RACING BITS AND TURF TATTLE

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 1, Issue 17, 12 September 1931, Page 6

RACING BITS AND TURF TATTLE

"The Judge."

t . , WANGANUI AND AVONDALE MEETINGS DISGUSSED • o

Speciaily Written for "The Momipg Post" by '

Three-Y ear-Old Classics. There is always a big interest taken in the early three-year-old classics, particularly in the North Island, where the Wanganui, Avondale, Great Northern and Hawke's Bay Guineas contests attract great attention. There is something fascinating to the interested sportsman in the development of the thoroughbred, particularly in its early eareer on the turf, from the first time it is paraded as a two-year-old, its subsenuent development, and its progress right up to the time the Guineas, Derbys, Oaks and St. Legers are deeided. Thereafter the fully grown racehorse is then taking on handicaps, or in the event of the outstanding performers, they are kept mainly for weight-for-age racing. Wanganui Guineas. First of the three-year-old ©lassics is the Wanganui Guineas, this being set down for Thursday of next weelc, the Avondale classic following 11 days later, with the Great Northern and Hawke's Bay (if not postponed) events clashing five days afterwards. This latter clash is not a very serious one, for the Hastings race gives the three-year-old short of top class a chanee to prove itself, as well as ensuring a better field in the absence of the best hroses. This latter consideration is something for clubs these days. Riccarton Pair. In tho Wanganui Guineas the main interest will be focussed upon the Riccarton pair, Cricket Bat and Zeebrugge, and Croupier, another South Islander. On the score of condition Croupier will have it heavy on the bracket, fq£ he has had a good deal of late ra'eing. Unfortunately the j popular bhle and gold chequers livery ' will not bq seen at Avondale. This is a pity, |or there is no doubt that Aucklanders would like to have seen Gricket Bat, who last season was'one of the few horses that defeated Nightmarch at weight-for-age. It is : quite a time now since the chequers wero seen in Auckland; Child's Play was the last representative of the Chokebore stable brought north, and she was an unluclcy filly in her race. I Married to Bronze Eagle, I 1 i Croupier's form at Wanganui next week will give a line on his prospects in the Avondale classic, but no matter how he runs — if he spread-eag-leo the opposition, an unlikely hap- ; pening — it will not impress Aucklanders, who a?:e litei'ally married to i Bronze Eagle. Here is a three-year- ■ j old who in some quarters is said to ■

be better than ICarapoti. On two-year-old form Bronze Eagle was miles better than the General Latour colt, for the trainer of the latter does not hurry his charges and therefore it i was not till he made his debut as a three-year-old that the general pub- i lic. even suspected how good Karapoti was. . De-finito Plaii. It is apparent that the trainer of Bronze Eagle is preparing the son of Brazen along the lines of a well laid out plan, with the Guineas at Avondaye and Ellerslie but a stepping stone to the richer classic, the Great Northern Derby. It is even possible that he will be sent to Riccarton for the New Zealand Derby before that, for that event is worth £1050 to the i winner, with the chance of picking up another weight-for-age race at the fixture. I-Iowever, it can be taken for granted that Bronze Eagle will not be ovprdone, and rightly so, for In him his owner considers that he has a horse that very few owners have but once in a lifetime. Karapoti's Chances. The All Aged Stakes last autumn was to have seen Karapoti and Bronze Eagle clash, but the three-year-old was prevented from taking on the brilliant youngster on account of a hruised heel. The Brazen colt just got home that day from Supremacy, but he fought it out gamely, the neck advantage at the fipish probably be'ng worth a bit more than that marwin. However, many considered that on that occasion Karapoti, fit and well, would have succeeded in down'ng the youngster. The Opposition. What opposition, outside of Croupier, will confront Bronze Eagle in the Avondale Guineas? There are 15 sngaged, and among them are some promising juveniles. Perhaps the ■ next best will prove to be High Comedy, who made such an impression when he finished fourth in the sprint at the Pakuranga meeting when he was nowhere near ready, unless it be that he was more forward than his trainer suspected. Tliat was a very fine eifort indeed, and with five more weeks to go after that handicap race since he is to take on the cracks, it is probable that he will be landed at the post fit as a fiddle. Must Impsrove. However, as far as High Comedy is concerned, he will have to make tremendous improvement to be good enough to fcurn the tables on Bronze Eagle. In the Champagne Stakes at Ellerslie last Easter the latter was

only cantering behind him at the home turn, "and then in a couple of ■ strides he left him standing. It was ' [ impossible to illustrate in mere words just how Bronze Eagle outclassed High Comedy in that seven furlong tussle, and over a mile it does not seem as if the Leighton gelding .is j good enough to turn the tables. Royal ! Artist is a useful second string to High Comedy still engaged. Rather E'angerous. One of the rather dangerous Guine£3 aspirants is View Halloo, whose two-year-old form was suggestive of big things to come. He is by Hunting Song from a disappointing mare, Haligan, and as he is in the right hands it is probable tha"o he will be a force to reckon with this season. Little is known as to his present condition, ; but he is' scheduled to take on the Wanganui classic. Then there is Eastertime, whose form the other day was very disappointing, although one should not place too much store by it. He at least looks like being a good handicap performer this term. Promising. King CgIossus is the type to develop into a fine performer. His sole j win last term was in the Avondale Stakes, but he was an unlucky felI low, albeit he has held out so much ! promise. He will endeavour to emulate the efforts of Prodice, Landslide, and Merry Roe by winning both Avondale classics. Aspian is of the hardy type, always liable to win any race, and as he has been galloping nicely again at Te Awamutu he will have to enter into calculations. Little - has been .heard of Golden Wings, one of the very promising two-year-olds of last season, but the fact that he has , been_ left in indicates that he is one , of those that will be on hand at Avondale. The Probabilities. Those named can be taken as the best of the fifteen left in the Avon- , dale Guineas, with Baraseope pro- j bably the piek of the remainder. At present Bronze Eagle Ylominates the situation, and he is likely to go out one of the hottest favourites ever recorded in the history of the race. The writer expects to see High Comedy next best, with Croupier, Aspian, King Colossus, Golden Wings, View Halloo and Eastertime about on a par, so near as one can gauge at this stage. However, much can happen in thc next three weeks to upset calculations.