WANGANUI.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Issue 1508, 20 March 1919, Page 11

WANGANUI.

Fancied Candidates for Rangitikei Meeting—Golden Bubble May Contest G.N. Champagne Stakes— Nobleman’s Rangitikei Cup Engagement —H. Rayner’s Trio for Bulls. WANGANUI, Monday. The appearance of the weights for the Rangitikei meeting draws pointed attention to the near approach of the gathering, which is fixed for Wednesday and Thursday of next week. Mr. J. E. Henrys sems to have framed the handicaps in his best style, and there is little doubt that the fields will be large, and the racing should be the best ever seen at Bulls. In the Cup, Nobleman is in pride of place with 9.5, Rewi Poto 9.3, All Over 8.12 and Rude 8.11 following in that order. Nobleman is said to be going as wqll as ever he did, while All Over is also hitting out in fine style. They will need to be at their

best to beat Rude, as the son of Cyrus is in splendid fettle just now, the racing at Claudelands having apparently improved him. As Mr. W. Duncan also has Arrowfield in at 7.8 he holds a very strong hand. In the Scott Memorial, Parisian Diamond (9.13) has to give away a lot of weight to some good sprinters, but if he goes to the post he will be hard to beat. On Jutland’s showing at Egmont and Wanganui he is uncommonly fast, and he can be depended upon to keep the cracks very busy. Coolpan (7.7) is nicely weighted, and if well handled will not be far away at the finish.

Zola is in the Cup at 6.9,, and with a good boy up is sure to run well, as he is in capital trim. The heavy soaking rain, which fell last night will take the sting out of the going, and' this will be in his favour. He is also engaged in the Welter at 8.10, and if reserved for that event is likely to be one of the most fancied.

Rio ran well enough in the hurdles at Wanganui to suggest that he should soon win a race over the small sticks for Albert -Jackson. The gelding is in the hurdles at Bulls at the minimum.

It is probable that Mr. G. M. Currie wjll send Golden Bubble to Auckland for the Great Northern Champagne Stakes, in which the son of Absurd is engaged. The colt looks all the better for his racing at Wanganui, and is looking more muscular than when he raced here. It is safe to say that if he goes on all right he will

win some good races for his owner later on.

The other Absurd colt .which W. Rayner is putting through his preliminary facings is a more compact fellow, r-and if looks go for anything he should furnish into a top-notcher. He is only 16 months old now, so will not be seen in action for some time.

Tempo, which won a race at the Hamilton meeting for Mr. W. Duncan, has been doing good work since his return home, and he should not be long in adding another race or two to his credit. The son of Maniapoto is engaged in the Pukenui Welter at Bulls with 8.8.

The tracks have been too hard recently for trainers, who have been afraid to give their horses much work. Fortunately the drought has broken, and a lot of rain fell on Saturday night, which should improve the going very much, and some solid work will now be put in by those engaged at the Rangitikei meeting. Reports from Marton credit Nobleman with being in good fettle, and his prospects in the Rangitikei Cup are thought highly of in some quarters. All Over is also going well after a short spell, and Mr. J. Bull expects him to run a good race in whatever event he starts at Bulls. Master Lupin is another which should get amongst the winners again soon, judging by the way he is shaping on the tracks.

H. Rayner intends taking Simon, Starengo and Carmel Arch to Bulls, where they are expected to run well in their engagements. Simon appears to have improved since his race at Hawera, and he should be handy in

whatever events he starts at the meeting.

..Starengo is also going along nicely, and if he begins well may have to be rcekoned with in the open sprints. Occasionally he gives a lot of trouble at the barrier, and this goes against him.

Carmel Arch never looked better, and is likely to pick up a race before long.

J. Peachey has Bold Boy looking bright and well, and the Booringa gelding will keep the opposition busy in the Trial Plate at Bulls if he gallops up to his best track form-