THE TURF

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 161, 2 April 1919, Page 3

THE TURF

NOTES AND COMMENTS

[By Glencoe.]

The Hawkc's Bay Cup Meeting will open to-day. The fields are on the large side and tho races look very open. Thero has been no rain for several weeks, and the'tracks are very 'hard. '.I ho touts havo fined the Cup field down to five, but there is a very big difference of opinion concerning the chances of Menelaus, Duskv live, Bonny Maid, Kilmoon, and Star Lady, all of whom will have a large following. Monclaus galloped well on Tuesday, when ho badly beat Dusky Lvo in a trial, and the latter made the form look good bv accounting for a two-year-old this morning. Bonny Maid (B. Decley) has got an army of supporters, and will rival the other pair for the position of favourite. Tressida ran such :\ good race in tho Napier Cup that her party view her prospects hopefully. The open sprint event is thought to be extra hard for -backers to solve. Sasnnof will be Gray's mount, and must bo hard to beat. Parisian Diamond will be ridden by Hatch, -and if he can repeat his form of twelve months ago he will be up with the front rank at the finish. 'J'orfreda, Nystad, Demo?, and Bonny Briar have all shaped well, particularly Demos, who is coming on with- racing. Taunaha, Statuette, and Old Gold are! unlikelv starters in this race. I'or the Hurdles. Aurora, after his dual win at Gisborne, may be favourite, with Ore Oro well backed. Reports state that Sir Donald is back to form, and if so he should make an easy job of disposing of this lot with only 9sl. Sib. to carry. Battle Array has a big weight in (he Hack AVolter Handicap, but the fipid is not strong, and Cross AVords and Master Iney, winners at Gisborne, are up with the top weight. They are a high-class lot in the Nursery Handicap, and the draw for.positions will have an effect on the market. Fluency is not to be a runner. A good position for Affectation, Bitholia, or Bindlo would make them favourites.

Taunaha and Old Gold represent the best class in the Poukawa Hack Handicap, and the latter,' who is the more seasoned, may bo the favourite. Gatherer also goes well over this distance, and he will only havo a light weight to carrv. Hymarty and Recreation are the best known of the Maiden field, and Cooing and Retard read ihe best in the Autumn Handicap. A Press Association message from Christchurch states that Silver Link has been scratched for the Great Easter Handicap.