Sport at Foxton

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 870, 14 January 1930, Page 12

Sport at Foxton

MODERATE FIELDS ENGAGED Opening Day Tomorrow THE annual race meeting of the Fox ton Racing Club is to be held ou the club’s course at Foxton tomorrow and on Thursday. Fair ticlds are in on opening day, and they should furnish interesting sport.

Despite all the rain that has fallen throughout the country, the track at Foxton will be able to stand up to it all right, for the turf is of a sandy nature, very similar to that at Wanganui, so that the going ought to be good. First event on the programme is the POROUTAWHAO HURDLES Holiday form points distinctly to Fine Acre and Vinellal The former is very fast, while Vinella, not quite so experienced, has her Marten third and a win to commend her. She is a promising recruit to the ranks of hurdlers. Joke Form has yet to show farm as good as those above him. but Callagain ran a good if surprising second at Mar ton on New Year’s Day. None of the others has done anything to suggest that they will finish in front of the others on the other side of the handicap. At the weights, the favourites may be VINELLA. FINE ACRE. NOVICE STAKES There have been some moderate maiden fields seen out of Ifate, but this one surely takes the cake. There is practically no form to go on, but at Marton recently there was some money in support of Easterly, w v ho is trained at Foxton. Joi de Val is well spoken of, and a word can be said for Dick Whittington and Battle Torque. Perhaps the public fancies will be EASTERLY. JOI DE VAL. HIMATANGI HACK Tenacre reads very well in this event, and he should beat Green Acre at the difference in weights. Marica is an improver, but Mandy has shown little form of late. Tapestry is a fair sort, and Abbey Queen and Wine Tray have prospects in such a weak field. Favourites will no doubt be TENACRE. MARICA. FOXTON CUP A good field of handlcappers just below the top class will meet in the big event. Merry Mint ran his best race at the Ellerslie meeting the first day, that being in the Cup. In the weaker company he will be up against tomorrow, he should do well. Blimp is a distinct possibility, but he is not reliable, unless he has turned over a new leaf with his change of stables. Thero is no doubt as to his pace.

Rameses reads nicely placed, but Royal Game will have to improve on recent showings. Billion is a likely lightweight, and Llanore, too, if she can stay. Briar Root is a disappointment, apparently being content to finish no closer than a third. Balloon and Opa complete the field, the former being preferred. Two best-backed promise to be MERRY MINT. BLIMP. AWAHOU HACK This event has attracted the biggest field of the day. Clarendon’s form of

late has been distinctly impressive. He has a stiff impost tomorrow, but it is a high minimum. Elysianor appears to mix it rather well, and he, too, is likely to run splendidly . Disrank is forward enough, and Goldlike will have a chance to atone for his Marton failure. Warfille has lost form, but Pahu won at his second attempt—the amateur riders’ race at Marton recently. Portray has been racing consistently, and was somewhat unlucky

in his recent efforts. Piako. Monoie, Spearform, and Jiu Jazz may be the best of the remainder. Backe.rs may plump for GOLDLIKE. PORTRAY. CLARENDON. ANNIVERSARY HANDICAP There is a small field in the open sprint. Callanmore has shown glimpses of his speed in his last few outings. Llanore is better placed here than in the Cup, and Hopwood should be all the better for his outings at New Year. Juggle appears to have gone off, and Broad Acre requires to improve. Moorland and Birkie complete the field, which is a poor one. The best may be HOPWOOD. LLANORE. MAROTIRI HACK If Easterly shows any form at all in the Novice, she will have a good chance here in a lamentably weak field. Tenacre reads the best, and a penalty in the event of an earlier win may not stop him. Kilorell would prefer a longer journey, but Abbey Queen will be suited by the small field and the journey. The totalisator figures will p.robably be in favour of TENACRE. ABBEY TJEEN. HERRINGTON HANDICAP The top-weight, Rameses, is also in the Cup, but if kept for this should be prominent. Maui is at home, and he will go a good race. Royal Game reads better here than in the Cup, and Kawhakina is capable of putting up a great race. Briar Root has a real show here, and Discourse is due for a return to form. Cerf has been galloping well, and of the others Flying Shot and Kilorell may be in the market. Two near the top that will command most support will probablv be MAUI. KAWHAKINA. The Riders It is expected that R. McTavish will be on Portray, one of the unlucky runners on the Hawke’s Bay circuit. R. Reed has only one engagement, that being Pahu in the Awahou Hack. No doubt he will have other rides offered. C. Robinson rides Vinella in the Hurdles, and it is expected that W. Bowden will be on Fine Acre. R. G. Stratton is to pilot old Birkie in the sprint. The successful apprentice, K. Voitre, will be aboard Mandy and Fallow. W. Broughton pilots Broad Acre and Jiu Jazz. Up to last night the W'ell-known Awapuni riders, T. Green, R. J. Mackie, C. W. France, A.- G. Murray and C. Eroughton had not been engaged. H. Wiggins rides Hopwood, Billion, • Goldlike, Kawakina, and Joi de Val. H. Gray will be on Merry Mint and Disrank.