SPORTING.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 16 July 1924, Page 6

SPORTING.

NEW ZEALAND HORSES IN SYDNEY. BY CABLE —PRESS ASSOCIATION-COPYRIGHT SYDNEY, July 15. A further batch of ten New Zealand racehorses, in charge of J. Williamson, landed in good condition. NOTES AND COMMENTS. (By Maecenas.) The "heads” were 'on Soliform on Saturday last, but after looking a winner Soliform tired in the last few chains.

It is stated that £IOOO was asked for the Hawera owned Avola when priced recently, with a. view to racing at pony meetings in Australia. When Income finished just behind the placed horses on the second day at the late Wellington meeting he was paying nearly £3O to win. Loch.son ran two very honest races at the recent meeting at Trentham, but in Nukumai lie met a much improved gelding that goes well on a soft track. ]/. Alorris rode a fine finish on Omahu in the Wellington Steeplechase, and the 'black gelding’s success was in a great measure due to his good riding. Kovno anti Te Alaire knocked down a. portion of the brush fence situated in the straight at Trentham, and this undoubtedly made the. task of Omahu much easier.

W ; Bowden gave a finished exhibition of riding on all his mounts at Tren-t-ham, but particularly does this apply to Nukumai, .which he rode to perfection on each day. Although Fireblight won each day of the Wellington meeting, her performances were not very striking. Indeed, when backed down to "evens” on the second day, Fireblight had not the race won till after jumping the last fence. Those two well sold geldings, Captain Sarto and Kipling, were amongst the runners at Trentham, but as was only to he expected when they meet such company neither threatened danger. In some quarters the Taranaki gelding 1 apaponga. was looked on as good for the concluding event at Trentham, and in the race looked a possibility at the straight entrance, but tired badly over the last furlong. Had Winning Hit not started on Saturday at Trentham it is just possible that Yoma may have repeated his Ellerslie performance and won for his army of backers.

Lochella ran a fine race in the Wellington Steeplechase and flattered his supporters throughout the contest, but was not good enough for his younger rivals. Lochella should run well in the Grand National Steeplechase.

The "brush” jumps at Trentham must have been very frail obstacles, as when struck they fell like so many ninepins. - This form of jump is most unfair to proficient chasers, and incidentally sometimes robs the race from the right horse.

Had Ellis ridden Pamplona at the gap in the last fence of the Wellington bteepjechase, inst&a-cl of easing his mount to get through safely, there is little doubt that lie must have beaten Umahu comfortably. Nevertheless the peifoi mance of Omahu was a good one Prior to leaving for Trentham San r orte was responsible for a great gallop at Egmont, but in his races last week ban I orte failed badly and f oiled in the rear etch day. Possibly a. few days in the paddock would fieshen up ban I orte, which is a useful when able to produce his best. Like most of those persons who witnessed the running of the Wellington Steeplechase, the Canterbury Jockey Uub s ha ml leap per -evidently looked on Pamplona’s defeat by Omahu as somewhat lucky, as in the Grand National Steeplechase Pamplona meets Omahu on only one pound better terms and even at this handicap most bettors will support Pamplona. Before competing at Trentham Te van a was looked on as something extra special, but while this gekliim showed brilliancy, he failed to nm on as well, as expected, and at present it appears to be that "sprinting” i s his strong point. Te Kawa is at present engaged m the Winter Cup at the Canterbury meeting, but is an improbable runner in that event On the first day of the Wellington meeting Aoma carried just over £550 nr the Stewards’ Handicap, but never threatened danger. On the second Hay the gelding was entrusted with about £l7oo m the Winter Oats. Yoma began well, but after going a short dis--ance the erratic Winning Hit headed oil A oma, and thereafter the Taranaki yeldnig was always doing his best, and thus the , good tiling” came undone ■? or many months Pamplona, has been untten up m tins column as an extra ~~ K , and when Mr. Lusk the moderate "hack” Noble to concede l amplona half a stone in the Gic.'t Eastern Steeplechase at Riverinner IV'" 1 V s . Twined iu this Many North Island sportsmen considered the writer vastly over-rated 1 aniplona but alter seeing Air Haz•ldmiUS'V “I"’" Trentham all rated 1 1 J : " llpl(Jlia was not over-