AUSTRALIA AGAIN

Evening Post, Volume CXXIII, Issue 132, 5 June 1937, Page 22

AUSTRALIA AGAIN

H. RAMA NOMINATES TEAM

(Special from "Early Bird.")

AUCKLAND, This Day.

H. Riiraa is to fulfil the programme he mapped out earlier in the autumn, when he stated that he was going 1o pay a visit to Australia with a team, for this week he entered Tooley Street and Horowhenua for the big flat events at the spring carnivals, and Free Air for the Australian Hurdles and Steeplechase. On a previous visit he more than paid expenses with Manawhenua. When at his best a couple of sea? sons ago Kiltowyn could always be relied upon to gallop every morning a bit faster than any other horse at £Ilerslie, and even after an absence from racing of eighteen months he is still capable of doing this. He is going along nicely in his trials and if he obtains any benefit from his outing at Ellerslie today. He may be a hard horse to beat on the final day. He was not too good on heavy tracks hitherto, however, and this may tell against him. TRIAL AS JUMPER. It will-be remembered that Parquet, after racing at Woodville last month, was taken on to Hawera, but as the indications there made it certain that the track would be soft she was brought back to" Takanini before the meeting opened. She is now on the easy list, but will be taken in hand j again shortly, for it is intended to race her over the sticks if she takes kindly to jumping when schooled. As she stays well, hurdling may see her come into her own, for she will not lack opportunities during the spring. Signs are not wanting here that the spring racing will soon be at hand, for already some of this season's good youngsters have finished their spell and are being put into work again in view of the coming three-year-old races. One of these is Bachelor King, who may have to be reckoned with in a race like the Avondale Guineas, the first classic up this way, and that is only three months away. He has the pace and will probably stay, while the higher scale of weights in the classics will suit him, for he went several good races this season under welter imposts. THESPIS'S RETURN. Thespis participated in a schooling bout over the country at Ellerslie on Thursday morning and he got round safely, and, what is more to the point, he pulled up well, despite the fact that he hit the stonewall. A couple of years ago this gelding was in the first flight of hurdlers and 'chasers, but he then proved difficult to keep going and was sent into, the paddock in • the country for a good spell. He has returned in nice shape, although whether he will get back to his best remains to be seen He is not engaged on the first and second days of the current meeting, his only engagement being in the Winter | Steeplechase next Saturday.

Don Erma has gone on.the right way since running second to Black Marlin in the Coronation Steeplechase at Te Rapa a fortnight ago, and he will strip a fit. horse in the Great Northern Steeplechase on Wednesday.' None of his opponents will have anything on the Taranaki jumper for condition for he has done a lot of racing in the last five months and has always been in. the money. If he can stay the distance he will go close to winning, but it will be remembered that he was weakening at the end of the three miles ccstest at Te Rapa.

Allegretto has done more schooling at Te Eapa since he won there last Monday week and according to eyewitnesses he never made a .mistake. This'further jumping experience, plus the long work he has, done in between times, will make the big chestnut a very hard horse to beat' in the Great Northern Steeplechase, and if Black Marlin has not recovered from his knock by then his task will be much simpler, for the Ellerslie jumper seemed to be the potential victor after his Te Rapa performance. Allegretto is an effortless fencer and this will assist him next week. He has yet to taste his first defeat as a steeplechaser.