Topics OF THE Turf

Manawatu Times, Volume 62, Issue 29, 4 February 1937, Page 4

Topics OF THE Turf

Taranaki Meeting Opens

To-day

FIELDS AND PROSPECTS WIN AND PLACE BETTING. The first day of the Taranaki Jockey Club’s two-day meeting opens at New Plymouth to-day and concludes on Saturday. With good fields engaged the racing is sure to be interesting. The betting system will be conducted under the win and place system. The principal race on the day’s programme is the Taranaki Cup and everything points to a great contest in this race. The defection of Dungarvan leaves Spiral topweight. He won the Manawatu Cup at Awapuni on Boxing Day and was finishing on solidly in the Wellington Cup. He is probably better at present than at any other stage of his career and can be relied upon for a solid effort. Two years ago Hazoor beat all but Fersen in this event and his good form at the Wairarapa meeting during the holidays indicated that he has not lost his dash. Onewhetu is coming down in the weights and his third in the Cup event at Wanganui last Thursday after anything but the best of passages indicated that he is likely to return to his best form shortly. The two stylish victories of Martara at Trentham were conclusive evidence that he is one of the best three-year-olds of the season. Though Chief Ranger has yet to attempt a middle distance he was running on so strongly at the end of a mile at Trentham that ho must be accorded a great chance. He is a promising sort. Last year’s winner Aussie Ra has displayed none of the form this season that carried him to victory 12 months ago. On his Feilding and Awapuni form he would have no chance but he appears to be showing some improvement. The two wins of Taitoru at Wanganui and his second to Lowenberg at Stratford represent form that is not likely to be forgotten by backers. Tahurangi beat all but Aussie Ra last year. He looks an improved horse at present and he has seldom run a bad race on the New Plymouth course. Tout le Monde and Windsoreen have only outside chances though Tout le Monde sometimes runs well when least expected. The race bears an open appearance and Spiral, Hazoor, Onewhetu, Martara, Chief Ranger, Tahurangi and Taitoru must all bo accorded winning chances, but to reduce this number a likely trio may be:— Martara, Onewhetu and Spiral. With Wotan weighted as just an average horse, one could not pass him by in the Flying Handicap on the mere assumption that he can win only at two miles. He may finish last, but meanwhile he deserves the notice of a horse who is handicapped below his proved class. Oratory may be the favourite, but a three-year-old like Notium might prove her equal, for the Lysander gelding was impressive at Wanganui. When the machine closes the favourites may be Oratory, Notium and Wotan. Horses likely to be fancied in the rest of the card are:—• Waitara Hurdles.—Court Arma and Bazaine. Ngamotu Juvenile.—Card Sharper, Greenwich and Great Hope. Moturoa Hack.—Eagle’s Eye, Gay Step and King Koroki. Okato Hack.—lnternational, Le Grand and Red Sand. Taranaki Plate.—High Test, Bantry and Ned Cuttle. Timaru Hack.—Sansfoy, Export and Calshot. FINAL GALLOPS AT NEW PLYMOUTH. NEW. PLYMOUTH, Feb. 3. The weather conditions were perfect and the tracks in splendid order for the final trials at New Plymouth yesterday morning. The course proper with the flags out about 30ft. and the plough were available, and both were

freely used. Many of the visiting horses were seen in action and some interesting trials were witnessed. The best efforts were registered by The Tiger, Oratory, Convivial, The Bigot, Hazoor, and Chief Ranger. Oratory strode out boldly over five furlongs in lmin. 4 l-sspc. She ran the first two in 25isee. and the three in 38 3-ssec. She moved evenly all the way and appeared to have something in reservo at the finish. The Tiger gained an advantage of over two lengths from Clessamor at the five furlongs, and was still clear at the finish after running the distance in lmin. 4sec., the last half-mile in 51Jsec. This was a good effort, and The Tiger may make a bold showing to-morrow. Maestro strode out freely over a round, the last three furlongs occupying 39sec. Ho is in splendid order. Convivial was just in front of Chief Ranger, with Bantry several lengths away, at the end of six furlongs in lmin. 18 l-sseo. Convivial hit out freely all the way, while Chief Ranger’s effort was quite satisfactory, as he is not a good track worker. Bantry did not jump off well and was never going smoothly. The Bigot and Eagle’s Eye were on terms with Captain Tudor several lengths away at the end of half a mile in 51sec. As The Bigot was carrying well over nine stone, while Eagle’s Eye had only a light boy aboard, his effort was impressive, and he should run prominently in the Taranaki Plate. Eagle’s Eye shaped well for a maiden. These gallops took place on the outside of the course proper. Greenwich was not extended to run half a mile in 51isec. on the trial grass, and all the rest of the fast work was on the plough. « Ringside surprised by leading High Test and Tahurangi all the way over six furlongs in lmin. 17sec. Ringside shaped really well. High Test was travelling smoothly at the end, while'Tahurangi, after being in the rear nearly all the way, finished with a great 'rattle. Tahurangi’s effort was impressive, and he must be accorded a chance at least in the Cup to-morrow. Hazoor covered seven furlongs in lmin. 31 4-ssec., the last five taking lmin. 4 4-ssec. He moved evenly all the way, and had always something in reserve. He is a fit horse. Calshot gave Ohanga two lengths’ start from the five furlongs and beat him homo decisively by over a length in lmin. 3Jsec. Calshot worked in pleasing style, his finishing effort being full of determination. Aussie Ra and Davistock were sent a mile and a quarter and kept together all the way. They ran the .last mile> in lmin. 53isec. t and the last five in lmin. .8 4-ssec. The time was slow, but they wore travelling well at the finish. Aussie Ra worked more generously than he has of late. Bazaine was well in front of Royal Routine at the conclusion of a round of, the schooling hurdles. Bazaine jumped well, but pulled hard. Royal Routine clouted two fences but did not look like falling. RIDERS FOR TO-DAY. Additional riding engagements for the opening day of the Taranaki Jockey Club’s meeting to-day are:—G. R. Tattersall, Martara, Moatoa, Wildflower, and Silver Gold; C. Thomson, Bazaine; W. J. McDowell, Benedictine; W. J. Broughton, Taitoru, Refresher, Card Sharper, Bantry, aud Eagle’s Eye; C. Cole, Student Prince and Notium; J. Howe, International, Supreme C6urt, and King Koroki; M. J. Conway, Valroy; W, Pine, Running Shoos; C. G. Goulsbro’, Corowa and Te Broney; C. McGovern, Royal Routine; L. G. Morris, Oratory; R. W. Savage, Red Sand, Mustang, and Kentucky Song; L. Dulieu, Court Arma; L. Clifford, Tahurangi, The

Tiger, Roscrana, Ringside, and High Test; P. Williams, Lone Raider; K. James, Cheval do Volee; A. Gilmer, Don Erma.

THE ACCEPTANCES. 12.0— WAITARA HURDLES HANDICAP of £130; about li miles and 100 yards. Court Arma 10 0 Royal Routine 9 2 Bazaine 9 11 Benedictine 9 0 Don Erma 9 5 Valroy 9 0 12.45— NGAMOTU JUVENILE HANDICAP of £125; 6 furlongs. Orate 9 7 Fairy Dale 7 7 Cardsharper 9 3 Dracula 7 7 Greenwich 8 13 Pan toon 7 7 Great Hope 8 10 Ripple 7 7 Wild Flower 7 12 Fafner 7 7 Gay Step 7 12 All Happiness 7 7 Seaham 7 8 1.30— FLYING HANDICAP of £200; 6 furlongs. Oratory 9 9 Notium 7 13 Wo tan 8 9 Ned Cuttle 7 7 Refresher 8 4 Moatoa 7 7 The Tiger 8 1 Supreme Court 7 7 Lone Raider 7 13 Symcony 7 7 2.15— MOTUROA ELECTRIC HACK, of £110; 6 furlongs. Colleen Gain 8 6 King Koroki 8 b Kentucky Song 8 5 Running Shoes 8 5 Eagle’s Eye 8 5 Car Leaf 8 5 Captain Tudor 8 5 Glenthawn 8 5 Silver Gold 8 5 Mintour 8 6 Ohanga 8 5 King Pluto 8 5 Roscrana 8 6 Gay Step 8 5 3.0— TARANAKI CUP, of £450; 1 mile and 3 furlongs. Dungarvan 9 3 Aussie Ra 7 10 Spiral 8 12 Taitoru 7 9 Hazoor 8 7 Haut Monde 7 9 One Whetu 8 6 Tahurangi 7 7 Alartara 8 4 Tout le Monde 7 7 Chief Ranger 7 10 Windsoreen 7 7 3.45— OKATO HACK HANDICAP, of £150; 9 furlongs. Lo Grand 9 0 Corowa 8 3 Student Prince 8 8 International 8 0 Convivial 8 6 Earl Colossus 7 9 Red Sand 8 6 Nightlass 7 9 Maestro 8 4 Bonny Glow 7 7 4.30— TARANAKI PLATE, of £225; 7 furlong,. Mustang 8 9 International 7 11 Bantry S 7 Cheval de Cappy 8 7 Volee 7 11 Red Fox 8 2 The Bigot 7 11 Ned Cuttle 8 2 Imposture 7 8 High Test 8 2 Missal 7 8 Mazzini 7 11 5.15— TIMARU HACK HANDICAP, o£ £185; 6 furlongs. Rustem 9 0 Te Broney 7 10 Export 8 9 Autumn Leaf 7 10 Calshot 8 9 Glenthawn 7 7 Sansfoy 8 & King Koroki 7 7 Cloudy Bay 7 13 Arahura 7 7 Ringside 7 10