make good later on. Critique does not appeal. One that is trained 'on the home course is Haviland, and he is well and fit. He looks capable of running out the distance. Lineroo and Little Gift are not performers, but one of the Surveyor gets in Measurer may well crack bis egg in this race. He is fancied in the South Auckland town. Of the other eight which comprise the field only Shine On makes any appeal, for the rest axe unknown quantities, and it is, of ' course, quite against all custom for an unknown to win—quite—perhaps! When all is summed up and. against all good advice the punters have insisted on backing their fancy, the favourites may be: Red Lion, Whakama, Haviland, from:-

(Second Division.) Queen Comet 8.10, Red Lion 8.2, Whakama 7.11, Bonny Day, Critique, Haviland, Lineroo, Little Gift, Measurer, Myola, Onewhero, Pessimist, Cragsman,. Shine On,, Steady Fire, Thurmus, Waiau Lady, 7.8.