ELLERSLIE RACES

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 58, 24 March 1937, Page 11

ELLERSLIE RACES

"The Barb.")

Big Fields Engaged on First Day REVIEW OF RUNNERS

• (By

Saturday 's fields at Ellerslie are big, and backers have a hard task ahead of them. On the first day the chief events of interest will be the A.E.O. Easter Handicap, the G.N. Oaks, and the G.N. Champagne Stakes, and on Monday, the concluding day, the St. Leger and H. O, Nolan Handicap -will be the centre of interest. This district will hot be represented, although sonthern Hawke's Bay will'ha've a few up north, including the Woodville-trained, but Hastings-owned, * Haut Monte and Crooning. ■ Eacing commences with the .PEESIDENT'S HANDICAP, . of £400; 1£ mile. Floodtide appears to have lost caste of late, but he would need to regain liis spring or summer form to lead them a merry dance, as all the good ones are now close up to him in weight. King Eey is also in.the Easter Handicap', but no matter which race he is saddled up for will be in demand. Martara is also engaged in the Easter. Having befeii sold he may not start in the mile. although it was his previous owner's intention of Starting him in this race. ' Master Brieuly is a recent winner- — his" only win in two years. Mazir looks like being one of the popular ones, as also does the consistent Scotland. Lagoon, Gay- Talkie, and Sinking Fund have- all- recent winning forin on their side, as also have Knight of Australia, Armacourt, Eound IJp, Gay Eose and Gay Broney. Maybe the publie fancies will be MAZIE, SCOTLAND ■ and MARTARA (if started). GEEAT NORTHEEN OAKS. of £500;. H mile. This is the ladies' race. Abbess of Whitby has" no encouraging form, the same applying to 'Aero Queen, May Song, Missal, Eulette and Tip Toes, which leaves Cerne Abbas, Laughing . Lass and Palustre the best performed. It depends on the way the race is run how aughing Lass will race. TJnder Drdinaifr- conditions, LATJGHING LASS, CERNE ABBAS, and EULETTE. BRIGHTON HURDLES, of £400; 2 miles. Val Watch is a good two-miler and a splendid fencer, but the want of racing condition may tell against her. Modern Maid is above the. average ■ class of hurdler, but perhaps 11.0 is more than she can manage. Erination is xepprted to be b'ack to his best. High Quality is held iu high esteem up north. Yalpai has been a disappointment. Young hurdlers in Sandy Dix, Huskie and English Night may be troublesome. Three that may appeal most are HIGH QUALITY, ERINATION and ENGLISH NIGHT. EASTER HANDICAP, of £800; 1 mile. Impasto is brilliant, but so far has been best over six furlongs. King Rey will have many friends in this event. Chief Ranger will be at Riccarton. Martara, if started, should be one of the favourite division, but a mile may find him just not quite brilliant enough over the early stages. Scotland, according to northern reports, is starting in the opening event. Triune, on the 8.4 mark, appeals, although six furlongs has been his best. Royal Appellant has 61bs. more than he was successful with last season. He has been galloping well. Lady Kyra and Tray Bit are brilliant, but will. either .see out ,a solid eight furlongs? Sinking Fund looks to have a better qhance here than in the ten furlongs. Lornacre is so far no better than a good haek. Golden Sheila has been a failure this season Royal ,Danee may be dangerous, and so may Whirling, who has gone thiough a speeial mile preparation. Adalene won the last Railway Handicap. Tybalt is not f ancied, and no more is Shy, but the recent form of Kilonsoa gives that maTe a very fair chance of success. Now on the minimum Galilee, who has an A.R.C. Welcome a*d Royal Stakes to her credit, must be considered. Others on the same mark that have been pleasing in their track work are Haut Monde, Dark Shadow, Star Artist, Eound Up and Tosh. This is perhaps the most open Easter for many years. What will be better . backed than GALILEE, WHIRLING, and ADALENE? G.N. CHAMPAGNE STAKES,. of. £600; 6 furlongs. Aero King, Bachelor King and Elange have all won iri handicap class, but are they up to this? Francis Drake eollapsed at the end of six and a-half at Trentham in the Challenge Stakes, but it was proved after that he had developed a cold. He may have got over that. Huntingmore is a brilliant galloper, and has a recent double to his credit. Smolce Cereen is a promising colt. The Crooner may prove the best of the others. The favourites may be FRANCIS DRAKE, HUNTINGMORE and SMOKE SCREEN.

MANGERE STEEPLECHASE, of £300; 2± miles. Erination is more likely to he saddled up for the hurdles. Tri 'i Comet was second the other day, and the race is bound to have done him good. Booklaw is a neat fencer. l London is well down in the weighta. Gay Cavalier and Domo have little te

recomenmd them. They are a poor lot. ERINATION, IRISH COMET and LONDON may be the favourites. ONSLOW STAKES, of £300; 6 furlongs. Wild Flower, Nuceli, Royal Vaals," Royal Bachelor and Barrieade have all won juvenile events of late. It will not be a big betting race, but maybe most money will be carried by P.OYAL VAALS, WILDFLOWER and NUCELI. EDEN HANDICAP, of £300; 1 mile. A hard race to finish up on, with a few of these hacks showing first-class form of late. Valniint is a good hack. King Theo, at the weight, has none the best of it. Prince Rangi disappointed the other day. Black Musk is in form, as also is Jack Tar, Killadar and Valmito. Outside Ringshot in ihe seeond column of this handicap, nothing appears to be very dangerous. In this, the last event the first day, most investors may be found following JACK TAR, RINGSHOT and BLACK MUSK.