NORTHERN TOPICS

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 146, 8 July 1937, Page 11

NORTHERN TOPICS

[Special— From "Early Bird."]

High Quality for National Meeting HIGHB0RN DOING WELL

AUCKLAND, Wednesday. The hurdler High Quality has gone to Riccarton and joined up with J. Shaw's stable. A dislike to heavy tracks has inspired this move and at Riccarton at National time this gelding should find the going more to his liking. High Quality is engaged in the Grand National Hurdles and, as he staya well and the roomy Riccarton course will suit him, he has something more than an outside chance in rext, month's event. It was given out some time ngo that Fcx Moth would do her future racing on the West Coast of the South Island, but ehe is still in work at Takanini. The other morning she had a fall on the track, meeting with no injuries, fortunately, for she was afterwards galloped smartly over three furlongs. Fox Moth is on the small side and is therefore not likely to be raced again until the 7.7, or alternatively tho 7.0. minimum is reverted to later in thp year. Does Not Stay. Stifling herself on the opening day of the Great Northern meeting, Lady iiuler had to miss the remaining days of that fixture, but she is now making progrese and it is expected that she will bo on hand at the Pakuranga race meeting at headquarters next month. Lady Kuler has a lot of pace and jumps fairly well, but as yet she has not given evidence of staying; on the llat six furlongs was as far as she couid go, so she will have to be placed earefully. Tiro jumpers being qualified for hunters' events are Bub-Editor and Thespis. ' The former was not much iiood lvhen tried in previous seasons on the flat and over the sticks, so he will have to show some forra, being being recommended. Thespis has been one of tho best hurdlers and, cross-country performers in the prov'ince for some t.ime, although he has been under a cloud during the past eighteen months. He will probably have to carry some weight in the huntera' classes. For Hunters' Ei^ces. Englishman has been acquired by Mr W. M. Taylor, who has socurod a leas» of this gelding from. his Cambridge owner. Mr Taylor has had nothing vo carry his colourS since his smart galloper Gay Defence ivent amiss and, as he is keen on hunting, it is not su~piising that he should have looked iound for something to carry his colours ui hunters' events at coming meetings. The Auckland sportsman has a couple of youngsters he ds pottering about with, so lie promises to be well repreI -;ented in the coming season. In the meantime Englishman is good enough co pick up a minor stake.

It is interesting to note that among the dates songht in the new racirg Keason the Auckland Trotting Club cs seeking to race earlier in June, tho intention being to race on the off dayvs associated with the Auckland Raeing Olub's winter meeting, making it a five-days racing and, trotting carnival. Ln connection with its spring meeting, Ihe Auckland T.C. has also 6ubmitted alterilative dates to Labour Day weekond, for it has been mooted that tlie Waikato Hunt Club's meeting on Labour Day has grown so popular that, with restri'cted ac.commodation on the course at Cambridge, the fixture nuight have to be held at Te Rapa, an eveutuality that would seriously affect n trotting meeting at Epsom. However. this proposed transfer from Cambridge to Te Rapa for Labour Day is still very much in the air, although it must be said that the position at Cambridge on Labour Day ie perturbing. Winter Cup Candidate. Royal Appellaut is being kept going quietly at Ellerslie in view of his prospective trip to Riccarton next month for the Winter Cup. This trip is by uo means certain at present, although it will probably eventuate, for the owner of this fine miler is also interested in the light-harness sport and F. J. Smith will doubtless be making the trip with some of his pacers. lioyal Appellaut ie at his best over the Winter Cup course and, if taken south, he will be a very hard horse to beat. * D. J. Burgess, who recently gave up riding over fences for the more worrymg business of training. has now eight horses in his charge, all AustralianI bred and owned by the Auckland syndi- | cate who have been buying freeiy in the Sydney yearling marlcet. Four of I these youngsters are rising three years I and the other quartet were purcha-sed ; at the last Easter saies, so that they I will be racing round about Ihe mid- ' summer carnivals. Highboru, the only j winner of ihe string, looks well and. as he has developed sincey he raced ! last, ^ and won, it would not be isurIprising if he went across to Sydney for the spring meetings. He is now a : nice colt and claim« classic engageIments on the other side. The forward showiug made by MunI5 gatoon in the Woodstock Stakes at To Awamutu, on a track that did not cntirely suit him, draws attention to Ihis prospects in the new season, and in the meantime ho is being allowed 5 to take it very easy. Mungatoon will Isoon be getting sharpcned up, for the first of the big spring fixtures in the : district is now only a little more than I a couple of months off and the stakes | are going to be increased all round, I5 sufficient to malte owners kcener than ea-er to win and make provision for the f next depeesiioo! *