RACING.

Putaruru Press, Volume VI, Issue 225, 23 February 1928, Page 8

RACING.

TE AROHA REVIEW. (By “ Trebla.”) The acceiJtances for the first day of the Te Aroha meeting made their appearance on Tuesday and in most races give indication of large fields. There are least acceptances for the Cup race. This has been general this season, and it would seem that there is a dearth of good cup horses in the province. The programme will open with the mile and a-half hurdle race, in which a fair lot are engaged. There is only 201 b between the top and bottom weights, showing that in Mr. Macmanemin’s mind the field is average. The list is headed by four winners in Uralla, Red Comet, Potoanui and Kawa. Of these Potoanui, on his home track, and Red Comet read best. Lower down the list are York Abbey and Lady Spalpeen. Of the twelve carded the public will probably support York Abbey, Red Comet and Potoanui in that order.

A moderate lot is engaged in the Waitoa Handicap, of seven furlongs, with High Time at the top of the list. Cybele, which has been running prominently of late, is in at only 41b above the minimum, and the public will probably pick on Mr. Loomb’s filly to go near to winning. Idun may race well in this event. The Juvenile Handicap will present a problem. There are a number of winners engaged in the big field, and seasoning will stand to them. If any racegoers want to look beyond the first five on the card for the winner they will probably pick Moehau, which had racing early in the season, and Valkon’s sister, Valkyriti, for long shots.

In the sprint hadk race High Rose has a better chance than at recent meetings. However, she has not earned the position of top weight. There are a number of middle distance hack winners engaged, but one that seems to be improving and has a very handy weight is Queen Comet. Billikins, Hone Heke and Waltzer will probably be the public choice. The Cup race contains the best of the Auckland distance horses, with several which have been looked upon as milers. Pegaway is deservedly called upon to carry topweight. Desert Glow and Transformer are next. Pegaway won the event last year, and won like a racehorse. He was second to the Wanganui Cup winner, Mandane, at EUerslie in the summer, and then went amiss. Day Guard and Queen Arch will probably make the running, but punters will expect Pegaway to make a bold bid at the right end. Gala Day should also be well supported.

The open sprint presents another problem which cannot he worked out on form. The field is worthy of an Ellerslie event. Flying Juliet is in nicely and must secure public support. The numbers representing Tea Time, Paganelli (if started) and Ballymoy will also fly past fastly. The Champion Hack Cup has drawn a good field, but the mile and a quarter journey will take the sting out of some of them. Speechless reads nicely placed at 7.10, but The Lover, a stablemate of Corinax, will probably be favourite. Piet should he third choice.

The final event should be a good race for the machine. Branson is said not to have been well since Matamata and the public will probably look elsewhere. Te Koroke is in form and Siaosi has run prominently of late. If Branson had kept right the public would not go past him, hut the son of Greyspear being under a cloud, the public choice will take a wide range. Town Bank has won three races on this course, but has not had much recent racing. Te Ivoroke, Quincoma and Siaosi should dispute favouritism. Notes. Valkon, now trained by A. E. Cox at Te Aroha, is weighted for the six furlong race the first day at Te Aroha. If started he should be in the fighting line at the finish. Ruffles, from the same stable, is also in the race. Maybe Valkon’s mission ultimately will be the Easter Handicap. It must not be forgotten that Valkon defeated Paganelli at Hamilton in very fair time over six. High Rose has had several outings over the middle distances, and has not impressed. It would seem that Mrs. Yarrow’s mare should be confined to sprint races to earn money.

If the story told the writer is correct the new owners of Muscari must be on the right side of the ledger and have had a number of good runs for their money. Muscari is alleged to have been sold for about as much as would buy a packet of cigarette papers. Since then the black gelding has won several races at non-tote meetings and gives evidence that it

might bob up one of these days in a slow run race.

A good word is being said for Leitrim, the Matamata-owned relation of Dobbin. Leitrim has not been up long enough to indicate that he will win in the near future, but he is certainly a possibility. Flying Juliet led the field home in the seven - furlong race the first day at Te Aroha last year. Mr. Robinson’s mare beat Macroom by two lengths, with King Arch two and a-half lengths away third. The' time was 1.28, which at the time was said to be good for the track. Fiying Juliet must run well at the coming meeting. Dobbin won the big sprint at Te Aroha last year from Dan Quin and Archeno and York Abbey (which dead-heated for third place). None of the quartette are engaged in the race this year. York Abbey figures in the hurdles.

The report circulated that the promising filly La Roma would not race again is apparently incorrect. La Roma met with injuries at Rotorua, and it was thought her fetlock was broken. An examination shows that the feltock was dislocated only, and it is expected that after a rest of three or four months the filly will be able to race again.