Napier Stages a Moderate Bill

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 381, 15 June 1928, Page 6

Napier Stages a Moderate Bill

PROGRAMME FOR TO-MORROW

WITH the exception of a five-horse acceptance for the principal jumping event, the Napier Park Racing Club will have good fields for its one-day winter meeting at Greenmeadows to-morrow, although the class of horses engaged does not rise above mediocrity.

The going at the club’s course, mostly reclaimed land, is generally in good order at this time of the year, unless rain falls during the progress of the meeting. Time was when Napier Park, in common with many other clubs, enjoyed most successful meetings, but the East Coast body has been a big sufferer through the financial stringency, which lias made itself felt for some seasons now. With three days’ racing at Hastings next week following that at Greenmeadows to-morrow, the form should be instructive. A fair field of promising hurdlers will be seen out in the opening event, the MOTEO HACK HURDLES Of £150; 1& miles. st. lb. st. lb. Good Sport . 9 12 Pale Star ..90 Braeman ... 9 12 Patuki 9 0 Tameterangi. 9 5 Molong ... 9 0 Merry Singer 9 5 Indian Chief . 9 0 Ballyfarnon . 9 3 Mountain Home Made . 9 0 Echo .... 9 0 When first tried over the sticks a season or two back Good Sport was regarded as likely to develop into a really good one, but he has not been raced much in the interim. He is now reported as being back to form, and a race may be required to sharpen him up. Braeman has done well in his latest efforts, and the fact that he extended Red Fuchsia at Hastings a few weeks ago points to him to-morrow. Tameterangi has plenty of pace, but little is known of his jumping ability. Ballyfarnon shows promise, having finished a good fourth in a similar event at Wanganui. Merry Singer and Indian Chief hail from Miss Maher’s stable, and the former has proved himself a fine hurdler, while his mate has a reputation. Patuki and Pale Star have schooled well. Summed up, it is probable that the favourites will be Braeman and Good Sport. Another fair field will come forward in the PETANE HACK STEEPLECHASE Of £150; 2 miles. Maidos ... 10 3 Hollycombe . 9 0 Comedy Peep o’ Day. 9 0 Prince ... 10 0 Progress ... 90 Royal Prince Carol 9 0 Heather . . 10 0 Sometime. . 9 0 Radiate ... 9 11 Awangawanga 9 0 The topweight is making his first appearance since last spring, but he has been schooling nicely. Although not partial to big imposts, he should go well under his 10.3. Comedy Prince was not too solid over the sticks, and he will require to be taken on trust at the big fences. Royal Heather disappointed at Hawera and Wanganui, and may be on the improve. Radiate

fell at the last fence at Wanganui in similar class when looking all over a winner, and despite his indifferent schooling at Hastings last week he must be considered. Those on the minimum (six out of the ten) are an unknown quantity, although Awangawanga has some reputation. The fancied pair should come from the top quartette, and they may be Radiate and Maidos. The usual big crowd of hacks will contests the MEEANEE HACK HANDICAP Of £125; 5 fur. Fee Simple . 10 11 Wet Winter. 9 0 Argue. ... 10 1 Dapper Boy 9 0 Royal Scutari ... 9 0 Lineage . . 10 1 Gay form ..90 Keen 9 13 Brown Rory Mor . . 9 S Sugar ... 9 0 Taranto ..95 Nightwitch . 9 0 Abisogne ..93 Maureen ..90 Dreamy ... 9 2 Plimmerton . 9 0 Dishonoured 9 2 Hinekohoro . 9 0 This scurry affair has resulted in some surprises in the past, and with first out first home prevailing there is the possibility of another turn-up. Smart over the distance are Fee Simple, Argue, Royal Lineage, Keen, Abisogne, Dishonoured, Rory Mor, and Scutari, while those on the second side of the handicap have not done much in public. Fee Simple is a pretty smart sprinter, while Dishonoured hails from a powerful stable, and, moreover, will no doubt have Reed in the saddle. Argue is a regular flyer for five furlongs, and Royal Lineage will be very dangerous if in racing condition —he has not been seen out for some time. Best fancied promise to be Fee Simple and Dishonoured. Next comes the big event, the NAPIER STEEPLECHASE Of £250; 2J miles. Puwhero . . 12 9 Garzon . . .10 1 Gaze . . . . 10 13 Son o’ Mine 9 0 Mixed Heather . . 10 1 Puwhero has ten pounds more than he won with at Wanganui over the same journey, and it is difficult to see what is going to head him to-morrow. Mixed Heather had a rare chance of defeating Puwhero at Wanganui, but his jumping brought about his d< feat. Gaze has not been over country for a long time, and a race will do him good. Garzon is a fair jumper, and the only other in the field is Son o’ Mine, who is receiving heaps of weight, all round. He ran consistently at Hawera and Wanganui, registering four thirds in four starts. It is obvious that Puwhero will be at cramped odds, with