Winter Racing

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 653, 3 May 1929, Page 12

Winter Racing

IS TO OPEN AT MARTON Good Horses Engaged To-Morrow THE Marton Jockey Club, a most progressive racing authority. opens the flat-racing season early in September, and it now sets off the winter season with a one-dav fixture, which conics up for decision to-morrow on the splendid course at Marton. Some of the best hurdlers and ’chasers will be seen in action, and with the Egmont. W anganui and Auckland meetings following closely the torm will be of considerable interest. “Early Bird ’ reviews to-morrow s prospects below.

r PHE popularity of the Marton Jockey x Club is demonstrated by tlie line acceptance list. The course, too. is a splendid one. and the furlong and ahalf straight gives the laggards a chance to make up ground lost in the early stages. Open Hurdles Small but select is an apt description of the Held engaged in the opening event. There are eight left in. and half of them are so highly thought of as to be accorded a.nomination in the Great Northern Hurdles. They are Red Fuchsia, Nucleus, Kilburn and Mandarine. The first-named is certainly in a class oy himself, but to come down to the opposing Quality means that he is called upon to concede big lumps of weight all round. Nevertheless, he is the goods. Koauau and Home Made may need a race, although the latter had the racing on the flat to sharpen him up. Nucleus is just the sort to pull off a race like this, for she is a fine hurdler and will be racing on her own course. Kilburn ran two good races in Auckland recently, and should be all the better for them. Red Bank was very unlucky the first day at Feilding. and with a competent horseman up must be given a show. Kilbrook lias yet to make a name for himself on the turf: he is a half-brother to Bonny Hill, a good jumper. Mandarine is only a novice, and improvement on the form he showed at Napier Park would place him in the spotlight. The issue can be narrowed down to Red Fuchsia. Nucleus, Kilburn and Red Bank, and no doubt backers will declare for RED FUCHSIA NUCLEUS Dash Hack—First Division An extra race has had to be added to the programme on account of the Dash Hack being divided into two divisions, the totalisator being open for business on each division. The first division has a dozen engaged, most of them moderates. Inflame, White Ringlet, Bank Note and Lucky Bag. also Naselle, can go very fast for five furlongs. and they should monopolise the market. Most support may be forthcoming for WHITE RINGLET LUCKY BAG Dash Hack—Second Division The second division appears to be even weaker than the first, albeit it has a more open appearance as a consequence. Callapat has not been racing up to expectations recently, but Joy Germ is fast and won with ridiculous ease over this distance at Hastings, prior to which he had run some fair races up this way. The Jack

Vexatious —who finished second to Star of the East at Ellerslie on Easter Saturday. this being her first attempt over the big fences —may be a dangerous candidate. Banjuke has not fulfilled his earlier promise as a ’chaser, and with another year on to his age now he may. do better. Brae naan is well thought of. and has the makings of n good one over country. He is well forward, too, and it only remains to see how he takes to the country. Hollycombe, from the same stable as Braeman, and Trouble and Son o’ Mine read best of the remainder, with the lastnamed quite capable of springing a surprise. It is possible that a newcomer to the ’chasing game will score, but at the same time it is highly improbable. with so many good horses, proved jumpers, in the field. of the East has the early pace to get out of any trouble, and Aucklanders will not hear of his defeat. Prime fancies on the day will be STAR OF THE EAST BRIGADIER BILL Winter Hack Fourteen is a good field for a middle distance hack race, at this period of the year. Briar Root, Elysianor. Royal Acre, Disrank. Gold Bag. Gasnapper. Warfille. Metellus, Skyrider and Shrewd are all possibilities in a particularly open affair, in which the weight of money may be forthcoming in support of GASNAPPER METELLUS Crofton Handicap Heading the list in the principal flat race is Nukumai, that good allrounder. He.may not be quite ready, however, and it would .be as well to go for something well seasoned with racing. Blimp will like the conditions, although his Hastings form was far from encouraging. Manly is always a possibility. and Royal Damon is the besttreated horse in the race so far as weight is concerned. He has S.B, and if he can get the journey—a point which has yet to be proved—will be difficult to beat. Ruanui is of the tearaway type, which in itself is an explanation why he is on his present mark. Papatu has not won a race for two years, and yet he has run some great races this season. Will it be his turn to-morrow? Starboard Light is a possibility, but not much has been seen of late of Shining Armour. Briar Root went a splendid race at Feilding, and a little improvement will see her handy at the judge. It is rather a trappy sort of race, but two that should give backers a good run for their money may be BLIMP BRIAR ROOT Flying Handicap There are several good sprinters figuring in the Flying Handicap. Vast Acre will be at home, and hard to beat, too, for this is a speedy one. Paleta would only need to be in something like his old form—he won the Great Northern Guineas IS months ago—to donkeylick this lot, and even so he may be forward enough to give a return. Dobbin has been racing consistently of late, and he is nicely treated. First Actre is right down in the weights now, and Iveddar, too, is in a position where he could score if he runs generously. Limited staged a surprising come-back the second day at Feilding, and if he will do his best again it won’t be a race. Moa Bird is fancied, for she is particularly well, and expected to go a good race. Broad Acre, too, is ready for the fray, according to Awapuni advices, and on Tuesday did a smart gallop. Whenuanui is not much fancied. It is a pretty open race, in which there should be good money for VAST ACRE LIMITED Farewell Hack In the final event no less than 10 of the 19 acceptors figure in races earlier in the day, so that there will be a few scratchings on the course. They are not a. good lot, and an earlier winner might be able to win even with a penalty. If started here two that will command support are WHITE RINGLET AUSTRALIS. The Riders The following riding engagements have been announced for the Marton one-day meeting: H. Wiggins: Moa Bird. Mandate, Mystum and Hopwood. H. Dulieu: Star of the East. A. Hobson: Kilburn. R. Reed: Blimp and Disrank. T. Green: Papatu, White Ringlet, Inflame and Skyrider. L. G. M orris: Ruanui and Vast Acre. B. H. M orris: Royal Damon. A. McDonald: Red Fuchsia and Mountain Crag. K. Voitre: Imperial Spark. Dobbin, Plane and Shrewd. A. G. Murray: Vinella and Wyeford. W. Broughton: Broad Acre and Mademoiselle. C. Broughton: Lucky Bag. R. J. Mackie: Callapat. N. Voitre: Paleta and Bank Note. F. Corlett: Brigadier Bill. J. J. Atley: Warfille and Hatteras. R. Anderson: Atacama. L. H. Jarvis: Kilbrook and Banjuke C. McGovern.—Braeman.

Jumper lias Auckland provincial form to recommend him, and should show up. Wyeford and Plane are fast when caught right. Joy Girl made some showing in the early part of the maiden race at Te Rapa last Monday, and it is assumed that the trip South would not be undertaken without good reason. Latakia has been doing splendid work at Hawera, and may show to advantage. Some Acre displayed a lot of early speed at Feilding recently, finishing fourth in a big field the first day. Favourites on the day may be JOY GERM SOME ACRE Marton Steeplechase The country at Marton is not difficult, unless a lot of rain has fallen, when it is liable to upset any jumper. There are 15 carded for the Marton Steeplechase, with that grand jumper Puwhero heading the list, but not outweighted. He lias not been seen out for some time, but at the same time it must not be forgotten that lie races well when fresh. Brigadier Bill must stand a fine chance, for he has been schooling in great style on this, his home track. It will be remembered that he started off last winter by winning both the Egmont and Wanganui Steeplechases, and although Ids successes ended there his falls at Ellerslie subsequently might have unsettled him. Easy schooling tasks perhaps have enabled him to regain his confidence. Star of the East will not be outjumped, even by Puwhero, which is saying a lot. He has a ton of speed, and if he does not tearaway too much looks almost a good thing. Maunga can hardly be ready, nor can Matu. Latest advices indicate that Maunga will not be a starter. Frisco Jack, only a little felow, can jump like a stag, but he too may not be ready. Mountain Crag will be well served by the man on top. and together with