THE WINTER RACES

Evening Post, Volume CVI, Issue 8, 10 July 1923, Page 8

THE WINTER RACES

SECOND DAY TO-MORROW

NOTES AND COMMENTS

(B? "SIR LANCELOT.")

No rain has fallen at Trentharn since Saturday, and aij the track has been well rolled, the conditions should be better than they were on the opening day.Fair sized fields are engaged, the averago being slighly better than thirteen per race. The biggest field is sixteen and the smallest ten.

The distance of the Corunna Hurdle Handicap is two furlongs less than on the opening day. First Born has been raised 151b and Eric 61b. First Bom is set to meet some of his opponents on as much as 171b worse terms. The new horses engaged are; Growhu'rst, who has a pound less than ha won with at Dannevirke on his last appearance, Astinome, and Empyrean. At the difference in weiaht Erie may reverse positions with First Born, while Oheer Up and Blue Socks may do better on top of the ground over Uie shorter distance.

Tinohari, who is asked to concede 121b to the worst of his opponents in the Maiden Handicap, ran first and second at Otaki, and appears to be, the best of them. Several of the others have been in the money. Marmont ran two seconds at Wingatui last month. Distant Shot acted as runner-up in her last three starts prior to Saturday. Carnbee beat Stream on her last appearance at Dannevirke. Lord ITsk has won several races, but is evidently not on the improve, as he is within 21b of the minimum weight. Tiuohari ran second to Ecuador on the first day at Otaki, and on the second day beat Mountain Signal and Flavette. The latter has since won three times in succession.

The placegetters in the Stewards' Handicap are all engaged in the Jutland Handicap, also several that finished outside the money. Joy Ride has gone up 111b, Paphian 51b, and Avispadp 3!b. The unplaced division have been dropped a pound or two. Kilbird has 31b more than when he failed in the Welcome Cup. He is a great second-day performer, and won at Ellerslie and Hastings after being unsighted on the first day. With a drop in the weights, Passionless, Arataura, and Santonio may do better, than on Saturday.

Amongst the fresh horses engaged in the Hack and Hunters' Steeplechase is Master Peter, who only got as far as the first fence in the big race on Saturday. That was evidently not his form, as he won by ten lengths at Dunedin after leading all the way. Uncle Bob won on the .flat at Dannevirke and over hurdles at Rangitikei. Mervotia was sent over the fences yesterday morning, and is reported 'to have given a satisfactory display. 'There was not a great deal between Te Maire and San Forte at the finish of Saturday's race, and, as the former comes in on 31b better "terms, he should reverse positions.

The distance of the Parliamentary Handicap is two furlongs further than the Welcome Cup. Horses that liave shown.good form over the distance recently are Urgency, .who.won the Provincial Handicap at Wingatui, and BitteVs, who beat Tame Fox in ,the Raukawa Cup at Otaki. : Bitters now conies in on 41b better terms. Demos ran second to Tame Fox in the. Huia Handicap, and has since won at Marton. He meets ■ the top. weight on 101b better terms. A new horse engaged is Guncase, who won over a mile on two occasions at Wirigat'ui. The distance of the Fleet Handicap is a_ furlong further than the Te Aro Handicap. Alaric has gone up 131b, and Doleful Ditty (third) lib,. Kao Tane and Santiago were engaged in the Welcome Cup on the opening day, but neither competed. At the Hawkes Bay Cup Meeting Kao Tane beat Comical over nine furlongs at a difference of 91b, and if he can reproduce that form should beat more than beat him. Santiago will have the assistance' of A. Oliver, which will be something in his favour. Urgency beat Penury Rose in the High Weight Handicap'laEt winter.. The latter won on Saturday, and is now top weight. It is somewhat "difficult to get a line of the hurdle racers on the flat. Gladful surprised most people by defeating a useful handicapper like Urgency in the High -Weight Handicap at Trentham in the autumn. Fera won on the flat at Dannevjrke, while Alteration and En Route appear well in.,Ecuador, socond in the Te Aro Handicap, has gone.up 71b. in the Petone Handicap, run over - a furlong, shorter distance. Fresh horses ' engaged are Merry Imp, who_ won well over the same distance at Napier Park, Afcapo, runnerup to.JSla Boughal at Dannevirke, and Importer, " who . competed unsuccessfully at Rangitikei. .

. The Caulfield trainer J. M'Cann returned .to Melbourne yesterday by the Moeraki with the Kilbroney geldinoLough'rea, also the two-year-old.' filly laffey (Boniform —Thames), purchased from H. E, Telford.

• J. Olseu, who has been out of the saddle for. a considerable time- through breaking his leg while riding Signisian in a hurdle raco .at Napier Park in March, 1920, made his reappearance witli the colours up at Trentham on Saturday last, when he rode .Bonnie Heather and Zero Hour.

■,J. Hathaway left-/or Melbourne yesterday, with the black geldiug Wambo. (Absurd—Cintra) and Silver San (San Fran—Sylvia Park mare). They will be trained by an ex-Now Zealander at Caulfield.

The Handicappers have not stopped Purser winning yet. His "latest success was in the Richmond Cup, of 650 soys, one mile and three-quarters. Ridden by II Cairns, he carried 10.10. and ran the distance named in the good time of 2min 20|sec.

Berinbo,-winner of the V.R.C. Grand National Hurdle Race on Saturday last, was ridden by H. Thompson, formerly of Wellington. Another New Zealand* horseman in Stan Reid was on the third horse.

Omahu has been withdrawn from the Winter Hurdles.