RACING NOTES

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 2, Issue 270, 9 July 1932, Page 6

RACING NOTES

"Judge.")

PROSPECTS OF HAWKE'S BAY HUNT MEETING TO-DAY. SOME GOOD FIELD S. (Written specially for the "Morning

Post" by the

Very fair fields are engaged at today's annual race meeting of the Hawkes Bay Hunt Club on the Hastings racecourse. The going is sure to be soft, but it ought not to be actually bad. The opening event, the Park Hack and Hunters' Hurdles, has attracted probably the best quality field of the day. Manuiri showed winning form at Napier Park after a disappointing showing the first day, and even with his stifi: impost is capable. of doing the trick again. Callapat raced badly at the same meeting, but he appears

to have freshened up in the interval, and he schooled very jpromisingly the other morning. Atholspear is an interesting acceptor, and if he jumps at all well he will have the edge on the others in pace alone. Clopton shaped very well at Napier Park and is capable of doing better at his next few starts, for he appears to have got over an undoubted prejudice against the hurdles. Of those farther down in the opening event the best may be Kaiti, Okpaua, and Kinross. However those near the top appear to hold the best chances, and the fancy is for Manuiri over Clopton and Callapat, with Okpaua best of those at the bottom. Riverslea Hack. Most of those in the Riverslea Hack were seen-in action at Napier Park a fortnight earlier, and the form there and at Hastings should be the best to follow. The bracketed pair, Air Laddie and Beverage, who ran first and second at their last attempt, will again take some beating, while Lady Spy showed up in the better class she met at the Great Northern meeting last month. Court Lady is a good sort too, but now getting up in the^veights, although she can be depended upon for an honest effort. Monarchy is not so good as he was earlier in the. season, but Anemometer is always a possibility. Fondle will not lack friends, and Journet seems to be the best of the remainder. Lady Spy, the bracket and Anemometer appear to have the best prospects. They do not appear to be an extra good lot engaged in the Okawa Maiden, so that Grumpy on his Napier form dominates the position. Chatterton shaped well enough earlier in the season to be given a chance, with Blue Boy, Marais, Swift and Sure and Joe, others to go fairly fast. They are fancied in the order in which they have been named. Interesting Field. The Hawke's Bay Hunt Cup will be contested by an interesting field, but the position is rather complicated on aecount of the fact that there is comparatively little recent form to go upon. Freehold's second to Princess Elizabeth in the Grandstand Steeplechase at Wanganui two months ago, his first and only effort over the big fences, was a good attempt, and if he manages the country all right to-day he ought to go close to winning. Wharneliffe has a jumper's chance, and he is a rare stayer. Old Kovno has run some great races in this same event, and if he leads them home to-day there will be no more popular victory. Trouble a couple of years ago won steeplechases with his owner in the saddle, and as he is expected to go close to winning the Rangitikei Hunt Cup later in the month he must be very forward. Of the remainder Haumariri, Harrowgate, an'd Luna Lux may do best. It is hard to go past Freehold, while Trouble, Wharneliffe, and Kovno will be able to manage the stiff country if any thing happens to the favourite on the trip. It is not a big field in the Abbotsford Handicap, and on his fine Napier win Imperial Fame is not too badly treated and should go a good race. Manifesto is running well these days, and he was unlucky at Napier. His course of schooling has improved him considerably. Alpinist is an improver, and Teller is getting down in the weights. Moa Bird has not shown form for some time, and she is nicely placed now if able to take advantage of the occasion. This quartette read best with Manifesto the final selection. Amateur Riders' Event. Several of those in the Soutra Hunters' Flat claim earlier engagements, notably Freehold, whose steeplechase effort may take. some of the punch out of him. Gold Ruler will be a fresh horse, and so is Gay Lass, and this 'pair find Freehold should fight it out. This race is for amateur riders. The fixture to-day concludes with the Horonui Hack. Sabatini, the top weight, has shown very good form of late, and although he is called upon to concede weight all round, the opposition is not nearly so strong as that which he defeated on this course three weeks earlier. Golden Shadow was a speedy hack once, but it is some time since he revealed his best form. Beverage is now coming into his own with the soft tracks, and if he is all right after his earlier outing- he will not lack friends. Rasouli is racing more generously, while Willowmere won here at the last meeting, Night Speaker acting as, runner-up on that occasion. Of the others High Grader must be respected, for there is.scope for plenty of improvement on his recent promising efforts. Sabatini is the logical favourite over Beverage, High Grader, and Night Speaker.