AWAPUNI NOTES

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 368, 31 May 1928, Page 6

AWAPUNI NOTES

HORSES FOR OTAKI PROSPECTS DISCUSSED (Special to THE SUN) PALMERSTON N., Wednesday. With the exception of Mister Gamp and Vexatious, who will be competing at Ellerslie, Awapuni candidates are centring their attention on Otaki, and a team of 15 horses will attend the latter meeting l . Although still in the hack class hurdlers, Mister Gamp Is coming into demand for the Great Northern Hurdles, but the day alone will disclose whether he will give of his best. Hymestrason, the winner of the hurdles at Wanganui on the concluding day, has foregone his Dunedin engagement and will race over the battens at Otaki. In company with Callanmore (Green) the jumping candidate was given a useful task on the grass on Tuesday, both moving attractively in the heavy ground. Hymestrason had the services of R. C. Stratton, who will ride Callanmore in the Waitohu Hack Handicap, Green being in Auckland. Redbank, the All Red-Willowbank gelding from L. Knapp’s jumping string, who figures at Otaki, did pace work on the inner grass. The gelding has been hunted with the Manawatu hounds. He is now commencing to take on something like racing trim, and his owner might well secure some stake money in the near future. One From the Waikato The Valkyrian gelding, brought South from the Waikato by G. New some little time back, will be given his first outing in public at Otaki, when he will race in the Kuku Maiden under the name of Valcluse. He is rounding into shape, but his turn has hardly come yet. In addition to Callanmore, Awapuni will furnish a further quartet of runners in the Waitohu Hack Handicap in Keddar, Chelone, Le Champ and Patearoa. t The last-named pair was sent along over five furlongs on the grass proper yesterday, the trestles being close in, to run the journey in 1.8, neither* being extended, although Le Champ appeared to be going the better at the finish. Keddar (Reed), a winner at both Hawera and Wanganui, was restricted to an easy task on the plough. Chelone jumped off at the six-furlong post on the grass proper to cover the distance in 1.19, Disrank bringing him home over the last two and a-half furlongs. The latter, who is by Lord Quex, is out of Morganatic, a full sister to Kick Off, and is one of the younger members under the charge of G. Jones.

Although Commendation was expected to come in about the close of the present month, Jones has not yet received any word concerning his movements and it would appear that ill-luck continues to dog the Limond gelding. However, the trainer has a string of yearlings .to engage his attention. Doubtful Starter Atareria, although he figures in the Cup field for Otaki on the opening day, is a doubtful starter owing to inability to secure a suitable pilot. He will, however, be a runner over the battens on the second day, when H. Gordon will be his rider. In company with Redbank he showed on Tuesday morning that he will make good, although ho did not take his first two fences so cleanly as the Air Red gelding. Redbank had the services of N. Stratton, who will'no doubt be bis pilot on the day. - Kilmiss (Maekie) and Wanderlust (Murray) were partners over a mile on the grass proper yesterday, the pair running the last seven furlongs in 1.37. Kilmiss, who had the inside running, drew out in the straight to finish full of running. The heavy going, which promises, will be in the Kilboy mare’s favour. * Roburant (Metcalf), who is a lazy worker, was exercised on the inner grass. It is intended to try the Absurd gelding over the battens, but he has not had his introduction as yet. Coming from the family he does, there appears to be an element of doubt as to the outcome. He has not figured in public since being taken in hand by S. Watson, but he might be found contesting a flat event at the Wellington fixture. Schooling Task Royal Heather (N. Stratton), a stable companion of Puwhe.ro, ha.d Del Sarto (C. Robinson) as a partner over the steeplechase fences yesterday. The latter, who has had some experience with the hounds, has improved materially in his schooling and he outjumped and outpaced his companion. The patience and perseverance of trainer R. E. Hatch may yet be rewarded. Captain Wai, who has been purchased by trainer H. Doyle, is back again in the active ranks following a period on the roads, while he has also been furthering his jumping knowledge

with the hounds. A jumping event should not b© beyond him in the near future. Maidos, who disappeared just when he was commencing to appear ready for the winter jumping, is likewise back in the ranks. Broad Acre, who dropped out of the Otaki list on acceptance night, has been turned out for a spell and will join Crown Area, Blimp, Mooregas and Miss Field on luscious pastures of the Kairanga. Crown Area and Mooregas are reported to be thriving in great styl© in their present surroundings. The colt by Limond-Tivoli, for whom Mr. W. H. Gaisford gave 600gns at the Trentham sales last January, has now been taken in hand by G. Jones, while he is also educating Statuary (the Leighton-Statuette colt), a Kil-broney-Temba gelding, and a filly by Tea Tray-The Linnet. They are among the exercisers at Awapuni in the afternoons.

With the sale of Some Lad to a West Coast sportsman, G. New lost one member from his lengthy string, but his boxes are not long idle and he is at present engaged in handling some rising two-year-olds. They are Tigrano (Grandcourt-Tigritya), Cleve.rspear (Grey spear-Clever Mary), and King Acre (Acre -Sylvan Maid). The first-named is the property of the trainer, the second that of an Opunake sportsman, and the last-named of a local follower of the game. The trio shows plenty of promise.

Trainer R. E. Hatch secured a quintette Of youngsters from Hawke’s Bay receiitly, the property of Mr. W. G. Stead. While they will be taken in hand by this mentor, they will prob - ably be sent to Australia later on. The jumpers comprise a chestnut gelding by Lord Quex-Sundust, who is incidentally a particularly big sort, a bay filly by Lord Quex-Bayonne, a chestnut filly by Leighton-Las Vegas, a brown filly by Leigh ton-Cheloma (a full sister to Chelone), and a bay filly by Leighton-Lady Ball.

Mangani Does Well Until his rider was unshipped when the horse slipped on landing over the second fence on top of the hill at Ellerslie on Tuesday, Mangani put up a good showing over the country. Like Wee Marble, he claims the same engagements on Saturday and Monday, and his efforts over the hill will be watched with interest. Mangani promises to be a useful stake winner this winter.