PATRIOTIC DAY AT AWAPUNI

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 223, 17 June 1944, Page 9

PATRIOTIC DAY AT AWAPUNI

Manawatu Club’s Fixture (By Si. Simon.)

The patriotic permit granted to the Manawatu Racing Club will be used at Awapuni today, making a two-day winter meeting for this, club. There arc a tew fresh horses in the card, but most ot them competed at tine winter meeting last Saturday, and ms track conditions promise to be similar to last week the form shou’d prove fairly reliable. Light rain was lulling yesterday afternoon. As the acceptors for the Waterloo Hack Handicap exceeded the safety number this has been divided into two races and will be the second and sixth on the programme. The field of 20 for the Spitfire Hack Hurdles includes several novice performers. The topwelght, Noble Fox, is to run in the Montgomery Hurdles, and in his absence 'Lightfair, Pompit, Whero and High Morale are likely to be the best backed runners. Ligfitfair just failed on the first day to Noble Fox after making all the paee. Pompit has been running useful races in the open class, and Whero should appreciate the shorter distance. Par Avion has been mixing his racing of late, but a return to his Taranaki hurdling form would give him a chance. Indian Sign has been shaping like an improver. Of the novices Abdicate may be the best as he gave a promising showing in his only effort in this role at Woodville recently. The biggest field of the day will contest the Waterloo Hack No. 1, and there is no shortage of hack form, with Tintern, Lady Nahleen, Phalaria, Old Red, Pennyroyal and Flying Tor engaged. Phalaria would not have to improve greatly on first day running to have a chance, and Penny.royal and Lady Nahleen were two placegetters on the first day whose prospects may be highly regarded. Old Hod is a winner at his only start to date in maiden company, and with Broughton riding is assured of solid support. Beneve, Panamint and Sir Raleigh are prospects on the minimum.

A disappointing field of four Is carded for the Matilda Steeplechase. Coaster has no form, and the issue between Idle Hour, Anglo-Irish and Opaltown appears fairly open, with a leaning toward Idle Hour, who was making a bold bid to win the Manawatu Steeplechase when he foil at the last fence when leading.

The Achilles Handicap promises to be an Interesting race. Peter’s Choice was withdrawn at 3.22 p.m. on Thursday. Lady Spiral is a fresh horse who will appreciate the improved state of the going compared with what she had to contend with at Marton. Claesform would derive benefit from the race she had last week, her first for five months, but she may still be in need of a further outing before she regains winning form. Foxcatcher is to run in the sprint. Alchemy was the unlucky runner ill the Winter Cup. Flahuluk is a hack who will be respected if produced here in preference to the last event. Moderate has failed to reproduce Woodville Cup form in his last two outings and he does not appeal ae much as Tau-uru, whose three races since coming from a spell have resulted in a fourth and two thirds. Alexcelia appeals more than the three below her in the handicap. A field of five Is disappointing for the Montgomery Hurdles. On first day form Authoress is likely to be the favourite, and she should encounter most opposition from Noble Fox and Young Charles. Novoealne, a frssh horse, may be the prime fancy in the second Waterloo Hack Handicap. The last time he ran he gave Observatory 91b. and was beaten half a length. Today there is only 41b. between them and that should give Novocaine the advantage. These two horses are likely to dominate the betting. Though she ran a fair race last week fresh up from a spell, Cruden Bay was not particularly imiyessive, and she may find it beyond her conceding weight to Novocains and Observatory, who are hacks above the average. Ring Scarf, Lord Darnley, Sporting Style and Verify read best of the others, and there may be possibilities also in Signal Light, Irish Chance and All Bunsby, who have run fair races lately. The first-day winner, Omahina, is not in the Patriotic Handicap, and the rise of 41b. on Plato Lad, the runner-up, should not prejudice his chance. Foxcatcher, third last week, is another likely prospect. Duality disappointed on the first day after a good race at Marton, and two Improvers like First Round and Duncannon, who are not long in from spells, may now be forward enough to make their presence felt.

The concluding event for hack stayers looks like a contest 'between the first-day winner Hakim and Po-Huka. Flahuluk and Novocaine are both likely to ruu earlier, and the remainder have very little form on which to assess their prospects. Probably Advocate, Airlie, Roslnante and Penwilt will be the best of them, but-Po-Huka and Hakim read best.

Riding engagements have been made as follows:—W. J. Broughton, Old Red, Alchemy, Foxcatcher, Hakim; A. Midwood, Indian Sign, Fox Cover. Observatory, Po-Huka; V. J. Sellars, Flying Tor, Alrlle, Duncannon, Moderate, Lord Darnley; W. Connor, Ring Scarf, Lady Nahleen; S. Waddell, Tau-uru, Duality, Tid-apa, Phalaria; A. G. Waddell, Alexceha; W. L. Aitken, Sir Raleigh, Rosinante; J. Fagan, Idle Hour, Abdicate, Mountain Fox; T. Tito, Lightfair; W. J. Stevens, Young Charles, Tintern, High Morale, Bay Robe, Anglo-Irish; M. Andrews, Gay Witch; J. P. Bowness, Pennyroyal, Te Wanaka, The Rail; C. A. Bowry, Sandy Bay, Classform; A. Howard, Coaster; A. Jenkins, Authoress; J. Jenkins, Vera Lynn; L. C. Brown, Sporting Gold; W. Carter, Rhodes, Noble Fox; J\ Garth, First Round, Moutoa Lad, Flahuluk; L. J. Clutterbuck, Lady Spiral, Cetewayo, Sovereign Lad. Betting will be single pool, and the following horses are likely to be well supported:— Spitfire Hurdles—Pompit, Lightfair, High Morale. Waterloo Handicap No. I—Old Red, Pennyroyal. Phalaria. Matilda Steeplechase—ldle Hour, Opaltown. Achilles Handicap—Alchemy, Tau-uru. Flahuluk. Montgomery Hurdles—Authoress, Noble Fox. Waterlo Handicap No. 2—Novocaine, Observatory, Lord Darnley. ' Patriotic Handicap—Plato Lad, Duncan, non, Foxcatcher. Trafalgar Handicap—Po-Huka, Hakim, Rosinante. Following is the card:— 11.39— SPITFIRE HACK AN'D HUNTERS’ HURDLES, of £l5O. One mile and a half. —’Noble Fox, M. 5; Pompit, 10.5; Par Avion, 10.4: Light Fair, 10.2; Whero, 9.10; Abdicate, Sandy Cape, 9.9; Indian Sign, 9.6; Saxon Tor, 9.4; High Morale, Hard hrost 9.2; Nanook, Home Rule, Rhodes, Rollicker, Northfield, Crackerjack, Sporting Gold, All In, Parlato 9.0. FIRST WATERLOO HANDICAP ot £l5O. Six furlongs.—Sovereign Lad, 9.5; Fox Cover, 8.13; Tintern, 8.10; Lady Nahleen, 8.9; Phalaria, 5.6; Old Red, Flying Tor. Pennyroyal, 8.3: Moutoa Lad, 8.2; Theioway, Gay Lena, Colonel Pit, Jockels, Golden Days, Arctic Night, Beneve. Pana- • mint, Pongi, Sir Raleigh, Crackerjack, . Patu Ra, 8.0. 12.50— MATILDA STEEPLECHASE, of £275. About two miles and a linlf. —Idle Hour, 10.0; Anglo-Irish, 9.9; Opaltown, 9.2; Coaster, 9.0. ' ACHILLES HANDICAP,, of £250. One mile and a quarter.—Lady Spiral, Classform, 8.10; Foxcatcher, Alchemy, 8.6; Flahuluk, Moderate, 8.2; Tau-uru, 8.1: Aleecelia, Par Avion, Foreign Coin, Blue Border, 8.0. 2.10—

MONTGOMERY HURDLES, of £250. One mile and three-quarters.—Authoress, 10.10; Young Charles, 10.8; Noble Fox, 10.6; Mountain Fox, 9.6; Colonel Bogey, 9.0.

SECOND WATERLOO HANDIOAI, of £151). Seven furlongs.—Cruden Bay, J.u, Novoealne, 8.13; Ring Scarf, 8.10; Observatory, 8.9; Lord Darnley, 8.5: Sperdug Stvle, 8.4; Cetewayo, 8...; Aerify, Atonia, 8.2; Meath, Day Lighting. Signal Light, Sandy Bay. Irish Chance. lid Apa, AU Bunsby, Gay Witch. Bay R”b. Midshipman, Te Wanaka. Leybourne. 8.0.

HANDICAP. of £2OO. Seven furiongs.-Plllto Lad, Foxcatcher, 9.0; First Round, Duncannon, 8.4; Duality, 8.2; Sterling Lad, Vera Lynn. I’arlato, Red Chief. 8.0.

HANDICAP, of £175. One mile and a quarter.—Flahuluk, J.b, Po-Huka, 9.3; Hakim, 9.1: Novoealne, b.).>, Sporting Style, 8.2; Advocate, Lady Midian, Fairy Godmother, Airlie, I Kosinante, Penwilt, The Rail. Ila 116 Flower, Gothic, Veruon, Merry Pal. 8.0.