IN THE THERMAL REGION

NZ Truth, Issue 1263, 13 February 1930, Page 13

IN THE THERMAL REGION

Rotorua Stages Popular Meeting Saturday and Monday

GOOD FIELDS ARE PROMISED

(From "N.Z. Truth's" Special Auckland Kepresentative).

Botorua's annual race meeting always attracts, great crowds of Auckland city sportsmen, who make 'the thermal regions their regular holiday outing..

FOR that reason there is no lack of interest m the racing, and the fixture booked for - Saturday and Monday next will prove no exception. For opening , day very satisfactory payments promise that fair-sized fields and interesting racing should reault, the initial event being the Fohutu High Weight mile. Kairuri, which sprang a surprise by winning at Takapuna m November as an unknown quantity, is whispered as a distinct possibility, but he will find Spring Abbey, Oscar, Waka King and Diamond Queen capable of pacing it with him. Oscar niay be the improver to sort out. Loving Cup and Bold Archer have had more experience than the majority of the others engaged m the Waimangu Stakes, while Rose Willonyx is another with an ; un-' •arned reputation. It is really a great chance for Loving Cup to break the maiden status. If defeated, Bold Archer, Rose Willonyx or Ruapata should be the trio to show" up. '.■'-.. Maori Boy is more solid class than the remainder engaged m the Mokoia Handicap, though .Hakanoa, Ti Tree and Good Boy read suitable opposition to make matters interesting. , Mosaic is - there for punters .to Worry over as -to whether he is ever going to stage the "come back" stunt, while Glenstar, Abbess, Macroom, Billikins and King Willonyx make up the remainder. Ti Tree, Maori Boy and Hakanoa should fight out the stake. Sir Russell and Mithra are booked among those to contest the Rotorua Cup stake,' and a lot of interest will centre around this pair because of their bout at Takapuna, where Mithra won the last bit' of a seven-furlong course. Mithra looked like . going on that day, but Sir Russell afterwards showed up m an improved class on the second day, being up with the best of them at the finish without actually getting the right money. Hakanoa is a fah* country cup performer. The Lover will need to be In-

spected on the day for his prospectß to be estimated; Awarere is having a shot at ten furlongs for the first time. Good Boy and Respirator may be better at a mile only, though Pompelus, Wenday'and Glena Bay have all won over a middle distance *m weaker crowds. ■ '. • It looks like Sir Russell and Mithra troubling the judge at the close, wi>th Hakanoa and Pompeius as a pair likely to be fighting on. On Top would only need to have improved a little since Takapuna to' take the Hot Springs Handicap from Glenison, Loving Cup, Terrapeen and the others engaged. Sir Mond is promising, but he was very big m condition 1 : last time out. It may be On Top's turn this trip. For the Geyser Hack mile, Co.ll has good prospects of following up his Matamata. victory, with v Snow Prince, Brampton, Red Day, Diamond Queen, Some Lady, Measurer, Unoco and Parfait Amour included as opposition with some spirit. For the Arawa Park Stakes word comes from the owner to "Truth" that Bells of Shandon will not be there,' and m his absence Set Fair ' and Full Measure look the most i likely to fight out the issue. . If reserved . for the Tourist sprint event, Awarere- would appeal more than over the Cup distance. Branson won this event last year, and is there again; but he has been missing the right money of late. Jamieson has Vali engaged, and his Queen's Plate mile victory over Richfield suggests something. British King, White Ringlet, Valstreet, Abbess, Macroom, Cruachan, Glenstar and Wako King make up the field, but Vali, Awarere and Branson should be the trio to trouble the judge.