NORTHERN NOTES

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Volume 81, Issue 63, 7 December 1937, Page 15

NORTHERN NOTES

"Early Bird.")

Events at Te Awamutu Discussed AUCKLAND SIDELIGHTS

(Special from

AUCKLAND, Last Night. A very line field indeed is engaged in the Te Awamutu Cup on Saturday week, no less than 18 being entered, standard. Nine of these are Auckland and the class is much above the usual Cup candidates. It is interesting to note Friesland's name ainong the horses listed for the Te Awamutu Cup, and this fact suggests that the Australian-bred gelding is to race at Ellerslie over the hoJidays. This is the only outside horse included in next week's contest. Similarly in the Waipa sprint, Black Thread is the only visiting horse entered. After his dual success at the Takapuna meeting at Ellerslie there is some interest being evinced in Dark Shadow's future. He is entered for the To Awamutu Cup next week, and whlio his weight has gone up, in his present condition he should take some beating. However, Dark Shadow won this event twelve months ago under 8.7, and t.lie field on this oecasion promises to be certainly more interesting, ©o it is going to be an entertaining contest, even if it is practically valueless in an Auckland Cup connection. Among the novice hurdlers to be seen out at Te Awamutu next week are Mungacre and Lady Diana, while the Te Rapa form of L'Allegro was a long way ahead of his previous efforts, even when winning. Mungacre is the right type for batten-topping, while excellent reports are to hand from Te Awamutu aa to Lady Diana's ability, and it is fitting that she should /make her debut on her home track. Recent hurdle racing at Te Rapa and Ellerslie, however, points to English Knight being due for a win soon. Doubtful Entrant. A really hard race to win at the Auckland summer fixture is the very first race on the programme, the Queen's Plate, which is for hacks at time of entry, at set weighte. The' usual list of promising performers is engaged, but it is surprising to find the name of Marie's Acre included, for his win in the Pupuke Plate last weeE, four days before the nominations closea, made him ineligible, the first prize in that event being £300, which puts him out of hacks at unce. Jack Tar finished right up on the heels of the placed horses in the Spring Handicap at the Takapuna meeting, and on the second day was solidiy backed on the strength of that perforiaance. However, he failed to go so weli, and it is probable that the race the first day did not improve him, .but at the same tim'e it appeared as if his rider asked him to cover too much ground. Jack Tar is engaged in next week's Hack Cup at Te Awamutu and in fkig he may be difficult to beat. Incidentally this Hack Cup next week is going to take some winning for there are other possibilities than Jack Tar, notably Kena, Raepata, Lady Meatli, Gay Sister and Te Monowai. The lastnamed figures in the entries for three races on the day, and it will be remembered that, having his first race on lhis track just six months ago, Te Monowai spreadeagled the Trial Handicap field, winning by eeveral lengths, and tast month he finished second at Te Rapa A horse that should not remain in the inaiden ranka very long is the Gisborno hack, Quilp, who made one appearance at the Takapuna meeting, finishing a good fourth in the event won by Lady Meath from Ivy Willonyx, Pasture, and as the winner was out of the way the second day and the second and thlrd; horses again filled the same places the form was reliable. Quilp claims an en* gagement in the Waipa Plate nex* week, this near maiden event being run at weight-for-age and with his scaie weight, 8.4, the Colossus gelding should be in the running. His dam, Sanguiuaria, is a half-sister by Merry Moment to that dashing sprinter of several years ago, Royal Blood. Smart , Youngster,

It was thought that Gay Huzzar would be especially well suited hy the Waipa Plate, but he was not entered. However, there is another smart two-year-old engaged in that six-furlonga affair next week, and that is Calorie, who finished right on the heels of I'eHero and Arvakur-when they had that great tiuel at headquarters last Monday week, while the value of the form is best revealed by the fact that the nearest of the others was at leUst half a i dozen lengths away. Calorie, is an Aus-> tralian-bred filly of promise, being by CaledCn from Lady Rawson, and if a rider can be procured for her at the scale weight, 6.4, she will make it merry for her opponents next week. Scotland's absence from the Auckland entry list rendered it imperativO that he should race elsewhere, and both Taranaki and Manawa tu meetings have been mentioned. The former fixture may not suit so well as at ManaWatu, where the class is certainly likely to be stronger, and at the eame time the weights may be more favourable for such a proved handfcap performer. Scotland is now in his best form and as he only weakened over the final 100 yards in the Waikato Cup his chances of picking up a stake in the south are particularly bright. He would be very difficult to beat in a race like the Manawatu Cup if he was etarted.