PRODUCE STAKES

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 70, 9 April 1937, Page 9

PRODUCE STAKES

Another Keen Duel Anticipated „ Francis Drake collapsed badly when he contested the North Island Challenge Stakes "at Trentham last month, just as he looked like going on to win, too. Then, in the Great Northern Champagne Stakes at Ellerslie in the mud on Easter Monday, he was beaten only by the proverbial whisker by Smoke Screen, the pair being at each other out in front the whole way. Therefore, their meerting again at Awapuni to-morrow in the Manawatu Sires ' Produce Stakes will be invested with considerable interest, especially as the sputherner, Haughty Winner, will be there to also participate. Unfortunately, Royal Chief, the southern champion, will be missing, so ae yet there is no ehance of definitely declaring which is the best youngster of the season. On a dry ground to-morrow Francis Drake may be good enough to account for Smoke Screen, even if the latter appears to be improving all the time. In any case it is going to be oue of the titbits of the racing year. A Matter of Weight.

Francis Drake has incurred the full penalty of 141b. by virtue of his winnings, whereas Smoke Screen gets off with a 101b. penalty, so that to-morrow Francis Drake will have to concede the gelding 41b. At Ellerslie they meifc at level weights, so thus on the fig'ures Smoke Screen should again beat him. What may be the deciding factors as between this pair of really smart youngsters is the state of the going and the fact that the distance is seven furlongs. The dry track may assist Francis Drake more than the other, seeing that the Wanganui representative.won under adverse eonditions. As for the extra furlong to be traversed as comparcd with the distance of the Champdgne Stakes at Ellerslie, there may not be much to pick and choose between them.