WAIKATO FIELDS .

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Volume 81, Issue 48, 19 November 1937, Page 15

WAIKATO FIELDS .

(Special to Herald-Tribune.)

Hawke's Bay Interest . PROSPECTS FOR TO-MORROW

AUCKLAND, This Day. Big fields all round are going to make it difficult for backers at Te Hapa to-morrow and on Monday, the acceptances for the opening day of the Waikato Racing Club's spring fixture indicating the popularity of this club's race gatherings. Up to a few daya ago all the provincial race tracks Were very hard, but numerbus showers have alleviated the position, and the going should now be perfect. Win and place betting will be in operation. A very fine lot are engaged in the big race to-morow, the Waikato CUp, and among the sixteen are three front outsid© training centres, the trio comprising Shy, Royal Minstrel and Corroboree. The race iB a v«ry open one, with these horses hoiding firsb-ciass chances: Jonathan, Scotland, King Rey, Mazir, Shy, Lornacre, Fersen, V alamito, Rona Bay, Royal Minstrel and Corroboree, to that the betting market will take a wide range, especially as some of the others have mere than outside chances. The Waikato Cup this time is to be run over one mile and three furlongs, instead of the usual mile and aquarter, so that the field will have more than a two-furlongs* run before coming to the turn out of the straight. Shy, the winner of the Wellington Handicap with 7.5, has gone up only half a stone, so he is very nicely placed and may repeat his Trentham success. Scotland should very nearly have beaten Small Boy and Cerne Abbas had he got a run in the final stageg of the Mitchelson Cup. King Rey is on tbo up grade "again, and he is a good horse when right. Vaiamito is improving. Rona Bay is going to be one of the weli-backed division, and Jonathan has those two victories to .his credit at Avondale last month.

Brilliant Sprinters. There is some good talent engaged ln the Cambridge Handicap. One that may be ,said to stand out is the threeyearrold Royal Bachelqr, who ran. away with the sprint at Avondale twd months ago, this being his first outing this season. • He shomd be better HoW, so the increased weight may be equalised by the improvement he haB made. A dangerous lot comprise I'.eter Beckford. Golden Sheila, Trilliarch, Anlon, Galilee, Tray Bit, Bachelor King and Suleimaa, and interest will attach to the first appearance of the lact-named in open company. It is a race of posslbilities. The only other open race on the card for to-mofrow is the Claudelands HighWeight Handicap, and the tavouribes may be Respectful and Paso Robles, both of whom will- be racing over their best distance. The lornier is showiiig up in his tra'ck trials, while- Paso Robles is in good fettle now. Arvakur is the form horse in the Tamahere Stakes, half a milq, while Vitement has been placed aud Yed Prior was fourth in the Avondale fcStakes, There are distinct possibili ties about Sir liobin,' who may spring a surprise. On looks Bright Wings will command a good deal oi sttpport, and so, too; will Gay Blonde's hall'-brother, Pliilcourt. A division is just about avoided in the Triai Stakes, and this event, on Avondale form, should suit Balitiavar and Du Maurier. Simint can go a merry mile and !a-half over the stieks, and liis speed will assist him to keep away from the 23 others in tbe VVaimai Hurdles. Trentham running suggests . that lioliicker maj be one of the favourites for the Hautajpu Hack, in which some smart hacks afe erigagejl. Can Oo Phst. OI' the big balc-h engaged iu the Titiipiri Hack, uiauj can travel very fast, so a good drgw and beginniug ability

will be essential even pn tbis fine big co.urse; Shy found ihe hoiding track at Ellerslie awkward for liiB final gallop, and Up may not start if the Te Rapa couise becomes any worse. « Scratchinga include Corrpboree and Galilee. The Cambridge Handicap is tha seventh race, and tho Taupiri Handicap the eiglith race. Form horses engaged to-morrqw are the toilQwing:— 12.15; Trial Stakes, -^Balinavar, Du Maurier. Cometarium. 1.0: Waimai Hurdios.— Simint, Boughal, lUackiuan. 1.45: Hautapu Handicap.— lioliicker, May Song, Tail-light. 2.30; Waikato Cup. — Shy, Scotland, Royal Minstrel, 3.15: Claudelands High-Weiglit. — Uaso Robles, Respectful, Gay Streak. 4.0; Tamahere StakeB.— Arvakur, Sir Robin, Vitement. 4.45: Cambridge Handicap. — Royal Bachelor, Peter Beckford, Trilliarch5.30 : Taupiri Handicap.— -Te . Monowai, dan Bicfd, Lady Montana.