Better Going Suits Air Belle

Chronicle (Levin), 1 October 1948, Page 7

Better Going Suits Air Belle

L.M.M.)

(SPECIAL— FROM

WELLINGTON, October 1. Because of the bad weather conditions that prevailed last Saturday form at Otaki was puzzling to follow,. particularly so in the main events, but with prospects of the going being greatly improved for tcf-morrow, the concluding day of the Otaki Maori Racing Club's sprin'g meeting, the public should find their task of catching up on the winners not so arduous. A number of horses scratched last week because of the bad going will make the racing more mteresting if conditions enable them to take their places in the nelds. „ ' Greatly improved with the race he had last week Imperial is a strong favourite for the Rere Nikitini Memorial Handicap and should go one better than last week. Other meetings set down for conclusion tomorrow are Hawke's Bay and Dunedin, prospects for which appear on this page.

With a likely improved going at Otaki the five best prospects in the Puketoi Hurdles are Royal Moutoa, Sunshine Bay, Mesalliance, Master Raymond and Cooraciare. Platonic should be difficult to beat on last week's form in the first Manuao Trial. Theiolinda, a Trentham prospect, eomes in fresh and is weil forward. Others not without good prospects are Urenui's Gift, Sentimental, Announcer and Giggle. With Broughton up Champagne will be a strong fancy for the Pukekaraka Hack. Blue Skimmers, another fresh horse, is weil forward as also are Leeston, Vincette and Beckon. A likely improver is Lady Myrtle. However, Champagne has the best form in this field. Imperiai reads the outstanding prospect in the Rere Nikitini Memorial Handicap, and having benefited from last week's race should be very hard to beat. His most strongest opposition is likeiy to come from Bronstar, Meteorina, Bon Chale and Night School, who is a fresh horse with good form to recommerid. If Belle Reine is produced in the second Manuao Trial Trentham is likely to produce the winner, the other prospects being Leighwin, Rival Star, Tuatea and Manawanui. Judged by the excellent race he ran agamst Leeston last week to be beaten by half a head, Irresistible will only need to repeat that form to win the Otaki Hack Handicap. Blue Seal, Buchanan, Alumnus and Jet Plane are four who should give the favourite a hard race of it. Soljd support is expected to be forthcoming for- Full of Fun, Garry and Franada in the Waio-: rongomai Handicap, all of which ran solid races last week. At Trentham' headqua-rters - ..FulL - .-of Fun is regarded as the likely win- j ner, but if the conditions suit and Air Belle is produced she will certainly have a say in the decision. She is back to her very best form and her connections are only pray- j ing for fine weather. It is under- j stood that Red Herring is likely to start at Hastings, but if produced at Otaki is a distinct prospect. Pitoitoi should be seen to better advantage tomorrow as she has ! aenefited from Saturday's race. j Nullah should have the edge on j Vlatara in the Rahui Hack. Beau I 3ijou, a fresh horse, has form to ! 'ecommend, as also has Patunui, 1 md The Crofter. The best of the ■ ightweights might be Foxtonian, | vho put in a great finish for ! ourth last week. Horses expected to race weil are: | 11.0. — Puketoi Hack Hurdles (l-£-niles) — Royal Moutoa, Sunshine Bay, Master Raymond. 11.40. — Manuao Trial No. 1 (6 urlongs ) — Platonic, Sentimental, rheiolinda. 12.25. — Pukekaraka Hack (6 f ur-

longs) — Champagne, Blue Skimmers, Leeston. j 1.10. — Rere Nikitini Memorial |(1£ miies) — Imperial, Bronstar, j Night School. 1.55. — Manuao Trial No. 2 (6 furlongs) — Belle Reine, Rival Star, Leighwin. 2.40. — Otaki Hack (7. f urlongs) — Trresistible, Blue Seal, Buchanan. 3.30. — Waiorongomai Handicap (6 furlongs) — Air Beile, Full of Fun, Garry if Red Herring absent. 4.20. — Rahui Hack (9 furlongs) — Nullah, Beau Bijou, Ma tara.