SPRING RACING

Wairarapa Times-Age, 15 October 1943, Page 6

SPRING RACING

MASTERTON CLUB’S MEETING

EVENTS AT OPAKI ON SATURDAY

SURVEY OF THE FIELDS

Splendid fields of good class will be engaged at the Masterton Racing Club’s spring meeting at the Opaki racecourse tomorrow and given fine weather the club should experience a bumper meeting. Opaki, with its long straight, which affords patrons a fine view of the racing, is considered to be one of rhe best country courses in the Dominion. The course is in excellent order and patrons should experience an enjoyable day’s outing. The meeting will open with the Opaki Trial Stakes, of six furlongs, starting at 12.5, in which a field of eighteen is scheduled to face the starter. Likely types are the Man's Pal gelding, Man’s Pride; Mcermint, a bay colt by Vermeer; Tara King, a fine big Beau Pere colt; Sporting Style and Joseph Conrad, a Night Raid gelding. In a field rich with possibilities the favoured trio will probably be Man’s Pride, Meermint, Sporting Style. The Blairlogie Highweight Handicap, of I', miles (12.40 p.m.) has a field of eleven starters of which Moderate reads the- best. Moderate, a fine black Ollatrim gelding, is in splendid form and is very fit after hurdling events. On their running at Otaki last Saturday some support will most likely come for PoHuka and Anglo-Irish. Little Manutere has a good outsider’s chance, while on local track work Pell Mell is not fancied. The public maydeciare for: Moderate, Po-Huka, Siglow. The Nursery Handicap, of four furlongs (1.20 p.m.) will probably be run in divisions as there are 26 runners. Martial Note seems to stand out in a big field of untried youngsters while others in favour may be Killarney Boy, Subdued, Beau Cheval, Leighon’s Glory and Desert Victory. With room for differences of opinion, the favourites may bo:

First division: Martial Note, Leighon's Glory. Second division: Deser: Victory, Subdued.

The big event of the day, the Masterton Handicap, of 1 i miles (2.5 p.m.) will see a good class of handicap horses line up in which the Kincardine colt, Glenfalloch and the Tidcrace mare, Fiddler's Green, will be in demand. Likely improvers are Don Quex, Piastre and Crucible. Happy Ending, in preparation for the big handicap events of the Dominion, would gallop all over the field if ready while the top weight, The Monarch, should soon be right. The favoured division will most likely be: Glenfalloch, Fiddler’s Green, Don Quex.

The Gladstone Hack Handicap, of six furlongs (2.50 p.m.) will probably see Kaitoa, the Man's Pal chestnut gelding, installed a firm favourite. Lady Nahleen is a likely lightweight while Voltair, Hamish, Barossa and Citizen represent a bunch which might provide surprises. Magnus Lux will probably also be in demand, but it looks like the public favouring: Kaitoa, Lady Nahleen, Voltaire.

A good class of sprinters are engaged in the Solway Handicap, of six furlongs (3.35 p.m.) in which Poutatau makes a strong appeal. Whackie has good form and the course should suit him. Master Dash is on the up grade again while lower down in the weights Screen and Lenardo will probably be fancied. Autolite has lost form lately but since her spell she might have improved. The Autopay mare has to be taken on trust. Daljarrock is a good type too, but the public’s selections will most likely be: Poutatau, Whackie, Autolite.

The Champion Hack Handicap, of one mile (4.20 p.m.) will probably see several horses well up in the favouritism. Sir Neri, Lastik, Solver, Carnforth, and Madame Rachel are a well placed bunch, while Cheap Lodging is a likely one to improve. Beneve, a Lord Quex gelding, is the type to pull off a surprise. Subject to Sir Wina being produced in the last race the public may prefer: Madame Rachel, Cheap Lodging, Patu Po. The way has now been cleared for the final event of the day, the Lansdowne Handicap, timed to start at 5.5 p.m. If produced here Sir Wina will probably be the popular fancy, while a favoured division will include Hamish, Caithness and Tara King. It looks like the fancies being: \ Sir Wina, Caithness, Hamish. ACTIVITIES AT OPAKI THE FINAL GALLOPS. There was a trace of frost in the air at daybreak this morning at the Opaki racecourse which was a hive of activity when trainers gave their charges a final exercise before tomorrow’s meeting. Fiddler’s Green, Foutatau, Glenfalloch, Lenardo and Magnus Lux were amongst the horses out and. they all looked in the pink of condition. There were no gallops as the course proper was not in use. From the Lower’ Valley it is reported that Sir Wina is in good form for his engagements. Autolite and Hamish are not particularly fancied. Marble Fox and Foxette were scratched late yesterday afternoon on account of their trainer being ill. The two-year-old race has been divided as follows: —Nursery Handicap,! four furlongs.—Firs', division: Martial Note, 8.5; Sir Croupier. Gay Corrie, Lord Theio, Master Baron, Battle Shield, Barrage, 7.13; Leighon’s Glory, Young Margaret, Intense, Trick, Gala Seng, Ann Bank, 7.8. Second division: Desert Victory, Balglair. Beau Cheval, Mine Host, Killarney Boy, Black Simon, 7.13; Subdued, Dancing Water, Hine Rci, Jannie Girl, Hoodiki, Laurium, Lady Bev, 7.8.