Hard Track Causes Small Fields for Trentham

Chronicle (Levin), 14 March 1947, Page 6

Hard Track Causes Small Fields for Trentham

L.M.M.)

(SPECIAL— FROM

WELLINGTON, This Day. Mainly because of the Arm state of the track, the fields for the concluding day of the Wellington Racing Club's • autumn meeting at Trentham tomorrow, have thinned down considerably , — in fact it is many years since such small fields have been carded for a Wellington meeting. However, with the exception of the Hurdles and the N.I. Challenge Stakes, it is expected that there will be sufficient starters in the other events to ensure the usual three place dividends. The course proper has undergone continuous watering since last Sunday, and as a result the going should not be as hard as it ' was last week. Unless the sting is out of the going Da Vinci will not start in the Challenge Stakes, and Howe is a doubtful starter. Blithe Spirit is likely to run in the Pacific Handicap instead of the Stakes. Other meetings tomorrow are Opunake, and the opening day of the Ohinemuri fixture, prospects for which are covered on this page.

Trentham Fields Reviewed The Ngaio Hack Hurdles winner should come from the four at the top of the weights. Provider is likely to go out favourite with good support also for Par Avion and Voltaire. Whackie is a doubtful starter Sleepy Fox looks like adding another classic to his list when he contests the North Island Challenge Stakes. Main opposition will be found in the smart Majesty, whose gallop on Tuesday was outstanding. These two will dominate the betting, with Sleepy Fox a firm favourite. Niloch reads like repeating first day success in the Pacific Handicap. The opposition is practically the same as he outclassed on the first day. The best of these are Blithe Spirit, Prince Coronach, Kartikeya and General Victory. The Champion Hack field is not a strong one and if started here in nreference to the Belmont Hack King's Ransom should be a strong fancy. Lambro, Pola, L£dy Welbeck and Balcherrie are not without prospects, especially Lady Welbeck, who looks particularly bright. She will have the services of L. J. Ellis. Pola, a fresh horse, attracts attention by his success in the Waikato Hack Cup last week. The President's Handicap should orovide a good race. The favoured division will come from BrioefieldArco bracket. Loyal Bian, Sakuntala r'od Foxhaven. Loyal Bian. who ha.s been unlucky in his last few stavts, has excellent prospects. and will be ridden by H. N. Wiggins. Broiefield was running on strongly in the Autumn Handicap and is expected to be prominent tomorrow. Sakuntala's good second to Bruce last week will make her a strong fancy and a repetition of that form will make her a hard proposition tomorrow. The distance is likely to again trouble Flying Ace, but Night Foe, who was in the hunt in the Autumn last week, might spring a surprise. If King's Ransom takes his place in the Belmont Handicap he will be a hard horse to beat. In his absense Flare Path should hold his place' as one of the favourites with Sea Fury and Ngatoki. Ella Shields is expected to show to better advantage than was the case last week. The distance of the Suburban Handicap will suit Voltaic, Derene, Yasda, Brown Derby and Specialist. This race is very open. Voltaic's performance in running second to Sage King in the Thomson Handicap was a splendid effort, and with a furlong less tomorrow he will come in for heavy support. That smart South Island mare, Derene, is speedy over the distance, as also are Specialist and Brown Derby, who is also in the last race. The last named looks particularly fit and can be expected to run a good race in whichever race is his mission.

Of the 14 carded in the Hutt Handicap no fewer than four, viz., Yasda, Lord Theio, Brown Derby and Molly Martia, are also in the previous race. The race he had in the Thomson Handicap when he finished a good fourth should cnhance the prospects of Matador, who is handily weighted at 7.10. Mackie left his run on Matador too latc, otherwise he would have been in the money. He was finishing over everything. Gay Stroller, Opulent, Brown Derby are others with prospects. The race Gay Stroller had on the first day has done him good and he can be relied'on to give a good account of himself tomorrow. Horses expected to race promincntly in their engagements are: 11.15— Ngaio Hack Hurdles (1-2 miles) — Provider. 'Par Avion. 12.0 — N.I. ' Challenge Stakes (7 f urlongs ) — Sleepy . Fox, Maj esty . 12.47— Pacific Handicap (6 f urlongs) — Niloch, Prince Coronach, Kartikeya. 1.35 — Champion Hack (1£ miles) — Lady Welbeck, Balcherrie, Pola if King's Ransom scratched. 2.25 — President's Handicap (H miles) — Loyal Bian, BroiefieldArco bracket, Sakuntala. 3.15 — Belmont Hack Handicap (1 mile) — King's Ransom, Flare Path, Sea Fury. 4.5 — Suburban Handicap (7 furlongs) — Voltaic, Derene, Specialist, if Brown Derby scratched. 4.55 — Hutt Handicap (1 mile) — Gay Stroller, Matador, Brown Derby.