ON WANGANUI TRACKS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 73, Issue 429, 21 November 1930, Page 4

ON WANGANUI TRACKS

PREPARING FOR LEVIN YESTERDAY MORNING’S WORK (By “Kestrel”) With heavy showers falling on Wednesday night and several more yesterday morning just before breakfast, the Wanganui tracks were rather on the soft side in places when the early morning work was being done, while later on those doing fast work were getting into the ground at a couple of points. However, in spite of the heavy rain it was agreed that the going on the course proper was splendid and certainly superior to what it would have been* on any other track under similar conditions.

As Wanganui’s team for the Levin meeting will number lour only, the work done yesterday morning failed to cast much more light on prospects for that fixture.

Before breakfast Walter Rayner worked his trio, Pomp, Pedestal and .‘Solange, but they were not asked to do more than half-pace, as they were sent along on Wednesday afternoon, when their owner, Mr G. N* Currie, was present. The three appear well forward for their engagements at Feilding on •Saturday of next week.

With an engagement in the Highweight Handicap at Levin to-morrow, Auctioneer was tried over a mile on the outside of the course proper. J. Barry was in the saddle and the Gasbag gelding was allowed to run along well out from the pegs, which were themselves 18ft out from the rails. Never a very energetic worker when by himself, Auctioner registered Imin- 52sec. for the full distance, and considering the fact that he must have covered well over eight furlongs, it must be accepted as a very satisfactory gallop. At Levin he will be ridden by L. Dulieu and as the distance to be covered is ten furlongs there is every reason to view his prospects with quiet optimism. The sun was shining brightly while the early morning work was being completed, but clouds banked up during the interval and there were several showers before the late-comers got through their tasks, one particularly heavy downpour being accompanied by hail. Naturally this did not improve th.* going. Hinewai, a maiden race candidate at Levin, had a lightweight up in her task over five furlongs, accompanied by the Tonbridge gelding, Takahue ,in C. Gordon’s stable, J. Barry having the mount on the latter. The pair were not so far out on the course proper as Auctioneer had been, but they were both travelling smoothly at the finish to record a tick over 6Ssec-, with Hinewai holding the advantage at the post. This Chief Ruler mare is expected to run a decent race, though she has not had the racing experience that some of the contestants have had. She will be ridden by Barry in her engagements. Waverley Cup Winner Fernden, top weight in the Levin Handicap, was asked to cover six furlungs by himself, with only a lightweight in the saddle. He was well out on the course proper, going over a bit more than the distance named and was striding along freely to be elocked home in Imin. 21 3-ssec. after running the first half-mile in a shade under 51The Waverley Cup winner has been steadily improving since his outings at Trenth,am and Waverley and with T. Green in the saddle to-morrow he is expected to put up a decent performance against what is certainly a fairly good field.

M ork of the useful order was allotted to Korokio, Onepai, Paratoo, Zarene, Knollmerc and a couple of others.

Danny Boy finished a shade in front of Queanbeyan over five furlongs, with Plain Jane a couple of lengths back, but the time was 69scc., which could not be enthused over. Later in the day Just an Idea, who is engaged in the McDonald Memorial Handicap at Levin, was given a six furlong task, which he did in Imin. 23 sec. This chap is never a brilliant track worker but goes better in company. He will be ridden by C* Goulsbro at Levin.