A SMART MAIDEN

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 6, 22 January 1937, Page 8

A SMART MAIDEN

-Press nssDCiation.)

Haif-Brother to Namakia ellerslie" racing

tB.v I'elegraph-

AUCKLAND, Jan. ssl. As usual, the maiden handicap events at the Takapuna meeting at Ellerslie on Friday and Saturday of next week will be contested by large fields, although on this occasion there will be none of the unpopular divisions. Two of the entrants have done most of their racing in Australia, these being Raepata and School Song and both have been placed there. The latter is a well bred five-year-old gelding by Hunting Song from Marchaway, daughter of Lucullus and»March, and so closely related to those good gallopers Queen March, Te Kara, Lucius K,ahapa, On Parade, Limareh and . King March School Song raced several times in Australia and was placed once, in a maiden welter at Menangle, New South Wales, fifteen months baek. He is working in promising fashion at Ellerslie. Raepata has been placed a few times both in Auckland and New South Wales, and as he is only a three-year- 1 old now he should be worth following in this, his second season on the turf. He is a brown colt by Brazen (sire oi the briliiant Bronze Eagle) from Cap- J sina and was purchased privately at the Sydney yearling saies in 1935 by Mr E. Montgomery (owner of Silver Jubilee), in whose colours he races. At the last Auckland Easter meeting tnver and Rulette, and at his last start prior to that he was also third in a division of a Nursery Handicap at Canterbury Park, New South Wales. Raepata is a promising colt and his first win may not be long deferred, for he will have plenty of opportunities from now on, but of course if he develops really good form he is almost certain to be sent baclc to Australia to race. Another interesting candidate in this *,lass at Ellerslie is the three-year-old gelding Ngakarau, who is a half-brothei by General Latour to Namakia, the latter being by Gay Shield. Ngakarau has not *flone very mueh racing, but he is undoubtedly going to be. good if he improves as much as expected. The gelding had his last outing at Te Awamutu five weelcs ago, taking on the Waipa Plate, and he- finish'ed a good fourth to King Neptune, Orate and Girl Pat, form that was very good, for King Neptune subsequenflv won at Ellerslie, Orate took a double at Stratford and Girl Pat was third among the go'od two-year-olds with 8.2 in the handicap at Ellerslie on Boxing Day. If he is produced at Ellerslie on Friday or Saturday Ngakarau should go close to winning for trainer A. Cook.