RACING BITS AND TURF TATTLE

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 1, Issue 21, 17 September 1931, Page 6

RACING BITS AND TURF TATTLE

"The Judge."

WANGANUI MEETING

Specially Written for "The Morning Post" by

There is much speculation as to how the Wanganui Jockey Club's meeting this Thursday and Saturday will fare in these hard times. This club is one of the hardest hit of the lot, and the immediate prospect of their making money on any of their fixtures is remote. The fields all round for to-day's events can be considered satisfactory, and is sufficient evidence that owners are reconciled to the prospects of very small stakes in future. Twelve months ago it would have been considered an extraordinary feat on the part of any club to secure such horses for small stakes as have been paid up for at Wanganui. Wanganui is in the happy position in this respect of opening the flat racing season proper in the North Island, and therefore it is a unique | opportunity to give horses with more | valuable engagements at Avondale I and Auckland the benefit of a race or two, which is of more value than j a month's track work. This, too, makes the lot of the backer harder than ever, for very often horses are started that on condition can have little chance of getting into the money. In other words, they are being trained in public, and at the expense of the public. Notorious Practice. Some trainers have made a notorious practice of this sort of thing, which is one of the biggest weaknesses in our turf control. On the other hand, certain horses could be trained on the track and galloped frequently and they do not become thoroughly tunde up until they have had a race or two 'mid the excitement of cheering crowds, and the more or less appropriate music. While on the subject of music, the Wanganui Club has the reputation of supplying the best, which in itself is an attraction to visitors. The conditions for to-day's opening promise to be quite good.- The sandy nature of the Wanganui course prevents it from getting really heavy and muddy, as one knows it at its worst at Ellerslie and Trentham, so that it is no use looking for mudlarks. Rather will the guide to winning form to-day and on Saturday be fitness, as represented largely by recent racing. A good many of the horses engaged have been raced through the winter, and these will have it on the others on the score of condition. First on the opening day's card is the Maiden Race, and included in the big field are several smart three-year-old Races of this kind are hard to win in the spring, and this event does not promise to be any easier than the usual. Pomp, Actaeon, St. Roger, Cornerman, Gay Court, Haulbowline and Constant Sun appeal most in an open race, but doubtless tote in-

vestors will find something pretty . useful served up at a short price. 1 The best may be Pomp, Haulbowline and Cornerman. Flier on the Flat. The Okehu Hurdles has filled rather better than uusual, thirteen re- ! maining in. Moerangi is an improv- , er from the hunting class, and Hym- j great shaped promisingly when first put to the game, afterwards losing caste. There will be interest in Coon ■ Song's effort, his first, for he is a flier on the flat. Okapua has a reputation, and Garrick was second to Moerangi last month at his first attempt. Spearmiss and Moutoa Treasury are fair sorts of recruits. Speculation may be confined to Moerangi, Garrick and Spearmiss. It is hard to place a finger on any thing outstanding in the Putiki Hack, but fortunately it is a small field for this badly distanced contest. Recent form is represented by Royal Black, Landmark, Kissless and Arrowzone. Takahue and Shootist may be the elect of the remainder. Perhaps most financial interest will be forthcoming in favour of Landmark, Royal Black and Shootist. J Seafield Handicap. The Seafield Handicap, too, has quite enough runners from this barrier. Vertigern has not raced for a long time, and Just an Idea has been schooled; this may sharpen up his pace again. Eastertime has disappointed, but perhaps it may not be wise to place too much store in his last effort, which followed a stoppage in his training. There was no doubt as to his ability last term. Atholspear may not be ready, but Pewa is well and is just the sort to take this one out. Juggle won a sprint at Awapuni six weeks ago, and can be recommended on condition ' alone. The others could not be fancied, unlesB they have been burning ' up the tracks in their preparation unbeknown to backers. Pewa, Eastertime and Juggle read best. The way is paved for the first classic of the season, the Wanganui Guineas. This is run over a mile, and to aid in the solution as to which will be the better horse on the day of Croupier and Cricket Bat — yes, it is already fined down to this pair — it is necessary to consider briefly the Guineas course. The race starts at the winning post, and then for two furlongs they are on a sharp bend preliminary to a straight run down the back for a couple of furlongs. Then there is the big top bend for three furlongs, with a short one-fur-long run home. Where Riding Tells. It will be inferred from this brief description that the Wanganui Guineas course is an idCal one for a non-stayer. But it is not only that, ! so much as the factor of ability to

handle the bends wtihout swinging out and losing ground thereby. Horse for horse, a fancy is expressed for Cricket Bat over Croupier, over both Guineas and Derby courses, but at Wanganui more than anywhere else riding tells. In this respect Croupier, with Gray up, will- have a big pull, for Coveney, who is to pilot Cricket Bat, is, to put it bluntly, not a good horseman. On the face of it, the odds are a bit with Croupier. Zeebrugge, who will be coupled with Cricket Bat, is a fair sort too, and he may not be far away from the other pair at the finish. View Halloo was thought a lot of last season, and if he has gone on the right way may well be a surprise element. " Psychologist and Actaeon appear to be a bit out of their element in this eompany. Child Study is one that may well furnish into a smart performer this term, and for this reason some interest will be taken in his performance. King Colossus was unlucky last year; he is a fine type of thoroughbred, and he may yet act up to his good looks. It is a better field than uspal, with the best probably being Cricket Bat, Croupier and View Halloo. ' Big Field for Durie Hack. i A big field will saddle up for the Durie Hack, half of them being three-year-olds. Impetuous has been working well, and Ivnollmore, the last Winter Cup favourite, has his chance. Esteem is very forward from all accounts, and Seneschal has been lcept : going throughout the winter. Korokio has been doing some fast sprints at Wanganui, and Curie was a winI ner at Awapuni six weeks back, form i wbich may pay to follow. Gallant Fox was second at the Dunedin meetI ing last Saturday, and Teller and ; Furlong shaped njcely in some of ; their outings last term. Curie, Imi petuous and Esteem may be in the money. The five entered and handicapped for the Marangi Handicap were paid up for, and Merry Damon stands out on form, with Cessation and Little Doubt the only ones likely to present any difficulties. Spear Lad has been a long time acting up to his early promise. Merry Damon and Little Doubt are liked best. The day's racing ends with the sprint, the Flying Handicap. Here are some really brilliant six-furlong battlers, but they will not all be in form. On the first side of the handicap, Orapai, Consent, Tenterden and Aston ought to be the best, while among the lightweights such as La Poupee, Acora and Kozen may shine. Orapai was .second at New Plymouth a fortnight ago, and as he is reported i to be all the better for that race he should be able to account for Aston and Tenterden.