PRESIDENT'S HANDICAP IS FEATURE ON PAHIATUA FINAL DAY

Wanganui Chronicle, 15 January 1949, Page 3

PRESIDENT'S HANDICAP IS FEATURE ON PAHIATUA FINAL DAY

Feature of the concluding day of the Pahiatua Raring Club’s meeting at Woodville today is the fact that most of the horses carded claim engagements either at Trentham or at tile Ashhurst meeting at Awapuni next Saturday. For that reason alone there will be keen interest in form, and it is not surprising that fields are of large dimensions, save in the open sprint and the juveniles’ event. Principal event is the President’s Handicap.

Weather conditions have proved changeable during |he week but the going is not likely to be adversely affected by the rain. Last Saturday it was good in spite of torrential rain the previous night, and the track should be in similar order tcday. Scratchings may reduce tne fields somewhat, as was the case last Saturday, but in some instances that would be appreciated. The President’s Handicap field includes several horses which for various reasons declined their engagements in the Pahiatu'a Cup last Saturday. Both Barrage and Embrolita have shown consistent form in their in their recent essays, the first-named having run a first and two seconds since winning a division of the Raukawa Handicap at Otaki, and the Australian-bred Embrolita won the New Year Handicap at Hastings. Beau Bijou has proved his worth by securing four wins and two seconds in six recent starts, beating Embrolita for the major honours in the’ President’s Handicap on the opening day of the Hawke’s Bay meeting. Tenor Royal was not produced on the opening day it being reported that he had pricked a foot, but he should have recovered as he is dually engaged at Trentham next Saturday. Tenor Royal won the Marton Cup so decisively that he will probably be favourite if he lines up today. The field is not really strong and the Royal Chief gelding is no mean opponent. «Ngakoti has been impressive on occasions but has disappointed sometimes when expected to add to his record. Clyde Bridge has not reftvered his best South Island form, but Lord Phrosa ran a good race for second behind Beau Or in the Pahiatua Cup. The Stormovik has some good recent performances to his credit, and Kippo finished third in last Saturday’s big race. Probably the best of the remainder may be Culloden Moor and the promoted hack Flying Bridge. Da Vinci will be a very interesting runner in the open sprint, the Newmarket Handicap. He is very well and 10.2 should not prevent him from being very prominent at the finish. He has to concede from 311 b. to 441 b to his opponents, but he has won Trentham sprints with big imposts. Da Vinci is topweight in the Telegraph Handicap at Trentham next Saturday, and that will add to the interest with which his running today will be viewed. Tranquil Gold was a hack winner at Woodville in December and after running out hack nominations with a win at Awapuni proved equal to making, the grade in open company in the Donald Handicap at Tauherenikau. Sorrel is a consistent Hawke's Bay sprinter and Demure promises to make good in the higher grade. Royal Cambria, Autoshine and The Missioner should assist in making the Newmarket Handicap an interesting ,race in spite of the relateively small field.

A hack which should carry a good deal of support in the Hamua Hack Handicap, for apprentices, is Phalamint, the Hastings gelding having been placed in his last thre starts. He is likely to improve his record at any time.

The Nursery Handican has attracted only a fair field of f.vo-year-olds, probably because most of this age have had plenty of racing during the holiday period or else are being reserved for the richer prizes at Trentham. The Pictavia filly Vivere won impressively on the opening day of the Hawke’s Bay meeting and on the second day covered extra ground, finishing third. She may be today’s favourite.

Good racing appears assured and the following may be fancied: — Pongaroa Hack Highweight.—Gold Lad, Palissy, Bonanza. Hamua Hack Handicap.—Blue Spec, Phalamint, Jet Plane. Nursery Handicap. —Vivere, The Laird. President's Handicap.—Tenor Royal, Beau Bijou, Barrage. Second Maiden Plate—First Division: Beauform, Silver Line. Second Division: Sentimental, Brightness.

Rodney Memorial Hack.—Kumari, Foxtonian, Leyma. Newmarket Handicap.—Da Vinci, Autoshine, Demure. Tararua Hack Handicap.—Martianair, Silver Mascot, Brookland.