Smart Hacks To Run In Carbine Plate

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 678, 1 June 1929, Page 10

Smart Hacks To Run In Carbine Plate

A Mile Race for Amateur Riders ARCHERIA OR MAORI BOY? There is one event always on the second day's programme at Ellerslie in midwinter that rouses the keenest interest, particularly among hunting enthusiasts. This is the Carbine Plate, for amateur riders In addition to the condition stipulating gentlemen riders only, the race is confined to hacks as at time of starting. This condition is all-important, for it simply means that a horse winning on the flat this afternoon is at once rendered ineligible, for the value of all races these days at headquarters is sufficient at one bound to promote hacks to the open ranks. Therefore, of the 36 entered for the amateurs’ race, no fewer than seven are engaged in the two contests for the Jervois Handicap this afternoon. They are Bizarro, Mon Star, Archileen, Storm Fiend, Brilliant Light, Maori Boy and Lady Eustace. A win for any of these automatically puts them out of the running for the Carbine - Plate. Not a Big Field As a rule the Carbine Plate field is not a large one. It £would probably draw more runners if the horsemen were available. So far as can be gleaned at present, there are four horses which can be ticked off as likely to play no small part in the decision, and in addition they are almost sure to run. They are Storm Fiend, Otairi, Maori Boy and Archeria. Mr. A. Prangley will ride Storm Fiend, Mr. K. Duncan will be on his own horse, Otairi; Mr. J. Patten is to steer Maori Boy, and Mr. J. Morris has been engaged for Archeria.

Both Otairi and Archeria have been brought all the way from Awapuni. The former ran two thirds in the hack hurdle races at Wanganui recently, the first time over sticks, and probably his presence in the field is more with a view to supporting the race. That is not to be wondered at, for his owner-rider, Mr. K. Duncan (who rode his own horse Trouble to victory in the steeplechase at Marton in the spring), is a son of the popular Hunterville sportsman, Mr. T. A. Duncan, owner of that good horse Laughing Prince, and many others. On Business The people behind Archeria make no secert of the fact that their horse is going to take some beating. He has been galloping well at -Awapuni,

and the mere fact that they persuaded the crack amateur rider, Mr. J. Morris, to come all the way from Napier to take the mount implies that the trip is a matter of business. Ellerslie patrons know Mr. Morris of old, for he has ridden with conspicuous success in many previous Carbine Plates. He sits a horse as good as many professionals, and in addition has plenty of ability. In races like this it is not always the best horses that win. Therefore keep Archeria and his rider in mind on Monday. Storm Fiend has developed into a hard puller, and that may spoil his prospects. Should Win With the younger horses carrying 10.10 and the older ones 11.0, it would seem that Maori Boy should jog home, considering that he would be giving from one to two stone to most of his opponents in a handicap event. He is very well, too, and his rider knows well the shortest way to the judge, for he brought Waltzer home in this race last year. Glena Bay was very green when produced in the Carbine Plate 12 months ago, and although he is a greatly improved horse (and an acquisition to the hurdling events, too), in his efforts on the flat, most in races of the highweight variety, he has lagged behind for most of the journey, and that may not do with an amateur aboard, no matter how good he might be. Apart from this, and under the conditions of the race, he is a possibility. There will probably be about a dozen runners, if there are riders available, but the duel for favouritism appears certain to lie between ARCHERIA MAORI BOY The acceptances for the Carbine Plate close with the remainder of the second day’s events at nine o’clock tonight. The distance of the event is one mile. Sister to Automne _ Y ,Gisborne trainer H. Swan has ±< all o the Year and the yearling sister to Automne (named Agile) in constant work. The youngster is settling down to work nicely and it was unfortunate for her owner that she had to be eased off owing to receiving a kick on the hock a few weeks ago.