ON TO HASTINGS

Chronicle (Levin), 21 June 1946, Page 6

ON TO HASTINGS

A miniber ot' tlie kortses vvlio a,re to raco at itastiuga tlxis" week-end com]ieted at Awapuni ,on Saturday and some oi' tlieiu appear to have good prospects. , Mary Jo has been riscn 121b. ior. hersueeess at Awapuni, but slie won fairly well and should be htird to beat again. Newel I'ost's third in the hank seven was a very poor third, but, taken together with some oi. hi's previous form, it will briug liiiii" into favour for the Hastings Maiden. Howev.er, if there are any smart noviccs in the lield they will probably aecpunt for him. The Monarch 's second in the open hurdle race- was a very creditable performance and he is assurej of solid support, bu-t there is no ret\lly good line as to how he sliould fare against Hunto, Shepherd'a Mate und Blue Title, who have been racing prominently in ;the. north. . •

Epping, . who is to contest tne Hawke's Bay [Steeplechase, did best- oi. the cross-country horses.' at Awapuni. 1-1 e jumped: well, showed plentv oi si)eed and iinished better than all 'his opponents. t- Indian Sun, who. nee.ded the race/diuished TLftkotiM) ibe to impi"Qve.f Ivilnianagh plodded, into third place without ever Jooking likely to win. . Indian Sign fenced brilliantly, but faiied to stay and iinished a.poor fourth. Abbey Lu, who was backed to favouritism, was beaten half-way through the last :round, so m.ay not be as liberally supp'pried this time:- Aufh oress was a poor third in the hack steeplechase, a raee in. which Bing [Scarf gave his oackers a poor run. King Scarf can jump, but he- is iiot well seasoned and tires quickly. . , •,

Blanket 's second in . the mile:anq-a quarter hack race - at i Awapuni entitles him to consideration in ha.ck niid.dledistance coinpany at Hukting-sV but s'Oine of the hnprovers bclow him. In the weights might make;- tho why hartl. Court Judge was. bcjat'eu at' Awapuni) but ouglit to be impf oving thfptigh racing. Tomahawk and Tifox, who did uot race at Awapuni, have been racing well euough on the west coast to be taken notice of. Court Judge, Tomahawk and Tifox are all engaged in the hack seven as well. Bay Kobe and Lady Chips may be aniong the best prospects from among the Awapuni competitorp in the open seven. Lady Chips, the winner on Saturday, has another 101b. to earry, but the race would benofit her and the Joug straight at Hastings should suit her. Her prospects will bc enhanced iJ' rhe going is heavy, as it Was at Awapuni. Bay Kobe is racing well and his last two starts have yielded a lirst knd a second. Piccolo was big in condition last week and lield his position in his race only for a few furlongs.Prince Wanaka, who is engaged in the hack seven,- was second over the disTancc at Awapuni, but was very easilv beaten by Cooraclare. However, he might be harder to beat if the going is not as bad as it was at the Mana- , watu centre.-