HAWERA GALLOPS

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 2, Issue 217, 7 May 1932, Page 7

HAWERA GALLOPS

A horse very hard to beat in both the Great Northern Hurdle and Great Northern Steeplechase is Make Up, whose Hawera form was indeed impressive. However, if he gets more weight it is going to be a stumbling block. Wiltshire was ridden a peculiar race in the Egmont Steeplechase, but the explanation probably lies in the fact that as he was going very freely in the early part his rider let him run along. He was a tired horse at the finish. I One of the best hacks seen out in the late autumn was Royal Bengal, who followed up a first and a second (to Royal Hunting) at the Manawatu meeting by winning at Hawera the first day. His margin was only a neck, but he was hard held and it looked as if it could have been lengths. Silvermine was one of those best served in the sprint at Hawera the first day and it was unusual to see him acting as pacemaker. He had a good lead at the home turn, but failed to survive Orapai's late challenge. Had Silvermine been allowed to run in behind the leader there might have been a different story to tell, but all the same the Catmint gelding is ageing. A much improved hack is Sparlcling Morn, who ran away from the field in the hack seven the first day at Hawera. She is only a three-year-old, and it is possible that next season she will be at the top of the hack performers, while later on she may hold her own in open company if she continues to progress as she has done in the past few weeks. After a long spell, lllluminate was produced again at Hawera on Wednesday, being sent againt Royal Bengal in the hack six furlongs. Although he was a close second on sufferance only, he gave a good display, showing a lot of early speed. As he can handle winter conditions, Illuminate (who as his name implies is by Illumination) should do well in hack sprint company. Tavara Dissappointing The well bred Tavora was a big disappointment at the Egmont meet- j ing. She was started on the first day only apd her display was so poor that she was allowed to stay at home the second day. It is possible that she will be turned out for a spell. By Pombal from that good galloper Valerie, Tavora early gave signs "of being extra smart, but she has failed to show her best. She has only been racing twelve months and perhaps she will do better next season. The finish of the Tongahoe Hurdles at Hawera last Wednesday might have been a real blanket one had there not been a serious mix-up at the last fence. The leading pair were Fernden and Cruachan, the latter, who was a big favourite, being on the outside. Fernden must have tired badly when coming to the final hurdle and he ran it down, carrying Cruachan out with him. Just behind was Full Mark and he, too, was interfered with by Fernden when the latter almost fell. In stumbling Fernden I bumped Cruachan, and even after 1 they got going again the former was | boring out on the favourite, wh,o was I having an unhappy time of it. In g the meantime Callapat came through | on the inside with a clear run and 6 Otairi followed him. The fact that [ Callapat won by a couple of lengths | and was running on in rather surpris- | ing fashion pointed to his having | been hard to beat in any case,Jbut as there was really nothing separating Otairi, Full Mark, Fernden and Cruachan at the finish, it appeared as if the last mentioned trio would have | been desperately engaged 'with Cal- I lapat in the final burst. Cruachan g and Full Mark then would probably | have paid the dividends. §