NORTHERN HOPES

Evening Post, Volume CXXVIII, Issue 2, 3 July 1939, Page 13

NORTHERN HOPES

STRONG TRENTHAM HAND

(Special from "Early Bird.")

AUCKLAND, This Day.

The anticipated dropping-out of many Auckland horses engaged at the Wellington Meeting has, nevertheless, left 26 .candidates i'rom these parts to do battle fpr the honours during this week's' racing. Most of them can handle bad ground, and so the conditions at Trentfram may not affect their chances adversely. In the Woburn. Handicap, Susan, Erlick, and Little Ruse are Auckland horses figuring and they all have recent form. Susan won at Tauranga, coming with a brilliant run from the back; Erlick ran a second and a first at Te Awamutu; and Little Ruse was runnerup to British Nation at the same venue. At the weights a fancy is expressed for Erlick. / De Friend, Jewelled Girdle, General Kuse, and Tutor figure in the Vittoria Hurdles, and of this .quartet General Ruse should be the pick, even if he does lack experience as a jumper. He showed a lot of speed at Te Awamutu and it was only in the final halffurlong that Lady England headed him off. Last winter he was third in the Parliamentary Handicap, which is the [necessary evidence that he can handle Trentham in July. De Friend has yjt to race as a jumper, but he has re- ' vealed distinct promise in his schooling. Jewelled Girdle has done nothing to date as a jumper, but Tutor is a good stayer over the sticks. „ There are five northerners in the| Stewards' Handicap, Royal Bachelor,; Prince Acre, Besiege, Gay Seton, and Bachelor King. These are useful sorts under present conditions, but weight should tell the tale, and after his run-j away win at Te Awamutu. Besiege reads the best. Prince Acre has won at Trentham and Gay Seton is well. Bachelor King showed a lot of pace at Te Awamutu and he is a better horse now. ! All Irish is the only representative in the Wellington Steeplechase and the distance will be far enough for him. In. the Trentham Hurdles the north | holds a particularly strong hand with King Rey, Royal Dance, Loombination, Inness Lad, and Ellanui. There are great possibilities about this team.. King Rey is a very fine type of hura-1 ling recruit who ran third at his first start in the role and he is able to handle bad ground. Royal Dance is likely to revealthat his Ellerslie form iwaa all wrong. Loombination is a ! useful hurdler and one quite capable of finishing in the money. Inness Lad I'will have to be remembered for his second in the Great Northern Hurdles, his one good effort this winter. Ellanui is a promoted hack and as this form at Ellerslie in winter is usually extra good he. is a lightweight prospect, for the going was bad when he scored on the final day. There are plenty of needles in the haystack which is the Whyte Handicap, and with seven Aucklanders there is almost enough northern material to make a race in itself. Valmint and; Maori Song are the two best and they are both in winning form, while one cannot overlook the Whirling-Rollicker bracket, Jack Tar, Dv Maurier, and Gay Rebel (now owned by a southerner). In the final event, the Te Aro Handicap, Hutana scored so impressively at Te Awamutu that he will have to be respected He is good in the mud and he can stay, two essentials for this event. . . . , . . ..