At Trentham

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 489, 19 October 1928, Page 10

At Trentham

Gaze is undoubtedly a good one. but what about his 12.3 in the hurdles at Trentham to-morrow? He is also accepted for at Waipawa, and there he appears to have a better chance. On the flat, too. Last season Ballyfarnon was regarded as a most promising hurdler. He went oft' a bit during the winter, but now he seems to be at his best, lie reads well at Trentham on opening day. A few light-weights likely to play their part in the decision of the hurdles at Trentham to-morrow are Vexatious, Carinthia, Othon and Beaumont. They are liable to upset better backed candidates. * • * Put the names of the 21 acceptors in the Taiti Handicap to-morrow in a hat and draw one. That is one way of picking this race. Royal Line is a winner, and Head Scrang, Admiral Drake, Gay Ballerina (third in the A.J.C. Gimcrack Stakes), Valpre, Equitant and Roman Lake show promise. The consistent Partaga appears to be admirably suited by the Wainui Handicap to-morrow, and although he has some good opposition he will be with them when the whips are out. He is a solid customer, and he is now at the top of his form. Cashier’s form at Ellerslie was really good, and with a bit of luck he might have been closer than third in the Great Northern Guineas. There is not much of him, but he is a flyer all right. The Wainui Handicap will see him going strongly at the finish. More than a useful hack is Mendip, and the Taranaki horse has a big task to head the 24 others likely to oppose him in to-morrow’s Rimutaka Handicap. Recently at Hawera he showed up prominently in a try-out with Bisox. and this mare is expected to win the New Zealand Cup, and perhaps the Waverley Cup as a preliminary to pay expenses. * Panther has come more solid with age, until now he heads the list of hacks in the Rimutaka Handicap. Tanagra is another fair sort, who spreadeagled his field at Hastings earlier in the month. A bold galloper he requires plenty of room, so that Trentham is the place for him. Shining Star recently .von two races the same day at the Manawatu Hunt meeting, so that with 11 pounds above the minimum in the Rimutaka Handicap, he appears to be nicely treated. Full Mark is another promising sort, and others that could be mentioned are Courageous, Baskier and Charmaline. Goshawk stands out in the Wellington Handicap with 7.7, and his escaping a penalty though his win here last week is sufficient cause to send him out a warm favourite, which he is now and will be at totalisator closing time. He is one of our most promising handicappers, and that is saying something. * s * Mask has failed repeatedly on the Trentham course, and there are more than a few who contend that he is not partial to it. As against this it has to be remembered that he won his first two races at Trentham, but since then he has failed. The Limond gelding should be all the better for the racing he has had, and if one of those at the top is to prevail in the ■Wellington Handicap it should be sMask. The stable has hopes of Blimp developing into a stayer, and it is understood that, he is being more than nibbled at for the New Zealand Cup.

Last Saturday he dead-heated with Royal Game at Masterton, and while that form was not very encouraging he will have a load off his back tomorrow in the provincial event. So, as becomes a son of Gasbag, we may expect to find Blimp staying on to the end. Pink Note made no mistake when he won at Wingatui last week, scoring very impressively, although he failed to gain a situation on the same course two days later. Last January Pink Note was in rare form at Trentham, and if he is back to that standard even Goshawk will have to put his best four feet forward if he is to give a small return to his countless admirers. The recent showing of Commendation leads one to hope that his long absence from the turf has not impaired his wonderful speed. He is in the sprint to-morrow, and if he leaves the mark may show up the field, even if it does contain some smart sprinters. The form of the Limond gelding will be awaited with interest. Hawera appears to hold a strong hand in the sprint to-morrow, with Bright Glow and Benzora. The latter’s form at Ellerslie showed ’mprovement each time, so it is obvious that he is very nearly at his best. But is Benz°ra4, even in to P form, within 16lb .of Commendation, also at his best? f)°' Bright Glow ran second in the Thompson Handicap last autumn and then won the sprint the second ~ aj > ana as this is her first race of uie season she be quite ready. On Monday the ' Harcourt Cun n miles at weight-for-age, is to be run SI T r ? n 5 ham . and it is hoped and expected by many that Commendation " . shovv that he is the goods bv gomg with the best of them. Among his opponents are Star Stranger Laughing Prince, Mask, Prodice’, Rapier and Beacon Light.