STEWARDS’ HANDICAP

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 89, Issue 264, 8 November 1945, Page 6

STEWARDS’ HANDICAP

BIG RICCARTON SPRINT SOME LIKELY FAVOURITES One of the early favourites for the Stewards' Handicap, second "leg’’ of the New Zealand Cup double at the C.J.C. spring meeting, is the brilliant Greenmeadows sprinter Reorapa. The Sang gelding carried off the honours in one of the sprint divisions at the Masterton meeting last month and capped that performance by carrying 7.13 in the Shorts Handicap at Trentham, beating some smart customers including Tutere and Master Dash, in a fighting finish. Compared with his displays some twenty months ago, when he first made his appearance on the turf, Reorapa is an improved horse and there is good reason for expecting him to race prominently. He appears to have forgotten the boring habit which was costly to him in the past and can be expected to run a great race.

The topweight, Pensacola, will have a strong following. He is one of the best horses in the country, and has fully earned his 9.2. He looked very

well when he ran at Trentham last month and his end to end win in the Harcourt Stakes was a very good performance. With his brilliance and his ability to run on better than the pure sprinters he ought to be very difficult to beat.

Gulf Stream might not be greatly in favour unless the course is heavy, but he runs a fairly good six. John Gay has not had recent racing so many will be in the dark as to his prospects. Last year’s winner, Royal Heir, is in with 8.12, lllbs. more than he carried 12 months ago. He has run fair races this spring and might take a hand in the finish at Riccarton. Lord Advocate has been disappointing but Bonny Flight, Master Dash. Grand Forest, and Tutere will all command some attention especially Bonny Flight, whose finishing effort at Trentham attracted attention.

There will be good support for Irish Note who drew attention to himself bv Ihe manner in which he won at the North Canterbury meeting on Labour Day. It. remains to be seen how the Aucklanders Verdant, Sweet Biscuit and Lord Luck shape, but all have speed. A winner at the week-end was Sing Sing, who ran second to Roval Heir a year ago and will not be altogether neglected. Among the nre-nost favourites Reorapa, Pensacola, Bonny Flight and Irish Note are sure to be found.

Riding engagements for the Avondale meeting at Ellerslie on Saturday include: P. Brennan, Heroic Star, Airlie; E. J. Harrison, Golden Pay, Chatmoney; E. Harding. Lord Revel; R. Horne. Brierly; B. George, Royal Merit, Playfellow. Bay Jim, Sir Dink; A. Messervy, Our Gold. British Talent. Verdant Yours, and Mine, Fosse-wav; M. Edwards Gay Ranee; C. M. Jillings, Gay Star. Maida Vale, Roval Master. Santa Anita, Valtoon: C. Markwick, Dougal, Rating Salt-water Commissar; H. N. Wiggins, Chung Chong, Cowper, Ruling Master; R. Gibbs, Land Ruler, Sir Leon Tarzan, Autoscore, Regal Praise; J. Macfarlane, Nepeta, Raphael. Diamond Doll; J. Bagby. Balgowan Balancer, Bronya, My Bonnie; M. Coon, Constitution, Wildore, Leigh Hard; J. Chaplin, Bronzo; T. Green Colonel DinkD. McKinnon, Te Kawiti; H. P. Stewart, Gunman: W. Anderson. Sir Dingle; J. Williamson, Kindroon, Dink’s Own, Coruscant.

Pensacola, winner of the weight-for-age Harcourt Cup at Trentham. hah developed into a high-class galloper. When he won the New Zealand Derby at Riccarton last season excuses were made for some of the horses who finished behind him, but he was not long in showing that his Derby win was a genuine one, as he won the Canterbury Cud under weight-for-age conditions the following week, leading throughout the ten-furlong journey and defeating Glenfalloch bv three lengths. Pensacola is by the ill-fated sire Golden Eagle, from Amyril, by Psychology from Amyrin. Amvril was bred at Bell Block bv the late Mr. J. Gleeson and was raced on lease bv the New Plymouth trainer R. Barlow, who won a double wit! her at Trentham in 1933.

The New Zealand Cup candidates, Langue d’Or and Broiefield, worked well over a mile at Awaouni on Tuesday. Langue d’Or (W. J. Stevens), which is looking much brighter than he did a month ago. was kept to a fairly even pace, not being required to do better than I.lft 1-5 for the first five and 1.15 1-5 for the last five. He nulled up well. Broiefield (G. R. Tattersall) ran his first five under restraint and he finished well in 42 2-5. He is improving.