Manawatu Hunt Club Has Attractive Programme For Meeting At Awapuni Today

Wanganui Chronicle, 22 July 1950, Page 7

Manawatu Hunt Club Has Attractive Programme For Meeting At Awapuni Today

(By

“Kestrel”

The Manawatu Hunt Club’s steeplechase meeting, to be held at the Awapuni course today, holds particular importance as it is the first in a circuit which will be continued at Marton next Saturday, after which will follow in succession two days at Hastings and two at New Plymouth.

Principal event is the Manawatu Hunt Cup Steeplechase, and other jumping events on the programme are the Kennels Hack Steeples and the Pukehou Hack Hurdles.

Evidence of the generous support accorded the fixture is provided by the size of the various fields. The Manawatu Hunt Cup Steeplechase has attraced 17 acceptors, several of whom are also engaged in the Kennels Hack Steeplechase. In the Kiwitea Ladles' Bracelet, for amateur horsemen, there are 22 carded, and in the Tararua Hack Handicap, the first "leg’ of the totalisator double, two of the 24 acceptors have been balloted out, with the right of re-entry.

The Kimbolton Maiden Stakes, 44 acceptors, will definitely be run in two divisions, and provision has also been made for divisions in the Pukehou Hack Hurdles (eight over the safety number) and the Hautere Hack Handicap (12 over). Should these races be run in divisions the club will provide in all an extra £360 in stake money. With the improvement in the weather since the storm experienced last week-end, good winter going should be provided, though the track may be a trifle holding. Some useful jumpers have won the Manawatu Hunt Cup in recent years. Five years ago Valky's Boy won the Kennels Steeplechase and the Hunt Cup double, and In the intervening years the winners have been Ellerton Hall, Lanoma. Vernon and Imperial Crown, all well up to the average as 'chasers. Tcpweight today is Christopher Wren, winner of the Grandstand Steeplechase on the opening day of the Wanganui winter meeting, and second to Master Patrick ! n the Wanganui Steeplechase t'ter leading for the gre, et portin’ of the journey. Christopher Wren disappointed when he fell in the Manawatu Steeplechase, and he lost, his rider in the June Steeples at Hastings, but he need not bo discarded because of these failures. Precious Metal, now trained at Awapuni by L. Knapp for Mr K. McK. Duncan, proved himself rather useful on the flat and over hurdles last spring, winning three races and earning place money on six other occasions in ten starts for Mr r. Stewart, of Waverley. The Robemond gelding has had a patient preparation far the current campaign, and he was third to Hemokai and Black Salve in the Tally-Ho Steeples at the point-to-point meeting at Waverley last month. Betterboy might have, won the hack steeplechase on the first day of the Napier Park meeting last month, Instead of being second to The Scotchman, but for his rider losing his irons in the early stages. Later in June he finished fifth In the Andrew Kay Steeples at Te Awamutu and he should be capable of making a bold bid today Newel Post has a second to Bandmaster in the Mangarawa Steeplechase at Wcodville to his credit. Tussock, a high weight winner at Trentham last January, was third in a hurdle race at Awapuni last month. Bulaselle was third to Aratoro and Hinewaka in the Hack Steeplechase at the Wanganui meeting last month, and wou-d require only a little improvement to ot well in the picture. Middoon was a winner over hurdles at Wanganui last month. Best of those on the minimum may be Rangitahua, a winnet at the Dannev rke Hunt Club’s point-to-point meeting last week. The large field should provide a spectacular display of jumping, with Christopher Wren, Bulaselle and Precious Metal likely to make most appeal to backers. There is plenty of material in the Kennels Hack Steeples to provide an interesting cross-country contest, and probably Omaio, Hemokai and Diplomat may be in the picture. THE TOTALISATOR DOUBLE

Backers who fancy their chances at picking the double will have the tenfurlcng Tararua Hack Handicap as thhir first hurdle, with the open seven, the President's Handicap, as the second "leg.” In both events there are large fields, with the prospects of a r ch reward if two outsiders are successful The topweight in the Tararua Hack, Felbcrough, was a winner over this distance at Woodville in May, and Diversio was second to Lone Star at the Hawke's Bay meeting last month. The much-raced Paeroa-trained Heroa was a winner at his home course in the spring and at Rotorua in April, and recently finished second to Sun Treasure at Napier Park. Murrayfield was third to Aquelio and Sharnow on Wednesday of last weeK at Trent ham, and that was encouraging form Show Mist also raced at Trentham, where the Defaulter mare was fourth in the Te Aro Hack Handicap on fie opening day. There is a lengthy tail to this field, with Bambton, Brown Jester, Fleetmaster and Ladj Aurora likely improvers. but the winner should come from higher up in the list, with Heroa, Fclliorough and Show Mist making strong appeal. Run over seven furlongs, the Presidents Handicap should provide a wide range for bettors, as there are 21 engaged, several with good recent form.

Though Bright Side, the topweight, has been off the scene since last October, when he raced at Trentham, he has been working well at Awapuni and likes winter conditions. Destination was a winner over this distance at the Manawatu meeting last month, and he may make amends for his Trentham defeat La Modelle ran two good races at the Awapuni winter meeting and was a winner at Foxton in May. She is another that has been doing good track work at Awapuni. Lord Burford will appreciate the drop in weights at his initial tilt in open company. Lakeside yan two good races at Hawera in May, and among those lower down in the list the chances of Queen Opal, Biassed. Dandy Ninth. Diplomacy and Joe's Cobber may be fancied.

On form it looks as if Destination and La Modelle may be preferred to Bright S,de. All through the card the issue appears very open, and there is plenty of room for surprises, but the following may be fancied in their respective engagements:—

Kiwitea Ladies’ Bracelet. Robin Chase, Foxtonian, Snowless. Kennels Hack Steeplechase,—Omaio, Hemokai, Diplomat. Kimbolton Maiden Stakes—First division: Special Script, Sherry. Second division: Huia’s Guest, Colum Port. Tararua Hack Handicap—Heroa, Felborough, Show Mist. Manawatu Hunt Cup.—Christopher Wren, Bulaselle, Precious Metal. President’s Handicap. Destination, La Modelie, Bright Side. Pukehou Hack Hurdles.—First division: Mesalliance, Follow Suit. Second division: Pepper, New Deer. Hautere Hack Handicap.—First division: Great Queen, Royal Paper. Second division: My Beau, Lady Moyra.