NOTES AND COMMENTS

Evening Post, Volume CXI, Issue 34, 10 February 1931, Page 6

NOTES AND COMMENTS

BY " RANGATIRA."

FORM AT MATAMATA

SOME UNEXPECTED WINS

GOOD EFFORT BY HIGH PITCH

(By Toleiiraali.) (Speoial to "The Evening Post."; % ■ ■.: v AUCKLAND, This Buy. ■' Most people went to the races •■■at Mata-1 inata .on, Saturday thinking : ,tluit the winners would be fairly easy to select, but this idea was quickly shattered when three, outsiders won at good prices in the first three races. .. After . that backers fared slightly better, but not one actual favourite was successful, and altogether it was a disastrous meeting for bettors. Making his debut as a hurdler, Monetize created a surprise by winning the ■Tirau Hack Hurdles in facile style. He was seventh selection' in a field of eleven, and, after being prominent from the start with Quinsilia and- Lupin Abbey, went away' in the straight to win .from Lupin Abbey. He was assisted by the fact that the fences were. not formidable.' Nevertheless, his effort was encouraging, and he promises to be a better proposition as a ■ ' hurdler than on the flat. ■ .."'.•-. Lord Val, a -four-year-old gelding by. A 7alkryiiui i'ronv Sweet 'Colleen,''owned. and trained by J< Clothier, who races. ''■ • Prince Val, was responsible' lor-another : surprise in the Hinuera Handicap. He. : ■ has done very little racing, and was sup- :' {Sorted to the extent of Only £io, the favourites being Hit the Deck and Searcher. Production, a Quin Abbey thrce-year-bld in 11. Harmon's team, and Hit, , the Deck led to: the' turn, when Lord A'al came through to win nicely from Kangikalia, who finished on fairly well. He will V>e heard of again. Production, displayed sufficient speed ,to be worth noting. Hit the Deck had every chance,,but should be improved by the run. HIGH PITCH OVERDUE. High Pitch, the least supported o£ the five runners, scored an overdue win in the Waharoa Handicap, for which Standfast and Prince Val were besk backed. Standfast, Taneriri, and Prince Val kept close company in the Jead until reaching 1 the straight, where High-Pitch came, with a fine run to score in good style from Hakanoa, who also finished on. No excuse? could bo offered for Standfast and Prince Val, who finished third and fourth, because they had eveiy chance. -As a rule High Pitch docs not shine on firm tracks*, but he is now very well, and registered a very solid effort. On the strength of bio form at I\ika- „ puna and a good gallop in the meantime, llanawhenua was preferred to JTaviland for the Matamuta Hack Cup, but he failed in the last hundred yards, and was beaten into third place. Nearing ihe home turn, after having lain handy behind the .leaders, he assumed command and looked like winning at the distance, but shortly afterwards he began to weaken, and was* l?caten by both Haviland and Protomint. HaviUnd had been kept, in the.-rear' most of the way, and outstayed; the others at the finish.. • ANOTHER1 SURPRISE WIN. Ilcka liaurau. a three-year-old filly by Day Comet from the Absurd mare Jluria, trained at Cambridge by W. .T. M'Lean, brought off another surprise in the Putaruru Stakes, for which Lady Vane? was a hot favourite from Laptow'n. Hopping out smartly, Eeka Kaurau led all the way, 1 battling on gamely under pressure to beat Laptown, who was always her closest at- . iendant. Lady Vuno was running on in third place at the end, and' might have been ( more troublesome •if her rider had bustled,^her along more in the middle stagesV/The winner is speedy, .but does .'not impress as being anything' out of the ordinary Knight of Australia, a two-year-old by Windbag,, showed up well to the turn, and then faded out.' The favourite. Ding Dong, from the same stable as Hayiland, cut up badly in the Okoroiiß Handicap, and was never going like a winner, but Valciiir, also well fancied, went to the front after going two furlongs, and not afterwards headed. The latter 'is a good stamp of horse, ,and may make a hurdler. Snow Prince, "who was in an impossible position early, came home well for third's money. However, he is, a moody customer and cannot be recommended. UNLUCKY TO LOSE. Iliata was confidently backed for the Railway Handicap, but he was narrowly beaten' by Currajong, although he appeared very unlucky to lose. /Currajong drew clear at the four furlongs, and just : held on to beat, Hiata, who was stopped , when going up on the inside, at the* turn. A few months ago Ourrajong was taken ■; on lease from Mr. M. J. Lynch'by the/Te Aroha trainer, G. A. Reid, for whom ■"; he failed to win. Unfortunately for Reid : he surrendered his'lease a few days ago, ; and Currajong won in the* colours of, Mr, Lynch. ' '■■ The consistent Hakanoa, who always ■; . races well at. the country meetings, scored .'. a narrow "win in one of the best finishes i of the day, when he narrowly defeated t Black .Maire and Romford in the Walton: • Handicap. When Romford,. the favourite, , and Black Maire were disputing the issue :. at the distance, one or the other appeared ■ certain to win, but.Hakanoa finished snlen- *: " didly, and scored cleverly. High Pitch ■ .; ran another good race into fourth place, and he was going faster than anything at ',** the finish. Romford might have just won if he had,drawn the inside instead of the outside. '