Good Field Engaged

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 951, 19 April 1930, Page 12

Good Field Engaged

There is a really splendid field engaged in the Great Easter Handicap, the principal event to be run at Riccarton on Monday, the opening day of the C.J.C. autumn meeting. Indeed, with such a large number engaged in the A.R.C. Easter Handicap it would seem that there are plenty ol’ good performers left in the country, despite the sayings of the pessimists. Thirteen were left in the Great Easter at acceptance time, and that good horse Meadowlark heads the list. With 9.0 he is by no means weighted out of it, and it would not be surprising if he plays anything but a small part in the decision. Red Heckle A good many people consider Red Heckle to have been a bit unlucky not to have won the Thompson Handicap at Trentham last month, in which race ho was narrowly beaten by Paitonu. Great Charter won at Hastings last Saturday and therefore he should go a good race over this distance, seven furlongs. Great Star, if in form too, would be a distinct possibility. Panther is patchy at times, and First Sight has come into the boom as a result of a great effort at Washdyke recently. The latter will have the services of A. E. Ellis. Greenaway, Rin Tin Tin, Royal Duke and Arikiwai are the elect of the others. Four that should be prominent are Meadowlark, Red Heckle, Great Charter and First Sight, with Arikiwai to be added if the stable prefers to start him in preference to First Sight. The C lassie Gesture will certainly be at odds-on in the Champagne Stakes, and probably Clirysology and Lineage will give her a good racee. Lord Thomond is engaged in two of the hack events, and whatever he is started in he will take some heading off. Lancer should be now nearing his best, and should this be the case he will make matters most interesting in the Kildare Hurdles. The North Islander Diana’s Lad, who showed form at Awapuni, may be handy. The Hastings winner Courtesy figures in the Russley Plate, the two-year-old handicap event, and oppos-

ing him are the promising Adelphi, Sleipner, Ozone, Winsome Hind and Pink Paper. This promises to be an interesting contest. On Awapuni running Fernden reads well-placed in the Courtenay Handicap, for his win at the Manawatu centre represented high-class form. The Great Autumn Handicap is to be run on the second day, Tuesday, and it looks as if Historic will be the horse to follow, with Seatown and Waterline as likely to threaten danger. The following are expected to come in for keen support for their engagements on Monday next: Kildare Hurdles LANCER DIANA’S LAD Champagne Stakes GESTURE LINEAGE Autumn Plate Handicap LORD THOMOND, if absent QUIN OPAL THE VISCOUNT Russley Plate COURTESY SLEIPNER direat Easter Handicap GREAT CHARTER RED HECKLE » Gimcrack Handicap LORD THOMOND JUST AN IDEA Sockburn Handicap MERRY DAMON JALEUX Courtenay Handicap FERNDEN LUCKY LIGHT 'The following are some of the riders in the two big handicap events at the meeting: Great Easter.—B. Brodie, Meadowlark; C. Emerson, Great Star; A. E. Ellis, First Sight; A. Eastwood, Money Mine; L. J. Woolford, Arikiwai; G. Humphrey, Gay Crest. Great Autumn.—B. IT. Morris, Historic; A. E. Ellis, Paquito; C. Emerson, Seatown; A. Eastwood, Money Mine; F. McKay, Latin Quarter; L. J. Woolford, Arikiwai; G. Humphreys, Gay Crest.