PROSPECTS IN THE CHIEF EVENTS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 23 October 1940, Page 3

PROSPECTS IN THE CHIEF EVENTS

(BY “THE GRAFTER”) Puntel’s will probably find the going hard at Trentham this week as there are high grade horses engaged, all with good records behind them. In the Wellington Handicap there is a solid field which will be difficult to sort out. The Ring, fresh from his Masterton successes, and with 7.11, will doubtless have a large following, but whether he can repeat Saturday’s form at Opaki has yet to be seen. He is certainly in good fettle and he will make those ahead of him gallop their best. Siegmund is perhaps in better form than for some time past, and although unplaced in the Vallance Memorial Handicap at Opaki should have benefited considerably by the gallop. This season the Siegfried gelding has started six times without registering a win, but last season his form was somewhat similar. He ran six times unplaced before he filled third place to Sovereign Lady and Settlement in the Fendalton Handicap at Riccarton in November last. Three races later he won the St Andrews Handicap at Feilding. Then further on in the season he accounted for the Wanganui Cup, the Autumn Handicap at Woodville and staged two seconds at the Wairarapa meeting. In the circumstances Siegmund should just be about ready. Royal Chief has the steadier of 9.7 in the Wellington Handicap. So far this season the Chief Ruler horse has run a third in three starts — being in behind Boswell and Night Pal in the Army Handicap at Dunedin early this month, and carrying two pounds more than he is wjeighted at Trentham. • Royal Chief has been showing improved track form since his Dunedin appearance and as he has been undergoing special training he should run well. Sly Fox has been doing good work on the track and has reproduced satisfactory form under silk. He won the Mitchelson Cup with 8.1, 7lbs less than his Trentham impost, and was third to Royevrus in the Plumpton Handicap at Avondale. He ran a solid fourth to Clinch in the Avondale Cup. Sly Fox must be given a good chance in the principal event on the first day at Trentham. Little has been heard of Lady Furst this season outside of a couple of “unplaceds” at the Hawke’s Bay meeting this month. Lady Furst registered only two firsts last season, her second success being the Easter Handicap at the Wairarapa March meeting. In the circumstances she is likely to face the starter as a very outside chance. Trench Law showed by his form in running second to Lambourn in the Masterton Handicap last Thursday, following a similar place at Otaki, that he is just about ready to head the field. With 7.9 in the chief event at Trentham he must be given more than an even chance, and can be depended upon to keep the field moving at its best. Pearl of Asia is now in probably her best form, and if she cannot fill one of the three places then her large following of admirers will be sadly disappointed. She ran unsuccessfully at Masterton, but that was not her best form. Her last win was at Foxton when she headed the field in the Carnarvon Handicap, including Little Robin, Siegmund and Master Cyklon. Ned Cuttie has done nothing this season so far, though last season he won the Egmont Cup. Form does not suggest that the Captain Bunsby gelding will salute the judge on Thursday. At the moment those horses which have the best chances in the Wellington Handicap are Siegmund, Pearl of Asia, Trench Law, Sly Fox and Royal Chief.