ON THE TURF

Wanganui Chronicle, 22 January 1947, Page 3

ON THE TURF

“KESTREL”

lb

ANNIVERSARY DAY RACING HOLIDAY MEETINGS TO-DAY AT TRENTHAM AND AWAPUNI

Celebrating Anniversary Day in Ihe Wellington Province, racing enthusiasts will have their choice between fixtures at Trenthani and Awapuni. At the former centre the third day of the Wellington Racing Club’s summer meeting will be. held and at Awapuni the Ashhurst-Pohangina Racing Club will stage its fixture, the Ashhurst course and buildings being not yet ready foi the resumption of racing there.

Feature events at Trentham will include the Wellington Racing Club Handicap, over a mile and a-half, and the Metropolitan Handicap, for sprinters, over seven furlongs. Keen interest will also be taken in the first running of the Gleaming Stakes, in which the two Derby winners, Beau le Havre and Royal Tan, will have their first meeting. This clash of three-year-old form is attracting a great deal of interest. Another event which should have the crowd on their toes is the Douro Handicap, a mile race for hacks for a stake of £lOOO.

Problem for backers in the principal event will be the clash of several fresh homes with Wellington Cup form, as the field for the Wellington Racing Club Handicap contains the names of Kerry Lad, Bridge Acre, Merry Robin, Barrage, Capronella, Grill, Lowry Bay, Blanket, Flying Ace and Montosorrie, none of which contested the Cup last Saturday. Several of these, however, sported silk on the opening day in the Dominion Handicap, in which Bruce, Blanket and Dink’s Own filled the first three places. Of the Cup horses Golden Souvenir may make most appeal, though improved performances could be expected of Langue d’Or, Swift Quarry and Foxhaven.

Kerry Lad had won the last three races he has contested and is regarded by Aucklanders as being one of the most promising handicanpers from that province. Further, he fa another of the progeny of the champion sire Foxbridge. Bridge Acre was a winner at Riccarton and Merry Robin impressed when he won two races at Awapuni during the holiday meeting. He was a trifle unlucky to miss a place in the Dominion Handicap on

the opening day at Trentham. Blanket's second to Bruce that day draws attention to his chances under his new owner’s colours. Golden Souvenir will probably be the favourite, but he will meet with stout opposition from Kerry Lad, Merry Robin and Blanket.

Leigh Baton, topweight for the Metropolitan Handicap, will be running over his favourite distance, and he may be expected to play a prominent part. Tideless put up a goo?, performance over this distance when she beat all but Yasda in the York Handicap on the opening day. She has gone up 41b and Yasda, who beat her a neck, has been raised 121 b, and on his form at the meeting the Coronach horse should again 'take a lot of beating. Ladv Nahleen has been consistent, Theocritus finished fast in the Telegraph Handicap, and Awaroa Stream may run a better race in the smaller field, but backers are likely to prefer Yasda, Theocritus and Tidelegs. In addition to the interest, that will attach to the .-^' ei ing of the two Derby winners in the '••iin- r Stakes,

especially as Beau le Ht.x ' the Royal Stakes to his Great " Derby laurels, will be the clash '

Howe with this pair. Howe was runner-up in both classic races and has already won two races, over six furlongs and a mile, at this meeting. Two smart fillies in Sakuntala, the Oaks winner, and Privilege, will add to the interest.

The Douro Handicap field is one of the strongest that could be brought together in the hack class. Citation, Sage King, Lady Burford, Frances, Lady Delight, Persuade, Armont, Prefa, Mallow and The Stormovik have been recent winners. Of the others Carmelita, Selas, Baruch, Iron Duke and Mr. Pym have shown con-

siderable promise. This event is generally won by an outstanding hack, and the chances of Armont, Flying Gold and Frances may be considered i bright. | The supporting events have drawn Jgood fields, though there are some dual engagements. The track promises to be firm and fast, and the following may be fancied:— Mungaroa Hurdles. Tid-Apa, Skyhawk, Ruling Moment. Gloaming Stakes. Beau le Havre, Royal Tan, Howe. January Handicap. Opulent, Leigh Barton, Gay Stroller. Camp Handicap. Rosswood, Matawene. Pandemonium. W.R.C. Handicap. Golden Souvenir, Merry Robin. Kerry Lad. Nursery Handicap. Zorro, Deep Sea, Darius. Metropolitan Handicap. Yasda, Theocritus. Tideless. Douro Handicap. Armont, Flying Gold. Frances. Following are the fields:— 11.10— MINGAROA HURDLES.

(Of £700; 1$ miles.) Red Glare .... 11 2 Ruling Momen' 9 11 Tip-Apa 10 12 Amorlad 9 f) Battle Chief .. 10 12 Rink 9 6 Skyhawk 10 2 Beau Jewel 9 Mynet 10 10 St. Nat 9 d 11.55— G LOAMINC STAKES. (Of £2000; 1J miles. > Reau Le Havre 8 10 Royal Tan .. .. S 10 Grand Affair S 10 Sakuntala .. . 8 7 Howe 8 10 Privilege .. .. 8 7 Keening .. .. 8 10 Perfect Peace 8 Portabut .. .. 8 10 4.50— JANUARY HANDICAP. (0 £1000 1. mile.) Lord Elgin . .. 9 10 Tavern Light R 0 Leigh Barton 9 8 Thelolyn 7 11 Al-Slrat 8 12 Kashmiri 7 11 Grill 8 10 Antibes 7 Lady Nahleen 8 9 Dash o' Dink 7 11 Gay Stroller 8 5 Revetlr 7 11 Opulent 8 4 12 40— CAMP HANDICAP (Of £700: 1 mile 3 furlongs.) Rosswood 9 5 Fort Silver 7 11 Griffin 8 10 Blue Moon 7 <s Matawene R n The Saddler 7 10 Newel Post 8 7 Reau Ttaide 7 11 Casilda 8 4 Baicherrfe .... 7 7 Tomahawk 8 2 Supcrium 7 7 Pandemonium R 0 ("■ulloden Moor 7 7 Sailor Bo" 7 13 Precedency .... 7 r Grande Melee 7 13 Sari 7 I 1.30WELLINGTON RACING club handicap. (1.1 miles, i Golden Souvenir 10 0 Foxhaven 7 9 Signal Officer 8 12 Capron el la .... •7 8 Kerry Lad ... 8 11 Barrage 7 6 Bridge Acre .... 8 11 • Grill r, Langue d’Or 8 l.i Lowry Bay 7 4 Swift Quarry 8 6 Blanket Cat. Bridge .... R 4 Flying Ace .. 7 Merry Robin 8 6 Moijtosorrle 7 0 2.20— NURSERY HANDICAP (Of £700; 6 furlongs.) Zorro 8 a Bronstar .. . 7 9 Distinction . .. R 4 Hello 7 7 Night School R 4 General Victory 7 Sir Royal R 2 Bay Fort .. .. 7 4 Deep Sea .. .. R 1 Royal Cambria 7 0 Kartikeya .. 7 12 Atomic Energy 7 0 Darius 7 11 Prince Coronach 7 d 3.10— METROPOT.IT? N HANDICAP (Of £1500; furlongs.) Leigh Barton 8 11 Lady Nahleen 8 3 Tideless r in Whitley 7 1’ V asda 8 R Voltaic 7 fi Theocritus 8 7 Awaroa Stream 7 (i Battle Dance 8 5 Peter Theio 7 0 4 00— DOURO HANDICAP (Of £1000; 1 mile.) Citation 9 7 Kite High R E Sage King 9 0 Robingay 8 3 Hying Gold .. 9 2 Peculate 8 Lady Burford 9 1 Iron Duke ... R T rances 9 0 Mr. Pym ... i Lady Delight 8 13 Hart Royal R (i Persuade .. .. 8 13 Sergeant Jack 7 12 A rm on t 8 12 Kelmont 7 12 Prefa R 12 Clyde Bridge 7 9 ’’allow .. .. 8 11 Gyration 7 8 Carmeilta R 9 Gay Joy 7 8 n ’he Stormovik 8 8 Balcherrie .... 7 7 Sei as 8 8 Rothnic 7 7