CUP HORSES

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 41, 4 March 1937, Page 8

CUP HORSES

'Earlv

Bird."I

Te Aroha Anaiysis WORD FOR ROYAL DANCE

r Special from 4

AUCKLAND, This day. , In the Presi.dent's Handicap last Mon'day at Te Aroha, Mazir defeated Shy narrowly, the oificial margin being haif a head; it looked a bit more, but that it was a close finish could not be denied. There was 81b. -between, them, and now in ihe Franklin Cup next Saturday Shy has been allowed sixteen ounces by way of compensation. Tiie latter is getting high in the weights without having won a handicap and is within a coupie of pounds of We welljjerformed Royai Appellant. King Rey was one of the many horses that did not get a run in the Herri.es Memorial Cup, for which his connections considered him fit and good enough to win. On the second day he looked all over a winner when he joiued Shy, and headed him slightly, at the bottom of the straight, but while he ran on strongly he failed to stall off Mazir, and in the last few strides Sky's last effort relegated him into third place. King Rey looked the part and, while he is going to be hard to place in the north now, in his present form he may succeed beforo the season ends,, His next outings may be in tbe handicap events at Ellerslie at Easter, Did Not Stay. On his Taranaki running Taitoru was fully expected to show up at Te Aroha, and he did, a lack of stamina being in evidenco at the end oi his two races. Each day he was up second making the home turn and he then failed to xun on, suggesting that he is not going to make a real stayer. As a hack Taitoru looked like .developing into a good handicap horse and his New Plymouth and Hawera runs were exeellent efforts, but be found the better class last weekend much more formidable. However, his owner should be able to place him advantageously. As the winner of the Herries Memorial Cup on Saturday, Master Brierly must be crefiited with being the best horse seen out at Te Aroha. His effort was reminiscent pf this gelding at his peak, for there was .no denymg that uiagnificent xun he put in over the last funong when he had more than haif the field in front of him — and there were 24 runners. As a stayer he outciassed the opposition and, of course, he appreeiated the .drop in weight compared with what he was carrying earlier m the season. On Monday he was again tailed off and he made a move at ths three furlongs, this being short-lived, and he was a long way back at the post. A horse that has had several hard races this season for a very good record Is Scotland, and it is possible tbat he is now beginning to feei the effects. His victory in the big handicap the first diiv at Te Rana was achieved hv sta-

mina, and on the strength of that fine finishing burst he was one of the faucies for the big event at Te Aroha. In lhat race he was one of the unsighted division and, in comnion with many other competitors, probably could not get a run. On the second day Scotland was in the unusual role pf pacemaker for the first furlong and, then steadied in behind, he did well to got iouith, only haif a length from the winner. Scotland is not engaged at Pukekohe or Paeroa, so he may not race agam until Easter at Ellerslie. Inght-weight Prospects. Spiral was not prominent in his Te Aroha races, aithough he looked a very fit horse, and his tailures of late liiaj deeide his owner to retire him to tho stud. He is only a six-year-old and has given evidence of being able to stay, so, bred as he is, should be a success as a sire. He has never been overaone as a racehorse and this will stand to him when he takes np stud duties. Tybalt did not run up to his first day's effort at Te Aroha and he, too, Is climbing in the weights, but his turn should not be far away, seeing that he is so well. A soft traek will bring his winning turn much nearer. Tybalt may have his next outings at Pukekohe and Ellerslie. Royai Dance's previous efforts had been lonfined to sprinting, so that his presence in the Herries Memorial Cup field came as something of a surprise. He ran a very fine faee, too, over the eleven furlongs, leading right round to the straight and then finishing a good fif'th, so he is a novice handicap horse that wiE have to be reckoned with. On Monday he was expected to show up better in the shorter race, but a loss of several lengths at tbe start resulted in his be?ng in the- ruck throughout. Royai Danee may make next week's Ohinemuri Cup very intereeting. Of the other handicap horses seen out at. Te Aroha, many were prevented by luck in running from showing of what tfc.cy were capable. Werohia was able to make a better effort on Monday, but he did not run on after having every chance. Flood Tide looked well and he, too, failed to make a showing either dav. Obviously he was not in the same fcrm as at Christmas, and he will need to improve to make amends at Ellerslie at Easter. It now looks as if th8 big treble set for him earlier in the season — Mitchelson Cup (which he duly won), Auckland Cup and Melbourne Cup — was asking too much of the Tidal gelding, aithough he still has a chance to xecover form and perhaps emulate Wotan*s performanee next November. In the meantime it would not be surprising to find Flood Tide making his way aerosa the Tasman later. Jonathan was given two chances to prove himself again last week-end. After racing prcminently in the first day's big isce for a mile he compounded, and on Ihe seccnd he did not do so well. Lagoon went two fine races and she should not be out of it'in her coming engagoments at Paeroa.