NORTHERN HOPES

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 116, 2 June 1937, Page 13

NORTHERN HOPES

Forest GIow's Jumping at Ellerslie GRATEFUL IMPROVING (Speoial from ' ' Early Bird.") AUCKLAND, Tuesday. Maater Musk looks in nice order i'or lxis Great Nortliern Hurdles engagement and liad lie liad a race reeently ke would have a chauce on his own in tliis event, but now kis best credential is tliat he is bracketed with Erination. Master Musk received a rick and that prevented liiin lilling has Te Rapa engagements. A nice piece of schooling work by Forest Glow the other morning over the Ellerslie hill has brought hinl into favour Once again for the Great Northern- Steeplechase. In .both the Egmont and Waikato Coronation Steeplechase contests the Awapuni juinper went good races and only petered out in the final quarter-miie and this may suggest that he would dmprove with racing. One of his biggest assets last winter was his stamina and this has surely not departed altogether. Not Long Absent. Travelliug Agent's recent absence from. the training tracks was not of iong duration and he is back at work and schooling pleasingly. He. will miss the opening day. at Ellerslie and his appearance later at the lixture wiii depend on his progress. However, present indi,cations are that he will uot De at his beat aintil later, so he may be capable of going good races at Trenthan^ next nionth. He won the Winter Hurdles there last season after misamg Ellerslie. It is a pity that Travelling Agent is not a thoroughly sound horse. The recent crash through a gate that put Windsor Lad ofl the scene temporarily may be expensive to his owners, for he was in fine forjn and might have been capable of winning a race at Ellerslie. It is probable that he will now be set to compete among the 'chas.ers at the Wellington fixtuxe iive weeks hence, that is, if his injury is not more serious than it appears at present. Windsor Lad raced at Trentham last July and failed, but he has a bit more experience now, even if it was disquieting to see him dropping his rider on the first day at Te Hapa and falling on the second. A Forward Trio. Three Takanini trained horses thal at present are galloping very well 'Uideed are Survoy, Frofessional and Grateful. The hrst-named is on the improve once again and, as he revels in the soft ground, he ie a Jervoi3 Haudicap prospect, especially as he has received a liberal concession in the wcights. Professional now has to take on open company and, while he is useful, it is going to be a question of placing him unless he makes sharp improvement. It is in his favour that he should be good under winter couditions. Grateful had his flrst race since comdng north at the recent Waikato meeting and he was prominent for a brief portion of the journey. He is expected to rrs*te his next appearance in the Cornwall Haiidicap and may be a real surprise packet. Now that the going is typical cf winter, Valmint should be capable of wihning a race shortly, for he is in fine form and he is at his best on heavv ground. He is in the Cornwall Handicap with the minimurn impost and at that is an outside prospect, even if he is a bit close to some good winners. The fact that there will be about SO starters in that e.vent will be something in his favour, for he has the speed to get a position early unless he meets with interference at the jump-out. Tmproving 'Ghasers. When Lucidus tipped the sod wall, the second to last fence, in the open steeplechase on the second day at Te Hapa, and dropped his rider, he seemed certain to flnish next to Allegretto and Yalpeen and it will be admatted that that form was quite good, partieularly for a novice 'chase|. On the flrst day of the Waikato fixthre he defeated all but Saint Muek in the Hack Steeples, so his two displays have certainly beeu promising. Lucidus may show up m the haek steeplechase contests at Ellerslie provided he can handle the country, or rather the hdll, which is what stops many good fencers. There is going to be some solid backing for Ay Irish in the Hunt Club Hurdles at Ellerslie on Saturday and, if he makes a show in that race, he v/ill be one of the hardest to beat in the Hunt Cup on the second day. Nothing much hate been dono to date by this gelding, but, judged solely ou his fine schooling eifort over the hill last Saturday mornfiug, he is going to take some beating in the class lie will be meeting in the unmediate iuture. He particijjated with several Great Nortltern Steeplechase candidates, and as his showmg was Iittle inferior to them it wiill be reeognieed that he must be givon a chaitce in the Hunt Club Hurdles, a race that is genorally easy to wm; jumping ability rs wliat' is required.