NORTHERN TOPICS

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 107, 22 May 1937, Page 16

NORTHERN TOPICS

"Early Bird.")

Fresh Horses at Te Rapa Meeting PIRATE KING-PHILEMUP

(By Telegraph — From

AUCKLAND, This Day. Leaving nothing to chance, the Waikato Racing Club has made the neceseary arrangements to divide the big handicap on the second day of its iixture, Monday next, in the event o x che acceptors numbering more than 28. In that case the stake is to be doubled. There are 43 entrants, but a division may not be required, although a large .field is certain. Oalcutta is to take on his mosl serious hurdles task to date when he. competes m the Coronation Hurdles on Monday, and reporte from his hoire traek indicate that he will strip a fit horse. He last raced at Avondale seven weeks ago, making a bold showing on Ihe flat, so he ought to be very fit when he lines up. The distanee of Monday 's race is two miles, so should try out his stamina, while the opposition will bo extra good. Calcutta's Kecord When Calcutta linished third in a hurdle race at Te Awamutu last December it was a very promising debut. as a jumper, but it did not forotell a meteoric career that was to follow almost immediately. A mouth later lio ran a second and first ovor the sticks and then won easily a hurdle event at Matamata, following this with two high-weight victories ;at ^Rotorua. Then at Te Kapa he won agajin over hurdles, while in his last four efforts, on the flat, he won at Paeroa and was fourth twice. In the course of a couple oi months Calcutta had won half a dozen races, three over hurdles aud three ou the flat, so that he is going to be oue of the most interesting of the runuers in the hurdle Tace qu Monday and lcoks at least a place imospect. Clariou CalL In view of his fine lorm last winter, Clarion Call is going to have thc rule xun over him if he is produced in the same race at Te Kapa on Monday. Ho recently finished a good second to Boughal at Hawera when cOnceding the winner a couple of stone and in sot't ground, which was only a bit better than real winter going. Clarion Call will give some idea of his Great Northern chance if he runs on Monday, but in the meantime it^is interesting to note his name among the Wanganui nominations. This fine jumper has yet ■to prove himself in very bad ground, but if he ds produced* on Monday it will alford him the opportunity to show himself able to master such conditions.

Likely to Improvp. Pakanui, who in the meantime has ecarcely xun up to his fine second to Onewhetu in the last Cornwall Handicap, is not engaged on the first day at Te Kapa, but he is entered for both the mnle and the six-furlong races on Monday. It is strange that both these horses have failed to race up to expeetations after their hard race iu Ellerslie nearly twelve months ago, when the traek was indeed fast,. and'il might possibly be that this etruggio found a weakness. The Te Kapa traek should suit the Hawke's Bay galloper and he looks a likely place-getter if he receives his share of tho luck in running, fof he has proved himself under winter conditions. Pakanui is not engaged at Wanganui and that suggests the northern trip being undertaken. After his fine showings last week at Hawera, it ds probable that Surella will be more highly regarded by northern speculators than has been the case during the past several weeks, for his eiforts on his^southern trip clearly indicated that "he is not so cliickenhearted as appeared from previous i finishing wealcness. He had to eome from well back to wiu over five furlongs on the first day at Hawera, while on the second day lie was pccompan'ed for most of tlio way and then shook off his challengers in the final furlong In no uncertain manner. Surella on this showing would be a distinct possibility if started in the sprint on Mnn day. A Speedy Galloper Pirate KrJng rau away with tho maiden race xnree months ago at Te Kapa, und .a.' few days later uespite a tendency to run out iu the straiglit he mereJy played .with u useful field oi' xifcar-maideus at Te Aroha. This was peculiar, for these two courses are iaid out tho opposilo way for racing. Te Kapa being- left aucL Te Aroha rightUauded. lucidentally, the xuost remarkable thing about his lirst victory was that the xinnouncer did not menti.on liinr until the uuiubcrs weut up and ho was in front most of the way. Pirate King is engaged at Te Kapa on Monday and it is going to bo hard to find oue capablo of beating him, for he ia good and is stnll susceptible of improvoment. Anothor usefu] hack who had his enagement this afternoon dipcontinued but is entered for two races on Monday is Philemup,- who rather surprised by finishing second at Pukekohe last week after being off the scene for somo: months. This three-year-old should be pretty well placed on Monday, for the opposition in the mile Hangatiki Hack event is not very serious and he should bo able to cope with him, despite the t'act that he will probably have his ftill share of weight t.0 carry. Philemup is also in the final race on Monday, run over seven furlongs, and if reserved for this he should stlll be able to hold his own. At his last appearance on his home traek at Te Rapa Philemup deadlieated with Quadroon in the Hack Cup.