Joy King May Repeat Trentham Performance

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 322, 5 April 1928, Page 12

Joy King May Repeat Trentham Performance

Easter Handicap Field Under the Microscope

FOLLOWING UPON HIS HANDSOME [ U7.V IN THE THOMPSON HANDICAP AT TRENTHAM SOME THREE WEEKS AGO. JOY KING HAS HELD OCT A PROMISE TO GO A GREAT RACE IN THE EASTER HANDICAP AT ELLERSLIE ON SATURDAY. W HAT IS TO BEAT HIM.’ THAI IS THE SECRET THAT WILL NOT BE REVEALED CNTII LATE ON SATURDAY AFTER.NOON: BUT WILL HE BE AMONG THE BEATEN DIVISION ON THAT DAY.'

Bearing in mind the fact • that the Easter Handicap has been won no less than three times by horses carrying 9.11, and that the topweight in Saturday’s race will not be asked to put up more than 9.3, one is inclined to the view that the field this year is hardly up to the standard of some of its predecessors. That may be so, but there is no gainsaying the fact that this field does not lack class. Quality and not alone quantity is the best manner in which the acceptors for the rich prize can best be described. The first and second horses in the recent Thompson Handicap at Trentham, together with a leavening of the best handicap and classic performers, make up a team that would be a credit to any course. The essentials requisite in an Easter Handicap winner are set out elsewhere on these pages, so the review of the field can be proceeded without delay. A Dangerous Bracket At the head of the list are the Williams bracket. Star Stranger and Joy King. The former may not be quite brilliant enough for a race of this type, for he failed at Trentham on a course more to his liking. He is nevertheless a possibility. Of Joy King it can be said that his recent win at Trentham clearly established the fact that he is right at the top of his form, and when trainer Jefferd has him at that pitch then it is time for wary backers to be up and looking; yes, and doing, too. Therev is the old saying that the early bird catches the worm. Judging by the price on offer just now there are no worms left for the bird, which is sufficient indication of the respect that those that handle the money have for Joy King. Most probably these men are right in their judgment. A Bonny Mare One cannot observe Bright Glow and not be enthusiastic, for she is a beautiful mare, and probably the best Day Comet has given to flat racing. She was

than that to oppose him on Saturdav. With Wiggins’s 'Rustling tactics to help him out, Laughing Prince should be kept among the possibilities for the race. A Stable Double With Great Charter and Doree to carry the gold jacket and blue sash of of Mr. T. H. Lowry, it is just probable that this well-known livery will be prominent. Great Charter has of late months been racing over distances that

might be said to have been beyond him, although the mile is his best course Doree may be sent for the Oaks, and if this should be so one with a fair chance of winning the Easter will be missing. Nancy Lee nearly pulled off a big surprise in the last Railway Handicap after failing miserably in a sprint at a country meeting: the public will not let let her go out at such extreme odds on this occasion, for with her light weight she should be conspicuous. The Railway Winner There may be nothing in the ass u nip- , tion of many sportsmen that Awarere I was left in in preference to Aussie, for it is announced that the latter was hardly forward enough for such a stiff test, although he will contest the I sprint the second day and also race j at Avondale, by which time he will be ! tuned up. Awarere had had enough at the finish ! of the Railway Handicap, and he has J failed on the country circuit when i tried at distances beyond six furlongs. On Saturday his feather impost may make up for the apparent absence of I stamina to see out a mile. AT THE BOTTOM Of those further down the list there |is not one that can be placed among j the trio likely to get into the money in a true run contest. If a surprise is to come from this division those that are most [able to spring it are Valkon, Le Choucas. | Siaosi, Flying Juliet and Day Guard. | That completes the review of the ! for Saturday's Easter Handicap, the , ■ actual summing-up appearing in the usual place. Joy King, the winner of the Thompson Handicap, is now called upon to meet the following on Saturday on the worse terms as shown when compared with their Trentham form in the same race: Star Stranger lib. Bright Glow 51b. Laughing Prince 101 b. Doree 161 b and Le Choucas 191 b. The following are the horses, with their probable riders, engaged in the: EASTER HANDICAP Of £ 1,750* 1 mile.

Star Stranger (H. Gilmour) . . . . c* 3 Joy King (R. Reed) 8 1 3 Bright Glow (L. G. Morris) 8 5 Paganelli (R. McTavish) .. .. 8 5 ♦Money Order ( ) Lysander (B. H. Morris) . . . . 8 3 Laughing Prince (H. Wiggins) 8 3 Nancy Lee (L. Manson) 7 12 Great Charter (T. Green) . . . . 7 12 Awarere (K. <5111) 7 6 Valkon (E. A. Keesing) 7 5 Le Choucas (S. Bryce), or .. .. 7 In the Shade 7 0 Flying Juliet (. ) 7 True Blood ( ) 7 0 Bay Guard (S. Cammick) .. .. 7 (» Tinokoa (F. Foster) 7 o Oration (C. Goulsbro) 7 Siaosi CW. 11. Jones) 7 0 •Doubtful Starter.