NORTHERN FORM

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 192, 31 August 1937, Page 11

NORTHERN FORM

Some Hacks Who Are Showing Improvement J0NATHAN C0MING BACK (Special — 3h-om "Early Sird.") AUCKLAND, Last Night. Tuaheahe has not improved in Ms jumping, for iie stopped at pretty well every fence at Ellerslie when he contested the minor Clasa Lurdle race at the Pakuranga meetiag. He was well fancied, so improvement was expected; he is taking a long timo to make a jumper. Tuaheahe now races in the colours of. her trainer carried so prominently b.y that good' jumper Erie many years ago. A nice type of maiden seen out in the hack elass at Ellerslie was the To Rap'a-trained Mere Haka, a four-year-old gelding by Speardance from Noretta, and he showed up at the finisli of the hack mile, for he had several fairly well-i'ancied horses behind him at the post. With little experience behind him this was a very iine effort and indicated that Mere Haka can bo placed to advantage before the season is far advanced. Cappy lias run at least two good races at Avondale, and it is on the cards that he will show up there again at the noxt fixfure if he has eome along at all as a result of hia cnuting at Pakuranga. That day he finished seventh, right up almost with the placed horses in a very large field, so that form was good. Cappy has been a difficult horse to follow, buf he may get oue in shortly in his present forward condition, . especiaJly if he is lucky to strike a field that is a bit weak. On her Trentham form, Dutch GirJ had to be conceded a fine chance in the hack mile at Pakuranga,? for sho was nicely placed, 60 it was surprising to find her taking on the open handicap in preference. She was not sighted in that event, which Valmint won, and she was saddled up again two races later among the hacks. She finally finished seventh, and it appeared that had she been reserved for this sho would have finished in the money. Raced Very Well, Generally considered to be a bit backward so far as winning in open sprint company at Pakuranga, Valamito surprised by being up in eixtb place at the post, and this after reeeiving a serious set-back not long aftor the start. The indications were that the ' Takanini-trained gelding would be more at home over a middle distance, for he has displayed promising stamina •as a hack, and so his effort over six furlongs augurs well for his future ongagemente over all distances. When Ringshot was officially placed fourth in the hack sprint at Ellerslie last Saturday week, it was another case of a horse running out of his distance, for he has always shown that he is better served over a middle journey. Here again it is a pleasant augury for future prospects, and -with his ability he is going to make it interesting for the hacks this season, for he is still low in the handicap. It is a pity that he was not nominated for the hack plates at Avondale, for he must haye possessed a chanco. A Lesser Light. Having won a novieo race at Paeroa last season, Locknit was selected as a likely improver, but since then he has failed to make much of a showing jn his many raees. However, the Colussus gelding had been displaying improved form since. being brought ' to Ellerslie to be trained and there is still hope for him. He contested the hack sprint at Ellerslie recently and showed up in the middle stages, being very wide out on the home tum, so it was not surprising that he faded from there. Locknit should not be confused with the South lsland hack, Lockit; these names are very elose in their similui--ity. Ballymoney will shortly bo given another triai over the battons, and once he eettles down to it he should do very well. Bo has a lot of pace and at Ellerslie last Saturday week he hung on much better than expected to finish fourth in the race won by Bigh Commissioner. While Ballymoney may do better if started at Avondale his chances at ,a much easier course, such as Paeroa early in October, would be* very bright indeed, for this track suits ihe jumpers ,.that are endovved with plenty of early speed. Much interest was manifested ip Jonathan's showing in the Pakuranga sprint and it can be said that 'he rau a very solid race. He dretv a nice marble, number five, but when the field swarmed round him in the rush for positions he was awkwardly placed and then had to go round. He was up fairly handy at the home turn, although a long wa-y out on the track, and so it was obvious that he could not win from there. Jenathan is to race next at Avondale, on the flat; his hurdles dcbut js being deferred while there is still a chance of his capturing a sprint or two.