RACING NOTES AND FORM PROSPECTS

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 1, Issue 57, 29 October 1931, Page 4

RACING NOTES AND FORM PROSPECTS

The Poverty Bay Turf Club me'eting to-day and on Saturday promises to be quite interesting, for the fields are fairly good, and two or three of those engaged have reeently shown winning form on metropolitan courses. Hunting Day has plenty of weight in the Junetion Handieap, and despite his good form at Avondale this will trouble him, especially as there are one or two speedy ones further down with light weights. Lotus Lily, Sunny Sky and King Wanga are three, while Toboggan is highly thought of. Lotus Lily and King Wanga read as well as anything. On Russet Moor's most promising form at Ellerslie he is going to take some b eating, although he is right up in the weights as a result of his onewin. Simeon has a reputation, but he has been off the scene for a time and he may go better with a race into him. Royal Elm raced promisingly at Napier Park and he has a chance too. Whakaari reads the best of the others, but Russet Moor and Royal Elm will carry the bulk of the investments. Judging by the good track work being executed of late by Lordly Knight, he should be able to lord it all over the field in the Roseland Hack. Sunny Song, Tareha, Bob In and Nahi all have some pace, but it is hard to pass Lordly Knight in this class.

Spring Handieap. The big event is the Spring Handieap, which has a field of eight. Autumn Sun followed up a good race in the Avondale Cup by winning at Ellerslie a week later, and this form, and the way he finished on, stamps him as quite a good handicapper. Malahat went well at the same northen meetings, but unfortunately he was troubled with soreness. If quite recovered from this disability, he may bother Autumn Sun, but he is within a few pounds of him. Valsier has a good record on the course, and Tahoma is an improver who is rather close to the better performed horses at the top. It is surprising to see Tahoma so well thought of by the handicapper. Kinsel is a possibility in this class, and Merry Melody and Nea Lap will no doubt appreciate their light weights. The only other runner, The Author, will be the outsider. It is not an easy race to sum up, but perhaps Autumn Sun, Malahat and Kinsel will be in demand. Form is a negligible quantity in the Maiden Scurry, with Megaphone, Hunting Star, Black Songster, and Leighcata likely to drag a bit of backing through forward showings at the last couple of Gisborne meetings. Monarchy, a winner at Waipawa, is not eligible. Of -this quartette, Megaphone, Black Songster and Leighcata, are fancied.

ihere are seven m the sprint, the Flying Handieap, and if Autumn Sun (who won over seven furlongs at Ellerslie) escapes a penalty he ought to be good enough at the weights for this lot. Again Hunting Day is too high in the weights apparentl'y, and King Wanga and Sunny Song with their little lead may be capable of making it merry. Autumn Sun, King Wanga and Hunting Day are liked. Merry Melody, top of the October Handieap class, is not a eonsistent performer but if reserved for this instead of taking on the big event, he will take b eating if in the mood, especially as now he is under the eye of his Gisborne owner. Monarchy, Nea Lap, Tareha and Nahi are all capable of running a good mile, but wh'en it eomes to backing them, Merry Melody, Monarchy and Tareha will be in the limelieht.

One of the most popular of the Labour Day fixtures is the annual gathering of the Waikato Hunt Club at Cambridge, and - last Monday's meeting was no exception. However, in a couple of races there was a paucity of runners, there being three in the Hunters' Hurdles and five in the Bracelet. The club no doubt will go into their programme very carerfully for next year, for it is obvious that there are not the horses for such events as the Hunt Club delights to stage, and the true sportsman likes to see the amateurs and hunters in action. But the club has to look to its finances, and two one-dividend fields is a great drawback in this respect.