NORTHERN FORM

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 188, 26 August 1937, Page 15

NORTHERN FORM

Many of Handicap Horses Will Improve ELLERSLIE GALL0PS (Special — From "Early Bird. ") AUCKLAND, Last Niglit. Sevoral good handicap and sprint horses were eeen out in the two maiu llat races at Ellerslie last Saturday and their form should prove an invaluuble guide to their chances in the bigger events to come. The winner of the Jellicoe Handicap, Valmint, was ouo of the form horse"s expected to show up, and his gTerling iinish indicated that he may go on with it, evon if he is getting high in the weights. However, tho reversion to the 7.0 roininuum may make it rather easicr for horses oi the type of Valmiut, aud also for some' of tho hacks, too. Valmint has always done best uucler winter conditions, but as he broke 1.40 tor tho mile on Saturday there was obviously nothing the mattpr with tho coui-se, which was only soft ou the surface. In any case in his present lorin the Vaals gelding should bo racing prominently at coming fixtures. It is extraordinary how some horses generally run well and nearly always pay big dividenda; for some reason or other backcrs will not entertain the idea' of these performers being good euough at any time. So it was that Knight of xlustralia paid a thumping dividend for his close second to Valmint, and if he strikes a heavy traek. at any time in. the near future he may improve upon that efforf. At the distance it looked as if Knight of Au6tralia would win the Jellicoe Handicap. Valmint finishing just a bit too solidly over the last half-furlong. Enge ran another iine Tace and it was only his weight that found him out in the last pinch, and as it was with 9.4 he was only beaten a neek and a head. Wkile this Lapidary gelding may do well later in the spring it is probable that he will be more at home in the winter, when the traeks and the slightly weaker company will suit him, for as yet he may not be up to the best handi-cap class. His next ongagement will be in the Avondale Cup and he will have a chance to show that this summing-up is perhaps wrong. Soone Will Improve Failures in the Jellicoe Handicap were Armacourt, Merial, Tybalt, Erndale and Ijoombination. Erndale was the f avourite and after being badly positioned early he was ghowing -up near the post, so that it would not do to dismiss him altogether from ealculations for future events. Like Enge, however, he may be more at home under purely winter conditions. Merial got away badly and Tybalt disappointed, this pair being likely improvers next time out. Lord Val fmished closer than expected considering that the mile was a bit short for him. Two handicap performers in the Jellicoe Handicap that looked all right but short of a race only were Kiltowyn and Velocipede. The latter made a forward move going along the back and then dropped back making the home kend, and it "was interesting to see that he pulled up all right. After being unplaced in this race last year Velocipede went on. to win the Avondale Cup, and his ownor Is hopeful that history will repeat itself. If he stands up to his work, the Australian-bred gelding should be a good handicap win ner this season. May Win Soon. Kiltowyn began well in the Jellicoe Handicap and then, after moving up into a handy position, he began to drop back a bitn but at the post ho was not a great distance away from the placed quartette. This Kilbroney gelding has had a few xaces of late months, so he should not be found wanting altogether' when the Avondale Cup and other important events come up for decision in the hear future. His latest track work, plus his iine showiug last week, suggest that he is going to be hard to beat next time up. Maori Song did just what was expected of him when he won the open sprint on Satiirday, but he had to pull out his best to do so, for he was conceding Vallio eeveral lengths start from the bottom of the straight. He caught Gallio iifty yards from the post and after a stiffi duel he managed to beat him by a necli. Gallio 's effort in conceding 241b. to Maori Song, a very ht horse, was full of merit and indicated that he has only to stand up to his tasks to be a very successful performer this season j last week's race •would work a big improvement in him. Maori Song seems likely to go on to better things, too, for hjs effort was first class. If was interesting to see Jonathan making a skowing in the sprint too, for he iinished up in iifth place after ■ being fairly prominent and being forced to cover some extra ground. Fer sgu looked well aud could not foot it with the speedsters, and Kilonsa will be better placed in the more modest elasis at the Taranaki Hunts next week. Tbe thyee-year-olds Huntingmore and Bachelor KiPg wanted a race or twOj the former revealing his paco for ffve furlongs. Bachelor King struek trouble early. Valam}to was in trouble, too, and ho did well subsequently, so he should improve for Avondale. Triuno started behlnd the field, finished eighth so he may not bo long.