NOTES AND COMMENTS

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 67, 6 April 1937, Page 8

NOTES AND COMMENTS

"The Barb.")

On Waipukurau Runners

(By

The Dannevirke race meeting held at Waipukurau on Saturday last resulted in a profit which was gpatifying as the two previous meetings held there saw slight losses. The racing was interesting and though the attendance was only moderate, 'those present enjoyed a good afternoon's sport .and speculated boldly. * • " * It was rather surprising to see Parry the outsider of the Mlaiden field, &s his publio form was the best of the four runners. He was in front early, and though he had to be ridden out to the bitter end, won decisively. • • • Mr J. H. McNiven is not ©njoying the hest of luck with his four-year-old Mercian King gelding King's Hope. When running second to Parry early in the race, Jockey Anderson had the misfortune to have his gear go wrong, which prevented him of being much service to his mount. Otherwise he would have been far more troublesome to the winner.

* • * • Marching Song is a horse that wins his share of races, but due mainly to the wise placing, His win in the Tukituki Highweight was decisive and three furlongs from home it could be seen that he had the measure of his opponents. * ♦ * Iddo rau a very fair race for second money and, after his good trial gtallop on Thursday morning, it was surprising to find him paying over the V mark. This gelding when last schooled gave indications of being a brilliant fencer. Thus in him Mr W. J. Woods should have something worth while this jumping season, more especially as he, like the big majority of Traetors is at hest on a soffc track. * • * Tres Sec was very much on the big side, yet he was pacemaker for about seven furlongg and then finished a fair forth. Horses that cottle" from the Lake Station generally know how to jump, so it will not be surprising to see this Gainscourt gelding winning very shortly over hurdles or country. * . *. » Count Willonyx was the disappointment of the Highweight, as after his narrow and uniucky second to Marching Song on Easter Monday, he looked Jike being one of the hardest, a fact the public gathered, as they • made him favourite. The Count was never in better condition, so may make amends this week-end at the Manawatu meeting, where he is engaged in the hurdle events. * • • Soho, for looks and condition, stood ; out in the field that paraded for the Waipukurau Hack Cup. He was tailing the field for three parts of the way, but when given his head gradually threaded his way through his field to win handsomely from the pacemaker, . Lucullus Lad. After Mr G. D. Beat- | son had been presented with the Silver Hose Bowl he in turn passed it on to the jockey, P. Atkins, who rode a well judged race. Althoug|h he may have been somewhat lucky in getting the run of the race from the straight entrance, he was quick to grasp the opportunity ott'ering. This is only the second occnsion in this district, to the writer's memory, when an owner has on the spot passed on a trophy to tjie rider of the winner, the other bejng when Mr Dave Kcmp won the H.B. Cup wjth Kooya, ridden by the late W. ("Biilie") Beli. * • » Lucullus Lad, with his 9.6, was asked a big- question to win this cup from start to finish, and in beating all but Soho put up a very fine performance.

leading one to opine that in him Mr Twist will have a fair handicap horse next season. • • m For a hurdler Tareha ran a good race to weigh in third, and with this Cape Hom gelding Mr W. Henderson, of Waipukurau, should pick up a deoent hurdle stake this jumping season. Tycoon was for the first time tried over a middle distance and, though he lailed to see the 10 furlongs out, that is- not to say that he will not later on when prepared for other than sprint events, • • • The best finish of , the meeting was that in the Ruahine Hack Handicap, when the judge was unable to sdparate Hunter's Morn and Hinepit, botn owned in the Poverty Bay district. Hunter's Morn, though placed behind his field, again began smartly, and very soon was in a winning position and up to within a chain of the post appeared to have the race in keeping. There Iiinepit came with a great rattie to get up in time to make a dead heat of it and a few yards past the post was a good half length in l'ront. This Cockpit mare being out of a maro by Warplane, a son qf Martian, may do better when raced over a longer distance » • * Fossicker was a big disappomtinent, as he was no nearer than sixth at the finish. He was away sluggishly and never got near the leading division and what was more, was always very wide out. He will be taken on to the Manawatu. meeting this week-end and on the easier tfack may do . better. Since coming to Hastings two weeks back he has accomplished one or two smart track eft'orts and should hnve done bofctor in his two attempts at Waipukurau last week. » • * Nereus, who is furnisliing into a nice out of a raceliorsc, finished a close third to the head-lieaters on Saturday and in him H. S. Greene should have

a fair 6take earner as a four-year-old. - As suggested in the "Herald-Tri-bune" her race on Easter Monday was most beneficial to Eelicitation, as ou Satuv.iay ehe never looked like going under with her 9-1. She is on the small side, but may be found quite equal to running over a distance next season, and the winning of an Oaks for Mr P. S. Wall may not be beyond her. • • • Arini is smart but may never be more than a sprinter. Built on galloping lines, she should prove better ihan hack clasa later on. Another filly in Money Raid ran very disappointingly. Having her second race to date Winitangi did very well to fill third place at the finish. Mr J. Carr, of Bay View, when resident in Hastings, raced Bcila, the dam of this filly, who will improve with racing experienco. Of th« nine runners that contested the Juvenile Handicap on Saturday eight were of the weaker sex, ;he oxception being Golden Memory, who must have felt embarrassed in this field of young ladies, as he was never sttn in a "forward" position." Up to seven furlongs Passion Ficwer is still a force to be reckonad with, and despite her 9.5, she ran tbis distance out like a racehorse wuen collecting first money in the Preudjut'a Handicap. After the H.B. Jubibe n.oeting ha may be'retired to tbe stud, as Mr O. Nelson signified that inteatjon to the writer on Saturday. ' Once again Blue Garter was in second position, while Gasman was a disappointing/ fourth, after his race cn Mondav and his brilliant half-mile gal !op on Thursday morning.

Tractile, to win the mile hack handicap, ran a very much improved race compared with her Monday effort. lot that finished to the rear of her. However, they were not a very fiash Agog has now run second each time he has been steppejl out in a mile event. Congratulations must go to H. S. ("Harry") Greene as winner of the trainers' ten guinea • bottus. When it came to the last race he had a substantial lead and Tractile's win made it a decisive victory for him. • • • Gironde and the two-year-old Lindrum left Hastings yesterday morning for Palmerston North, where they will compete at the Manawatu autumn meeting this week. Lindrum, however, will not start until Saturday. * * * Other Hawke's Bay entrants at the same fixture, Count Willonyx, Blac.lc Fox, Master Cyklon, Curie, Ben Braggie, Pakanui, Peter Beckford, Seyfried and". Agog will leave to-morrow. • « • Black Fox, trained here for his Palmerston North owner, Mr W. A. Irons, has yet to win a race, but on his last showing, at Napier early last month, he may make a bold bid.in the Autumn Plate next Frlday, as the maideners in that event are nothing out of tho ordinary. * • # Master Cyklon. performcd most creditably at the Wairarapa Easter meeting, where he was uniucky to be defeated on the first d&y by Pennycomeqmek and won on the second day. This little fellow is in g^eat heart and on Friday will be in dOmand t'gain. There is no horse in this district tbnt has improved. more during the last tew months. Since Mr J. Paul acquired full ownership of him he .has won close on £700, with a good chance of adding further to that amount. He may race but the one day at Awapuni and brought back to Hastings to have a light let-up before being prepared for the Hawke's- Bay Jubilee Gold Cup. • * • • Curie ran a fair race at Pahiatua and, 1 though the Arausio gelding will not be a strong Tecommendation for Manawatu, the going has only to be really holding for his chance to be appreciably enhanced. • • • Ben Braggie won well on the first day at Feilding but was well beaten into third place in his next attempt. He is a very fair sprinter, buf he will have to do better than he has to reaeh first class. • • • It is fairly safe to say that Bekanui is right back to his very best forfii, as

his 1.14J for six furlongs on the Ha\tings plough xecently suggests. This gelding is at home on any so^t of going but, like all of the Hunting Songs, is better on an easy track. As it ka3 been Taining offi. and on for some timo in the Manawatu it will not be hard and Pakanui is assured of solid support from hbre in next Friday 's sprint. . * * Peter Beckford is making the trip but will hardly be dressed in his very - best', as "Ee had to be eased a few weeks ,back when he ran a nail into one of his fore feet. He is just a little on the "pretty" side, bnt with a race into him may be expected to put tfp a better race on the second day. • • • The recent racing that Seyfried haa had shoufd see this three-year-old. in first-class racing order. On his trip to Wairarapa he ran well on each occasion, though he won but one race. On Friday he is down to contest the mile hack race and, though he has to meet a fair lot of hacks, the Whakatu-owned gelding will bo expected to koep up his end, m m • Gironde also made the PahiatuaTauherenikau trip, notching three secouds and oue third in his four attempts. In oue of the seconds he was perhaps unluelcy, as his rider seemed a little too confident in thinking he had the race in safe keeping for an opponent came with a late rattie and bait hini for the major honours. w • • In conversafion with f'The Barb" at Waipukurau Mr Frank Armstrong, owner of Francis Drake, said that his two-year-old colt has now fully recovered from the cold which alfected his -winning chance at Wellington, so that he should be back to his best for the Manawatu Produce Stakes. There seoms to be an impression among some onlookers that in tho A.R.C. Chanipagne stakes Ffancis Drake 's rider took things a little too easy at the finish and that had he lcept his mount going to full capacity over the final halffurkmtr he would have beaten Smoka

Screen, so that the meeting of these two colts at Awapuni should furnish a most interesting contest, • f • Mr G. D. Beatson haa an addition to his string in a big brown gelding by Tractor from Asteri9m that appears likely to require time, and in all probability he will do duty first in the hunting field. # • • L. D. Berry is pottering about with a four-year-old untried mare by Lord Quex from a Greyspear mare. She is the property of Mr R. McCallum, now resident in Hastings but at one time of Taranaki. • • • Mr E. A. Joncs has acquired the Mercian King mare Pukehou from Mr A. Symes. This half-sister to Round Up has thickened out during her eighteen months' spell and, as ahe could always gallop, Mr Jones shouidL soon have her for hack racing to take the place of Tycoon, whom he intends trying shortly as a hurdler. » * • Cotsfield is gradually getting into shipshape condition and trainer J. Clements wfll have him ready for early steeplechasing. • • • The rain which fell locally over -the week-end was very welcome to Hastings trainers, especially to. those who have jumpers in their eare, as the tracks here have been so hard that it has • been impossible to do much schooling .work for the last few months. •