RACING NOTES AND NOTIONS

Rotorua Morning Post, Issue 5322, 7 February 1947, Page 3

RACING NOTES AND NOTIONS

ARAWA PARK MUSI'NGS SOME COMMENTS ON IIORSES IN TO-MOREOW'S CARD. In the Flying Hnndicap at Paeroa last month, King-'s Pride, in receipt of 201b on the weiglits earried, ran Cqntango to a neek. The difference between them in the Tourist Handicap is no'vV 301b, which should give the . Robin Goodfellow gelding a reasonable chance of upsetting the fevourite, He should ibe one of the best-snp-ported division. ☆ Commissar's last success was won last April at the Hunt meeting here, when he seored over six xurlongs against Beryl Fox and Monte Cristo. He has appeafed only twiee or three times this season, but rau ' a sound mile at Te Aroha recently. Commissar, who stays well, should have more than an outside chance in ihe Rotorua Cup. ☆ Charles Defoe seored .nicel/ in the Trial Handicap at Thames b.ut his best at Matamata was sixth, in which position he was during most of the running. He should do better tomorrow, ☆ Balancer was doing bis work at the right end of the second division of the maiden event at Matamata and he may i not need much more racing before he gets on the winning list as a three-year-old. He is a sturdy type, in the stable of R. S. Bagby. ☆ Duryalus was bac-ked for good money in the Railway Handicap at Matamata, but he lost his position early and was never thereafter a danger. He showed winning form at Te Rapa in the spring and if he raaes up to traelc performances in the Hot Spring Handicap he should be in the money. Another who disappointed in the same contest on Saturday was Revelene, who was abo.ut sixth during most oi" the running and finished in that position. She also should show some improvement. it Corot will essay to win his fourth Rotorua Cup to-morrow. The aged Vermeer gelding has no.t s'truck form yet this season, but he finished fast into fourth place in the Services Handicap at Ellerslie and he will be in keen demand. History is against him, but he is eyidently in good order and is har.dily w-Gighted. fr No more than a length separated Ivvo Jima, Tilting, Bright Fox and Bedivere in the Matamata Cup. The only one of the quartet in the Rotorua Cup is Bright Fox. This brilliant hurdler won three raees in a row during the midsummer racing and should strip a fit horse to-morrow. He appears to be the best prospect ; among Lhose on the minimum. ! i~~ ; llHtai's sole success this season was i in lIio New Plymoath Handicap on Deeembor 28, when he beat Black Pluto in a small field by three lengths. Ue -has two lb less in the Rotorua Cup than he earried on that oceasion, and allhough he has not raced up to his early three-year-old promise, he I will command a following. i 7s j Montv was coming back to Golden 1 Beau in the Putaruru Stakes, and j gained the verdict by a head only. In j the Arawa Xurscvy, he will meet the { rtnner-up on 111b worse terms over half a furlong further, and the race between them to-morrow will be very interesting. On Ellerslie showing, Pola, second to Ascot Lad in the Wynyard Handicap, should attvact attention for the Pohutu Highweig'ht Handicap. This half-brother to Bright Fox is in good order. He also elaims an engagcment in the Cuo and tlie Geyser Hack ! up. ☆ Gay Fault was beaten by a useful | hack in Royal Silver for the winner's I stake in the Okoroire Handicap last | Saturday,1 which makes her a formicl- ! able contender for the Geyser Hack j Cup, should she undertalce this mission ! in preference to the Cup. i The starting of Contango in the j Matamata Cup in preference to the I Walton Handicap occasioned a little I surprise, but in the Tourist Handicap she will be racing over her customary distance. Although she is required to stand up her nearest opponent ,221b, she will carry the confidence of speculators. ☆ On her last appearance at Arawa Park, Trench Meter showed promise that has been redefemed by two sound wins and a couple of minor placings. She has a choice of engagements tomorrow; the open or haclt sprint and in either, she will give a good aeeount of herself. 7 ☆ Twice placecl when she raced at the last Arawa Park meeting, Pavaals will be saddled .up in tlie Hot Springs Handicap. Her second to Desert Patvol in the Waharoa Handicap at Matamata is a good augury, especially as to-morrow's event is a furlong and a quarter shorter. ☆ A maiden pe'rformer with distinct possibilities in the near future is Hardware, runner-up to Tidowna in the third division— the fastest by a second — of the Hinuera Handicap at Matamata. " ☆ A winner here in October was Mabel Knig'ht, who will carfV No. 1 saddle-cloth in the Hot Springs Handicap. Although her fourth to Hazara ) last Satuxxlay was only a moderate effort, she now meets him on half a stone better terjns and she is the more susceptible to improvement. ☆ Tatanga was not produed at Matamata, 'but she has been' aecepted for here. It is on record that she ran secpnd to Cressida, beating Jollae, first up at" 'Stratford on New Year's Day. She may be in the picture again before the autumn leaves fall.