ON THE TURF

Wanganui Chronicle, 7 March 1947, Page 2

ON THE TURF

to

“KESTREL"

TARANAKI AND TRENTHAM MEETINGS CLASH TO-MORROW

One of those unavoidable clashes brought about by the restriction of racing to Saturdays and holidays will occur to-morrow, when the Wellington and Taranaki autumn meetings will be opened at Trentham and New Plymouth respectively. Fortunately the centres are over 2(10 miles apart, but one. of the problems which con I'l cuts both clubs is securing sufficient jockeys to please owners and trainers.

Fields at the two meetings are really good under the circumstances, especially as the Waikato Racing Club’s meeting at Te Rapa will result in a smaller contingent than usual from the Auckland province. Happily for the Taranaki Club, the New Plymouth meeting will conclude on Monday, the Taranaki provincial Anniversary Day holiday, and this will probably ensure the attendance of all the leading jockeys.

Feature events at Trentham include the Thompson Handicap and the Autumn Handicap, with the New Zealand St. Leger as a weight-for-age attraction, the North Island Challenge Stakes having been transferred to the second day's programme, the following Saturday. At New Plymouth the Taranaki Cup will be the principal event, with the Taranaki Stakes on the second day likely to attract, among other contestants, an outstanding Auckland performer in Sleepy Fox, three times winner of the Easter Handicap. One of the leading mile handicaps of the season, the Thompson Handicap has attracted an acceptance of nineteen, and the indications are that the majority of those figuring in the list will be on hand. Majesty and Howe, two of the leading three-year-olds, head the list, the northermen being required, at 9.3, to concede Howe 51b. Majesty is brilliant, despite his defeat in both Derbies, but he will met with tough opposition, and among opponents of the same age is Opulent, a winner over the distance at Trentham in January. Red Pickle appears best of the South Islanders, and Gay Stroller and the promoted hack Brown Derby should be prominent. Voltaic impressed over seven furlongs at Trentham in the summer, and is a stablemate of Dileas, last year’s winner. There will also be support for Sage King, winner of two tough hack races in January, including the Douro Handicap. He will be having his first tilt at open company, but he has the class. Red Pickle, Howe (if recovered from liis recent indisposition), Opulent and Sage King are a likely quartet. Run over a mile and a-half. the Autumn Handicap has drawn a good useful Held, though it i s not strong as was seen out at the summer meeting, when Bruce won the Diminion Handicap and the Wellington Cup. In

the latter event Broiefield was run-ner-up, only narrowly beaten by Bruce, who this time will have to concede the Broiefield gelding 211 b. As Broiefield won at Masterton last Saturday h e may be expected to be one of the favourites. Arco i s another that will have many friends, and a three-year-old in Sakuntala should be dangerous when in receipt of so much weight from the older division. Of the remainder Royal Victor, who generally runs well at Trentham. must be given a good chance, but Bruce, Broiefield and Sakuntala make most appeal. The absence of Beau le Havre and Royal Tan, the two Derby winners, robs the St. Leger field of much interest as a classic event, but Indian Dawn is an outstanding filly and she may be at a short price. Desert Fox should be able to account for the remainder, with Rosswood likely to make a bid for the honours.

A feature of the field for the open sprint, the Railway Handicap, is the fact that Da Vinci, winner of two sprints at the summer meeting at Trentham, has the steadier of 10 8, and is conceding 501 b to Karachi, the only horse on the minimum. Lowest weight of the others is that allotted to Cot-Case, 7.10, which means that the Collision gelding is in receipt of 401 b from Da Vinci. The latter is a proved champion tinder big imposts, but weight tells on the best of them. Bright, prospects appear to be held by Lord Theio, Peter Gazelle and Specialist. Further defections may be expected from some of the fields, as the track is sure to be hard and fast, but there should still be some interesting racing tomorrowSOME TARANAKI FEATURES Principal event at New Plymouth to-morrow is the Taranaki Cup, carrying a stake of £1250, including a trophy valued at £5O. This has attracted an acceptance of fifteen, with the prospect of there being the largest field that has contested a provincial cup race this season. Interest will attach to the clash of recent form, as both Blanket and Flying Gold were winners in the main handicaps at the Egmont meeting, where Fort Royal and Furioso also scored. Young Trent, White Haze, Black Plato, Bramble Song and Li Fillette also appear to have bright prospects. Furioso is also engaged in the open sprint, the Flying Handicap, and the distance, six furlongs, should suit the Broiefort horse better. Tideless has 9 9 hut probably an apprentice’s allowance will be claimed. Theocritus would be strongly fancied if the track were easier than that exoerienced at Hawera. Black Beret will be an absentee, but Dymondy, New Deer and Craven will also have friends. A great deal of interest is being! displayed in the weight-for-age event, the Taranaki Stakes, to be decided on | Monday, when the meeting will he concluded. The Aucklander Sleepy! Fox is already on the scene, and if be is stepoed out to-morrow for a working gallop in an interval between races he will attract keen attention-