WITH THE GALLOPERS

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 2, Issue 466, 25 February 1933, Page 7

WITH THE GALLOPERS

TE AROHA DOUBLE CHANCE OF SUNNY SKY IN THE BERRIES MEMORIAL. GOOD SPRINT FIELDS. (Notes hy "Canard.") The defection of Fiji, who has knocked himself, and Royal Artist, who is not himself, have cleared the jiir very little for the Herries Memorial Cup at Te Aroha to-day, and punters are still faced with a hard problem. Fiji was one who was sure to have been supported and Royal Artist Wellington Cup win was certain to have brought him friends. This leaves the Gisborne mare Sunny Sky at the head of affairs and with 8.5 she must take very serious consideration. It is in her favour that she has always been noticed finishing on at the end of her raees and her performances >at Ellerslie will no jlouht be remembered when the field is being summed up. Atholspear, who recently won the Marlborough Cup is an aged gelding by Greyspeay and h'as a good reeora over ten furlongs. He is very fit but there is still a slight suspicion of his gameness over the last furlong or so. However, he is not being brought north for fun and may perform well. Then comes the -three-year-old Inflation and as he was just a length behind the "Flying Filly," Silver Scorn, at Christchurch the other day when a- weight-carrying and speed record for six furlongs was put up, there is no need to question his pace. However, he has gone a mile and he won several seven furlong heats in excellent timo. It is just a question if he can see out 11 furlongs but on the score of fitness he must be considered. The defection of Royal Artist will leave Keith Voitre the leading horseman in the Dominion free to ride King's Knave and this will undoubtedly bring him into the market. He won the Cup at Matamata, was unlucky the first day at Rotorua and woii the second day, so it is evident that he is in form and the help of a good rider will bring him into favour. Eager Rose has had several attempts to win this race and suceeeded in 1930, carryjng 7.4, and heating Taneriri and In the Shade, who won two years .ago. There is evidence of her running at Takapuna that she is coming back to form and if there is a surprise she may be the one to effect it.

Gay Idea won the Takapuna Cup and also ran well at Thames and Ellersyie and according to reports is working solidly at Parawai, going a particularly good mile the other morning with a welter weight on top. Gay Idea must be given a show. Gibraltar will always be remembered by "Canard" for running second to Karapoti in the St. Leger (13.4 on) and just missing the win. We all know how good Karapoti was and Gibraltar, who has not been quite himself in the early spring, has now, according to advices, come right back to form. He has had a change of stable and has shown his new conneetions everything^ that they have asked him. Gibraltar is going to be ' one of the very hardest to beat. i Alloy showed what he coud do when ! well ridden at Rotorua and the Thesj p-ian gelding is a real quality horse. j He has proved that he can run out ; ten furlongs and as he has more racj ing to fit him than .any other in the i race he should be worth consideration. ! Towever, he may run later in the day j where his prospects are bright. I Thespis is carded also later on and i though he must have a show if started j he seems hetter in in his other start. Grand Talk is one which seems a a bit out of place in this company ■ but it will be remembered that she won the Te Kuiti Cup (certainly the company was not strong, but the time ! was good) and later a double at i Thames. She- has always been finish- ! ing on in her engagements and the i Grand Court — Pourparler mare might j upset some of the hetter ones, for | Bert Spinks does not enter rashly. However, the publie will sum up the field themselves and when the machine stops ringing the favourites may be; SUNNY SKY GIBRALTAR GAY IDEA from — HERRIES MEMORIAL CUP 1 mile 3 furs. Royal Artist, 8.10; Fiji, 8.5; Sunny j Sky, 8.5; Atholspear, 8.3; Inflation, 1 7.13; King's Knave, 7.5; Eager Rose, i 7.5; Gay Idea, 7.5; Gibraltar, 7.5; Al1 loy, 7.5; Trishna, 7.3; Thespis, Grand ! Talk, 7.0. The Op'en Sprint, the Waihou Six, has scen the withdrawal of The Tiger, the Taranaki horse not making the joui'ney. This leaves 11 still in and of these Bambury and Exaggeration liave other engagemnets. Paganelli has the top weight df 9.9, but after his running at Te Sh'ore it is a fair handicap and if he gets anything like a deeent marble he is likely to go well. The conrse is in his favour and he is sure of considerable publie support. There might he, however, some lower down who will make him carry his weight all the way. He was defeated here last year carrying 8.13, in lm 13s. Chief Cook, on his reeent running, with wins at Thames, Matamata and Rotorua, will he heavily backed and he certainly has got a niee weight on his performances. He should run well. Valroe has "not th'e recent form to make out that his chances are very rosy, but with an easy track and a good post position he may threaten , danger. Exaggeration won the mack six here last year and won the big sprint at Ellerslie and on those grounds must have to be though't about. A good beglnner, Exaggeration can also see it out and might be knocking. He is in another race. Lord Val shows sigus of coming back to his form at Matamata and the Valkyriari gelding is, when well, the most dangerous horse in the field, though there is always a bit of doubt as to his behaviour at the post. However, he should he handy. Gay Lap won with his mouth open at Matamata, was not produced at Rotorua, and was reserved for this. He pulled up lame after Matamata but that was hy reason of a cut and not a hreakdown aud th'e odds are that he is all right again. The recent rain is, in his favour. Greek Gold is a handy sort but he

makes a noise .and in such a keenly contested race as this it is against him. He is, if in the mood, a m'ost generous galloper and as he has not been seen out for a time a birdcage inspection should give punters some line. Marechal is a half-brother to Awarere and Geo. Paul usually has one up his sleeve for this meeting. As far as time goes, Marechal has as good against him as anything in the race and now he is on the minimum should be worth considering for a place. Bambury showed the stuff he was made of at Rotorua but he is also in the last race .and a seven may be more to his lilcing. He is fast out but so are many others in this field and he will not have it all his own way, Still form gives him a chance. Foreign Queen has won a couple recently down south but has not got the form to entitle her to be selected above some of the other contestants. Last on the list is Hampton Park, and this fellow is one most likely to upset things. He has tons of early speed and set a pace at Avondale once that gave him a ten lengths advantjpge turning into the straight. However, he was not ready and faded away. Since then he won at the Shore and it is evident that his staying power has improved. He has 'always been one that "Canard" kept an eye on and it will be surprising if he does not run particularly well. Chances are held by Paganelli, Chief Cook, Lord Val, Gay Lap, Marechal and Hampton Park. The final summing up may see the publie select: — LORD VAL CHIEF COOK HAMPTON PARK from — WAIHOU HANDICAP, 6 fur. Paganelli, 9.9; Chief Cook, 8.1;' Valroe, 7.13; Exaggeration, 7.13;, The Tiger, 7.8; Lord Val, 7.8; Gay ' Lap, 7.6; Greek Gold, 7.6; Marchal, ) Bambury, Foreign Queen, 7.0. • Bambury and Exaggeration have ' been omitted from caluculations owing* to their other engagements on th'e day. I