FIELDS FOR TO-DAY

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 2, Issue 221, 12 May 1932, Page 2

FIELDS FOR TO-DAY

"The Judge")

PROSPECTS DISCUSSED AND PRESEHT FORM REVIEWED GOOD RACING EXPECTED

(Special to

the "Mornine* Post"

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iln the opening event at Wanganui to-day, the Rata Hack Hurdies, the Howera winner, Callapat, and Balloon, who raced so well at the Manawata meeting, will be among those heavily supported. However, there is a newcomer in Bon Eve, who may make the top-weights stretch out a bit more, for his first run over the sticks, at Hawera the second day, was a very promising one indeed. He was injudiciously ridden, but despite this he created a favourable impression and his next few runs over the battens should be profitable. On Otairi's Egmont form, he is going to take some beating in the Wanganui Century Hurdies. He has not quite so much weight as when Callapat beat hina last week, and with that race into him he is expected to show decided improvement. Included in the field is last year's winner, Conjurer II, who has not been overraced, and seeing that he scored with two pounds less than he has this week he reads nicely paced. Then there is Easterly, a double winner at the Manawata meeting, and this trio should make a good contest. Tlie topweight reads vei'y well. Davistock ran badly the first day at Hawera, but the next day he was a different horse and hs won the seven furlongs hack event in easy fashiou He has not been penalised for tha Balgownie Hack at Wanganui, strangely enough, and he may add to his record. Fairway won the Marton Hack Cup rather impressively and his turn may not be far off again. Lady Spy raced well in the same race, and ( then there is Air Laddie, whose last 'run produced a second to Fairway. Davistock and Fairway may race best in this hack race. The Wanganui Grandstand Steeplechase field in a tricky one. Omeo was sore after the Egmont Steeplechase, but he has been paid up for and may show up in this weak field. Just ar 'Idea make an impression and he may be the one to give backers the best run. Democratic and Jen may be the best of the remainder, although greer 'ehasers in Princess Elizabeth and Freehold and the veteran Slump are placed to do well. However, Just an Idea and Omeo will be the ones in demand. Both the Hawera winners, Chopiri and Richfield, are engaged in the principal flat race at Wanganui the first day, the Empire Handicap, and if there is anything in form they should be prominent. Both have been penalised. Chopin won very easily last Wednesday and Richfield on Thursday won just as comfortably. but perhaps the former, with his full apprentices' allowance, will now have the puil. Shrewd and Little Doubt are possihilities; the latter displayed surprising paee in the sprints at Hawera. The big field weighted for the Borough Hack at Wanganui dwindled down by half on acceptance pight. Royal Hunting has the weight, bu' he won at Awapuni with 81b less. beating among others Royal Bengal. The turning track at Wanganui will suit him. However, he may he bothered to concede the weight to the two Taranaki hacks, Sparkling Morn and Orby's Choice, both of whom raced well at Hawera. This trio read

the best, with Cereafi Lady Court. and King Peg also holding chances. What promised to be an interesting contest at Wanganui, the Winter Oats, has come down to a moderate class field, with Arisus . outclassing the remainder on his brilliant Manawatu runs. The small field will be one big thing in his favcsfir. Hampden and Kaihoro are speed merchants, hut one could not picture them getting too far away from the top-weight if he is in anything like the form he produced at Awapuni. Arisus has not registered his best performance on his home track, but the opposition is realiy weak and should not cause him much bother. A Smart Filly. It looks as if Sparkling Morn has at last got into her best form, for the manner in which she spreadeagled her field the first day at the ;• Hawera meeting last week was irnpressive, to put it mildly. A further test was looked for on the second dajn but unfortunately the Hunting Song filly was opposed .only hy Illuminate,. so that as a guide it was a complete wash-out. The filly jumped out clear and then Illuminate had a severe stern chase and never was allowed to get closer than a couple of lengths. It was not a very instructive race, so backers will have to go back to Wednesday 's race to get the best iine. Sparkling Morn's mission last Wednesday at Hgyyera was the Tawhiti Hack, and .although she was badlv drawn at this awlcwardly placed seven furlongs barrier, she quickly hit the front and went clean away in the straight, making ,a complete job of the opposition, which iricluded such fair sorts as Orby's Choice (second) and Davistock. Although the . apprentice rider aboard Sparking Morn kept the filly right up to her task there is no doubt that she won with. the greatest of ease, and what is more she looked all the better for this race when she was produced again the second day. . The. next race planned for Sparkling Morn is the Borough Hack at Wanganui this aiternoon. This is ruri over six furlongs, whereas the first day at Hawera the filly's success was scored over seven furlongs. To-day the filly will be opposed by a lot oi brilliant hack sprinters, but ghe sjiould do well again, for she has sufficipnt paee to take up a good position early. ■ One with a chance of heading her off is Orby's Choice, who comes in under a different bandicapper fit much more advantageous terms.

ling Morn 191b when she beat him into second plaqe last Wednesday, and to-day he is to receive one pound. In other words, the gelded son of Orby's Pride now meets Sparkling Morn on no less than 201b better terms. If there is anything in handicapping then Orby's Choice ought to turn the tables on the filly, hut the catch in it is that Sparkling Morn is only a three-year-old, and is improving all the time. Nevertheless, there may not be much between them now, so that their meeting at Wanganui to-day will b watched with the closest interest. It would not be surprising if the two Taranaki representatives fought out the issue. Bon Eve's Promise. Horses that race on the flat like jades sometimes prove themselves different horses altogether when they are put over the obstacles. Time after time that has been proved. It is to be hoped, for the owner's sake, that this remarlc will apply to the tatare career of Bon Eve. A fine looking chestnut, he has been a gay deceiver on the flat, even if he did win a race or two. He raced on the flat the first day of th? reoent Egmont meeting and after being handy early he faded right out and actually finished last. Any qualms the owner might have had about trying him out over hurdies must have been dissipated after this last exhibition, so he was made acquainted with the battens in public, although he had schooled fairly well in private. Bon Eve's debut as a budding National winner was in the hurdle race last Thursday at Hawera, and the fact that there was only support for him to the extent of £13 spoke for itself. Yet on his display he ought to

have had a good deal more money invested on him, for he went a very good race indeed. His rider did not handle him very judiciously, "unless he wanted to try him right out for tatare events, for he rushed him up to the leadevs on the bend going out of the straight, 'being five horses out from the rafis on that run, which of course meant that he covered lengths more ground than the other competitors. Bon Eve was running with the leader, Cruachan, along the back and until threa furlongs from home, when he began to peter out. Which. was not to hc wondered at. Bon Eve finally finished sixth, buc it was a fine performance under difficulties, for the chestnut was asked to do the impossible. But the rider must have secured a good line on his mount's chance in his next hur tle race, which will be the Rata Ha A Hurdies at Wanganui to-day. On last week's showing it would seem that Bon Eve may pick up a race at the meeting.