CURRENT FORM

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 1, Issue 200, 16 April 1932, Page 2

CURRENT FORM

"The Judge.")

HORSES WHICH SHOULD go WELL IN JUMPING SEASON. VARIOUS GLEANINGS. . (Specially written for the "Post"

by

One of the most interesting of recent appearances in public is that of King's' J'est at Hastings. There was no fluke ahont this fellow's win in the 'Great Northern Hurdles of a couple of years ago. and although his subsequent form in hurdle contests was hardly up to his Ellerslie promise he should still be a f orce to be reckoned with. Before the jumping season is over. King's Jest may he seen taking on the big fences. Lucy Rose, at heavy odds, was a lucky winner the first day at Te Kuiti. Hollyholm (whOse f ailures at Tauherenikau were unaccountable) should have beaten her, but his rider was caught napping when Lucy Rose sneaked up on the inner — and there was no second dividend. On Monday Lucy Rose tried to win the handicap from end to end and she finished a good third. She is very partial to soff tracks, although her laek of size will tell against her when carrying winter weights. Following upon HuUtingdon's success over a middle distance at the Te Kuiti meeting, it has been decided that the black gelding will he kept going for the winter meetings. In the Waitomo Handicap he won with 8.9 (less the full apprentice's allowanee), so that he is not going to get into the big handicaps very light. Interesting Novice. An interesting novice having his !first race at Te Kuiti recently was Merry Lap, a full brother to that good but unlucky horse Gay Lap. Merry Lap showed up for a bit, and it is evident that he has the pace to win races. H'e is in nice condition to start his turf career, and on looks' alone he ought to do well in public. He is very like his older brother in appearance. The Takanini trainer, E. Pope, left for Awapuni on Thursday with Tea Trader and High Comedy, and he picked up Sp'eedmint and Ganpat at Te Kuiti, where they had been left after racing last week-end. Royal Artist was not taken to the Manawatu meeting. The most likely winner of the quartette is the two-year-old, Tea Trader. It is not expected that trainer J. T. Jamieson will he home long, for he expects to be wending his way over to Australia in about a fortnight's time. He will probably take a good few horses with him, most of them rising three-year-olds. King March is looking well and it is probable that he will go across with Jamieson. This horse will win some of the best races if he can be kept sound. A move that will cause some discussion has been made by the Auckland Racing Club, which intends to go back to its old dates for its spring fixture. The dates nominated are November 5 and 7. For the past four or five seasons this spring meeting has been held in the first week-end in October, the club trying this out in deference to the Canterbury Jockey Club's New Zealand Cup meeting. Prior to that the two meetings clashed. Reasons for Change. Apparently the early October dates have not proved suitable. hence the decision to go back to the first week in Novemb'er. When the change of date was originally made, some owners protested, their contention being that with the Ellerslie track, as likely as not, bemg heavy early in October, it was unfair to ask the good two-year-olds to race then. This is probably one of the reasons behind the change back to November. As a result it is more than likely that the Canterbury fixture will be the loser, although these days horses from Auckland do not go that far to race. It was pleasing to see that one-time good handicap performer Eager Rose showing a return to form the second day at Te Kuiti. She was produced in the handicap, and after being well back all the way, having me't with slight interference going out of the straight, she was fiying at the finish arid in another stride would have beaten Huntingdon. As the going was very holding, it may be that Eager Rose is getting over her dislike for soft ground, so that she may do all right at winter racing.

A half-sister to Eager Rose in Arawa Rose was produced the second day at Te Kuiti, and she moved well enough to suggest that she should not long be off the winning list. Arawa Rose is by Musketoon. However, the season is fast approaching its finale. and from this onwards the heavier scale of weights will prevail for the more important fixtures, so that perhaps Arawa Rose, who is only a three-year-old, will not be seen to the best advantage nntil the spring. Must Improve. Ganpat will have to display a vast improvement on his Te Kuiti form if he is to get on the winning list at next week's Manawatu fixture. It is , probable, however, that the Te Kuiti track would not suit him. and although the course at Awapuni is larger, it may not be sufficient to bring about the improvement in Ganpat's form necessary to head off the strong opposition there. Limeen miist have gone close to frihning the Te Kuiti Gup had her diminutive rider been able to keep her up to her work. She was wel]( back half way through the race, and then was fiying at the finish in third place. On the second day, with a stronger horseman up, she did not Zet awa y as well as the others and n addition she was put out of her stride when Lucky Alice fell on the )end going out of the straight. Lineen was one of the unlucky runners it the Te Kuiti meeting. Lapstone has a ton of speed, as he ihowed when he led all the way in iaJ3§&'-si •- - . - jc*.

his two races at Paeroa last month. He scored again the first day at Te Kuiti, but it was only by half a head that he landed the odds punters freely laid on his ahility to win.