NAPIER PARK FORM

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 2, Issue 258, 23 June 1932, Page 2

NAPIER PARK FORM

HORSES FANCIED FOR FINAL DAY AT GREEN MEADOWS. PROMISING 'CHASERS. In all except the two steeplechase events the fields at Napier Park today are quite good and should be productive of interesting sport, with the form at Hastings last Saturday as a reliable guide. The going is certain to be soft, although this turf recovers very quickly. Form points to* the following horses coming in for extensive support iri their engagements to-day: Moto'e Hack Hurdles: Manuiri, Callapat, Okapua. Petan'e H,ack Steeplechase. Hard Gold, Gaswyn, Harrowgate. Meeanee Etack: Beacon Fire, Aguille, Megaphone. Napier Steeplechase: Pangolin, Monetize, Prlncess Elizabeth. Maiden Scurry: Margaret Rose, Bothwell, Strome. SteAvards' Stakes: Malahat, Juggle, Teller. Settlers' Hack: Beacon Fire, Forest Stag, Anemometer. i\iontize is the sole Auckland horse claiming an engagement at the Napier Park meeting, and it is expected that he will fulfill his steeplechase engagements there, after which he is to go on to Trentham. Always provided, of eourse, that his form at Greenmeadows is . up to ■ the required standard. W. Rennie rode Montize at the Great Northern meeting, where hefinished second in his two outings over country — his debut as a 'chaser — ^but J. McRae will have the mount this week. Montize finished second to Nazsock the first day at Ellerslie and he was again deprived of winning by Town Beauty on the final day. As he carried 11.2 on the latter occasion, and was conceding his victor 91b, it was a really good performance, for Town Beauty that day would have beaten most of our proved steeplechase horses. The judicial committee considered that Montize's rider was caught napping when Nassock beat him, but that view was not unanimous. Nassock is a rare stayer and this fact -appears to have been overlooked. The Auckland jumper has been nominated for both the open steeplechases at Napier Park, and as he is not harshly treated he might pick up a stake on the trip. Over sticks, this horse showed a lot of pace and was a natural jumper, and in his initial attempts as a 'chaser he held out promise of being a good wxnner before very long. It will be interesting to see how Montize manages the fences at Greenmeadows, which are not difficult but require care in jumping. When taken to Auckland last spring, Simeon was in the boom as a potential Great Northern and National Hurdles winner. However he injured himself on the boat and was unable to start at either Avondale or Ellerslie, although he performed considerably helow expectations over the sticks at Gisborne when tried later on. Simeon is engaged in, the hack hurdle races at Napier Park, and in addition he has been entered for the steeplechase on the second day.

A Trifle Unlucky. That good three year-old, Beacon Fire, has so far not fulfilled the promise held out by his performances in the early spring, but it must be said that in the interim the fates have not been overkind to the Woodville galloper. Time after time he has been only good enough to get beaten, but it is a long lane that has no turning, and the corner must be nearly in sight. Next season Beacon Fire should live up to his reputation, and in the meantime his probable appearance at Greenmeadows this week is interesting. At the Great Northern meeting, Beacon Fire was most consistent — in every respect. His three races resulted in a third, a fourth, and a third, and equally as consistent were the barrier marbles he drew. On the first day he drew number 18 and on the second day number 27 was his place — almost in the next paddock. Then on the last day — the irony of it — he drew number four at the mile post, but there the high number s are the -best. Is it any wonder that Beacon Fire failed to win at Ellerslie this month "Kismet," as Omar would say, or in the words of the less sophasticated Arabs, "it is written in the sands." Careful Plans. That rare good sprinter, Tai Ao, who indulged in a run of successe^ in the autumn, is down to run at Napier Park on the second day, Saturday, or as other critics put it, if the owner and handicapper do not disagree on the matter of weight. It will be a rare thing if owners and handicappers did happen to see eye to eye. Tai Ao is said to be on his way south with the object of covering the Wellington and Canterbury meetings, the Winter Cup at Riccarton no doubt being the culminating point in the plans so carefully laid. Tai Ao's engagement on Saturday next is the seven furlongs Winter Oats, and the manner in which he has finished in the sprint events, suggests that an extra furlong or two will not stop him. The real top- ■ notchers are not usually seen in action at the winter meetings, so that Tai Ao's run should not be actually : finished yet. Another Gisborne horse due to race at Napier Park this week is Aguille, said to be but one remove below Tai Ao. A Seasoned Horse. Despite his failure in the Hawke's Bay Hurdles, Callapat should prove to be more at home in the hack class at Napier Park. Furthermore the distance, one and a half miles each day, will he in his favour. Callapat . carried 10.1 when he won the Hack Hurdles the first day at Wanganui, and as he appears to he much more solid now he should be able to put up good races at the 'Meadows. He is thoroughly seasoned. An interesting novice to contest the same j events this week is the sprinter : Acora, who was reported to be go1 ing well when she lo'st her rider early

in her first race over the sticks, at Otaki. After his first and second in the steeplechase events at the Ohinemuri meeting at Paeroa three months ago, followed by another win six weeks afterwards at Marton, Pangolin was expected to win at least one more good steeplechase during the winter, but unfortunately he injured himself pretty sev'erely in the Marton event. Pangolin figures in the ; steeplechases at Napier Park, and if he runs at the meeting it will he interesting to see if he goes all right in view of the more important contests to be stag'ed in the next several weeks. Debut Anticipated. After Manifesto's fine showing in the sprint at Hastings last week, one of the best performances of his career, th6 burly chestnut's debut as a hurdler is being eagerly anticipated. He has been scfiooling brilliantly fol* some time now, and if he takes on .the jumping events at the Napier Park meeting his presepce in "the field against Callapat, Manuiri and company will invest these races with added interest. If Manifesto proves a failure over the sticks — and he should not — it is possible that he will be an improved horse on the flat, for schooling and' a race or two over hurdles often improves a horse's pace, and makes him more solid. It might be just what the big gelding required. It^ is possible that the Hastings winner Royal Hunting is not able to get a mile as yet, for he does not figure in the open, even over that distance at Napier Park to-day, al•thought was entered for the hack sprint. On Saturday he is in the Winter Oats, seven furlongs, and as the Greenmeadows seven cannot be any more ^difficult than the Hastings six and a half furlongs he ought to be able to run out the distance. Best Race To Date. In running second to Royal Hunting in the Hawke's Bay sprint, when in receipt of only 41b, Alpinist ran her best race to date, for she. was taking on a horse that was better than a mere hack. At Wanganui the previous month Royal Hunting carried 10.2 and won over five furlongs in such a manner as to cause your correspondent to regard him as something in the nature of a certainty for last week's race. He had 8.8 then. Alpinist was weig'hted in the hack six earlier in the day at 9.12, or, in other words, in a field that was not stronger than that at Wanganui, she had 261b over the minimum, whereas Royal Hunting carried 441b above when he won at Wanganui. Royal Hunting seemed to be thrown in with 10.11 in the Meeanee Hack to-day. Taking a line on these figures, it will be seen that Alpinist had all "the worst of it in the Hastings sprint, for in the Kidnappers Hack had Royal Hunting been engaged, the lat-

ter (must have been given eleven stone or more. The latest form of Alpinist suggests that this filly is developing into a really smart sprinter and one capable of winning her way into first class company next season. Alpinist is by imported Gainscourt (by the successful English sire Gainsborough, a son of Bayardo, from Vantage, by Santa Strato), out of Mountain Lass, by Mountain Knight from Mangaoroa, by San Fran. Margaret Rose and Bothwell, who chased Foreign Queen home in the Trial at Hastings 1 ast Saturday, may meet again at Napier Park, for the latter is ruled out by the conditions of the races which are -for non winners at time of starting. While some of thosfe that finished out of a place in the Trial last Saturday may show deeided improve- j ment Margaret Rose and Bothwell should also advance in their galloping ability as a re.sult of that outing. One newcomer that goes very fast, and in the past, has stopped even faster than she has beguiq is Jean Ladosio, while if she is improving in stamina with the advent of a bit of age she may go on with it.