RANGITIKEI CUP AND McKELVIE MEMORIAL

Wanganui Chronicle, 1 November 1946, Page 2

RANGITIKEI CUP AND McKELVIE MEMORIAL

PRIKGPAL EVENTS AT BULLS TO-MORROW

Principal events at Bulls to-morrow at the Rangitikei Racing Club’s spring meeting, are the Rangitikei Cup and the McKelvie Memorial, each of which attracted excellent fields when the acceptances were taken on Wednesday night. Last year the meeting was held on December 1, thus clashing with the New Zealand Cup meeting, but this did not prevent the club from doing a turnover of £34,769 10s. With fine weather to-morrow, in contrast to the conditions obtaining over the Labour Day week-end, the club should be able to improve on these figures.

At the 1945 meeting Duality sprang a mild surprise in the Cun, even though he had been successful, in preceding weeks, in the Waverley Cup and the Masterton Handicap. Two bigger outsiders in Pink Bonnet and Lady Spiral filled the minor places behind Duality, nut the favourites, Don Mac and Kaitoa. fell at the straight entrance and suffered injuries necessitating their destruction. It may be of further interest to note that on the same day Alethea won the McKelvie Memorial for the third year in succession. She has gone to the stud this season on a visit to Neptune, but Stony B”oke, who finished second to her. is engaged again to-morrow. Another winner was Soneri (Ohakea Hack), who has developed into one of the outstanding mares in commission, and Gay Lena beat Battle Dance in the Parewanui Hack Cup.

To-morrow Behave and Cramoncl Bay share topweight honours in the Rangitike’ Cun. both being on the 8.1 mark. Last Monday Behave carried 8.3 and won the Waverley Cup by a neck from Cramond Bay, who was handicapped at 8.9 but carried 8.4 with R. D. Urwin in the saddle, the 51b allowance for an apprentice rider being claimed. Cramond Bay jumped out smartly, but was steadied in behind Gold Dale, while the latter made the pace. Behave, who followed the leading pair down the back, challenged Cramond Bay when the Phaleron geiding assumed the lead entering the:, traight. Behave was clear at the half-distance, but when he was being eased up over the lasi 50 yards Cramond Bay and Breezealong both closed on him, and at the finish his winning margin was a neck, with Cramond Bay half a length in front of 3ree; calong. Behave won the Marangai Handicap at Wanganui, and at Marton he deadheated with Dink's Own for third place, Cramond Bay (7.115) winning by a nose from The Grand, who was a nose in front of the dead-heaters. On that occasion Behave carried 7.12, so to-morrow the pair will be meeting on practically the same terms as at Marlon in September. Making her second appearance of the day, Gay Lena also contested the Waverley Cup on Monday. She finished third in the Brewer Memorial, but in the Cup race she was never closer than fourth and eventually she dropped out of the picture to be fifth. Gay Lena is engaged in the Rangitikei Cup with 7.5.

Alright, who has 7.13 in the Rangitikei Cup, has a better record as a sprinter, and he was decidedly unlucky to go under in the Flying Handicap at Marton in September after losing several lengths at the start Fourth was the best he could do in one of his starts at the recent Ellerslie meeting, and as he has yet to prove himself as a stayer he may no! appeal to investors to-morrow. Flying Ace won over nine furlongs at Awapuni during the midsummer meeting, and on his display at Awapuni last week-end in the Wainul Handicap, one mile, he should not be long in showing improvement. Tremello won a hack distance event on Monday at. the Wellington meeting al Awapuni, carrying 9.3, and will probably appreciate the drop in weights associated with his appearance in open company.

Broiefield must be given a good chance with 7.4, as in his last appearance at Bulls, early last January, he dead-heated for first with Voltaire in the Rangitikei Handicap, carrying 7.7. He has yet to strike form this season. The remainder of the field may not make much appeal, hut there is still the chance of a surprise fom Gayanne or Grand Central. GOOD FIELD OF SPRINTERS

The field of sprinters engaged in the McKelvie Memorial is almost on a par with that which might be attracted at a metropolitan fixture. The Marton stable of W. J. McDowell provides three of the candidates in Fortune’s Smile and Theocritus, good sprint winners last season, and New Deer, winner of the Brewer Memorial at Waverley on Monday. Fortune’s Smile will he having his first race of the current, season, but Theocritus was fourth in the open sprint at Otaki won by Peter Gazelle. New Deer impressed by leading all the way at Waverley and sticking on well al the finish.

Peter Gazelle's two wins in open company since he came to the North Island have succeeded in elevating him to a fairly high position in the weights, but he is still an outstanding sprinter.

The Grand has been mixing it. with middle distance and sprint races, but is still capable of running a smart six furlongs. Specialist has developed into a useful sort, and Stony Broke has also made good, his performance in winning the Flying Handicap at Marton providing a rare exhibition of gameness. Blue Chips has shown smartness in her most recent essays. Salmi is another that should be showing improvement, and Voltaic and Dutch Mary are a pair of smart recruits from hack company.

Taken all round, the Rangitikei Cup and the McKelvie Memorial promise to bo two very interesting races, and keen interest will be displayed in the contests to-morrow.