MASTER MERUIT FAVOURED FOR TRENTHAM STEEPLES

Chronicle (Levin), 8 July 1949, Page 6

MASTER MERUIT FAVOURED FOR TRENTHAM STEEPLES

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Extra Flight And Ruling Master Should Run Well

(Special — From

W\ELEliN VjtTUJN , JUiy 5. As has been the case in the past with Wellington Racing Club meetings record fields will parade af Trentham tomorrow for the opening of the club's three-day winter, fixture..^ The best cross-country and hurdling performers in commission in the Dominion will be seen in action during the meetihg as also will star winter performers on the flat. With the excellenf stakes offerinjg and the central situation for both North and South Islandsj Trentham has always been a big drawcard to owners and trainers, but the general public is not so. praise.worthy when it comes to following form. • , s

The weather has been inclement during the week and the heavy allnight rain on Wednesday has left the track in such a condition as to ensure it being on the heavy side "tomorrow. At present the weather is fine, but the forecast is not too re-assuring. The principal events tomorrow are the Wellington Steeplechase,' Trentham Hiirdles, Whyte Handicap and Stewards' Handicap. General opinion down here favours Imperial Crown in the big s.eeplechase, but if Master Meruit survives the strain he will be very, hard to beat. It "can be taken for grante-d that if Extra F ight succeeds in the sprint Super Fligh't will be a strong prospect in the Whyte Handicap, while in the Trentham Hurdles Ruling Master is coming into favour. i Fields Reviewed. Recent form in the Mariri Hack and Hunters' Steep'echase points to St. Simper, Beau Court, Supremel Shepherd, Tid-Apa and Laindon. all holding good prospects. Taking a fine through Ashburton form Laindon is a southern lightweight with more than ordinary prospects. However, on form, St. Simper, a young jumper who rarely faul'.s a,t his jumps, is expected to keep the field busy chasing him home. After his easy win at Napier Park iast month Beau Court will carry heavy support as a.So will Tid-Apa and Supreme Shepherd. Hip Hip is a young jumper likely to upset public opinion. Form is well distributed in the Woburn Hack Handicap with recent winners in Advent, Sir Abbot, Robin Tor, Consulafe, Rokdale,. Oslo, and improvels' ,-jh Roscarea, Master Crusoef Flyin'g- Fort, Chip, In Front, Vi.lage and Rappel. The iong Trentham straight will nuit Advent and Sir Abbot, .both likely to dispute favouritism. . Oslo, if started here will keep the southern pair busy as also will Master Crusoe and Rokdale. With a track that wili suit him High Order wi 1 be a firm fancy in the Vitroria Hack Hurdles. Other prospects are Erinmore, Beaulitha, Incident, Detain, Waratangi and the improver Gay Fellow. Looking particuiarly well High Order has been schooiing attractiveiy at head^ ( quarters. Gay Felv6w is improving and a win for him should not be far off. Erinmore ennanced his prospects by his comfortable win in the first division of the Pakowhai Hack Hurdles at Hastings last week. Of the o,thers Gold Song, Minlon and Fianna Fail read best. With the best winter sprint performers engaged the Stewards' Handicap is open to a surprise result. Coming from a good southern sprint family and being accustomed to winter conditions Extra Flight shou.d be one of the leaders over the last furlong. She is very well and reads a prospect at the meeting. For his first up Da Vinci ran a good fifth at Hastings last Saturday. Lord Azure is a strong favourite, but he has a solid impost which is likely to steady him on a

heavy track.' Brown Derby, Tommy Gun, Full o'f Fun and Lady Kindine, are all good mudlarks, while Swift Robin, Blue Skimmers and General Victory are ' not without good chances, but if she races up to her best form Extra Flight should be the hardest to beat. La'dy Kindine has a lightweight chance. Fresh from his Hawke's, Bay success and looking particuiarly ' fresh Master Meruit will carry the.pub ic confidence in the Wellington Sleeplechase. Providing he strips sound he should outjump and outstay this field. First Act, who has proved himself a good crosscouritry performer will have a strong army of supporters as' also wi 1 Colonel Smart, Whooray, Vindicator, Gaiety and Imperial Crown. It is a good field and a splendid race should result. If Master Meruit should be beaten it is likely to come from Imperial Crown, Whooray, First Act, Vindicator or Gaiety. With such good hurdling talent engaged as Corineus, Desert Trek, Gunther, The Fake, Rufing Master, Master Ted, and improvers like Dawn March, Pride of Mossburn, Relampago and Roman. Duke, the Trentham Hurdles should provi'de a good contesv. Auckland holds a strong hand in Corineus, The Fake, Rufing Master and Master Ted, and ' unless Desert Trek *is at the peak of form, the winner should come from the Auckland quartet. The distance will suit the Wellington represen'Lative, Roman Duke. The Whyte Handicap is a problem rsee, being , open to a big surprise. Carnegie Is the ruling favourite, with strohg support also for Indian Song, Merry Bing, Robin Leigh, Kartikeya, St. Bruno, Super Flight, Phanion,' Our Dihk;*and Mangatiti. The? Soutbtlsland hoi'ds a strong hand iri ' Super Flight, Kartikeya and "St. Bruno. Both Super .Flight and Kartikeya ' have drawn good marbles and if they hold their positions vearly will be among the leaders over the last bit., Indian Song, who will ha,ve the- services of L. J. EJis, is very fit as also is Carnegiq> Merry Bing and Robin Leigh. DeLract's recent form will make him favourite f6r the Te Aro Hack Handicap, but solid support will also be forthcdming for such good form hacks as Ace Pilot, Wave Crest, Mur'rayfield, Chip and Atomic Energy. However, as: is customary at Trentham, the last race generaliy prdvrdes good dividends and if such should prove to be the case those with good outside chances are Billy Mac, Sweet Revenge, Sergeant Jack and Loyal Qamp. / 3