LONGSWORD AND SONERI FANCIED AT RICCARTON

Chronicle (Levin), 22 November 1946, Page 6

LONGSWORD AND SONERI FANCIED AT RICCARTON

' L.M.M.)

( SPECIAL — 4FROM

WELLINGTON, This Day. Extra'ordinary interest !s being taken in this year's. New Zealand Cup, to be" decided at Riccarton tomorrow, The , field ; engaged is,the Jargest in the. history of the race and for the first 1 time two acceptors had to be balioted out. ; Public' fancy rests •• with Chung Chong, Longsword, Golden Souvenir. and Signal Officer. Baek to his best form and a proyed stayer, with .a Cup already to his ctcdit, Longsword takes the writer's . fancy as a . more than good prospect, his main danger being Chung Chong, second to Golden" Souvenir last year. These two, on form and performances, should fight it out with Longsword the more likely to hold a slight advantage at the post. In the Stewards' Handicap Soneri, in spite of her weight, looks the "bet" of the day* Can W. J. Broughton break his run of outs in the Cup? Can he ride the "doublc" winners? On Longsword and Soneri he holds • a great , chancc. At time of writing conditious at Riccarton wcrc good and prospccts are that it will be flrie tomorrow. Although in exeellent order thc track is soft on the surface. Both the Feilding and Waikato fixture will be concluded tomorrow. Betting wfil be win and place. Prospects are: —

The Middleton Hurdle field is not strong and Abdicate oppears . on Nortli Isjand form a good prospect. Lost Art, Battle Chief and Robert are the best of the others. Battle Chief has greatly improved as a hurdler and should do well at the meeting. A large field will lirie up for the Spring Nursery Handicap and the likely favourite is Langspiel. Blithe Spirit is improving with racing. In the south Billy Mac has a good reputation as a. smart youngster. It is a race. in which a surprise might be in. store. Improvers outside the aforementioned horses, are Erinmore, First Slipper, Carry On, Battle Abbey, Ohari and Darius. Good riding and astute judgment will have a bearing on the result of the Apprentices' Handicap. There are several good prospects in the race, and at this stage the best seem to be Falconbridge, Kirkella, Spiora, Royal Tan, Detain, Clyde Bride and Lady Welbeck., The large field in the New Zealand Cup gives a very open app'earance, and although four or five are being loudly spoken of as, the only "stickers" in the field*, there are others bred on^stamina lines not without prospects — in fact of the 24 I would say that more than half the field are 'not . without chances. However, it looks like Longsword, Chung Chong, Golden Souvenir, Signal Officer, Langue d'Or. and Young Trent being the backed division - on the- machines. A lightweight prospect is Lowry Bay. . Lady Christine will dominate the betting in the Welcofiie Stakes, but with good suppprU . f oy Zorro, Colorada ;Maid, Excellency," Torrent and §jr Rpyal, the Trentham filly should rejturn a. reasonably good price'on the win machine. Southerners hold "the bpiniori' that Tara Hall will give Lady Christine a hard race. . Although carrylng 9.13 Soneri is sure to go -out a warm favourite. The Otaki trained • mare is. brilliant and if Broughton gets her out smartly and in a good position she should add another good stake to her already good record. She will not lack skill in riding. Master Dash is very fit' and at Trentham it is thought he will give the' mare her first real test in spite of his 10.2. Leigh Barton is not without a good chance, but the main southern fancy is said to be Derene. However, it looks like a race that will resolve itself into a contest between North Island horses, for outside the two top weights the North has smart sprinters in Dymondy, Tuis, Deprive, Specialist and Julius Caesar to assure a true run race. Of the rest of the field Red' Picklc and Wantwood read best. Best form in the Riccarton Handicap is held by Tremello, Master Robin, Joy Rosa. The first named is at the peak of his form, and with Broughton in thc saddle, is sur.e to be a lirrn public fancy. At lightweiglit prospect is Delinqucnt.