Holiday Racing Starts Tomorrow

Chronicle (Levin), 19 December 1947, Page 6

Holiday Racing Starts Tomorrow

L.M.

M.)

( SPECIAL — FROM

WELLINGTON, This Day. Chiistmas holiday racing will open tomorrow at Awapuni when the Manawatu Racing Club's three days' summer meeting will open. For the opening day the fields are large and some of the best handicap horses engaged. With the track in its present hard condition some of the horses are not going to appreciate footing over it. Rain would be welcome to trainers and horses. The chief event, the Manawatu Cup, has attracted a select field. After his gobd showings at the recent N.Z. Cup meeting I fully expect Gay Stroller to be the public choice and one of the hardest to beat. With his brilliant haclc form at Trentham as a recommendation Playboy makes number one choice for the Fitzherbert Handicap. The only other meeting to be held tomorrow is the Ohinemuri \ fixture at Paeroa.

Likely favourites for the Tokomaru Hack Hurdles are Baksoon and Glen Urquhart, who indulged in a keen tussle over the jumps at Woodville, Baksoon gaining the upper hand over the final furlong. Incident has been a. little disappointing of late, but is always a possibility. - Gynerio's fourth afc Woodville was a splendid - effort which points to a success over hurdles not being far off. Gther prospects are Park Light, Ruling Moment and Griffin. The youngsters engaged in the Karangahake Handicap ha\ j no outstanding form to recommend them but improvers are Jolly Lass, Vienna View, Gay Coronach, Bellewin and Gin Gold. Though backed and beaten at Otaki tnere will again be strong support for Adair in the first division of the Maiden Plate, while Lady Minter, which did not start at Otaki, and Nullah will be others to carry heavy betting. In the second division Gratuity, Lucy Bian and Shenandoah have form to warrant soli'd support. Shenandoah's form at Otaki was encouraging. Saravan, winner at Otaki, will find strong opposition in Burnished Ring and Pitoitoi in the Nuarsery Handicap. Other prospects m the field are Sonia, Honeydew, Festal and Kentucky Moon. If started Festal is expected to race prominently. Sun Burn holds good prospects in the Tararua Hack. He is a good hack that should score at the meeting. Strongest opposition should come from Patunui, Dancing Girl, Reignon, Commercial, Meteorina, Angell aird Beau Raide. Gay Stroller's good showings at the N.Z. Cup meeting will bring him into favour for the Manawatu Cup and he can be expected to give a good account of himself. Robin's Reward's form is consistent as also is that of Imperial. These three will be the heaviest supported in the race and I expect them to fight out the issue. Prospects lower down the weights are Merry Robin, very flt at present, Loyal Bian, a recent winner, Morotai, winner at Otaki, Welcome Guest, and Emerge. If the going was soft, Citation would not be without a chance, but there is a

likelihood that she will be reserved for the sprint. Sea Fury's brilliant form at Otaki will bring her into favour for the Fitzherbert Handicap. Her form is so consistent that, even in. the stronger field, she will be in the ••picture. With an easing in the going Citation woul'd keep the field busy. Stony Broke is in tip top form as also are Zealander, Playboy, a brilliant hack who should perform well in open class, Yandra, Craven and Cot-case. If he gets a good run Playboy will be hard to beat. It looks like Eastern Rose and Torrent indulging in another thrilling duel in the Gillies Hack and at the weights Eastern Rose should- have the edge on Torrent. Brantford, Fleetwood, Lady Oratory and Angell reads the best of the rest of the field. Best form in the Gr-andstand Handicap is held by Desert ,Fox, Mesalliance, Lowry Bay, Argumentative, The Stormovik and The Denbigh. Desert Fox has been working like an early winner. Mesalliance is also very forward. Lowry Bay is hardy for an old fellow. Argumentative's form has been consistent in stronger company while The Stormovik is always a prospect. The Denbigh is just the type to spring a surprise.