A Preliminary

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 784, 3 October 1929, Page 8

A Preliminary

FIELDS AT ELLERSLIE

Some Possibilities ONE of the most successful fixtures ever held at Ellerslie in the spring. That should be the result of the excellent | bill of fare to be submitted at Auckland’s Turf headquarters I by the Auckland Racing- Club on Saturday and Monday next. Splendid fields will be seen out in all eight events on the j opening day, with class a dominating feature, .and— I a fact that will uot be nearly so much "appreciated—i winners are going to be hard to find. However, for the guidance of racegoers generally a preliminary survey of the fields for Saturday is given here, j and may be taken as an indication of how the betting market will tend when the financial business of the meeting comes to j be undertaken.

Cnless heavy rain falls between this and race day the turf at Ellerslie promises to be in excellent order, and with the best horses engaged this will be appreciated by sporting folk. A start is to be made at midday with the Trial Hurdles The top weight, Tresham, showed something like his expected form when he defeated all but Royal Elm at Hastings last week, but he will be making his first appearance at Ellerslie over the battens. Golden Wedding is to make a reappearance, and if at her best should go well. Lady Spalpeen is a consistent sort and has had the benefit of recent racing. Cybele shows promise, and Waltzer of course is expected to set a hot pace. The Lamb has been schooling at Te Aroha for some time, and much interest will be taken in his initial display over the obstacles. Ah Wera raced well on the Southern circuit and Farndon, Harbour View, Sleepy Sol, Te Ivawana, Whaka King", Catonian, Sir Archie and

Tanagra may be the pick of the remainder. The favourites on the ma-

chine on Saturday may be Lady Spalpeen, Golden Wedding, Cybele, Ah Wera and' Sir Archie. The first classic contest follows: Great Northern Guineas Although nineteen figured in this event up to today, it is more than probable that the field will fine down considerably by starting time. Winners this season include Flying Prince, Refresher, Hunting Cry, Pink Coat, Leader and Eaglet, the lastnamed being the only lady in the race. On actual form there are three that at present stand right out. They are Eaglet, Hunting* Cry and Pink Coat. Likely improvers are False Scent, Ex Dono, Imperial Prince, Supremacy and Air Laddie. But it is not really difficult to select, on paper, the five most likely to trouble the judge. Here they are, and good ones, too: Eaglet, Hunting Cry, Pink Coat, False Scent and Imperial Prince. Shorts Handicap On his Avondale form backers went strongly for Silvermine, and there were many financially disappointed when the Hawera sprinter retired from the scene 36 hours after the weights appeared. lie will keep, however. Benzora impresses as an early improver. Gold Money bore a somewhat jaded appearance when she was beaten at Avondale, and perhaps she is not so good as during the winter. Vallar has not been up very long, and Lady Quex beat all but Eaglet the first day at Avondale. That was good form. High Finance conies to hand early, and she should be all the better for her outing last Monday week. Havering is on the up grade, but one prefers him over a little farther ground. Awarere is coming back to form, and he may make amends for Aussie’s failures. Lady’s Boy is at his best, and so. too, is Value, whose win last week was impressive. Oration is always liable to surprise, and Polyxena may be the best of the horses on the minimum. A few that appeal are Benzora, Lady Quex, Havering, Awarere. Value and Polyxena. Mitchelson Cup This should be a contest of thrills, worthy of the valuable stake money that goes with the honour and glory of winning. Star Stranger is rightly still at the head of affairs, and his two

outings at ’Avondale show that he is coming to hand fast. Historic is now right up on top, and even allowing for his good Avondale Cup victory he has the hardest race of his career in front

of him. Prince Humphrey must now be coming back to his best, and the well-treated Prodice must be hard to head off. That run to within three parts of a length of Historic a few days ago was impressive. Barometer would be a possibility on a soft track, especially with his legs so tender. Piuthair would only need to be at her best to show this field up, and even at her present weight she may t>e the actual favourite on the day. Transformer showed a flash of form last week, and High Pitch went two solid races at the suburban fixture—had the track been soft it might have been a different tale. Desert Glow is coming to hand nicely, and as he will be bracketed with Prodice, this will mean two sti'ings to the stable’s bow. Singleton is a possibility, although it must bo confessed that his Avondale showings were disappointing. Talisker is likely to be the best backed of those below Piuthair, for he showed up in his race at Wanganui, and lie has a handy impost on Saturday. Amor is a good stayer, and if there is to be a surprise the Southerner may be the one to spring it. However, it looks as if the top weights will have a big say in the finish. Most fancied just now are Star Stranger, Historic, Prince

Humphrey, Prodice - Desert Glow bracket, and Piuthair. Hunters’ Steeplechase It is a come down from the three-year-old classic, the sprint and the big race to this affair, but that will not detract from the public’s love of the jumper, with their struggles over the picturesque steeplechase course. Odin, Pompeius, Mashoor, Sea Comet, Calithe, Rayonnant, Town Rabmler, Socimi and King Fame have undeniable prospects in this event, but the quintet that appeals just now is Odin, Pompeius, Sea Comet, Calithe and King Fame. Welcome Stakes The speedy youngsters out of the barrier will have a big pull over the two-year-olds, for ability to begin is essential in this race. The most promising form to date, in public and private. has been that exhibited by Chief Link, Oil King, Bells of Shandon, Royal Ruler, Chrysology, Cylinder, Imamint, Lady Court, Isa, Lineage and Grand Spirit. It is something to do to line such a lot down, but those that appeal most now are Chief Link, Royal Ruler, Chrysology, Appeal - Lineage bracket, Cylinder and Imamint. Gordon Handicap The one and only hack fiat event on the card for Saturday is this event, and with the form of most of the acceptors exposed at Avondale and other places the market should be a good one. Arikitoa, Sea Cob, Good Boy, Prince Val, Indolent, Some Lady. Caiithe, Brampton, Alloy, Red Lion, Currajong and Clopton are a few that many will be pinning their faith toy with this quintet the most favoured on the totalisator when the numbers cease revolving:—Arikitoa, Sea Cob, Prince Val, Alloy and Currajong. Flying Handicap The day’s racing will conclude with a rare puzzle, for with a big field remaining in this contest the winner is going to be hard to find. Reremoana heads the list, and his good showings at Marten and Wanganui have brought him right into favour. Great Charter won handsomely last Saturday, this being his first run for some time, and if his leg trouble does not recur he must go well. Lucy Rose. Flying Juliet, In the Shade. Maori Boy, Mervette, Otairi, King Emerald, Standfast, Ohinemuri, Merry Mint, Mithra, Roi de Val, Black Maire, The Lover and Bennie all have chances, so it will be seen that the final sorting out process is difficult. In the meantime 'five that can be ticked off as dangerous are Reremoana, Great Charter, Maori Boy, Mervette and King Emerald. The final summing-up will be given in The Sun tomorrow*