Form at Hastings

Chronicle (Levin), 11 April 1946, Page 6

Form at Hastings

o ARCO PROVES FI!NE STAYER Outstanding performance on the fii'St day of tlie Hawke's Bay Jockey CIud's autumn meeting at Hastings on Saturday was the victory of Areo over one of the strougest fieids to contest the Hawke's Bay Cup in recent. years. JNfear the rear of a strung-out field at the lialf-mile, he unwound a brilliant run approaehing the turn and was actualiy in front soon after straightening up. Ifrom then on nothing ever looked like gettiug near him. His elfort was such as to suggest that he wouid eventualiy prove one of the Dominion 's most promising young stayers. Arco was bred by his Palmerston Xorth owner, Mr. L. H. Collinson, and is a four-year-old gelding by Coronacli from Aratulla, by Arausio-Martulla, by Martian. Aratulla was also the dam of Daniel Befoe, who died early in his career when showing outstanding [V'omise. Other sueeessful members from this family who have carried Ihe popular royal blue and gold livery are Battleground, Old Burrey, Hunting Loro and Foxiana. Arco did not race as a two-year-oJd, but scored two wins and a third in niue starts as a three-year-old. He has won five races and has onlv been once out ot the money in teu starts this season. His totai stake earnings amount to £2272 10s. Lady iSpiral adopted her usual t caraway tactics, but she compounded very quickly after going a mile, and her elfort suggested that she mav be feeling the eft'ects of recent racing. Pindon Should improve. It was aurprising to tind Findoii nearly twice as vvell backed as any other candidate in the Cup, especiallv as ne did not appear thorouglny attuneu to see out a mile and three furlongs. He was vvithin striiaug distance until lliree furlongs from honie, when he failed to eome on as well as expected. pieasing feature was that he pulied up Jiowever, a pieasing feature was that he pulled up sound, and over a shortcr distance next Baturday he may be capable of making umends. The connections of l)a Vinci wcre ratlier coniident of success, but the Thompson Handicap vvinncr failed badlv over the business cnd. The M Boswells horse has alvvays appealed more tqt to a mile. Considering tluit she is still ratlier backward. the Awapuni two-year-old Cincture made a very promising sliovv ing at her first start to linisli a close I'ourtli in the Nursery Handicap. Carrying 1511b. overvveiglit she was badfy drawn at the barrier and it was not. until over the last bit that she became proinincnt. Au atlraclivo looking iilly, she is by Kinginaster from lmpusture, a half-sister to Riuk, winner of the Wanganui Cup. lu striking contrast to her form at the Manawata meeting, the Gisuorne trained Nightfoe scored one of the easiost wins of the day in the Here Inanga- Hack Handicap. 8he displayed stamina ivell abo ve the average and slionid have liltie diJiiculty in making the grade in opeu company. Oue of the unlucky runners was Landfire, who suffered a bad check half-a-mile from honie. The Revelation iilly looked pafticularly well and may be worth keeping in niind in f'uture. Royal Duce Unlucky A surprise winner at the recent Manawata meeting, Royal Duce received a shocking run in the first divi sion of the Autumn Handicap, and he did particularly vvell to linisli a close fourtli. The 11 Duce gelding appears to have got over the ailiuent that troubled him earlier in his career and is likely to prove a good winner from now 011, particularly as he is at honie uudor winter conditions. Fonnerly a difficult horse to train, Tremeilo now appears to be mueh more s.'did and, having his first start siucc November, finished very attractively to win the second division of the Autumn Hack Handicap. Earlier in the season he was considered unlucky to oe beaten into third in the Wellington • Guineas by Gig'li and Master Robin and now looks like upliolding Ihe. hif opinion that was formed of him. Much interest was centred in the reappearance of Master Meruit in the Riverslea Hack Hurdles and the Grand Xittional Steeplechase and Wellington ►SteepT^chase winner must- have more than satisfted his admirers. He has thickened out ccnsiderably during his speli and, although obviousiy above liimself, demonstrated his class by downing the opposition without mucli trouble. His jumping was without b.lemisli and his usual pilot, A. Mid- j wood, rode him very confidently, even j after he had been headed by his stablemate Opaltovvn, inside the fiuaJ furlong. Froviding he goes on the riglit way, the Master Colossus gelding should iigaiii . take high honours during the coming jumping season. Following on a poor displav at tlie Manawatu meeting, Roto^ Parera jumped in niueh better style at Hastings and he finished well to gain third in.tlie Riverslea Hack Hurdles. With a little more confidence he should make a success at the gaiue, as he is a good tvpe and has both pace and staying ability. On the strcngth of recent good track vvork Blauket was conlidently supported to win ihe Oreka Hack Handicap but, after appeariug to have every cliance, tlie best he could do was to run fourth. Therc are few better gallopers in private that the Man's Pal gelding, but his latest form suggests that he is anytliing but reliable 011 tlie day.