AUCKLAND FIXTURE

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Volume 81, Issue 13, 8 October 1937, Page 15

AUCKLAND FIXTURE

— From " Early Bird.")

First of Big Spring Fixtures TO-MORROW'S PROSPECTS

(Special -

AUCKLAND, This Day.The first of the really big spring meetings is that scheduled to be held at Ellerslie to-morrow and on Monday, and the prospects are that this fixture will provide a splendid augury for the coming meetings at Trentham and Riccarton. Fields for the first day are excellent, the Mitchelson Cup, the principal handicap race, drawing the best handicap horses at p'resent in com- ' mission.. The going will be in good order, although it will not take much rain to make it keavy. The old system of bettiug, 75-25 per cent., vYill be in operation. Seventeen remam in the Mitchelson Cnp, and this fact alone will make it a very difficult race to win. It presents a very open appearance, for half the xunners will count many friends. To reduce the field to half is no easy task, but those with the best chances appear to be King Eey, Taitoru, Scotland, Boooierang, Cerne Abbas, Kiltowyn, Mungatoon and Gay Eebel. Of the otliers, Fersen is now beginning to look the part of a New Zealand Cup winner, and his stamina may enable him to 1 enter into the picture. Cerne Abbas, it transpires, was not quite herself at Avondale, and so she is recommended here as possessing an excellent chance Two Sprints. There are two races for horses over short distances. The first of these is the Shorts Handicap, and on form it is difficult to go past Gallio, who made his reappearance seven weeks ago, and then ran a close second to Maori Song, since when be has galloped brilliantly at Te Awamutu; at his best be is a class above the opposition, and he has a pound under weight-for-age. Whirling is a splendid sprinter, too, and very forward going by Te Rapa accounts. This pair are fancied most, while of the

others Impasto, Eoyal Dance, Orate, Stretto and Anion appeal most. Bebkam raced so well right-handed on his last trip north that he is going to be one of the prime favourites for the seven furlongs Flying Handicap, his Wanganui form indicating that he ii» forward. Eoyal Appellaut will carry plenty of local support, and he may take some beating, while of the remain^er good chances are held by Jonathan, Miss Lu, Golden Blonde, Orac, Dark Shadow, Paso Eobles, Valamito and Kilonsa. The Biggest Field, Provision has been made for the 31-horse Gordon Hack to be run in divisions unless there are three scratchings, so this may not be necessary. Marie's Acre rather stands out in this, although early brilliancy will be vital and Gay Blonde 's brother is still a bit green. Eoyal Chief is preferred to Smoke Screen in the duel between these smart three-year-olds in the Great Northern Guineas, and Protector appears to have a mortgage on the Welcome Stakes. In the two jumping events, Hurdles and Steeplechase, Ballymoney and Lochiel Lad may be the best, althougb the former has yet to get in a place over obstacles, his two efforts to datf> being promising, however. Numerous Brackets, The following horses will be coupled on the totalisator in the Gordon Hack Handicap: — Tavern Song and Senacre, Hutana and Gold Eagle, Maereana and Sulieman, Seven Seas and Tiverton, Bronze Wing and Prival, Ohmaha and Te Maranui, Piracy and Backblock. The ouly other bracket to-morrow is that of Stretto an'd Mazir in the Flying Handicap, the former being also engaged in the- Shorts Handicap. The following horses will be well supported to-morrow: — 12.4, TRIAL HURDLES.— Lady England, Ballymoney, gporting Song. 12.44, GREAT NORTHERN GUINEAS, — Royal Chief, Smoke Screen, Royal Bachelor. 1.29, SHORTS HANDICAP.- Gallio, Whirling, Royal Dance. 2.19, MITCHELSON CUP.— Cerne Abbas, Boomerang, Kiltowyn. 2.59, HUNTERS' STEEPLECHASE. — Lochiel Lad, Red Fox, All Irish. 3.39, WELCOME STAKES, Portector, Namara, Arvakur. a 4.29, GORDON HANDICAP.— Marie's Acre, Rollicker, Iver. 5.19, FLYING HANDICAP.— Debham, Royal Appellant, Jonathan.