TE AROHA FIXTURE

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 36, 26 February 1937, Page 8

TE AROHA FIXTURE

Our Own Correspondent).

A Big Cup Field Puzzle FINAL ANALYSIS

(From

AUCKLAND, This Day. Many improvements have been effected at Te Aroha in antieipation of a record meeting to-morrow and Monday, but the club is going to be hard put to it to cater for the great crowd of racegoers expeeted. The fields are very good all through, although in some cases not quite. so large as anticipated, which is all for the best, The course is in excellent order, and betting will be tranOacted under win and jilace methods. In the: big event, the Herries Memorial Cup, the field of 25 is the largest of the day, and perhaps a record in important events for many years. In addition te the 18 provincial acceptors, there are seven. from .outside the province. Flood Tide is the logical topweight, and he is not overburdened, for he has only 41b. zqore than he carried succesisfully in the A.R.C. . Handicap in heavy ground on New Year's Day. It is possible that he will race better right-handed, for his best performances have been that way round. King Rey is in fine order j his finishing xun into third place in the Waikato sprint was a splendid effbrt, and there ls no doubt about him seeing it out. He is going to be one of the best backed candidates. Difference ia Weights.

Scotland's meritorious win last week has placed him number three in the handicap. At that he has only a pound more, though this is counterbalaneed by all of those he defeated being much lower down the scale. Scotland is a genuine perf ormer, and this look3 like his big chance of getting another good stake. Spiral will have to improve on Taranaki form, while Mazir and Master Brierly were both crediated with good races at Te Rapa and they may improve. Taitoru was the hero of the handicap events at New Plymouth and Hawera, for two seconds andi a win, and on that form alone he is entitled to consideration; the final furlong may be luis trouble. Jonathan is in at a gift weight, yet he will be at long odds in the absence of any form for so long. Lagoon has yet to stay this trip, although she has the ability to obtain a good position eafly, a faotor in. such a big field.. There was something ' about Tybalt's form last Saturday that indicated he would be particularly hard in this rhee for he is now coming genuine and he displayed plenty of gritj now he is handily placed in the handicap. Will Stick On. Shy waa easily beaten last Monday, but he was finishiug so strongly fhat it is more than likely that had the distance been beyond a mile he might have ended up in front. He was heavily backed on Saturday, so he has something more than an outside chance over this distance. The big field may beat Kelly, who must go on the outside of his field. Tiger Gain' went a good race at Te Rapa, considering he nearly fell early in the race. The. second half of the Cup handicap does not appeal, even if there are possibilities about Werohia, Debham, Loombination (third to Flood Tide and Scotland in the A.R.C. Handicap), Gay Rose, . Respectf ul aud Hout le Monde; .the last named was right in the bunch that finished "behind the placed horses last Saturday. There is going to be plenty of bother in the large field, but if' they manage to Steer clear of interference Scotland, Tiger Gain, Tybalt aud Shy may be found fighting it out. Smart Spriaters. After Whirling's splendid dual win at Te Rapa it, is going to take something extra good to down him in the Waihou Handicap, and if this is to ,be his fate 'then Golden Sheila may be the one to turn the trick, for she now comes in on 121b. better terms, and there was not that difference between them on Saturday, with the' prospect also of Golden Sheila being the more likely to benefit by the run. Deficit showed so much pace in his last two outings that he must be givea another chance, and then there are Karl, Tray Bit, Mata Hari and Galilee, all ' but Mata Hari now in with luxury imposts. However, the issue should really rest between Golden Sheila and Whirling. Quite good fields will parade for the other races. Interest will be taken in Calucutta's hurdle chance, for he could have won quite .easily last Saturday, instead of just scrambling home, had he fenced even moderately. In the Waitoa Hack there is an . outstanding sort, at the handicap, in Flying Chief late King Koroki), who is perhaps fortunate in getting in at the minimum after being second and first at New Plymonth' thr'ee weeks ago, his form being most impressive.

Besiege ls Good. Juvenile form • last w'eek-end points to Wildflower in the twb-year-old race, although Huntingmore has been recording brilliant. track, .trials at Te Awamutu.: Beeiege (with an experienced rider up) . will challenge supremacy in the Shaftesbury, while recent form points to Debham and Kilonsa having another duel in the Hot Springs mile. International may make amends In the Champion Hack, for he was finshing fast, as usual, at the finish of the hack mile last Monday. The form horses likely to attract support to-morrow are;— 11.50; Ruakaka Hurdles. — Tudor, Calcutta, Ruaform.. 12.35: Waitoa Hack.— Flying Chief, Taro, Jack Tar. 1.20?, Juvenile Handicap. — Wild- , flower, A3wai, Royal Yaals^

2.5: Herries Memonal Cup. — Scotland, Tiger Gain, Shy or Tybalt. ' 2.55: Shaftesbury Hack. — JBesiege, Paso Robles, Fleetwind. 3.40: Hot Springs Handicap. — Kilonsa, Debham-Korero Bracket, Royal Secret. 4.25: Champion Hack.— International, Black Musk, King, Theo. 5.0: Waihou ' ' Handicap.— Golden Sheila, Whirling, Karl.