ON THE TURF

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 79, Issue 107, 7 May 1936, Page 4

ON THE TURF

By

“KESTREL”

AT HAWERA TO-DAY EGMONT MEETING OPENS STEEPLECHASE FIXTURE REVIEW OF PROSPECTS. Marking as it does the opening of the winter racing campaign in tne North Island, the Egmont Racing dub’s meeting, to be held to-day and Saturday, must attract more than the usual amount of attention this year, for there will be no Wanganui meeting to follow it for horses engaged at the Great Northern meeting at Ellerslie. Next week there are the Marton and Waipa meetings and they will be followed bv the Waikato fixture, but several hurdlers and ’chasers who will be seen out to-day and Saturday will later go on to Ellerslie. Throughout the programme today ■fields are really good, and it is pleasing to note that no fewer than I.'*. are engaged in the Tongahoe Hurdles, the Kgmont Steeplechase field being only two less. A dozen figure on the card for the Mcßae Cup, the principal handicap event on the flat, and altogether it is a very attractive card. Betting will operate under the win-apd-plaee system, as is usual with practically every Taranaki meeting. It would thus appear likely that three •place” dividends will be paid out in ill events with th** possible exception of the Flying Handicap, which is now the third race. The first rare is down to start al 11.45 a.m. and there will be 45-minute intervals—certainly ample time for patrons. The course proper at Hawera is reported to be in excellent winter order after the recent heavy rains, a drying wind having made ihe going really good. The field for the opening race, the Tongahoe Hurdles, is one of the .wrongest that has contested this event in recent years. Soloist has earned his position at the head of the list, but he must still be given an excellent chance with 11.9, especially when one con eiders his four wins and a second a little earlier in the season. He won under 12.0 at Te Aroha, and he appears likely to turn out one of the best of the Hunting Song hurdlers seen in action tor some time. High Grader was last ' ear's Century Hu idles winner. Brigaine was looked on a couple of seasons ago as one of the most promising hurdlers in commission but his must recent display, at the Dannevirke meeting at Woodville, was not very encouraging. Arctic .Star was a very promis•ig recruit to the hurdling game till hr bad a spill at the Riccarfon Easter meeting and he may still be feeling the effects. Sait Spray has not been seen] in a. lion for the best part of 12 mouths but usually jumps well. Rua-1 form won at Hawera 12 months ago and also scored here in February. <o he • must like the course. Contact was a; winner at his second start over battens at Hastings recently. Don Erma is a good hunter, and of the remainder Glen vane. Beau Star and I’anlof should, all ha\e friends. lb.we.er. the pui»ii. •; .-i •• not likely to go past Soloist. V.»ri , t.u-t and Knaform. \s usual, a large livid wil| conies; r ie Telegraph Hack Handb-ap. I>;;t i t<w» divisions, as has been done on 1 more than one occasion. Fiammarion. ; 1 ' olossus. Trouvaille. Rusten. s ; i Tommy. Erebus. Ngatirahiri and S i ' 'anus appear to be the most likely division, and the favourites include I lammarion. Erebus ami Trouvaille. Eight are down to contest the Flying Handicap, and they are headed by the veteran Refresher. Victorv for the Topweight would be very popular, but the majority tvill expect him to be beaten by something a little lower in the list. Perhaps Friesland and the consistent Limulus may be found fairly prominent, with Slippery and Gold Mission not far away. Th<- selection of Friesland. Limulus and Refresher may prove justified. Both in numbers an.l in quality the Egmont Steeplechase lie! J is the best that has been engaged in recent years. Yalpeen who tops the list, is set to concede 301 b. to the nearest of his opponents. As a winner of two Grand Nationals, a Wellington and a Great Northern Steeplechase. Valpeen has the credentials as the best performer of the field. Perhaps his weight and the distance of the race may be against him, for his best performances have been over a distance a mile further than today's course. Forest Glow will bo preferred to Rasouli. for the Northerner was not too easily beaten in both starts at Ellerslie last month. Transact, as winner of this race and the second day’s 'chase last year, must be treated with respect for he is partial to heavy going. Petrarch last year won the Hawke's Bay Steeplechase and the Egmont-Wanganui Hunt (.'up, so he likes the crosscountry events. He is in great heart just now. Dozie is a natural jumper and invictus, Copev and Illawarra may have many friends, but after all the public will not go past proved ’chasers of class like Forest Giow. Petrarch ami Transact. The five-furlong Hack Scurry presents its usual problem in the absence oi any information as to the draw at Iha barrier. A horse with an inside berth will have the advantage here, and if well served in this respect .Debut, State Bank. Sir Tommy, Erebus. Joviality, Night Spi, De Prop, Wahine Nui, Advance Plane and Red Panther may command respect. Perhaps Erebus, Debut and Night Spi should make most appeal. One Whetu’s recent suer esse.« have brought him io the top of the list in ;he Mcßae Cup, ami he is going to prove hard to beat. Peter Jackson is wed placed as a winner of the Moonee Valley Cup of two seasons ago. but he may not yet be anywhere near back to hii best. Refresher nay prefer the shorter distance of the open sprint. •Dftvistock reads well but Grateful should do better. Prostration is a pro-1 raising sort, and Alchemic and Tahu- ' rangi are well placed 51b. above the minimum. A decision for Grateful Alchemic and One Whetu mav not be far wrong. The Taw hit i Hack Handicap does not appear to have such a strong field as usual, bur Leo Colossus, Boomerang Ora-, Hunting Queen. Royal Feast, Oorowa and Calshot should be promin-i •nt. Perhaps Boomerang will be pre- [ •erred to Leo Colossus and Hunting Wanganui patrons who travel ( 0 Hawera by train, leaving at 8.20 this raorning, should note that the return

train leaves the racecourse at 4.51 p.m. and leaves Hawera at 5.25 p.m. Special excursion tickets will be issued and will be available for return until next Monday. Queen. Following is the list of acceptors with the starting times:— 11.45

ABSENTEES FROM EGMONT According to a report from Hawera neither High Grader nor Monarchy is j making the trip to the Egmont meeting, nor is Invictus. though Brigadore, rnvietus’ stablemate, will be ou hand for tiie hurdles. ON HAWERA TRACKS THE FINAL GALLOPS. Tl' I ..-1J A Y s |■ l; |:PA It AT lOX S. A large number of Egmont caiidi- | dales were given their final gallops at I Hawera on fuesday mornuig. writes! "Childers” ia the Hawera btur. All I galloping was done on the outside oi ' tin* cu-ui.-e proper, the going being very stow. J uere was no schooling, out a good many visiting horses were out. 1 he best effort of the Jnoraiug w is credited to Friesland (Mc-nkley), who finished halt, a length in front <’t Knockout (Gryllh, n\ei half a mile i'« sUscc—a good gailop. Friesland went pleasingly, while Knockout iinpicveu <»k her recent showings. Wotan (Button; sprinted three jur longs in 41 ‘.sec. < opey (Clarke; af-d Sc lo is t (Webby; did a working gallop ever a round. Hunting Lad (Webby; occupied 4L I sec. for turee furlongs. Fiammarion (Bales) pleased by dashing over three furlongs in a tick under -KJsec. lie looks a lit horse. Boughal (McLiially; sprinted ihrex furlongs comfortably m 42sec. Beau Star (Grindlay; worked freely over a round in 1.54 2-5. For a similar task, Rosouli ( Ran. bo v; occupied 1.56 3-5, but was going very comfortably thiougeout. Leo Colossus (Clifford; went evenly over five furlongs in 1.9 1-5. St. Clara (Cook; led Golden K.jl (Cole; tiiroughcut *ix furlongs Jii idi a length and a-half in front in 1.22. Indiscretion (Webby; covered, half a mile in 55 2-ssec. Sir Tommy (Clifford;, Valroy i Monk ley; and Silvanus (Cole, r.ere a.tociated over live furlong.*, .sir Tommy jumped away a couple of lengths to Ihe good at the start and maintained bis advantage throughout to finish half a length in front of Valroy, with Siivanus a couple of lengths further ujck. in 1.6. Sir Tommy pleased, for be appeared to have something in reserve at the finish. Valroy went .satisfactorily, but bilvanus did not go as well as on Saturday. Arctic Star (Beale) was allotted a working gallop over a mile. Several visitors were out doing easy I exercise, among them being Urac, Brigadore and Alchemic. The last-men- | tion is carrying plenty of condition an J looks in gieat trim. Although Brigadore has arrived, his stable mate, Invictus, who accepted for the Egmont Steeples, did not make the trip. W. J. Broughton will ride Friesland, whiie the stable apprentice, L. Monkley, will have the mounts on Knockout and Valroy. Forest Glow arrived on Tuesday afternoon. C. Thompson will ride him in the Egmont. Steeples.

TONGAHOE HURDLES. (Of £120; 11 m’les). Soloist .. .. 1 9 Don Erma . . 9 3 High Grader 0 9 Aga Khan ..9 1 Brigadore 0 5 Glenvane 9 0 Arctic Star 0 3 Sporting Song 9 ( Saltspray 0 1 Beau Star 9 ( Ruaform 9 13 Panlof .... 9 Contact 9 13 * 12.30— TELEGRAPH HACK HANDICAP. (Of £11 ; six furlongs).) Flammarion 9 0 Sylvanus ... 79 Colossus X 4 Meritor . . . . 7 0 Rustem . . . . - 1 Hunting Lail 7 0 *1 rouvaille - 13 Kentucky Song 7 ( Sir Tommy 13 Glenthawn . 7 o Erebus . . . . 7 13 Red Fox . . . . 7 0 Ngatirahiri - b' Script .. .. 7 0 Mustang .. . 7 10 1.15— r; HANDICAP. (Of £130; six furlongs). Refresher 0 Slippery R 2 Bougha 1 10 Gold Mission 7 11 fr.esland 9 Lady Ruler . 7 0 Limulus .. X 6 Windsorecn . 7 1 EGMON r STEEPLECHASE. (Of £2f about 2£ miles). Vai peen . . . . 1 7 7 I'ozie .. .. 9 7 Rasouli .. ..10 f> .. 9 2 Forest Glow . 10 5 Ci-pty .. .. 9 o Transact .. .. 10 2 Monarchy . 9 o Petrarch 7 lllawarra ..90 -.40— HAC K SCURRY. 'Of £100 ; five furlongs). Debut .. .. o Wahine N:.i . 7 7 S' Advance Pt3ne 7 1 State Bank . Sir Jommv 2 \ alrov 7 <■ Erebus . . . . 2 Red Panther 7 0 Dancing Lady 0 Brioni . . . . 7 0 Cappy .. . . 1 Lady Hoar tri 7 0 Joviality ' Lady Brier 7 0 De 1rop Night Spi .. o Meritor .. 7 ij ;• fjo M RAE CUP. 'Of 5200; If milo). One Whetu o Lapel 7 «. Peter Jackson K Alchemic 7 Refresher Tahurangi 7 Davistock (.rateful 1 Wintfeoreen 7 1 Prostration Knock Out . 7 0 TAWHITI HACK HANDICAP. Of £120; seven furlongs). Leo Colossus Boomerang 4 Le Grand .. 7 10 Orac '. Calshof. 7 « Hunting Queen 1 Koreroa ... 70 Royal feast Golden Kill . 7 n Corowa .. .. 0