TONKS STAKES AT HAWERA

Wanganui Chronicle, 27 February 1947, Page 3

TONKS STAKES AT HAWERA

FIELD OF 14 INCLUDES EGMONT CUP PLACEGETTERS

I’oiirtccn useful handicappers have entered for Ihe Touks Stakes, the principal event for the concluding day of the llgmont. Racing ('lull meeting at Hawera on Saturday, and the race presents a very open appearance. Included arc three additions to the field which competed for the Egmont Cup last Saturday. Last week’s plavegettcrs in the Cup are again engaged and may dominate the field.

The topweight Dink's Own never threatened danger in the Egmont Cup but he is capable of improvement. He became badly placed at the rear of the field racing out of the straight and was never afterwards a possibility.

Black Plato appears to be feeling the effects of a strenuous campaign He has never appealed as a genuine stayer, and at the weights Flying Gold may again hold him safe. The latter has gone up 91b for his Cup success, but in his present form that may not prove a bar to another victory- Flyng Gold will be ridden on this occasion by W. J. Doyle, who scored on him in the Stratford Hack Cup on January 4.

Tavern Light has fair form to h:.< credit, lately. He sticks on solidly and will have to be respected.

Loyal Bian suffered a check at a critical stage in the Egmont Cup and he appeared to be finishing just atjj welll as Flying Gold at the post. His i solid placed performances in the Stratford, Wanganui and Egmont j Cups should soon be suitably rewarded. For the Tonks Stakes the Lang Bien gelding will have the servers of W. E. Connor as W. J. Broughton will be riding at Masterton. Blanket was closer at the finish of the Cup than at any other stage of the contest, but his prospects would be enhanced on an easy track. He has not proved too reliable to date, though when caught in the right mood Blanket is more than useful. Furioso, who joined E- C. Rendall’s stable on the eve of the first day, registered a great performance to score in the Flying Handicap. One or the last away, he put in a devastating run in the straight to score decisively. He won over a distance in hack company at Marton early in the season, and his prospects cannot be overlooked. Fort Royal has been placed in his last three starts. He was responsible for most of the pacemaking in the Cup and finished very well under pressure. If he improves at all the Eroiefort gelding will prove a dangerous contender. He is one of the most reliable stayers in the field. Silver Pal has not progressed a; expected during the current season and he is another who would appreciate an easing of the going. He rc however, nrefeired to Gold Dale and Chef d'Oeuvre. Clyde Bridge and Dark Morning ran good races last Saturday. Both are capable of forward displays with the minimum weight. Lady Scholar led early in the Cup, but she appeared one of the first beaten. At Wanganui she finished fast into fourth place and if ridden in behind on this occasion the four-year-old Rhodes Scholar mare may display improvement. At this stage the prospects of Flying Gold, Loyal Bian, Furioso, Fort Royal and Dark Morning cannot be highly regarded.