Formidable !

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 659, 10 May 1929, Page 12

Formidable !

FRANKLIN’S NINE-RACE CARD Record Fields Reviewed THE extra permit received by the Franklin Racing Club will be availed of tomorrow, when there promises to be a most interesting day’s racing at Pukekohe, comprising nine races. ‘‘Early Bird’s review of the prospects is given below.

The list of acceptances received was a most formidable one, an average of 23 a race, rendering necessary the running of two races in divisions, and making nine events. Therefore an early start has to be made tomorrow, the first event being timed for 11.15 a.m. and the last for 4.40 p.m. Latest advices from Pukekohe indicate that the course is in good order, and it only needs fine weather to ensure the Franklin Club scoring a splendid success. Trains leave Auckland at 9.3 a.m. and 9.40 a.m. for the racecourse. A start is to be made with the twodivision, practically one race for betting purposes, the dividends being paid out on the winners of the divisions only. This is the Trial Stakes —First Division Backers will have to pick it in one. Cruachan, at the head o£ affairs, ran well at Te Rapa, where he was only touched off by Prince of Orange, and the latter’s good form the second day, although out of a place, made Cruachan’s effort all the more notable and worth remembering. Parfait Amour was unlucky at Tc Rapa, particularly the second day.' and should be hard to head off. Little Toy finished with a great burst last Monday week to get second, and Night Comet showed a glimpse of possessing more than the average speed at Paeroa. Catonian should be about ready now, and of the others a word can be said for Grand Arch, Kingsland, Lady Eustace, Little Gift, New Boy, Onewhero and Vaucluse. The best backed in this division may be CRUACHAN PARFAIT AMOUR Trial Stakes —Second Division There does not seem to be anything really outstanding in this division, but some form has been shown in public by Princess Rain, Loving Cup, Lord Hopetoun, Diamond Queen, Cat-i-mes, Ding pong, Joy Girl, Land Measure, and Shine On. Of these perhaps the best showings have been made by Loving Cup and Diamond Queen, both of whom displayed rare speed at Avondale a month ago, with the shorter straight here suiting both. The favourites may be: LOVING CUP DIAMOND QUEEN Ramarama High-Weight They are a good lot, if one were to put the battens up in front of them, but it is a different story when it comes to flat racing. Clockwork, Glendowie, Welcome Home, Harbour View, War Officer. Brampton, Always, Salamander and Arch are probably the most speedy of those engaged, but it is not a good race to endeavour to pick. However, totalisator fancies may include: BRAMPTON WELCOME HOME Pukekawa Hack This race just escaped being cut into divisions, but as it now stands there are 27 engaged, and if they all start perhaps 15 can be ruled out as possessing little chance, for not more than a dozen will be in a position to win at the end of the first furlong. Speed merchants out of the barrier will therefore be in request, and some entitled to this distinction are Good Boy, Leitrim (probably back to his best), Storm Fiend, Brilliant Light, Unoco, Kawainga, Valuation, Lido, Archieval, Palmares, Prince of Orange, Sea Cob, Crown Arch, Haviland, Grand Tea, Standfast, Roman Pearl, Catapult, Welkne and Mark Mint. It is a formidable list, and it would have been a bit easier had the race been divided. To find the winner is like looking for the proverbial needle in the haystack, but in any case the favourites may be LEITRIM BRILLIANT LIGHT Massey Memorial Cup Fourteen in this, the big event of the day, represents quite good provincial handicap form, with In the Shade at the top, and on the weights he has none the best of it. Nevertheless he appears to be coming back to form, and this would seem to be his opportunity. Royal Doulton will be racing '

at home, and .his may make a difference; in any case she can never be left out of calculations. High Pitch is now in great form, and if further rain falls and the track is heavy ho will wind up the favourite. If he is to stand a chance in the Cornwall Handicap he will need to run well tomorrow. Lucy Rose is a game little filly, and she had to be good to concede a start and then beat a field of good milers at Te Rapa last week. On that run she should be able to see out the journey. Mervette was decidedly unlucky in both her starts at the Waikato meeting, encountering with interference, and Le Choucas is a hard horse to ride. The Lover stands a chance, for he is still well down in the weights and has been galloping pretty well at headquarters. Thursby is an improver, and Maori Boy, with a jockey up, would be hard to beat. King Emerald, Ti Tree and Modest Boy are possibilities, and. the first mentioned is returning to form. That completes the summary. The best backed may be: IN THE SHADE HIGH PITCH Franklin Stakes—First Division Those that make some sort of appeal are Atapai (second in a division race on this course recently), Big Bertha, Flying Tresses, Joy Girl, Onowhero, Vaucluse, Te Taone, Dainty Manners, and Little Gift of the older horses, with the two-year-olds Criinestor, Valstreet and Lady Suzanne likely to be in the picture. Favourites for the two dividend paying places may be: CRIMESTOR VALSTREET Harrisville Flying There are fourteen in the second leg, the open sprint, which presents rather an open appearance. Kingfield was a bit sore at Te Rapa the second day, but if he has got over that and with the. easy going he should take all sorts of beating. Dave is to reappear, but he may not have been up long enough. Subdivision is always dangerous in a field of this sort. Lady’s Boy on Avondale running must be the hardest to head off, and as he has been reported to have gone on the right way since then his chance is undeniable, particularly as the sting is out of the ground now. The Begum has not been racing so well of late, but this field is quite within her capabilities, so ought not to be overlooked. Gold Money is back to sprinting and is capable of doing the trick if she can hold her posi- < tiori in the early part. Chelone could if he would, and Macroom was up fourth in the Te Rapa sprint the first day—that was fine form. Leitrim will go fast with seven stone, and so too will Ruffles, Prince Lu, Black Maire and Storm Fiend. There are all the elements of a surprise from the nine on the minimum, but in seeking for the eventual winner backers will probably seize upon: LADY’S BOY KINGFIELD Franklin Stakes—Second Division Hone Heke has sflown little form this season, and here it looks as if the two-year-olds will again have the best of it. Little Toy, Pai Ana, Liona, Camp Prince, Cat-i-mes, Gold Lily and the youngsters Fraser, Helium, Praetor, Fairy Belle and Snowplane will have something to say when the judge hoves in sight. The public fancies may prove to be: PRAETOR LIONA President’s Handicap The long day closes with the open seven, with its field of fourteen. It is rather a coincidence that each of the three open events should draw the same number of acceptances. 3-lere the draw will play its part, so that ability to begin will be a factor to take into consideration. Those that on recent showings are entitled to respect are Schorr, New Moon. Mithra, Lorient 11.. King Willonyx, Respirator, Hakanoa, Town Bird, Macroom and Sir Russell, and perhaps this division will provide the place-getters. To fine it down still further backers may decide upon the following: SCHORR HAKANOA