MAY BE FAVOURITE FOR MATAMATA CUP

Wanganui Chronicle, 31 January 1947, Page 2

MAY BE FAVOURITE FOR MATAMATA CUP

PROSPECTS FOR IWO JIMA

(Special) Auckland, Jan. 30. After his good second to White Blaze last week, Iwo Jima will probably start favourite in the Matamata Cup, in which he will be opposed by 14 others. Contango will get the benefit of an allowange if started here or in the sprint, and as she has won up to a mile she should not experience difficulty in staying the mile and a-quarter on her home track. Land Warden, Tilting, ißedivere and Francis Mond all haye chances, so apart from Iwo Jima it is an open race.

The Walton Handicap at Matamata is run over seven and a-quarter furlongs, and this will suit Contango if she is reserved, as appears likely. This is not a strong field and it will probably be Hunting Camp and Nepeta that will offer most opposition to Contango, although Nepeta is also in the Matamata Cup. One of the best hack performances registered at Ellerslie last Saturday was that, of Ascot Lad in winning the mile and a-quarter hack event. He did not begin well and then was round the turn to hit the front inside two furlongs, after which it was a case of fellow the leader, for the Foxbridge gelding was out hall a dozen lengths crossing the top, finally winning easily by a length. Ascot Lad looks a good proposition in the Okaroire Hack at Matamata on Saturday, and with this fellow and Iwo Jima and Kuku Nui, trainer H. Gray appears to be In for a good meeting.