Racing Bits and Turf Tattle

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 1, Issue 152, 19 February 1932, Page 2

Racing Bits and Turf Tattle

HORSES AND HORSEMEN. i * « Yery Fit Horse. Before Chief Jewel went to Rotorua he and Chief Joy were partnered in a solid mile gallop on the grass in lmin 42sec. There was little between them at the close, and the performance' showed that Chief Joy has gone on the right way since racing at Takapuna. As far as appearance goes, Chief Joy looks a fitter horse than he has been at any stage of the season. Eaglet as Sprinter. During the past fortnight Eaglet has been sprinted on several occasions, and despite the fact that she is scratchy when going slow, she has hit out freely when asked to gallop. So far she is standing. up well.' but it is problematical whether she will survive when she is allotted her windingup gallop. Horse of Moods. ; ,Envoy has now been in work for some time, but he is still apparently a horse of moods, as his track work is not as consistent as could be desired. • Envoy caii travel fast enough to' win races, and although well conditioned, he may he best left alone, as horse^ of his typ6 are never good betting propositions. Bit Tight-waisted. Knight of Australia worked attractively hefore going to Rotorua, but he is still a tight-waisted individual. He is a fine galloper, hut one that will have to he treated with some lenieney to get the best results. Going Well Again. It was a general opinion that, although he showed winning form earlier in the season, Karapoti was not at his top and that his good efforts were due solely to his natural excellence unaided by the best condition. A let-up from racing since Christmas appears to be having the desired eff ect, as ' Mr. Tims' brilliant horse is again showing something like his true worth on the track. Karapoti is well up in the weights, but over sprint distances it will take a lot of it to stop him at Auckland district meetings. Fell from Grace. Leitrim fell from grace at Takapuna, and, true to precedent, speculators are now likely to transfer their allegiance elsewhere. The sprint form in Auckland is well summed up at this stage of the season, and most horses „ in this class get their turn when dropped a few pounds in the weights. For that reason Leitrim's old admirers should not he too hasty in transferring their attention elsewhere. Big Events Ahead. The Grand National Hurdles winner Mangani, figures on the Waikato eard, and his , reappearance indicates that already owners of jumpers have in mind the big events ahe id Tt is unlikely that Mangani wili Le rc .dy to do himself full justiee just yefc, but nevertheless his presence at Te Rapa will be an interesting feature of the hurdle races. Brought to his Best. The race allotted Huntingdon at Takapuna with a few easy sprints subsequently has brought the Hunting Song gelding to something like his best. He is showing great speed in his track efforts, which are always done at his leisure, and he will be a fit horse if given a few sharp sprints hefore Te Aroha. All going well in the meantime, he is likely to he a strong order in sprint events at that meeting. Showed Forxner Speed. That Hard Words has lost none of his former speed he showed on Thursday last by decisively defeating Refresher over half a mile. The gallop was recorded on the plough, and the time, 49sec, was the fastest timed at Takanini since the work has been regularly chronicled. Hard Words is not yet well conditioned, hut he has done enough to show that if he remains sound he will he a very dangerous horse over short courses. So far the trouble that brought about his retirement last year has not manifested itself. Looking a Picture. J. Gray has not been hard on Heremia of late, but the Lapidary gelding is looking a picture. He ran three furlongs nicely in 36 4-5sec on the plough during the week, a performance that shows he is well. Heremia looks like a handicap horse, and although still a hack he will in f uture be worthy of respect in any company he is pitted against.