Big Handicap Has Backers Thinking

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 630, 5 April 1929, Page 12

Big Handicap Has Backers Thinking

TOO MUCH FORM? THE FOLEY MEMORIAL FIELD With the form thoroughly exposed, the big handicap at Avondale to-morrow seems to be a more complicated affair than ever. instance, in the race under review, the Foley Memorial Handicap, one and a-quarter miles, there are no less than half a dozen horses that have got on the winning list during the last ten weeks. They are Branson, Royal Boulton, Flying Juliet, Hyde Park, White Fang, Besert Glow, Queen Arch, Glen stay and Gold Money, although the last-mentioned filly’s success was achieved in hack company. Then there were others that have been placed, so that taken by and large there is no dearth of public form. On the contrary there is probably too much of it. Corinax ran two solid races at Ellerslie last week-end, indicating that his turn cannot be far off. He is the only one of those engaged that has failed to get into the money of late weeks, and he was the last Auckland Cup winner. Well Up In Easter Flying Juliet chased the field home each day at Paeroa a fortnight previous to finishing just behind the placed horses in the Easter Handicap last Saturday, and in the same race the neglected Royal Boulton was right up with her. Both these mares have displayed a marked partiality for the Avondale course, for they won the two handicaps decided there at the last meeting held on the suburban track. White Fang ran two solid races at Ellerslie, and he received more than his share of bad luck in the running. He went very well in his gallop yesterday morning at headquarters, and in the hands of that vigorous light-weight, IT. Wiggins, he could not be otherwise than* a favourite selection. Consistent Hyde Park has raced very consistently, and he is now at the top of his form. Ho made no mistake in taking the President’s Handicap last Saturday. and he went another good race on the Monday. Branson is well, and as he was greatly fancied in the Easter Handicap, in which he did not run, his turn may come to-morrow on his home course, if the going continues to be good. Desert Glow is now racing very honestly, and in the past six weeks he has won twice and been placed on three other occasions, his winning effort at headquarters last Monday being a .really good performance. Papatu is a long time in winning,

but he may bob up when least expected, for he usually finishes well up in all his races. Eager Rose goes and the trying Avondale course will test her stamina thoroughly. High Pitch nearly pulled off a big surprise last Monday, and with a soft track he would take a lot of beating to-morrow, for he revels in the mud. Queen Arch has a similar weakness, but her form of late, hardly makes her out to be as good as she was last winter. Glen star can do much better than he showed at Ellerslie, and with the conditions to his liking may be good enough to get in the money. Gold M oney has yet to break it for a win • in open company, and the filly has the j hardest part to do here. It is a very difficult race to sum up, although the winner is expected to come from the following half-dozen: Corinax, Branson, Flying Juliet, "White Fang. Desert Glow and Royal Doulton. The following are the probable starters, with their riders, in the FOLEY MEMORIAL HANDICAP Of £600; miles. Corinax (R. McTavish) 8 8 Flying Juliet (C. W. France) .. 8 8 Branson (H. Goldfinch) 8 8 •Royal Doulton (E. A. Keesing 8 5 Hyde Park (L. Manson) 8 5 White Fang (H. Wiggins) .. .. 8 0 "'Desert Glow 8 0 Papatu (J. Day) 7 8 Eager Rose (E. Ludlow) 7 5 High Pitch 7 5 Queen Arch 7 0 Glenstar (J. Chandler) 7 0 Gold Money (W. H. Jones) .... 7 0 "Doubtful starter.