THAMES PROSPECTS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 89, Issue 224, 21 September 1945, Page 3

THAMES PROSPECTS

PRESIDENT’S HANDICAP CANDIDATES

(Special) Auckland Sept. 19. After her dashing finishing effort in the Avondale Cup, Abbey Fox seems to be the most logical candidate for the President’s Handicap at the Thames fixture at Paeroa on Saturday. Air Port, whose record at Paeroa is a splendid one, also showed up for most of the way in the Avondale Cup, and he may be one of the favourites. The sprint at the Thames fixture at Paeroa on Saturday, the Parawai Handicap. will again see Avondale form playing a prominent part. Black Beret won brilliantly and he is a horse that may well be improved as a result of that outing. Lord Dink, who finished close behind the placed horses at the Pakuranga meeting a month ago, is a likely prospect. Lord Dink, who has scored only one win, has previously shaped well on the Ohinemuri course. Eighteen months ago, as a two-year-old he defeated all but Black Beret, who scored by a neck. A fortnight later Lord Dink turned the tables, beating Black Beret by a short neck at Ellerslie, with Coronaire third. At the Waipa meeting last December Lord Dink finished third in the open sprint to Exnellant and Neenah. He was unplaced jn his other two outings that season. On the last occasion he and Black Beret contested the sprint at Hastings last June and neither was placed. CROSS COUNTRY CIRCUIT.

British Mint, winner in good style of the hurdle race at the recent Avondale meeting has since been schooled over the country at Ellerslie and has shaped very well. He was entered for both the hudrles and cross-coun-try race at Pacrpa next Saturday and his acceptance in the steeplechase indicates that he is going to be seen out in a new role in the future. There are two cross-country events at the two meetings at Paeroa, with another each at Ellerslie and Cambridge next month, and they may not be difficult to win.

Another contestant in the Steeplechase on Saturday will be Winning Tray, his trainer having decider! to take on this contest in preference to the hurdles. This fine jumper and galloper is a very free goer. He failed in this department when raced in the middle of the island during the winter months, but he is the right type for the Paeroa country, which is not difficult and definitely favours the horses with pace. At Paeroa twelve months tago Winning Tray won this event and a week later tilled second place in the hurdles. Honora and Kathshara went well enough in the Avondale maiden event to suggest them as possibilities in the First Trial next Saturday, this being confined to three-year-olds. The former finished a good fourth in her first outing since December. Kathshara seemed to be going well at the five furlongs when he struck trouble and that snoiled whatever chance he held. CHANCES OF NANAKEA. It was at Paeroa last March that Nanakea made her debut and she impressed as one likely to make good. She revealed a lor of speed in her initial outing, sufficient to catise her to be made favourite n week later, hut again she failed. Nanakea, a halfsister hy To Hero Io that, good horse Neenah is to have her first outing as a thron-year-old in the First Trial next Saturday, and it is probable that she will be seen to advantage.