MASTERTON SPRING MEETING.

Shannon News, 18 October 1929, Page 3

MASTERTON SPRING MEETING.

A FORM GUIDE FOR TRENTHAM. THE FIELDS REVIVED. z (By Silken Rein). Tlie one-day spring fixture of the Masterton Racing Club, which wil 1 . be held at Opaki to-morrow, is a popular meeting with owners 'and trainers, as it provides them with an excellent opportunity of giving their charges a run to sharpen them up for their more importai\t engagements at Trentham a week later. By leason of the fields, including a number of those seeking honours at Trentham public interest is also increased, giving the meeting a touch of significance which otherwise would not exist. The list of acceptors, from a numerical point of view, leave nothing to be desired, while the quality of the runners engaged is quite in keeping with the importance of the fixture. Fine weather is all that will be needed to assure a successful gathering. Racing will commence at 11.45 a.m. Nursery Handicap.

Princess Betty is. the only two-year-old winner who figures among,the field due to contest the Nursery Handicap. She accounted for the Prince of Wales Stakes at the recent Napier Park meeting, winning by three-quarter length from Ruby. Step., with Manuire another half a length further back. Princess Betty is a chestnut filly by Chief Ruler —Marceline and is trained by her ■owner, Mr G. New, at Awapuni. On the strength f her latest win she will be elected favourite to-morrow. The AH Black hoise, Nigger Minstrel, is represented in this race by Tripping, who is out of Dainty Step. The filly, which is the fii’3t of Nigger Minstrel’s progeny to race, is said to be a likely sort but may take a little time. Arajean is a well-bred youngster, whose appearance will add interest to the race. As a winner of a parade division, Sporting Chance will not. be without friends and he should be more forward than some of the others. The pair that appeal most are— Princess Betty, Sporting Chance. Maiden Stakes. ! A big field is promised in the maiden race and unless there is a number of withdrawals a. division may be necessary. Tlie Limond-Tivoli throe-year-old, Roundelay, has easily the best form among this collection, but the unfortunate part is that he is subject to bleeding. In his last outing, the H.B. Guineas, the weakness .was in evidence and he ran a poor race. Providing, however, there is not a recurrence of that trouble he should go close to winning. Pat’s Boy, who rah fourth at Wanganui is a possibility, and Retract, on Dannevirlce form, is worth some consideration. Goldlike, who ran two seconds at the Taranaki Hunt one-day fixture, appears in a favourite light He should be in demand to-morrow. Dancing Star, Duellona, Habit, Stream er and Painting have best reccmmenda tions of the others. It will probably be left to—

Goldlike, Roundelay.

Highweight Handicap.

A even dozen aie listed to face the starter in this event. The top-weight. Black Mint, has lost a number of ad mirers by his indifferent showings at the recent South Island meetings. H.> should, however, find this course more to his liking. Both Yesperus and Billion may need the race and will be passed over in favour of Masher. The latter's performances are good enough to send him out favourite in which ever race he is allowed’ to start. Modern is no champion, but a race of this class would not be beyond her. Pantagruel and Balloon are not fancied as much as Tourist, whose form at Dannevirke is good enough to deserve support. .Austerity looks like being the dangerous one. The public may shown preference on the day for — Masher, . Tourist. Lansdowne Handicap.

With the. likelihood of a big field this raeeVfor hacks will not be an easy one.from the speculator's point of view. The form is mixed and there is also a number ’of newcomers that may surprise. Dannevirke results poir.t strongly to Royal Opera, who has won twic • in his only two starts this season. Clarendon and King Acre are both redent winners, the former being most likely in this field. High Society at her best, would be hard to dispose of, while Australis should do better this season. Werata, who won a maiden division at Otaki, his only start last season, looks the makings of a fairly good sort, and if started here should make a good showing. He may, however, prefer his later engagement and in his absence a likely pair are — Royal Opera. Clarendon. Masterton Handicap, . A field of ton are due to line up in the principal handicap of the fixture. Star Area, who is regarded in some quarters as a likely N.Z. Cup winner, has been unplaced in his only two staits this season, but if he is any-

where near his best, he would be a - lough proposition to-morrow. Puithair’s . win in the Plurapton Handicap and the racing she has had«since that event will stand" by her in this race and make her the most seasoned runner in the field.

On paper it looks like the Kilbroney

mare collecting, at least, a part of the stake, l'resham's'-period of jumping may oi may not have improved him, but he dois not appeal so well as Spearmiss. The latter should not be long now in winning and the long straight at Opaki will be in her favour. ■ Rabbi

may need the race, but Royal Game’s best would be hard to beat. He has not, however, done too well recently, and his latest performances do not entitle him to serious consideration. One who is likely to be a strong fancy among the lighter division is Courageous and a reproduction of his Dannevirlce form would see him go close. Of the remaining trio Teheka looks the pick.

Perhaps the best pair may prove to be Puithair, Courageous. Lawn Handicap. If Masher declines his earlier engagement in favour of this event, he will be’ made favourite. He will meet a tough one, however, in Chopin, which he beat by a nose at Hawke’s Bay.'

The latter meets him on 5 lbs better terms. Shortly has some form that deserves reapect, while Llyn Dhu is shaping well enough to be given a chance. It is not a very good field and in the likely absence of Masher, form points to — Chopin, Shortly. Grandstand Handicap.

The field due -to'face the starter'in the second chief event is quite a good one and is very open at its present stage. Both Commendation and Panther are good performers, but will not find as much favour as Keddar, who ran a good race into fourth place at Wanganui. Atholspear will be sought after if his stable mate Spearmiss accounts for the earlier race. Moutoa Treasury’s third in a close finish at Marton brings her into the calculations, while Full Mark, who won so easily in hack company on the both days.at the same fixture, is likely to be prominent. B°th the races that the latter won, were run in the same time as the open sprints and on the face of that he reads better than Moutoa Treasury, who has gore up in poundage, while Full Mark is down a considerable amount. If produced at her best Veronese is going to be the dangerous one, but recent performances point to — Full Mark, Keddar.

Electric Handicap No less than ten of the seventeen acceptors for the concluding race have earlier engagements and the actual starters will not be known till the time of the race. Good beginners will be sought after for this event, and if they go to the post a reliable pair are — Werata, Banket. Riding Engagements. A. E. Ellis —Masher. B. 11. Morris —King Acre. W. S. Taylor—Gran Chaco. W. Broughton—Nimble, Pari. T. Green —Keddar, Piuthaif. A. McDonald—Calluna, Warzone. C Broughton—Llyn Du, Princess Betty. A. G. Murray Commendation, Roundelay, Disrank. R. J. Mackie —Eobie’s Mistake, Waterspear, Clarendon. K. Voitre—Sporting Chance, Moutoa Treasury, Rabbi, Rioghail, Royal Mission, Spearform, Potoaform. C. W. France —Adventus.

11. Wiggins:—Autopay, General Gas, Balloon, Dainty Wavs, Teheka, Veronese.