EGMONT FORM

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIII, Issue 117, 20 May 1942, Page 9

EGMONT FORM

Pointers For Te Rapa And EUerslie

AUCKLANDERS DO WELL

Those who are seeking a line on Streamline's prospects at the Waikato and Auckland meetings were doomed to disappointment when he contested the Egmont Steeplechase, for he dropped his rider at the second fence. It was an excusable mistake, for he slipped in some bad ground as he was taking off. Streamline is not carrying as much flesh as he has , pas £ years when opening up his iNortn Island winter campaign, and he is g r? od class that the race this week at le Rapa together with the track work ne can be given in the next two weeks may bring him sufficiently forward to win another Great Northern. NORTHERS SUCCESSES Three of the most impressive wins on the flat at Egmont were scored by visitors from the north. Black Renarde and Merrv vaals, which won their races in the same manner, being with the leaders in the J then , das hing away to win by half a dozen lengths. Rara Avis won by his field down in the straight, ?" d ,. hls .finishing run. in which he got hf front in the last 50 yards and ?£l art K Put I break of four lengths on the others, showing him up in a verv favourable light. He is an improved hack \\ no should go on to further successes and a middle distance may not trouble him. IiAMBOI'RN IMPROVED T.amhourn's second in the McTlae Handicap at Hawera revealed that he has improved He has never appreciated soft 2£h R «' lft . y u ROln f' an<l to make »!' ground ann finish as he did under adverse conditions suggests that he is forward enough a race the first time he secures a su,table track. He is to race at Waikato and then return for the Wanganui meeting at Marton. A TRYING TEST Krndale's first appearance as a hurdler in the Tongahoe Hurdles produced a third placing behind Besiege and C'olibri. It was a trying test for a novice jumper, for the ground was like a quagmire—a rather unfavourable occasion for an inexperienced horse to make a hurdling debut. A horse of Erndale's speed would be better suited by firmer conditions. SHOri.D PAY EXPENSES While he could not hold Merry Vaals in the sprint at Hawera. Arctic Dawn ran a very good race to fill second place. He Is in forward condition and should race prominently at the Waikato and Auckland meetines. He is engaged in the President's Handicap at Te Rapa with 7.12. and the distance of that event, 11 furlongs, should suit him better than the =even furlongs over which he competed at Hawera. IN THE HAMILTON HURDLES Master I.,ackham. who is among the acceptors for the Hamilton Hurdles, is a good performer over the small fences, and it is interesting to note that at the Auckland Easter meeting he was started in a steeplechase. He just bowled along at the r£ ni " of the field for the greater part of tne journey to eventually finish a moderate third, hut galloping well down the straight. This suggested that he was being prepared for the Great Northern Steeplechase, and perhaps it will work out that way. because a win in the Hamilton Hurdles would not bring a penalty for the Great Northern Steeplechase, in which his weight is 10.2. MAY GO BETTER Although there is really nothing to enthuse over in the recent performance of Tidev.aiter. H. Dulieu's charge is getting through the right preparation, and lie should be about at the top of his form n° w - At 10 - 6 he is nicely placed in the Te Rapa Steeplechase, and a prominent snowing in that race would bring him into favour for the Great Northern Steeplechase. Yesterday he was pent over a round of the Ellerslie country and. taking his time about the job, he had no trouble with the fences. LIKELY LIGHTWEIGHT A lightweight who is likelv to be the hardest to beat in the Te Rapa Steeplechase is Chat. This mare was in front in the Egmont Steeplechase when she hit the Inst fence hard, was down on her nose, but she struggled to her feet and finished *'-ird. Chat is a clever jumper and can stay well, and it will be surprising if she docs not race prominently on Saturday.

FADED OUT After his good thirrl the previous Saturday at the Avonclale meeting. Radiant Vaals was expected to play a strong part in the decision of the Mcßae Memorial. Usually a smart beginner, the son of Vaals did not Rather up his sneed ouickly. and the field had not cone far before he -.'.-as last hut one, havinjr only Kanui Te Pai behind him. Along the back Radiant Vaals began to improve his position, with Kanui Te Pai following him, and at the home turn the former had the lead. However, he weakened after straightening nn. and faded out. but not so Kanui Te Pai. who conMnued on and went ricrht away. Hadiant. Vaals should pot he discarded on account of this one failure, and at his light weight of 7.2 he has a chance to make amends in the President's Handican at Te nana, although a journey shorter 'han 11 furlongs would perhaps suit him better. EASY WINS There were some clear-cut victories at Hawera, and none more so than that of Merry Vaals in the Hawera Handicap. It was a seven furlongs event, and the Aucklander won by a mere eight lengths, giving nothing a chance over the concluding stages. Merry Vaals goes well when the sting is out of the ground, and because of that should be worth following from now on. GOT A BAD RUN The defeat of Foxiore was disappointing to his many backers in the Champion Hack Plate, hut it can be said that the son of Foxbridge was far from favoured in running, and more than once was checked when attempting to make a move forward. Foxiore is a smart hack, and a middle distance does not trouble him. He is likely to win a good handicap at any time, as he will be lightly weighted. In hack events he has substantial imposts to carry.

DIVISIONS PROBLEM With the possibility of three races being if 1 a lengthy programme may be served up at the Waikato Racing s „to be held on Saturday, ine problem of Keeping the. fields down to a reasonable size is going to be a source of worry to all clubs, and a solution is not easy to find. The present season is nearing a close, and it may be v.~ ;, man y °f the horses now racing will De thrown among the discards after winc.lnJ» and those whose prospects are not bright disappear from the race track ■or good. ENJOYMENT'S MISSION It was hoped that the Hawera meeting would throw some light upon the Great Northerns, but it is doubtful if the racing .here will prove very helpful to those fioping to solve the elusive double. Besiege, wnich won the Tangahoe Hurdles 1S ,? ot engaged in the Great Northf' n Hurdles, and Enjoyment, winner of V e tF,?" 10 ," 1 Steeplechase, is in the Hurdles at i-llerslie but not the Great Northern However. Enjoyment is a } ei satile customer, a good jumper, possessing more than average speed, and he is not without prospects at Ellerslie. AVON RUNNING AWAY , r T, he v ,^' tor y of Kanui Te Pai in the Mcrtae Memorial was not expected by tne majority of racegoers, as it was anticipated he would take his place in the langahoe Hurdles. However, his party preferred the chief flat event, and the judgment proved sound, as the gelding not only won, but he cleared away from his opponents at the finish to score by hve lengths. At one stage of the race he was tailing the field, and it was a particularly fine effort to eventually win as he did As he has proved his ability to jump he will see a short price if stopped out in the Hamilton Hurdles at le Rapa, where he is in at 9.5.