IN THE NORTH

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 48, 12 March 1937, Page 9

IN THE NORTH

(Special from fEarly Bird.")

Ohinemuri^ Big Day LAG00N, GOLDEN SHEILA

AUCKLAND, This day. _ The accomodation for racegoers is to be severely tested at Paeroa to-mor-row, when the opening day of the Ohinemuri Jockey. Club'a annual lixture will be held, the meeting concluding on the following Wednesday, St. Patrick 's Day. The course is in excellent order and ehould stand up even to a good rainfall. Win and place betting will be in operation. There will be nine races to-morrow, the maiden handicap event being divided, with a win dividend on each winner and place dividends on the flrst and second horses. In to-morrow 's Cup there are no less thJan 18 candidates, but the field has a distinct tail, though some of .these may make it interesting when they force the pace round the turning course. For shcer speed, backed up with just reasonable stamina, is more essential than tho latter quality alone. Up Against It. For this reason the topweights, Master Bn.eriy and Mazir, may be rap against it with their weight, good etayers though they are. Lagoon is certainly climbing in the weights, but she was only narrowly defeated at both Te Rapa and. Te Aroha, so that with her e&rly pace she may be capable of leading throughout the contest. Sinking Fund is another f orm horse beaten by necks at both Te Aroha and Pukekohe, and with an ounce of luck his turn may come at Paeroa. Miss Lu will have a better opportunity of getting in the money on this occasion, for she may etay on this course. Knight of Australia won so well at Pukekohe that he cannot be overlooked, especially as his last three efforts have resulted in two win? and a third. Mungatoon, bracketed with Lagoon, is about due again and .he will be a useful second string for the stable. Royal Dance led for most of the way at Te Aroha and then finished fifth, which suggests possibilities if ' he can get to the front early here. It was only lack of vigour on the part of his rider that brought about Gay Talkie's defcat last Saturday and ridden the same way he will not -get in the money at all to-morrow. However, with a bit more dash from the pilot the three-year-old has a great chance of winning; he gave Knight of Australia at least five lengths ' start over the final furlong last Saturday and was within half a length of him at the post. Other lightweights with chances are Gay Broney, Valrent, Con Fuoco, Vera Acre and Bonny Gay. The lastnamed won this race last year from a weak field. Summed up, backers may regard the issue as lying between Lagoon and Sinking Fund. The Best Sprinters, With Notium withdrawn last Tuesday_, there is still a field of 17 remaining'in the Paeroa Handicap, and h8re early speed is very essential. To have, a chance up the straight a horse does not want to have more than four or five in front of him, despite the fact that the run-ih extends for a furlong and a Ralf. It is the sharp bend to the home turn, on a down grade, that makes it difficult for the horses at the back, but if a horse is handily placed on the rails at the turn he is certain to get a run on the inner. Triune, Golden Sheila, Galilee, Johnny Walls, Prince Acre, Bellkyrian, Solaria, Rollicker and King Neptune would appear to be the most likely, and once again faith will probably be pinned to Golden Sheila; she won her first race on this course just twelve months back, while Galilee, with only half a stone above the minimum, should also appeal. Minor Events. It is rather unfortunate for trainer A. Cook that his three maidens, Clooneen, Ngakaru and Lady Meath, are all in the second division of the Awaiti Handicap. Yet he may pehaps be considered lucky, for Royal Passage, on his runaway win last Saturday, looks unbeatable in the first division. Airam would only have to leave the barrier to catch the Karangahake Handicap stake, but she is unreliable, so Girl Pat may be the best; although on the figures and Te Rapa running the latter could not have a show with the Australian filly. A Jumping Prospect.. Dom Erlna has won two hurdle races in the past few weeks and, as he has also won over country, he may be good enough to account for the steeplechase field, which is weaker than usual. Others well placed in their engagements to-morrow are Sandy Dix, Tosh and Jan Ridd. In addition to the Lagoon-Munga- 1 toon bracket in the Ohinemuri Cup there are the following brackets in the Awaiti Handicap : — Susan and Poland, Bryco Street and Clooneen, Cometarium and Frances Acre, General Riske and Hopalong, Hutana and Hymel-Le, T«rc and Llangollen, Malagigj and Mia Acrea, Miriana and Overdue, Requim and Shota, Slam and Stormy Weather. Tralee Rose and Tree of Heaven. In feach bracket the second horse named contests the second division. Forrn horees likely to interest backers are:— 12.0, Karangakahe Handicap. — Girl Pat, Airam, Land Girl. 12.40, Handicap Hurdles. — Sandy Dix, Lady Ruler, English Night. 1.20, Neill erton Hack. — Tosli, Kings Lot, King 'I'heo. 2.10, Ohinemuri Cup. — Lagoon-Munga-toon bracket, Sinking Fund, Knight of Australia. 3.0, Awaiti Muiden.— First division: Royal Passage, Oometarium, Bronzette. Second division: Olooneexi, Ngakaru, Tidewaiter. • 3.45, .MeCnire •Steepleclnise. — Don Enna, lrish Coniet, Mangu King. 4.30, Paeroa Handicap. — Golden Sheila, Galilee, Triune. 5.15, Komata Hack. — Jan Ridd, Orate, Little Artist