HOLIDAY RACING OPENS TOMORROW

Chronicle (Levin), 23 December 1949, Page 7

HOLIDAY RACING OPENS TOMORROW

(Special — From L.M.M.)

WELLINGTON, Dec. 23* Christmas and New Year holiday racing, the heaviest on the racing calendar for the season, will open at. Awapuni tomorrow with the first day of the Manawatu Racing Club's three ' days summer meeting. The fixture will be continued on Monday and concluded on.Tuesday. Unless rain intervenes the going at Awapuni will be in good order and some close finishes will add thrills to the day's racing. - • *• ( Robin's Reward -is -the ruling f'avourite for the Manawatu Cup, with-strong following also for Golden Spa and Demonic. Although Robin's Reward will be his toughest proposition, Golden Spa is expected to repeat his winning run tomorrowl Ther$ is no putstanding favourite in the Fitzherbert Handicap but there seems to be good support for Eireann, Castlebrae^ False Step and Beaute. The double on the course will be conr ducted on the Cup and the Fitzherbert Handicap. v

Woodville form might repeat itself in the Tokomaru Hurdles with Bonifort and Sergeant Jack, firsc and second day winners respectively, Royal Beau, a second. Other prospects are Wiremu, Cablestitch, Betterboy and Makoura. Recent form points to Royal Nuptial and Dynamic in the first division of-the Maiden Plate. Likely improvers are Parker, Matanui, Wqssex aird Fellah. In tlie second division best form is held by . Beeswax, Lady Moyra, King's. Benefit and Dr. Fred. The four topweights in the Juvenile Handicap, Magnate, Britovite, Coaltown and Flying Cash. have the best recent form. to recommend and the quartet look like fighting out the issue. However, Coralline is improving and might cause an upset. A repetition of his good form at Levin should make Golden Spa one of the hardest for Robin's Reward to 'beat in the Manawatu Cup. These two will dominate the betting. Both look fresh after recent racing. Demonic is expected to race .prominently over the longer journey and with Broughton up must be respected. Super Snipe has an array of places and judged on her good third in the Oaks at Riccarton last month must be judged a prospect. Imperial," improving with racing is a • likely winner at the meeting. The Missioner is due to reach the winning list shortly as also is Beau Bijou, Having a win and two thirds in her last three starts over middle distances makes Grande Dame a aistinct lightweight chance. After being badly placed in the middle stages in the principal race at Napier Park last month she ftnished with a brilliant burst of speed to almost snatch second stake. However, good hapdicap class in Golden Spa, Robin's Reward, Demonic and Super Snipe will be hard to beat with Grande Dame the likely^Ljpsgtter. . Rising Tide appeals strongly in the first division of the Tararua Hack with Swing Bridge, Romberg, Legendre and Brenlock his most dangerous opposition. Master Crusoe has his chance in the second division, but he will need to do his best if he is to hold off Sea Shanty, Survivor and the| improving Dennis O'Kelly. ~ i If Beaute repeats best northern form the topweights, False Step, Magical, Fleetwood and Castlebrae will have to be at their best in the Fitzherbert Handicap to hold the visitor. The Pagan showed at Levin that he was not far short of best form while Eireann is much more . classy than Otaki showing would indieate. Of the others Offender and High Glory read best. The first division of the Gillies Hack will give Golden Sun the opportunity to make it three wins on end. Now that he has struck form Pictagain should race well again as also should Robin's Song, Gold Robin and Waiomoko. The Pro might improve on his second i

at Levin in the second division, but he will find stiff opposition in Infinity, Sweet Seventeen,. Te Kooti Heroa and True Boy. With Broughton up Gay Gordon will play an important part in the decision of the Grandstand Handicap. Johnny Peep' has good southern form to recommend, while Terrific has been racing prominently 0'but unluckily and- a winning turn cannot be far away. Outlook might be seen to much better advantage in this class, while of the others Playtos and Lakeside make appeal. Horses expected to race prominently are:— 11.15 — Tokomaru Hurdles (13 furiongs) — Sergeant Jack, Bonifort, Cablestitch. 11.57 — Maiden Plate (7 furiongs) — First division: Royal Nuptial, Dynamic, Parker. Second division: Lady Moyra, Beeswax, Dr. Fred. 12.42 — Juvenile Handicap (5 i furlongs) — Magnate, Britovite, Coralline. 1.32 — Manawatu Cup (13 furiongs) — Golden Spa, Robin's Reward, Demonic. 2.17 — Tararua Hack Handicap (9 furiongs) — First division: Rising Tide, Swing Bridge, Romberg. Second division: Survivor, Master Crusoe, Dennis O'Kelly. 3.2 — Fitzherbert Handicap (7 furiongs) — Beaute, False Step, Magical. 3.47 — Gillies Hack Handicap (7 furiongs) — First division: Golden Sun, Pictagain, Robin's Song. Sec- ! ond division: The Pro, Infinity, Sweet Seventeen. 4.37 — Grandstand Handicap (11miles) — Gay Gordon, ' Terrific, Lakeside.