NORTHERN TOPICS

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Volume 81, Issue 67, 11 December 1937, Page 19

NORTHERN TOPICS

"Early Bird.")

Wotan Arrives for Auckland Cup Event AERO KING PROMISING

(Special — From

AUCKLAND, Last Night. L'Allegro ran his best. race to date over the sticks when he got to withiii a short liead of Patagonia on the opening of the Waikato nieeting iast month, even if that margin was purely on suiferance. However, on that display L'Allegro should not be long in getting on the winning Jist again and his turn may come next week. L'Allegro is entered for lrurdle events on the first, second and fourth days of the coming Auckland fixture. • It is to be hoped that the injury received ivliile galloping at Takanini the other morning will not jeopardise Arvakur's chances ef competing in the two-year-old handicap events at Ellerslie, for liis latest display/ when he had Te Hero fully stretched out, even if in receipt of half a stone, indicated that ho is much improved. With so many realiy smart youngsters engaged in tlie classics at the Auckland fixture, his owner is wise in concentrating on the handicap events^ Aero King won two minor races in Sydney four months ago, in addition to being placcd there, and while the form wa3 not • good it suggested that he would come te his peaK this season, for he showed much promise before being shipped last autumn. He is back in work at Ellerslie again and jvill soon bo ready for racing. He was entered for the Waipa fixture, while the presence of his name among the (Jueen's Plate entrants on Boxing Day and tliat he has also been left in the Derby, suggests that he may be better than expected. Lady Meath has been very consistent since she starte-d racing again last month, and a brace of seconds in the maiden ciass was followed by a first and a second at the Takapuna meeting, s0 she is one to bear in mind for coming events. It is expected that she will be on hand at her home fixture next Saturday, although she js not exactly thrown in there in being rated the equal oi a good hack iike Kena. Lady Meath is freely engaged at .the Auckland holiday meeting. Can Go Fast. Judging hy the manner in which Miss Te Koura hung on for the six furlongs at Ellerslie a fortnight ago, she should have rare opportunities if produced at Te Awamutu next Saturday, for with her speed she should be in her element on that turning course. When she beat some smart hacks at Ellerslie she drew the outside and it took her a furlong to get to the front, so that tliere was some merit in the way she finally fought off several challengers. Miss Te Koura should be capable of winning open sprints on small tracks. The stable sheltering Whirling and Royal Bachelor holds a strong hand in the Auckland Haiiway Handicap, for both are capable of winning this event. The latter has been already quoted as having brighfc prospects. Whirling was entered for the Waipa sprint, and if started there his showing would be keenly awaited, for there is a feeling that liis sprint chances may be prejudiced by a slow beginning, a pronounced weakness in a Raihvay Handicap connection. It has been stated that W. J. Broughton will pilot Royal Bachelor on Boxing Day, so it is possible that Whirling may contest the mile Christmas Handicap, for which he is also entered. Promistng Maidens. Two maidens that are engaged iu the hack handicap events to Waipa are Cometarium and Balinavar. They have both contested maidep. races and have failed, but sfrange to say they have shown to better advantage in the hack handicap class, doubtless for the reason that they are more capable of racing under a light weight than carrying near 9.0 in nofi-winners' oompany. This has often been the case. Both Cometarium and Balinavar are very promising, and it would not be surprismg if they finish in the money if it is decided to race them at Te Awamutu, although a larger track jvould suit them With the best part of three weeks elapsing between the declaration of the handicaps for the Auckland Cup and Raihvay Handicap and the elosing of the first acceptance, on December 17, there is not much business doing on the part of the early speckers anxious to be allowed to piek tlie double, if reports speak truly. There is aiot inuch doubt about Cerne Abbas being the ruling favourite and most of the business done has begun with her. This is uob surprising seeiug that she is generally regarded as the pick of the handicap. Willie Win obviously has to come into tho reckoning, but now that AVotan has arrived on-the scene he, too, Hill have to be seriously considered. The latter is set to meet Willie Win on 15Jb. better terms, and so on the face of it, wherever Willie Win finishes Wotan should not be far away, taking their hist Melbourne Cup running as a guide. On top of this Wotan has the added advantage of having raced at Ellerslie previously, so the right-hauded. track may not bother him so much as some of hijs opponents.