INTEREST IN MAIN EVENT

Chronicle (Levin), 14 November 1946, Page 6

INTEREST IN MAIN EVENT

Altkough Ihe prineipal event, the Manchester Handicap, on the first day of the Feilding Jockey Club's spring meeting on Saturday has oniy attracted a lield of nine, class is not lacking, and the presence of prorainent New Zealand Cup candidates in Longsword, Langue d'Or, Catterick Br-idge and Hakim should assure a very interesting contest. The vvinner is not liable for a rehandicap for the New Zealand Cup and the form of the above-mentioned quartet should throw some light on their prospects in the big two-miler at Riccarton the foilowing week. Topweight with 9.2, Longsword is entitled to be one of the favourites. In the weight-for-age event, the Harcourt Stakes, on the second day of the Wellington meeting at Awapuni on Labour JDay, he limshed splendidly to run the brilliant Soneri to a lengtli and, considering that the race reall3r developed into a sprint home, it was an attravtive performance on the part of the staying son of Lang Bian. The fact that W. J. Broughton has elected to ride liiin on Saturday and in the New Zealand Cup is also likely to influence baclters. Aithougli most of his raeing this terni has been confuied to sprints, Langue d'Or has thrived on his special prepa- • ration and 1ns reeent track vvork suggests that he is rapidly approaching the . lorni that ranked hiiUjas one of the best handicap performers last season. He has many admirers from these parts for the New Zealand Cup and a forward sliowing on Saturday will gain him more friends. Catterick Bridge hardly came up to expectations at the receut Napier Parlc meeting. On the opening day he finished second to Lowry Bay after having every cliance, while last Saturday the best he could do was to fill fourth place in the Waiohiki Stakes. Improvement will be necessarv for him to account for a stronger lield this w'eek. ' On tlie streiigth of his stylish pell•formance in winning the Levin Handicap, lmperia! will be the one elected to beat the Cup horses. The four-year-old 'A'inth Duke gelding has been very cousistent, and has scored five wins, five seconds and three thirds in his 21 starts to date, two of his other good performances being fourth in the A.R.C. Easter Haudicap and fourth in the Winter Cup. Imperial has the speed to get a position early in his races and this will count in his favour on a small track. When seeu at Awapuni ou fhursday morning he gave the impressiou that he liad thrived ou his outing' last week and, iu spite of a rise of 61b., cau be expected to be iu the liring line at the iimsh on Saturday. If the going is soft Halcim will be in his elemeut as he prpvcd by beating the best handicappers iu the Wellington ilaudicap last niontli. He has trained ( i ii sal i.stactorily siuco tlien and is sure to striji a lif lior>c. Atici an imprc.isivo iierfonnanee iu winning ihe Waverley Cup on l^abour D.'V, iiehave was beaten into fourth place iu ihe Kaugitikei Cup the foltowing week. Ilowever, he did not get too good a run in his last outing and that performance was better than it ap peared. The Wanganui-trained gelding will be suited by the track and it would ocea.sion no surprise to see him taking a haud in the' iiuish under his haiidy v. eiuht. | i'i.-iiig Aee looks the improvcr of the lield. Alihougii lie did not ap|»ear to be at his peak, iie was in the liring line all the v\ay to linish a good third to Trcmello and Broieiield in the Rangitikei Cup at the • beginiiing of the month. He galloped-a good mile on the plough at Awapuni ou Tuesday morning, and is a free goer likely to set a merrv pace out in tront. Gynerio and Merry Robin make up the iicld and the iatter makes more appeal. He linished fourth in the Mas terton Handicap at Opaki last month and was noticed running on very solidl\ over the linal stages. On latest form, however, backers may show a prefer ence 011 the day for Imperial,. Longsword and Flying Ace.