Marangi Handicap Field Presents Backers' Problem For Wanganui Opening Day

Wanganui Chronicle, 2 September 1950, Page 7

Marangi Handicap Field Presents Backers' Problem For Wanganui Opening Day

(By

“Kestrel”)

With capacity fields engaged in the majority of events, the Wangani Jockey Club has an attractive programme to present today for what can be accepted as the official opening of the spring racing season in the southern portion of the North Island, and fine weather appears to be the only requisite for a successful fixture.

Principal events are the Marangai Handicap, run over a tittle more than a mile and a-quarter, and the Flying Handicap, over six and a-half furlongs, with the Debutant Stakes as the first race of the season for two-year-olds. Following rain during the latter part of the week the track is likely to be dead, but any improvement in the weather this morning should be reflected in track conditions, as the course can absorb a considerable tali and still provide good going. Twenty are engaged in the Marangain Handicap, and they are headed by King’s Ransom, who failed to win a race in five starts last season but represents the best class in handicappers. Though he has had two races since he rAumed this season he may not be at concert pitch yet, and several with better form will be preferred. Gay Gordon will be having his first start of the current season, and he also will have to be taken on trust, though he was in good form when he dead-heated for first in the Connolly Handicap at Wanganui in June. Master McGrath, a winner at this meeting last year, when he carried off the honours in the Seafield Hack Handicap, showed that he is not far from peak form when he won the Halcombe Memorial at New Plymouth last Saturday. As h® had finished third to Luminous and Foxtavla a week earlier on the same course he must have improved with racing, so he is sure to command support. Kippo failed to impress in the Bergin Handicap at Foxton last Saturday, but he has run his best races on the Wanganui frack, and few will forget the terrific finishing run whicn enabled him to snatch victory in tire Russell Grace Handicap here in June. Zealander has beep mixing hurdling with flat raping and may be held sate by some of those lower down in the list.

Bramble Leighon has not won a race for just on a year, but he gave a glimpse of returning form at New Plymouth last Saturday. Following her fine win in the Bergin Handicap at Foxton last Saturday, Lg Modelie may be the Marangai Handicap favourite today. She held a handy position behind the pacemakers, till the straight was reached and then took command, showing courage when challenged is the run home. Her pace should again enable the Arvakur mare to be In the forefront from/the inside barrier position today, and she appears certain to be one of the placed division.

Brightside has not raced since the Manawatu Hunt Club’s meeting in July and will thus be at a disadvantage, though trainer L. Knapp has frequently produced his charges ready to win first up.

Parlous was a winner at the Waverley meeting at the end of April, and his best performance since was his third over seven furlongs at the Rangitikel Hunt Club’s meeting. He has won on the Wanganui course, though then in hack company. Foxtavia, winner of a hack double at Wanganui in June, has yet to win in open company, but he beat all but Luminous in the Patea Hand.cap at the hunt club's meeting at New Plymouth on the opening day.- Foxtavia was accounted a trifle unlucky to be beaten into fourth place last Saturday in the Halcombe Memorial, and the change in riders may herald improved form. He has always shaped like a prospective middle distance handicapper of more than average ability. Emerge was close up behind the dividend-payers at New Plymouth and again at Foxton last Saiurdtw, and only a little improvement v.Wuld be required to make him dangerous. It is in his fgvour that he is at his best when the going is easy. Roscarea and Dandy Ninth are both useful sorts, but a better prospect may be Hostess, who ran two solid races at New Plymouth, where she was second to Master McGrath last Saturday.

Another lightweight with good torn) is Bar Garrette, who was runner-lip to La Modelie at Foxton and might be capable of turning the tables today. The issue appears fairly open, but the best recent form suggests that Master McGrath, La Modelie and Foxtavia may be in the money. THE OPEN SPRINTERS The field of fifteen engaged in the Flying Handicap presents another problem for backers, for in addition to sprinters with good recent form there are included a trio of promising three-year-olds in Davey Jones, Alarm and Magnate. Tne topweight, Volia-c, is wellknown to Wanganui patrons as a result of his three successive victories in the Jackson Stakes, at weight-for-age. Though he has 9.10 to carry and will be conceding a good deal pt weight, the Revelation geld.ng showed that he is in form when he beat the other sprinters at the matinee meeting at Awapuni last Tuesday. Super Snipe has not sported silk since she brilliantly won the Great Easter at Riccarton, but she is a class mare and must command respect. Paddy Joe has been off the scene since he won the Manawatu Winter Gup in June, but he has generally proved himself capable of running a sterling race when freshened up after a spell. Bhutan was reckoned one of the best of last season's many good three-year-olds, and Phalamint has several good races over sprint distances to his credit. Mallow, who has previously won at Wanganui, ran a splendid race to win the open sprint on the first day of the hunt club’s meeting at New Plymouth. He should again be in the picture though today’s field is of a much higher standard than that which he beat at the Taranaki fixtures. Davey Jones was narrowly beaten by The Laird last Saturday at Foxton, .hen he resumed racing after a

mgthly spell. He should be all the natter for the race, and is sure to take a lot of beating. Twelve months ago another three-year-old in Golden Spa was the winner, and Davey Jones is capable of maintaining the record for horses of his age-

Mt. Curl showed useful form as a sprinter last season. Ngarobl and Angell may be held safe by Alarm, who showed marked ability in juvenile handicaps last autumn.

Layby showed a torrent of speed In his hack wins last season and he is at a handy mark in the weights to open his record in the higher class. Condine may be better suited by a longer distance, though he ran solid races at New Plymouth, and both Magnate and Hunting Fort may prove capable of springing surprises. The form of Davey Jones, Mallow and Layby makes most appeal.

PUTIKI HACK HANDICAP Forming the second "leg” of the totalisator double, ‘the Pufiki Hack Handicap is run over the same distance as (he Marangai Handicap, the first race of the double, and it has drawn a field of fifteen.

Earnbridge, who is topweigbt with 5.2, has not raced for nearly two years, but he won the Okehu Hack Hurdles here in 1948.

Master Crusoe was a winner at the hunt club’s meeting at Hastings and was narrowly beaten in the second division of the Awahou Hack Handicap at Foxton last Saturday. Clear View, a visitor from Morrlnsville, failed at New Plymouth, and a better prospect might be My Beau, who won a division of the seven-fur-long Hautere Hack Handicap at the Manawatu Hunt Club's meeting. Zala held on courageously to win a division of the Awahou Hack Handicap at Foxton last Saturday, and he is capable of adding to his record. Sea Shanty may enjoy a better run than she did at Foxton, where she was cnopped back to last at one stage and then finished a close fourth in the division of the Awahou Hack Handicap won by Our Dave. Speckles was the winner of the amateur riders’ race on the first day at New Plymouth, and Landsborough is a likely sort from Hawke’s Bay, where she wolf a novice double at Napier Park in June.

Floral Art may be expected to Improve on her second at Foxton, but may be held safe by Arvastar, whose effort in finishing second to Zala in an Awahou Hack Handicap division last Saturday held a good deal of merit.

Alumnus and the three-year-old Massa may be best of the remainder, but Sea Shanty, Master Crusoe and Arvastar are a trio likely to be well supported. THE DEBUTANT STAKES

Those who are keen to have a financial interest in the Debutant Stakes will have little guide in making their selection for the opening race of the season for two-year-olds, since the only form has been provided by “parades” in which a few of the youngsters have participated. The Pherozshah colt Tony was narrowly headed by the Gold Nib-Alethea colt at the Awapuni matinee meeting last Tuesday. In the same event Admiral's Blonde ran greenly, though she had the benefit of a parade at the Grand National meeting. News Girl shaped well at Hastings, Fulo has been fulfilling expectations on the local tracks, suggesting that she may add to Mr. G. If. Currie’s excellent record of six wins in the Debutant Stakes. Contraband is another who has been showing possession of early page. There have been surprises in the history of the race, which was instituted some thirty years ago, but the winner may come from those named. Horses likely to be fancied in their respective engagements include:— Debutant Stakes.—Tony, Eulo, Contraband. Okehu Hack Hurdles.—Lord Cranleigh, Follow Suit, Delinquent. ' Maiden Race.—First Division: Home Brew, Cosmopolitan. Second Division: Subject, Green Rushes. Seaiield Hack Handicap.—Carno, Lady Ranna, Meg. Marangai Handicap—Master McGrath, La Modelie, Foxtavia. Durie flack Handicap.—Treasure Fox, Nigger Brown, Hutton. Putiki Hack Handicap—Sea Shanty, Master Crusoe, Arvastar. Flying Handicap.—Davey Jones, Mallow, Layby.