THE RACING SCHEDULE

Chronicle (Levin), 13 June 1946, Page 6

THE RACING SCHEDULE

FORM OF WINTER HORSES Since the abandonment of the Wellington Winter meeting the racing schedule seems to be more out of joint than ever. Clashing is oceurring almost every weelc and an avoidanee of clashes seems to be next to impossible. A retuim to a state of att'airs which would perniit inidweek raeing would be welcdmed by everyone concerned with the( sports. The arrangenient by which a steeplechase meeting will be staged at Awapuni on the dates abandoned by Wellington will appeal to mauy as, about as suitable a substitute arrangement as could have been found. Horses from all parts of the North Island are likely to conipete and some from the South lsland are expected to be on hand. Altliough Nanook has a very moderate record on the turf there is soine good blood in his pedigree, so he might yet do'better. His win in the Cassino Hack and Hunters' Steeplechase at ,Otaki on Saturday was his best performance to date and that success did not entail the defeat of a very good field. Nanook is a six-year-old geldingby Foxliglit from Katrina, who was by Catmint (son of Spearmin t and grandson of Carbine) out of Warstar. Warstar 's sire Maniapoto was one of the best Kew Zealand galJopers of his day and his successes included the A.J.C. Metropolitan Handicap. Maniapoto was by Soult, the leading sire of his time. Lady Lucy, the dam of Warstar, was af winner of the Nevv Zealand Cup and was a grand-daugliter of Musket, so that Nanook 's pedigree includes two valuable strains of Musket. Penwilt continues to run useful races in minor steeplechase class and he went very close to defeating Nanook. The Gynerium gelding handles soft going vvell but does not stay solidiy, thougli in this he appears to be improving as ke'becomes seasoiied by racing. One hack steeplecliaser who gave soine promise when he raced at Otaki was Northfield, a six-year-old gelding by CoJossus from Merlyn, a Lackham mare. Northlieid made most of the running and went vvell till his condition failed him. When more seasoned he should win in this class. JJeflnltely the best of the maidens at the Levin meeting was Peter Theio, a three-year-old Theio gelding trained at Hawera by G. W. Moore, who battles along without much of the fuck of the game. Peter Theio compfetely outclassed the other noviees and won so vvell and in sucli comparatively good time that he should go on to success in hack races. Competitors in the hack seven who can be expected to improve are Court Judge, Poxeila and Blackwater. Uourt Judge was never a possibility, but as he had just resumed racing after a spcll nothiug much was expected of him. Blackwater is a type that is not. likely to come to liand quiekly, so racing should benefit him. He was a .fair fourth on Saturday. Foxclla's second was his best since he resumed racing and it should be possible to plaee him vvhere he can win shortly. Prince Wanaka is on the upgrade. He beat Carmclita more easily than the margiu of a neck might suggest. Por a filly wlio could be expected to improve through a little racing Soneri did vvell to finish "third in the open seven at the Levin gathering. Winter going does not trouble her at all, so turther prize money might come her vvay shortly. Mcsalliance and St. Hilton sliared favouritisju in tlic hack mile and a quarter and neither proved worthy of tli" confideuce. St. Hilton failed completely and the best Mesalliance could do after liaving every chance was finish a moderate third. The surprise of the race was not the success of Incline, but the good dividend he returned after his very recent success over the same distance at Woodville. The Stratford Racing Club has been grahted permission to hold a winter meeting ou July 20, and as this will follow immediately on the two days (July (j and 13) at Nevv Plymouth a three-day Taranaki circuit will be provided. The Stratford date will clasli with the Manawatu Hunt Club date and the two Nevv Plymouth dates clash vvith tlie Manawatu Winter meeting. As in Taranaki, there will be racing 011 three consecutive Saturdavs at Awapuni, follovved by a day at Marton.