TO-DAY'S EVENTS

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 1, Issue 182, 26 March 1932, Page 6

TO-DAY'S EVENTS

the "Judge"

STRONG FIELDS ENGAGED AT ELLERSLIE CARNIVAL . PROSPECTS REVIEWED

Specially written for the "Post"

by

The heavy rain experienced in Auckland this week should make the going at Ellerslie ideal for the autumn meeting to-day and on Monday of the Auckland Racing Club. With fields so large in most events to-day the series of problems presented to backers is formidable. A start is to be made with the President's Handicap, in which the big field of 23 remains, Peter Jackson having been withdrawn since acceptance day. Chief Joy failed badly at Paeroa, but the course there didn't suit him and he may do better to-day. Awaken's second to Peter Jackson at Te Aroha was impressive, and her second to Fiji last week was encouraging. Antique (to be again ridden by Gray) was the unlucky horse in the Ohinemuri Cup, and he has the same weight to-day. Taneriri, now that the tracks are softening, Star Stranger, Royal Artist and King's Archer are others to be considered, but the final reckoning may favour Chief Joy, Awaken and Royal Artist. Great Northern Oaks In the Great Northern Oaks there are few real stayers, Speedmint having won over a mile and finishing a very close second to Royal Doulton three weeks ago. That was good form, and the Takanini filly should account for Barbacan and Fast Passage, the latter having improved after recent racing. The lightly penalised Standfast will be the popular pick for the. Brighton Hurdles, in, which he will be coupled with Claremore, the latt3r probably not being quite ready. • Best of the others in what is undoubtedly a good field of jumpers should be Lucess (who may be started by the stable in preference to the overpenalised Luminary and Prince Lu), Russet Moor, W'iltshire, Kawainga, Kairuri, Biform and Copey. Now that Standfast has been scratched, most opposition to Copey may come from Wiltshire, Lucess and Biform. Easter Handicap There is a wealth of mile talent engaged in the Easter Handicap, probably the best field field over this distance ever brought together. The recent rain will be very much in favour of the two tops, Pegaway and Huntmg Cry, the winners of the last Easter Handicaps. „ They are well and what heads them off should be entitled to first prize. Next best to this pair may be any one of this lot: Fiji, Leitrim, Golden Wings, Chrysology, Great Star, Puriri Park, Pomp, Chief Jewel arid Sunny Sky. The real danger to Pegaway and Hunting Cry may come from Fiji and Chrysology. M'dinette's clear cut victory in the juvenile event at Trentham was such as to bring her into favour for the Champagne Stakes, in which she. promises to start a better favourite than Tea Trader and Gaine Carrington, with La Moderne a prospect after her third in the Challenge Stakes at Trentham the other day. Nassock's Chances Of the half dozen in the Mangere Steeplechase, Nassock would be backed to beat the others if he had had experience over the Ellerslie hill. He should have won at Paeroa last Saturday had he been more capably handled. King's Counsel has won over this course, and he and Nassock appeal most, with Neil a promising jumper to take on the big stuff for the first time. The good showings of late made by the Hawke's Bay youngster Courtyard draw attention to his prospects in the Onslow Stakes, the two-year-old handicap event on to-day's card, and he is going to be hard to beat. Strong opposition is expected, however, particularly from the bracketed pair, Greek Gold and Holly Lu, both of whom have been finishing on in their races; the former should have won each day at Paeroa better ridden. Miss Lorraine and Chief Marionette are other speedy ones, and the youngsters are fancied as written. The Eden Handicap has such a large field that it is going to take some fathoming, for recent form is strong ly in evidence in several quarters. Holly , Holm ran two very solid races at Paeroa, and if he does not go to the Wairarapa meeting .with Paganelli his chances will be good. Others that will be in evidence are Monarchy, Karangapai and L'Allegro, with Teels a prospect after her great finishing effort in the Hack Cup at Paeroa. On Monday there is the St. Leger, in which Peter Jackson may dispose of View Halloo and Gibraltar. In Other Centres "If Paganelli and Holly Holm are taken by their trainer, M. J. Carroll, to the Wairarapa fixture at Tauherenikau this week-end, they should shape very well. Holly Holm reads a better prospect, his missmn being hack seven and eight furlong races, being paid up for both to-day. If started he will be extremely hard to beat. Paganelli is back to sprinting at Tauherenikau to-day, and although he is up against a fair field of six furlong performers, he should hold his own if Irs recent racing over middle distances has not impaired his speed. On Monday he is to take on the middle distance handicap, and he may go fairly well in that too, although one could not recommend him with any great degree of confidenc.1. Arikira is now at the top of his form, and his recent defeat of Gay Crest suggests that even with 9.4 he will take a lot of keeping out of the money in the Easter Handicap at Tauherenikau this afternoon. Other likely place-getters at the Wairarapa fixture to-day are the two-year-old Headmaster, Eminent, Miladi and King Thomond. Grand Jury at Fieldmg If Grand Jury has got over the rough race he experienced at Trentham last Saturday he will be prominent in the Manchester Handicap the big race at Feilding to-day. He

was reported as being very unlucky last week, and that being the case, and bearing in mind the fact that Feilding is his lucky course — he won his first three races there — he has only to be decently ridden (a vital faetor at these holiday fixtures) to head off his opponents. Much interest will be taken in the form of that good Gisborne hack, Tai Ao, at the Feilding meeting. He is placed well enough to win to-day if good enough. The hurdle race at the same meeting is regarded as next to a good thing for Just an Idea. Souchong, if he meets with any luck at all, must be hard to beat in the Feilding sprint, while 'Green Linnett looks well- in the open seven there. Davidstock promises to atone for his Opunake defeat, and he looks like a good horse to follow each day. If Beaconsfield is produced in the Maiden he- should not get beaten if he produees his best. Canterbury Fixture The Canterbury fixture does not open till Monday and concludes on Tuesday. The Great Easter Handicap now looks a bit easy for Cricket Bat, after his -win over Nigljrtmarch at Wingatui, his second in the Thompson Handicap and win in the Challenge Stakes. He seems to have a mortgage on the big seven furlong seamper. The Champagne Stakes appears to be all over bar the shouting, for there does not seem to be any two-year-old in the south anywhere near as good as this smart youngster, which is Silver Ring. This two-year-old will also take on the seven furlongs Challenge Stakes on Tuesday, and his meeting with Cricket Bat therein will be most interesting, although the three-year-old may be a shade too good for him. In the minor events at Riccarton a good word can he said for the chances of Topthorn, Niggerhead, the Quorn, Ringing Cheer and Greeian Prince. On Tuesday there is the Great Autumn Handicap, and now that Gay Crest has gone up to 10.1, his stock will slump, for this is a diffieult course to win under such an impost. Perhaps the issue will be fought out between Jaloux, Black Duke and Spearful.