ON THE TURF

Wanganui Chronicle, 3 October 1946, Page 3

ON THE TURF

“KESTREL”

Ba

HAWKES BAY GUINEAS FIELD FOR HASTINGS CLASSIC

Old-estahlislied as J'ar as elassies in New Zealand are concerned, the Hawke’s Bay Guineas has had a chequered existence, for more than once it has been dropped for a period of time, only to be revived. When Desert. Gold won in .1915 the event was dropped because of the war and was not revived till 1920. Then, after Lady Bam won in 1930, the race was dropped because of economic circumstances, and Saturday will mark the resumption of the classic, which was established in 1880.

Certainly the Hawke’s Bay Jockey Chib could scarcely have hoped for a belter field, in quality and numbers, than that which is engaged on Saturday for the revival of the Guineas race. Fourteen remained in after the final payment was taken and the majority will line up for the mile test at weight-for-age.

Fortunately for those who are keen to have a financial interest in the result of Saturday’s Guineas race, there is a fair amount of recent form as a guide, and the majority of the candidates have had two or three races to attune them to the test. The Wanganui Guineas winner, Howe, and the runner-up, Julius Caesar, are nor. engaged, but Saku-ntala, who filled third berth at Wanganui, claims the engagement.

King’s Ransom and Morocco, winners at Hastings last Saturday, are in the field, and Opulent a*iid Omit, who gained placings, are also engaged. King's Ransom, who won a division of the maiden race last. Saturday, is by Lang Bien from the Psychology mare Quaint, whose dam, Oddmint, was by Catmint from Bleriot, by Soult. He has done little racing, but he impressed in his first success, though obviously he is susceptible to a good deal of improvement.

Morocco scored an impressive win over Voltaic and Omit in the sevenfurlong Epsom Hack Handicap, and the chances are that he will run out a mile solidly- He is by Theio from Arab Song, dam of Arabic and Arabian Night, so his breeding suggests both soeed and stamina.

Opulent finished second in the Flying Handicap, beaten by Da Vinci, who was conceding him 251 b, but th fact that Opulent battled on gamew indicates that he has the gameness essential to a classic contender. Opulent is a ge’.din" by Legatee (son of Posterity) from Ast rite, by Lord Qu ex from Asturisca, bv Acre, and is raced by his breeder, Mr. T. McAvinue. of Hastings. He finished second to Howe in a hack race at Wanganui and then finished on to dead-heat with Autoshine in the last race on the concluding day. Opulent, on his form this season, holds strong credentials for classic honours. Omit finished third in the Flaxmere Hack Handican at Hastings last Saturday. That was a six-furlong event, and this Defaulter colt may be found wanting over the longer distance. Dancing Girl, fourth in the sevenfurlong Epsom Hack Handican, made a very impressive showing when she finished from a long wav back to win the Seafield Hack at Wanganui. That race was rot far short of a mile, and in spite of her defeat through not being given time to settle down las* Saturday. She shou’d not be dropned. She is by Broiefort from the Phaleron Bay mare and in all her races she has been finishing on.

The Scotchman won two races at Gisborne in May. a”d his defeat last Saturdav did not disgrace him. for he' covered ext r a ground. He is by Sly Fox from the Defoe mare Decanter.

Desert. Fox has been confidently expected to win on more than one occasion this season, but he has been rather unlucky in the running in some of his starts- Slow to gather pace, he is a good finisher and just the type for a Guineas contest. Ross wood, a winner at Wanganui, and Flying Robin, an improving three-year-old, will be given chances, and the Coronach fillv Perfect Peace, a sister to Western Front, is also highly regarded. Karachi has disanpoint.ed too often this season to be recommended, and Argumentative and Lang Mor do not appear to have the necessarv qualifications.

Form points to Onulent. DanH«r Girl and Desert Fox as naving the best chances on Saturday.