Avenger May Repeat Cup F eat In Te Mahanga Handicap At Hastings

Wanganui Chronicle, 30 April 1949, Page 7

Avenger May Repeat Cup F eat In Te Mahanga Handicap At Hastings

The absence of Lord Manna and King’s .Ransom from the Te Mahanga Handicap field at Hastings today has resulted in 'there being a larger field than that which contested the Hawke’s Bay Cup last Saturday, and the eighteen acceptors include several newcomers to the meeting. Lord Manna, whose defeat was the sensation of the opening day, was not given a nomination for this event, Ransom was withdrawn before the handicaps were announced. Today’s field includes the Cup winner, Avenger, and Barrage and Loyal Bian, third and fourth respectively. In addition, there are Yasda and Langue d’Or. who led Barrage home in this event last year. Barrage was finishing on solidly in last Saturday’s Cup and he is going to oe harder to beat today, but if Avenger runs up to his Cup display he may make light of his extra 91b. Loyal Bian is another firstday runner who will have to be respected, for the Lang Bian gelding had a good deal of leeway to make up over the final stages Sly Ferry came from well back to finish second to Faultina in the mile Oreka Handicap and the Sly Fox mare has always impressed as being better over a distance. The newcomers have all shaped well in recent essays. Indian Song has been consistent but unlucky, and Yasda was a -winner at the recent Manawatu meeting. The Missioner won the Tonks Stakes and the Opunake Cup at Hawera and was not disgraced in

subsequent essays, so his connections were justified in making the trip. This horse has done well since he became an inmate of Miss R. Jackson’s Wanganui stable. There are others who may have to be considered, but the prospects of Avenger. The Missioner and Barrage make the strongest appeal. Feature of the field for the sevenfurlong Okawa Handicap Is the clash !of Merry Bing and Faultina. Both 'were winners last Saturday and both also scored at Feilding the previous week-end. Merry Bing won at seven furlongs at Feilding and at six last Saturday. Faultiri won the sevenfurlong Makino Handicap at Feilding on Easter Monday after being runnerup to Merry Bing the first day, and last Saturday she scored impressively over a mile.

i The opposition is stronger than on the opening day. Fleetwood appears to be improving, as he was second at Tauherenikau. Cot-case beat all but Merry Bing last Saturday, and Treneere was a winner at Trentham. .Tommy Gun may be better served than was the case on the opening day, and Sorrel- Bolivar and Outlook may be improvers. However, it is to Merry Bing. Faultina and Fleetwood that most backers will look to provide the placegetters.

Another race in whicn mere will be a clash of recent form is the Hastings Hack Cup. This, like the principal handicap, is run over eleven furlongs, and it should be a test of stamina. Brookland is conceding a good deal of weight at 9.12, but he won the Oroua Hack Cup at Feilding and repeated the feat over eleven furlongs in the Heretaunga Hack Handicap last Saturday. The Robin Goodfellow gelding is in great order and promises to be hard to best. Run Bahadur was ra her unlucky 'ast Saturday and finished third after having half a dozen in front of him commencing the final furlong in the Heretaunga Hack. Swtet Revenge was a winner on the first day at Feilding and it is significant that he has been taken across to Hastings in preference to tackling, weaker company at Waverley. There are also other promising hacks in Night View, Hush. Atomic Energy. Dinnyhazer and Tudor Maid, but Sweet Revenge, Run Bahadur and Brookland may fight it out. The track may be a little heavier than it was last Saturday, as there has been a fair amount of rain since then. First-day form should provide a fairly reliable guide, and horses which may be well supported include:

Karamu Hurdles.—Omaio, 11-Corona-Batfey. Twyford Hack Handicap.—Roscarea, Marcia. Pirelio. Tomoana Electric Handicap.—High Profit, Brer Acre, Village. Te Mahanga Handicap Avenger, The Missioner. Barrage. Juvenile Handicap—Statesman, The Dolphin. Royal Briton bracket. Hastings Hack Cup.—Sweet Revenge, Run Bahadur. Brookland. Okawa Handicap. Merry Bing, Faultina, Fleetwood. Akitio Hack Handicap.—Gold Robin, Neutron- Lochcea,