FINAL DAY AT WANGANUI

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 90, Issue 85, 12 April 1946, Page 6

FINAL DAY AT WANGANUI

FORM POINTERS FOR TO-MORROW Unless the weather improves, conditions to-morrow for the concluding day of the Wanganui Jockey Club’s autumn meeting appear likely to be rather unpleasant, as they were last Saturday. The track will not be heavy but the going may be tricky enough to cause further form upsets.

In addition to the likelihood of a decided improvement in form by some of the beaten horses of last Saturday, there are some newcomers in the majority of events. Dual engagements also make an early assessment of prospects more difficult. The most marked instance of dual engagements occurs in the fourth event, the Brunswick Handicap, an open race over a little more than seven and a-half furlongs. Battle Dance and Master Ted are also in the next race, the Earle Stakes; Po Marama and Autoscore are also engaged in the open sprint; and Foreign Coin claims an engagement in the Fordell Hurdles. Thus of the ten carded five claim other engagements. The principal event is the Earie Stakes, run over ten furlongs, or three furlongs shorter than the Wanganui Cup distance. It is impossible to overlook the fact that Rink made the pace practicallv all the way in the Cup race, and in spite of the fact that he has gone up 101 b he may be expected to run another good race now that he has struck form. Financial meets Rink on 71b better terms than in the Cup, in which event the Inflation horse was under a handicap in that he appeared to be hemmed in for portion of the journey. When he made his run in the straight he easily overhauled Hulabaloo but he had no chance of overtaking Rink. Financial was a winner over this distance at Awapuni at the midsummer meeting after winning the Manawatu Cup, and he is likely to be a hard horse to beat.

Alethea is set to carry 8.9, so she Is in receipt of 131 b from Financial, who beat her at a difference of 51b in the King George Handicap at Awapuni. As Alethea was second to Lady Spiral at the end of ten furlongs in the mile and a-half of the King George Handicap, she must be accorded an excellent chance of turning the tables. Her effort in making the pace in the Awapuni Gold Cup was further evidence of her ability to sprint and stay.

Peter’s Choice won the Tonks Stakes at Hawera and the Paul Memorial at New Plymouth, the latter being a particularly good effort as he was apparently hopelessly out of the contest six furlongs from home. He made a solid run from the rear to win py a head. At 7.12 he appears nicely placed to continue his winning way. Battle Dance’s form at the Awapuni meeting was most impressive. On the opening day in the Johnston Memorial he trailed Tuis all the way and was only beaten into third place by Peter Robinson over the final stages. With 7.3. in the Tamatete Handicap he took the lead nearly five furlongs from home and then held off Hulabaloo in a fighting finish. He meets Hulabaloo on 71b worse terms, but he is an improving sort. Foxcatcher was finishing on in the

Flying Handicap last Saturday and there is every reason to believe that the Defoe mare will stay out the distance.

Hulabaloo should appreciate the shorter distance, for he was the only one of the Cup held to make a dab at Rink at the end of a mile and a quarter last Saturday. This may be his chance to raise that troublesome “hoodoo.”

Derryogue had no chance of catching Master Baron over the final stages of the Tayforth Handicap last Saturday but she won over nine furlongs at Awapuni and it would not surprise to find her staying out the extra distance to-morrow.

Master Ted was a fair fourth in the Wanganui Cup and on that showing he must be given a chance. He was the winner of the Opunake Cup at the opening of the Taranaki autumn circuit. Second Seal was a dual winner on the Wanganui course last spring, and at the Stratford New Year meeting he won the Eisenhower Hack Handicap (nine furlongs) and the Stratford Hack Cup (11 miles). He is a likely lightweight, and even if he does not win here he should not take long 10 extend his record.

Silver Rod will be remembered for his brilliant win in the Otaio Plate (li miles) at the C.J.C. spring meeting. He resumed racing at the recent Manawatu meeting and may not yet be fully tuned up for a fast-run ten furlongs. Duplicity has not reproduced her brilliant two-year-old form, her best performance this season being two placings on the Taranaki autumn circuit. Strong support may be forthcoming for Rink, Financial, Battle Dance, Alethea and Hulabaloo. CAMPBELL HANDICAP With only eight engaged for the Campbell Handicap, anci two of these with dual engagements, tne field for the open sprint will be on the small side, but an interesting race should be provided. Tideless was not disgraced last Saturday, when she carried 9.1 and finished in the bunch behind the placegetters. The race would do her no harm.

Blue Bonny should prove an interesting newcomer. He put up his best performance this season when he won at successive starts at Tauherenikau and Awapuni (at the Ashhurst meeting), and has shown further promise since then.

Specialist was such an easy winner last Saturday that under similar conditions to-morrow he would be hard to beat. The Broiefort gelding has made an auspicious start in open company and he may be expected to go on with his stake-earning performances. Theiolyn has a good deal of ground to make up over the concluding stages of the Flying Handicap and came home well for third place, though several lengths behind the winner. Po Marama, who is also engaged in the Brunswick Handicap, made an impressive showing in the sprint last Saturday. He appears to aopreciate a distance better than the sprint courses.

New Deer, a stablemate of Po Marama but racing in different ownership, was made favourite for the Flying Handicap but after showing up to the straight entrance he failed badly. He should not be condemned for that defeat, and if there is any improvement in the track he may be expected to play a more prominent part. Drambuie was not at all impressive in the Flying Handicap and on that showing the filly would not be greatly fancied to-morrow. Autoscore carried 8.2 in the Tayforth Handicap (8.0 minimum) last Saturday and finished on into fourth place, so probably he will prefer the Brunswick Handicap to the open sprint to-morrow. First day’s form may be accepted by investors as a fair guide, and probably there will be support for Specialist, Po Marama (or New Deer), Tideless and Blue Bonny. BRUNSWICK HANDICAP Ten are carded for the Brunswick Handicap, run over furlongs and 36 yards, but the field may be thinned out a trifle because of the several dual engagements. Battle Dance finished in a place over seven furlongs at Awapuni and if started here would be favourite. Black Plato was a runaway winnerover ten furlongs here in the spring but his recent form has not been go encouraging.

Master Baron had one of the easiest wins on last Saturday’s programme and has gone up 111 b as a result. However, that should not stop him if he again works his way to the front as quickly as he did in the Tayforth Handicap.

Master Ted appears likely to start in the Earle Stakes, as a middle distance would suit him better than on#* where the pace is certain to be on a.'J the way. Po Marama impressed when working his way out of hacks and the extra distance will suit him better than last, week s sprint course. Autoscore, fourth last Saturday, can be depended on to run a solid race. He was a winner at Hawera in the early autumn. Foreign Coin did not appear to be able to handle the going last Saturday after getting awav well, and eventually finished last, so he wol d have io show decided iniproxfrrrnl. to be given a chance. Arabic appears to be showing steady improvement, hut he may not yet be strung up-to concert pitch. Gay Stroller was not started last Saturday but there is nothing wrong with the Foxbridge colt. His best performances have been over distances in the neighbourhood of a mile, and if he is produced to-morrow he will be confidently supported, as fie is op the minimum. *

General Saleve, surprisingly backed down to second favourite for last Saturday’s Tayforth Handicap, eventually beat only one horse home and little excuse can be found for his indifferent display. Defections may affect the issue to a certain extent, but Master Baron, Po Marama and Gay Stroller appear to be the logical favourites.