NORTHERN FORM

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 129, 17 June 1937, Page 13

NORTHERN FORM

(Special from "Early Bird.")

Merial Is The Making Of A Good Sprinter UNLUCKY VALMINT

AUCKLAND, Tuesday. i Te Hai raced well enough at EIj lerslie to suggest tliat ke is a possiJ bility il: be is produced again at Tauranga or Te Awamutu this montb. At the former centre Ja-st montb be captured tbe double event on tbe second day. Peter Beckford, wbo galloped briJliantly several days before tbe Auckland fixture, was seen out only once and an early clieck sent bim back to tbe ruck, after wliicb be failed to make a sbowing. He liiay find it easier goin« if produced at bim bome track tbis week, wbile the Wellington meeting sbould see bim bolding liis own if that trip is undertaken. Last fieason Merial was one of tbe best two-year-olds in tbe north, although below olassio pretensions, and it was considered that she would be more than useful this tei'm. It has taken a long time for ber to get to her best, an ea-sy win at Avondale a couple of months ago indieating that sbe was on tbe improve. When produced ainong the open sprinters at Ellerslie on Saturday it was obvious in tbe last halfmile that sbe bad tbe measure of those in front of ber and sbe came home strongly for a decisive win. Merial is tbe making of a good sprinters and it may not be long) before sbe is found winning races among tlie best over middle distances The Best Caflopers. Boomerang and Royal Appellant were outstanding in the baudicap class at tbe Auckland meeting, tbe latter by bis runaway win in tbe York Handicap displaying his best form. Boomerang' s Cornwall Handicap effort was oue of the best ever seen at headquarters, for be bad to go past the whole lield in the final mile and then fougbt it out strongily in a bectic finish. Bcomerang bas been a long time coming right, but now that be is obviously at bis best again he can be ticked off for another good stake in tbe near future, for be is at bis best in beavy ground. Considering tbat be was just out of tbe back ranks, the two races Valmint ran at Ellerslie indicated tbat he is not going to be out of his class and that next season be is to be considered in some of the principal handicaps, particularly if tbe going happens to be soft or beavy, for be is a real mudlark. He was uniucky in striking two good horses in Boomerang and Royal Appellant, decidedly uniucky too in being asked to meet tbe latter at level weigbts, at wbich he could liave little chance both horses being fit and well. It is not known if Valmint will be raced at Trentham next montb, but his owner rarely sends his horses away from Auckland city courses. Tbe just concluded meeting) was one of tbe very few winter gatherings at headquarters that Greek Gold has gone tbrougb witbout paying a dividend. He looked the part and the beavy tracks were all in bis favour, yet be failed to act up to the form shown on bis previous appearances here, so that it may be a question of age beginning to tell. He revealed a lot oi' pace on tbe final day, when be rushed to tbe front from an outside position, and tbis was undoubtedly responsible for him stopping in the final dash. It took some time for Gay Rebel to get on tbe winning list and, after being plaeed among the back handicap horses, he at last made amends in the final event of tbe Great Northern meeting, gaining a clear-cut win. He is able to handle eitber kind of going, so may be a good sort for next Beason. In the lneantime he may be raced at Tauranga and Te Awamutu, and bis immediate prospects are very brigbt. Gay Rebel is owned by tbe president of tbe Avondale Jockey Club and the success on Saturday proved very popular. Enge ran three excellent races at Ellerslie, narrowly missing a dividend on the middle day, so that his turn may come at any time now. He is engaged at both Tauranga and Te Awamutu this month and it would not occasion mucb surprise if be was to win at either centre, or both, for be is coming back to bis best after a long spell. Enge has always been good over a middle distance and on his more recent sbowingis be looks like going on with it now. If Huskie is sent to Trentham next montb Enge ma.y go too, althouglj they are in different stables.