EGMONT MEETING

Chronicle (Levin), 2 May 1946, Page 6

EGMONT MEETING

Tlie opening of the Egmont Racing Club's winter meeting on Saturday reminds one that not so long ago it was considered that the hforth Island jumping season began with the Hawera lix-. ture. There was a uice circuit in tliose' days leading up to the Great Northern meeting at Ellerslie in June. After, Hawera came the ' Wanganui Steeplecliase meeting and froin Wanganui the jumpers \yent on to Ellerslie. - Things have clianged. Wanganui now clashes with the Auckland winter meeting, with the result tliat the cream of tlie jumpers misses the Wanganui meeting. And as Waikato comes in with a meeting late in May, jumpers with Great Northern ..aspiratious make Te Ra{>a a port of call. There is no doubt that Wanganui has sufl'ered througli getting in Auckland 's' way, but with the good prizes now ofTering tliey should be able to iuduce some good class leppers to the river city next month. The Egmont Steeplechase has -clrawn a field of inoderates in whicEHawke's Bay holds what appears to be a strong liand, having Kilmanagh and ' Opaltowu engaged. If Kilmanagh is forward, her chance should be excellent. Voltaire figures as an adceptor" at. both the Egmont and the Foxton meet-' ings, which are to be held on Saturday Dcspite recent failuros he should be re-s spectcd Avhcrever he races. A Hawera competitor whosc recent.form should attract attention is For-, tune 's Smile, who will probabjy start t'avourite in tlie Hawera Handicap. Oue of his greatest- dangyrs may be Killey-; moon, 'who appears to be nicely treated;