WANGANUI FIELDS

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 118, 4 June 1937, Page 13

WANGANUI FIELDS

Our Own Gorrespondent.)

Modest Number of Starters In Steeples TO-MORROW'S PROSPECTS

(Proni

The outstanding point about tomorrow's opening of the Wanganui winter fixture is the weakness in the Grandstand Steeplechase, which now is reduced to little better than a minqr att'air. There are only seven acceptors and Bonnie Rollox would not have to be as good as a few think to win this. The easy fences will suit him, for all his Australian races were won over light obstacles and that is what they are at Wanganui, Riotous may be a tkorn in his side, for he went a good race three weeks earlier at Hawera until his condition gave out, his fencing being as brilliant as of yore. Sporting Song is an improver at the gam© and he is now nicely placed, with Royal Banquet's surprisingly good showing at Foxton will entitle him to a lot of backing. Battleground is one of the lesser lights, as are also Rioghail and Platter. The issue appears to lie between Sporting Song and Riotous, for both will be suited by the distance and the ground, which never gets actually heavy as in other courses. There is the £500 Wanganui Steeplecbase next Wednesday, and there may be more starters then. Another Double, To-morrow Red Manfred figures in the minor hurdles event and the open handicap, and it was in eorresponding classes that he finished first and second last Saturday, so who knows that he will not give it a go again to land a double? If he starts in the Purua Hurdles he will be up against a stumbling block in Hunting Queen, while Ethiop and Red Rufus may make it interesting j f anything hajipens to the two tops. The chief flat event, the Empire Handicap, sees Friesland vei'y nicely placed and he may be hard to beat if he is in like mood and iettle as at Hawera, vhere he gave the field 50 yai'ds start and a beating, Taitoru, Pukeko, Tiger Gain, Gay Boy, Red lUanfred (if reserved), Mandamus, Internatioual , Sir Nigel, Lteipai', Le Grand, Royal Banquet and Davistock all appear to have chances, but on the weights Red Manfred (whq is very leniently treated indeed for a horse of his calibre) and Reipai must possess outstanding prospects. Smart Sprinter. iien Braggie is handicapped like a tip-top sprinter in the Winter Oats and the only thing against him is his weight on this turning traek. However, he still remains a prime fancy, for the opposition is not over strong, Notium, Gold Mission and Tonnerre being tlie pick, with the iast-named, if he is back to his best, holding a good chance of upsetting the topweight. The Century Hurdles distance has been extended and, with jiine acceptors it is not a bad field, but, with Sporting Song also in the cross-country race

there may be at least one withdrawal. If the going is very good Clarion C&U will be difficult to head off; ihe opniiun being beld that his defoits ot Hiwira and Te Rapa were due to the heavy grqund. Ruafprm if back to his best after his recent mishap and resurrection from his prematurely announced demise, should be well illustrated here if he wins, as he is capahle of doiag, Journet will be improved by laeent racing, and Brigadore was up foui'th at Te Rapa among the Great Northern candidates, Beau Gallante is more than useful too. Light-weigtit Chances. On the other side of the Century Hurdles field there are two very promising light-weights in Contact and John Charles and, as the former is expected to reveal great injprovement from recent racing, he may he a strong contender, while John Charles too cannot be omitted frop) calculatipns. Sporting Song is preferred in the Steeplecbase, and Red Rufus is better placed in the opening event, Horses likely to be favoured for the engagemeuts to-morrow are the following:- ■ 12,0.— Purua Hurdles : Red Manfred and Hunting Queen or Ethiop. 12.40. — Winter Oats: Ben Braggie, Tonnerre, Notium. 1.20— Century Hurdles; Journet, Ruaform, Contact. 20.— Balgownie Hack. : Maahanui, Hunting Maid, Brazen King. 2.40. — Grandstand Steeplecbase ; Sporting Song, Riotous, 3.20. — Empire Handicap.- Friesland, Red Manfred or Reipar, Taitoru. 4,5.^-Borough Handicap: Flying Chief, Taro, Dictate.