NOTES AND COMMENTS

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 86, 8 October 1931, Page 10

NOTES AND COMMENTS

(BY "BANOAXIEA").

MEETING AT OTAKI

USEFUL FIELDS CARDED

PROSPECTS IN REVIEW

With the good fields that have accepted for the opening day o£ the Otaki Maori Baring Club's Spring Meeting at Otaki tomorrow there is certain to be an interesting day's sport, and it needs oniy a (Continuance of the flue weather that is ruling at present for the fixture to have an assured success. There is some recent form to guide investors, but many of the runners, will be making their first appearance this season, and it is possible that there will be some surprises. If rain does not fall before the meeting opens •ilia track ■will be in excellent order. Prospects are for fine weather.' , Reduced fares are provided tor those travelling by vail from Thorndon and Palmerstan North. Trains leave Thorndon at 8.18.a.m., 8.55 a.m. (special), and 10.17 a.m. each clay, and Palmerston North at 7.0 a.m. and 8.48 a.m. (special) each day Special return trains leave Otaki at 5.40 p.m. for Wellington (arriving at 7.45 p.m.), and at 5.43 p.m. for P ; alBierston North (arriving at 7.12 p.m.). The programme and review of the fields ►re:- r . • ' .. KAPITI HACK HURDLES, or 00 sots. One mile and a half.. ■ . ■ (11.30.) • ; ' st lb ' . st lb 'iWarznne .... 10 9 Kcflecto ..:. !• 0 Hard Gold ■. ... 10 6 Doe ..9 0 Msnuirl » « Gambler 9 0 , Kaokaoroa ... !' 4 Modestrian .. 0 0 Coon Song ..., 9 4 Gueresa ..... 9 0 , Okapua 9 4 Spanish Prince 9 0 iutumn Dawn 9 0 Two horses who will be accorded good support in the Kapiti Hack Hurdles are the Napier Park dividend-payers, Manuiri and Warzone. and at the difference of 91b the latter is likely to turn the tables, although some improvement has to be allowed in Manuhi, •as the Greenmeadows race was his first over ■ fences. .Their principal opponents may prove to be Coon Song, Okapuu, Gueress, and Spanish Prince, among whom the best, may be Okapua, unlucky in some of his few races over fences to dale. Hard Gold, a successful hurdler a couple of seasons: ago, has been off the scene since, and it;may be too early to expect him yet. A likely pair appear to be Warzone and Okapua. PUHI MAIDEN PLATE, or 73 sots; six furlongs. .. (12.15.) ' . • First Division. '■ • ■ ■ st. lb. st lb 'Bright Song . 8 7 King Thomond S 0 Matin Chimes 8 7 Lyrical 8 0 Plketo .. 8 7 St. Roger .... 8 0 Valrewa .... S 7 Alpinist S 0 '■Miss Energetic 8 7 Miladi S 0 Teguclßalpa .. 8 7 Sanguine Kins 8 0 Celeste .... 8 7 Coy 8 0 i'airwlnd .... 8 0 Second Division. Lady Makers 8 7 Cuerestor ... 8 7 Pojesse 8 7 Lackaday ... 8 7 . Royal Orense .87 Acorn 8 0 ' Shootlst .... 8 7 Foulwlnd ... 8 0 Zephycus ... S 7 Weathcrstep ..8 0 ' Kotaki Eka ..87 Chief Line -.80 Autumn Dawn 8' 7 The Mirror ..80 It would require nine scratchings to reduce the Puhi Maiden Plate to sufficiently small dimensions for running in one section, and it is very unlikely that there jtvill be so many. • The horse that stands out in the first division is Miladi, who was beaten only by her stablemate, Croupier, at her one start to date. Others that read to have fair prospects are Bright Song, King Thomond, St. Kogcr, and Goy. .A surprise is quite on the cards. Performances point to Miladi and St. Koger. ! The second division may provide the closer contest, and the public will'have ',ii harder task in discrimination. The best race form is held by Lady Makere, Shootist, Zephyrus, Acorn, and The Mir,ror, and among these the ones to be most confidently supported may be Shootist and Zephyrus. The Mirror nevertheless is worth looking over, as he belongs to a stable that has had considerable success in this type of race. Kotaki Eka is another who has shown form on the race track, but that was two years ago. Bettots may prefer Shootist and Zephyrus. KATIHIEU HACK HANDICAP, Of 90 SOYS. Seven furlongs. ' (1.0.)

Bt lb st lb Nightmare ... 9 4 Eminent 7 S ' Acmll 8 6 Movietone ... 7 3 Saltpot 8 2 Flakewhitß .. 7 0 Appledore .... 8.0 Flowor .:.... 7 0 Easterly .... 712 Jole de Val .. 7 0 lArrowzone ... 7 5 Pompadour ... 7 0 There is quite a useful-looking field in the Katiniku Hack Handicap, and several will be backed. Of the top ..eights those with principal appeal are Nightmare and Acmil. Nightmare likes the course, and is on the verge ro£ open class. Acmil, "who gave a lot of promise last season, tmt stopped racing early, ran third at l&reenmeadows on her resumption on SatKirday, and should strip improved by that race. There are many prospects also on the lower rungs, among whom it may be sufficient to mention Arrowzone, Eminent, and Joie de Val." Track work suggests the !!ast-Bapied pair, but Arrowzone is in at a Randgome weight. Good efforts should jjo coining from Nightmare and Acmil. MN<J MEMORIAL STAKES, of 150 sots. One mile and a quarter. ' (1.45.) st lb st lb Meny Damon. 9 2 Fahu ....... 7 6 Mahora. 8 9 Black Mint .'. T 2 Panther 8 3 Sight Draft .. T 0 EpWaltes .... 8 0 The Ling Memorial Handicap has not flrawn a particularly strong lot, but there are two among them in Mahora and ."Ephialtes who are likely to make good handicap performers this season, and, as they have previously shown winning ability on the course, they are entitled to chief consideration. Mahora did not run rip to his Whyte Handicap form at the Grand National Meeting, but the short spell since should have enabled him to 'ireshen up after what was a strenuous sequence, and he should prove as hard as any to beat. Ephialtea.. has not done mnch galloping since his race at Riccarton, but he does not need much tuning up. Still, Mahora has a better record than he has. Best of the remainder looks to be Merry Damon, but Pahu is always capable of a surprise. On most recent form it would not be easy to jftaas by the chances of Mahora and ■Ephialtes. PAHIKO HACK HANDICAP, or 90 sots. Six furlongs. <2.30.) st lb st lb : Leisuro 0 0 Acis ........ S 0 .<■> olden Shadow Sl2 I'atearoa .... 7 9 'iVavaho 8 7 Kick - Green Patch . 8 3 Whlltinßlon 7 1 ..''Projection ... 8 0 Jicaconsfleld .. 7 7 ■'VHi ........ 8 0 Pass On 7 7 The only two in. the Pahiko Hack Handicap to have raced thin season are Golden Shadow and Dick Whittington, and them the choice is likely to be lor the former, who was fairly well backed at Greenmeadows, and should .have benefited with, the race. He is fast, though he does not stay too well, but the "Otaki course should give him every chance. The hardest for him. to beat may :fea the three-year-old Fiji, who won on "the course at his first public appearance last June. Leisure and Navaho will also have followings. The winner may come from Golden Shadow and Fiji. WAITAWA HANDICAP, of 120 SOT 3. Six furlongs. (3.15.) v st lb 'st lb laughing Fltzques ..... 7 11 Prince 10 0 Acora ....... 7 9 r Clmabue .... 9 2 Manifesto .... 7 9 • Great Charter. 8 4 Portray 7 6 Knollmere ..8 3 Tobacco!and .73' Aston S 1 Trojan Melody. 7 2 ' Class is well represented in the Wai-, tawa Handicap, the open sprint, and •there are possibilities all down the list. Laughing Prince is the outstanding horse, ■and he has shown on many occasions that he is a master of weight. As he has been •working along fast for several weeks, ,'wsnalljr with Cadland, who won at Ellcra- ' lie, he is almost certain to be the public efaoice. He men well when fresh. Others

who will be wanted are Great Charter, Aston, Fitzquex, and Tobauuolaiul (also Knollmere if started here), liven then the winner way not have been named, and for those sifting out the surprise element Cimabue and Trojan Melody may make chief appeal. The favourites will probably be Laughing Prince and Gteat Charter. TAUMANUKA HACK HANDICAP, of 80 SOYS. One mile and 55 yards. (1.0.)' st lb s>t lb Tahoma ~... 0 0 Auckland Gas .8 -0 Koyal Black . 9 8 Shootist 8 0 Spearful 9 5 Thrasher .... 8 0 Merry Melody . 8 10 Fiketo 8 0 Johneen 8 8 Okapua 8 0 Gran Chaco -. .8 3 The two horses whom tho 'distance of , the Taumanuka Hack Handicap should' suit most are Eoyal Black and Speurful, and as both have had recent racing experience they may command the principal fallowings. , Between them it is not easy to discriminate, but Spcarful's finishing ability will draw inuny to his bide. Tahoma' is improving, but has not the bes-t of the handicanper's deal. Likeliest of, the others may be Gran Chaco and Thrasher. Among the prominent horses at the end should be Spearful and Koyal Black. KEREIHI KOEUA HANDICAP, of 120 soys. Seven furlongs. (4.45.) v st lb st lb Kuollmere ... 9 9 Duolluna S 2 Count Palatine 9 3 Royal Game ..SO Maul 9 0 Rich Harvest . 8 0 Playground .. SlO Dainty Ways .80 Moa Bird j. 8 8 Full Mark.... 8 0 Imateagirl ;.... 8 4 If lynollrriere is reserved for the Kereihi Rdera. Handicap, it is not going to be difficult to; locate the favourite, for few would care to overlook this gelding's two fine winning efforts at Wanganui. He has proved too that he is well up to weight. Of the others the only pair with any ireent form are Moa Bird and Royal Game, and each is therefore ussmed of hackings. Count Palatine and Playf,iound have "the required credentials, and in the former's case it should be remembered that he vas a surprise winner first lime up'last season. The final hoist may include the numbers of Knollmere and Count Palatine.