THE CHINA MAIL, NOVEMBER 17, 1939
EVE OF HARVEST SHOULD WIN HONG KONG ST. LEGER
Mr. Moller To Ride Navylight
BOOLAT BAY AND LAUGHING GIRL FOR 'THE DOUBLE?'
(By “RAPIER”)
AN ATTRACTIVE programme of eight events has been arranged for to-morrow's Race Meeting at the Valley, the most important being the Hong Kong St. Leger, the third race on the programme.
lbs, and it will carry 152 lbs., but as it is in fine fettle at the moment it is just possi- ble that it will repent its success.
Violet Queen did quite well to come third to Roolfly in the same race and its weight has gone up by 0 lbs. but os, novice jockey Mr. Botelho is again taking it out it has an allowance of 5 lbs. and so might score its first win.
A Roaring Time (Mr. Needa), which won the Ballarat Handicap at the Ninth Extra Meeting, has improved quite a good deal lately and I expect it to offer Roolfly stern opposition.
The finish should be fought out between these three ponies with the last-named as my fancy.
Starting Gate Practice
At Jockey Club
Hong Kong Jockey Club have issued the following circular to members regarding starting gate practice in preparation for the
Annual Meeting next February:
"Owners, Jockeys, and Trainers are ur- gently requested to see that ponies in which
Contested over 13⁄4 miles by China ponies, Griffins of this season, this race will be deprived of a good deal of its interest owing to the fact that Rose Elect, 1939 Derby win- they are interested are trained to the Start- ner and champion pony, has not been entered on accounting Gate by making use of the ones erected of the leg trouble which developed after the Double Tenth Plate race. As a result, Eve of Harvest and Navylight should
be chief contenders.
RACE NO. 1. TAIPO HANDICAP:
ONE MILE
First event on the programme is confined to China ponies, with Griffins of this season classified "A" 'Class barred. Confusion Bay (Mr. Black), winner of the October Handi- cap over 14 miles at the Eighth Extra Meeting, has again been given top weight of 168 lbs. and, In view of the fact that the distance on Saturday is only a mile. I think its chances of winning are bright.
With only 146 lbs. to carry Lilliber (Mr. Sung) should. however, be a real danger. It won the Sussex Handicap (first section) at the last meeting in 1 min, 24, 2/5 secs. over six furlongs when carrying 151 lbs. With 5 lbs. less to-morrow and over a longer distance an upset here is quite possible.
Bear Claw (Mr. Proulx) should be well worth following for a place, if not actually for a win, on account of its light imposition of 140 lbs. and the fact that the distance is more to its liking.
Moonlight View (Mr. Pih) may find the distance too short, as might Blue Express (Mr. Encarnacao),
for practice purposes.
"Untrained ponies are liable to delay
starts, and also upset the rest of the field.
"The Starter will have the Stewards' in- structions to exercise his powers as to the
RACE NO. 3 HONG KONG ST. LEGER:
12 MILES
4
Main event of the afternoon has attracted only four entries and expect all of them to start. They are:
EVE OF HARVEST (MR. HEARNE). GALAXY (MR. CHAO)
HECTIC VIEW (MR. PIH) NAVYLIGHT (MR. MOLLER)
Since coming in second in the Blue Riband of 1939, Navylight has not made an appearance owing to lameness, for which It was sent to Shanghai for treat- ment. It returned here at the beginning of last month apparently fully recover. ed. How much training it has had up North In preparation for this grualling race is hard to tell, but from what I have seen of It-in morning gallopa, coupled with Mr. Moller's experience and an advantage of 5 lbs. In weight, I am con- Adent that it will give Eve of Harvest the fight of its life!
On the other hand, Eve of Harvest, great-hearted pony from the Sassoon stable, is in solendid condition. Of course, there is always an element of aur. prise, especially in such a long race, but, Judging on past performances, Eve of Harvest should win, with Navylight second and Hectic View third.
My choice is Boolat Bay on account of its light impost and the fact that Mr. Nepda will be on top. Rose-Queen may give it a good tussle, but I doubt whether it will do better than take second place.
RACE NO. 2. CASTLE PEAK HANDICAP (FIRST SECTION): (ABOUT ONE MILE 151 YARDS) This is the Orst section of the race for "D" Class China ponies and, from the en- tries, I don't think I shall be far wrong in
RACE NO. 6. NEW BRIDGE placing the winner among the following:-- Estover (Mr. Tang), Strathbannock (Mr. HANDICAP: SIX FURLONGS Black) and Guinness Time (Mr. Encarna-
This race is confined to Australian Sub- cao).
scription ponies of any season and there is Estover won the Norfolk Handicap (first little doubt that a very fast pace will be set. section) at the last meeting and has accord-Lancashire Chips (Mr. Hearne) will be ingly been penalised 11 lbs. and Strathban-carrying top weight of 165 lbs. and I am nock, winner of the Jordan Handicap (first therefore not placing much reliance in it. section) is up 7 lbs.
Lucky Lad (Mr. Needa) is down bv 3 lbs. since its last outing and will carry 162 lbs.. but as Lucky Lad is not a sprinter I doubt its ability to win here.
As Estover is very at at the moment I don't really expect that the additional 11 lbs. will hinder its chances very much. It mus* be remembered, however, that the race is over the two mile post and anything might happen.
Nevertheless, I have a feeling that Estover will win, but Strathbannock and Guinness Time are capable of extending it as they have done well before over this distance.
Double Chance (Mr. Hearne) should also be considered.
PEAK
RACE NO. 4. CASTLE HANDICAP (SECOND SECTION): (ABOUT ONE MILE 151 YARDS) This race is confined to the second batch of "D" Class China ponies, and selecting the winner presents difficult problem, For coming second and third in the Hunan Handicap (second section) over this dis tance, Emergency Call (Mr. Churchill) and Wilber (Mr. Sung) have been penalised 8 and 4 lbs, respectively. I fancy these two ponies will again fight out the finish with Wilber reversing the previous result. They will be seriously challenged. however, by Phoenix, if it is well handled.
During the last three meetings Matador (Mr. S. C. Liang) has been expected to win a race. It may do the trick on Saturday. February Fourth (Mr. Encarnacao) and Wild Bear (Mr. Pih) should also be in the running, although I cannot see either of them winning.
RACE NO. 5. SHUM CHUN HANDICAP (FIRST SECTION): ONE MILE
This is the first leg of the "Daily Double". which will be decided by the first section of "D" Class China ponies. Pinfarthings (Mr Churchill) has been allotted top weight of 168 lbs. and. In view of the distance, should not be disregarded.
The race should be between Boolat Bay (Mr. Needa) and Rose-Qucen (Mr. Poy) but bear in mind Advancing Time, with Mr. Ho Hong-ping up, which has 5 lbs, allowance and is carrying only 185 Iba,
Courting Eve (Mr. Pih) will also carry 162 lbs., but as it handied this weight when setting the record for this distance I think it should redeem itself.
With only 145 lbs. to carry Criffel is a de cided danger, and if Mr. Black can get off to a good start and keep the lead, it might pull it off.
My choice is Courting Eve to win with Lancashire Chips second and Criffel third.
RACE NO 7. SHUM CHUN HANDICAP (SECOND SECTION): ONE MILE
The accond lot of "C" Class China ponies will take part in this race, which is the second leg of the "Daily Double". Scenic View has been asked to carry 188 lbs. and with this handicap it may not accept. In that event Sunlight View (Mr. Pih), recent- ly promoted, will represent the Lan Stable.
Laughing Girl (Mr. Liang) and Salvage Master (Mr. Black) which dead-heated for second place in the Connaught Handicap mile post (second section) over the two have been given an extra 3 lbs, each, and as the distance is a little shorter I consider Laughing Girl to have the best chance. Royal Highness (Mr. Needa) and Sylvandale (Mr. Hearne), recently promoted, were in reason this class before, and there is no why they should not do well. All being con- aldered, however, I think Laughing Girl will win with Salvage Master second and Bun. light View third.
RACE NO. 8. NEWCASTLE HANDICAP: (ABOUT HALF MILE 160 YARDS)
The day's programme will be concluded by this race, in which "C" Class Australian Donies which have won more than $1.000.00 in stakes since January 1. 1039 are barred. After its brilliant win at the last meeting Roolily (Mr. Davis) has been penalised 12
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placing of unruly ponies delaying and inter- fering with the start, and should such ponies cause undue delay, they will be "left".
"Arrangements for using the practice gates should be made with Major F. Hogg. M.G.C.V.S., the Stables Manager.
"The co-operation of carnestly requested.”
MR. MOLLER
BACK AGAIN
This meeting will mark the ro appearance of Mr. Ralph "Boogie" Moller, of Shanghal, who is very popular with the Hong Kong crowd, He la making the trip in order to ride his father's pony, Navylight, In the Hong Kong St. Leger. It will be recalled that Mr. Moller was here during the Annual Meeting, but was unable to take part owing to indisposi. tion.
HOCKEY
(Continued from Page 22)
friendly hockey match.
Police, who were able to field only 10 players, including the right-half, Spr. Menniery, borrowed from their opponents, were throughout on the defensive.
Police opened the scoring through D. Singh but L/Cpl. C. Taylor scored twice in quick succession to give En- gineers a 2-1 interval lead. Spr. Smith and Cpl. D. Taylor each netted a goal in the second half.
Royal Engineers:-Spr. Goss; Lleut. Rus- sell and L/Sgt. Goodwin; Cpl. Bowling. Spr. Marriott and Cpl. Whitaker: L/Cpl. Single- ton, L/Cpl. G. Taylor, L/Cpl. Foley, Cpl. D. Taylor and Spr. Smith.
Police: B. Singh; C. Singh and no left back: I. H. Shah, C. H. Singh and Spr. Menniery (R.E.): D. Singh, S. Singh, N. Singh, Sgt. Wall and T. Singh.
Ladies' Goalless Draw
In a friendly hockey game at King's Park yesterday, Central British Asso- ciation Ladies' senior team drew with Central British School, neither side scoring.
Y.M.C.A. Held To Draw
At King's Park yesterday 24th Bat- 2-all tery, R.A. held Y.M.C.A. to a all concerned
draw in a friendly hockey match..
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