WITH THE 'LEPPERS

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 2, Issue 332, 20 September 1932, Page 6

WITH THE 'LEPPERS

! POINT-TO-PQ1NT SEVERAL FAIR. PERFORMERS I CONTEST TO-MORROW'S STEEPLES OLD FAVOURITES REAPPEAR (Notes by "Canard"). Point-to-point steeplechases are the cream of hunting seasons for those who prefer to ride to hounas not to hunt, and there should be some interesting contests to-morrow when the prowess of the followers of the Rotorua and Bay of Plenty Hunt Club will be tested. Entries are excellent and though there is a good deal of duplication m the different events most will have a flutter at two and keep the pot boilir.g for spectators. Old Favourites Reappear One of the most interesting things ahout the meeting will be the reappearance on the turf of several old stagers to whom silk will be no novelty for they must feel quite at home with the colours up. Amongst the starters to-morrow are sueh as Tarrapeen (Quin Abbey — St. Tarra) who won the Trial Plate at Tauranga in 1929. She was owned in Thames Valley those days and the sarae year contested the Te Kuiti Hurdles running third to Star of the East (winner of the Ohinemuri Steeples), and Lady Spalpeen who registered eight wins over country in three seasons. If fit Tarrapeen will feel at home over sticks. Went Off Colour Day Abbey shaped promisingly as a 3-year-old, but went off and the chestnut raced four times as a four-year-old without getting into the money. Creina's King by Nassau — Nora Creina has a fine pedigree, but he has not exactly filled the Greenhead oat bin for he has started 18 times (thrice as a three-year-old, four times as a four-year-old, six times as a five-year-old, and five times as a six-year-old) without once being closer up than fourth and that was in a fivehorse race. Unless he has mended his ways he should not cause the judge to lose his eyesight through overstrain. Beat G.N. Steeples Winner Quite a well-known performer of a few years ago appears in Bert Ilirkler, who when trained at Avondale, was one of the most promising three-year-olds turned out of that centre for classic winners. Bert Hinkler must at one time have been a bit of a flyer for he donkey-licked a Great Northern Steeplechase winner in Master Lu on two separate occasions. Bert Hinkler had a second placing at Pakuranga Hunt a few years ago when the field was fa.rly select, Cashier heing the only one to lower his colours. His history is interesting too. Mahia's Good Steeples Record Then there is Mahia who shouid be able to record his vote at the next election (that is if Messrs. Forbes, Coates and Co., cio not spiead themselves t'o another term) for he has a great set of performanees. He is by that well-known entire Winterbourne, who was m tiie Gisborne area about twenty years ago. llis dam was Vesper and she was a pretty useiui sort in her day. Mahia has more experience over country than most, for his record goes hack to 1922 when he ran third in the Waioeka Stakes, a five furlong fiat sciuvy at" Gisborne as a two-year-old. It was not till 1926 that he siaried to take to lepping seriousiy lor in that year he ran third in the Ilawke's Bay St.eepies, third in the Gisborne Steeples. The following year he was third in his only start, the Poverty Bay Ilunt Steeples. His knowledge of the gume may stand to him.

Ironic May do Nicely A young jumper with plenty of promise is the Cynic — Amusement gelding, Ironic, who competes in the nomination of Mrs. M. E. Ward, of Whakatane. Ironic was raced as a two-year-old running fourth at Marton. In his four-year-old season he ran eight times without disturbing the tote figures. Like most of the Gynics, age improved him, and he had eight starts as a five-year-old, running second to that good handicap horse, Balloon, at Napier where Snow Morris was his pilot. His next effort saw him run third at Hawke's Bay with Roy Reed in the saddle in a 9 furlong hack race when amongst those he beat was Patutahi who went on to win decisively at Ellerslie. In his sixth year he was put to the battens and started twice, running fourth each time at Dannevirke and in the Open Hurdles at Hawke's Bay. He is now seven and should have a future in front of him in company such as he is likely to meet here. Blue Train is a mare who has won her share of hunting events and collected last year. She looks pretty fit. Hustle Ancestry to Jump Apparently one of the earliest of the gets of the imported Little England who was brought out by the Waikato Hunt Club to improve the breed of hunters, Golden England has a fine strain of lepping ability for his dam was bred by the Taylors of Te Awamutu from a black trotting mare by Ghoai and she was by Spalpeen. The Ghoai mare was regularly hunted with the Waikato Hounds in the Taupiri and Ngaruawahia country prior to the War and was a magnifieent jumper whilst Spalpeen has

left more sound leppers than any other horse imported to New Zealand. They Know What Silk is Several others have had a bit of experience and largely relying on memory one would mention Omataroa, Manera, Master Albyn (a halfbrother to Glenstar), Skylark (related to Skypoint) and Just Nell, who is the one who came from Ned Prenter's Paeroa stable, promised well in welter weight races a few seasons ago. Consider the Public It may be worth mentioning that riders will add a great deal to the pleasure of the public by wearing a sash of some distinctive colouring, for it is not everyone who is used to picking up the running of horses over country and a distinctive sash would be appreciated. The Rotorua Boys' Band is to re-n-der a musical programme, too. The Ball afc Night It will be remembered that tickets for the ball may be obtained from the secretary, Mr. La Tiobe Hill, on payment of the necessary fee, whilst entrance to the paddocks will be free to members who-can produce the necessary button. This should not be confused with the ball tickets — -which are not free.