FRANKLIN FIELDS

Dominion, Volume 33, Issue 185, 2 May 1940, Page 13

FRANKLIN FIELDS

Prospects For Saturday CHANCES OF VALMINT Dominion Special Service. AUCKLAND, May 1. Prospects for the Franklin Racing Club’s winter meeting at Pukekohe on Saturday are bright. The weather outlook appears favourable and the good fields should ensure; interesting racing. The betting will be under the win and place system and the first race is timed to start at 11.30 a.m. The principal flat races will be the President’s Handicap, one mile and a quarter, and the Paerata Handicap, six furlongs. . On figures and the form they displayed at Whangarei recently there should be little to choose between Jack Tar, Clipper and Namara. the three topweights in the President’s Handicap. All appear to have been doing well lately and should be capable of good performances. Pocket Venus raced consistently well at the autumn meetings and should have prospects if in the same form. Bronze Moth has performed well at shorter distances and with the improved stamina he has been showing he might take beating, specially as he will be racing on his home course. Opportunity For Foxsen. Kena and Valmint are solid performers who have done best when the sting has been out of the ground, and they.should have the conditions to suit them; in fact, they will have enhanced prospects if rain falls to make the track heavy. Valmint, who ran third last year with 7.6 to Ganlee and Pocket Venus, is handily placed with. 7.12, and should prove one of the hardest to beat, as he has been training on in. good style and should strip well. Of those below Valmint, the best prospect appears to be the improving three-year-old Foxsen, who has become very solid. At her last start she finished a close third to Te Kawiti and Gold Vaals in the Autumn Handicap, one mile and a quarter, at Avondale, and a similar performance should make her very dangerous. The veteran, Knight of Australia, might find it difficult and better prospects may be improvers like High Sea and Silver Cloud, who have recent placed performances. Sunny Downs, a recentlypromoted hack, is a possibility, hut Saccone and Day Wind have no recent form. It should be a good betting race and the main fancies may be Valmint, Foxsen, Jack Tar and Namara. Smart Horses In Sprint. ■Some smart sprinters appear in the Paerata Handicap, and the issue is very open. Improvement upon their latest efforts will be necessary if either of the topweights, Orate and Bronwen, is to win. However, Bronwen galloped well the other morning and she may return to the winning list at any time now. Orwere is a smart beginner who has previously raced well on the course, though his best has been shown when the tracks have'been firm. Aero King staged a return to -winning form at Whangarei recently, and, as he likes the going easy, his prospects should 'be good. Valimeen won last year with 7.5, and she is a brilliant beginner likely to take beating this time with 7.11. Silver Quex has been running good races lately and slight improvement upon her fourths in the open sprints at Te Aroha in February would give her prospects. Noitaro disappointed at Whangarei. but she has good condition and her turn is due. Olympus has reached a good position in the weights as a result of a number of defeats, and a repetition of his best would make him dangerous. Te Takina and Penzance are improvers likely to run well with their light weights, and Little Artist has previously performed well on the course. Erlick goes well when the ground is easy and has a chance. Town Section and Gold Wings may find it difficult in the class and Surella has no recent form. Popular fancies may be Valimeen, Aero King, Bronwen and -Silver Quex.