WAIKATO NOTES

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 978, 22 May 1930, Page 14

WAIKATO NOTES

NORTHERN CANDIDATES JUMPERS SHOWING FORM Wiltshire will be ridden by Norman Syme at Ellerslie, where he is to start in both the big jumping events, writes The Sun’s travelling turf correspondent. The Day Comet—Lady Lobelia chestnut has been doing well in his schooling at Te Rapa, where P. McGuire is looking after him, and he bears an improved appearance as the return of his recent efforts. If the going turns out firm for the racing ahead, Wiltshire should prove a hard horse to beat in both jumping events., Pouri and the Northerns

Peuri must not be left out of the Great Northern calculations. F. Tutchen has the Spalpeen gelding going along in good style in his work on the tracks at Te Rapa. Pouri is never required to do a great deal of scho.oling over the jumps, but that is not necessary, as he is fully qualified both as a hurdler and a steeplechaser. To the writer’s view, Pouri offers the best prospects in the cross-country event at Ellerslie, as the field is not particularly good so far as stayers are concerned, and Pouri can answer the needs in this important respect. With R. E. Thomson booked to ride him, Pouri is well served on that score. The Te Rapa trainer, Phil Brady, is having a busy time of it with Star Comet, Pompeius, and Rawhetu to get ready for the Auckland meetings. Star Comet is well in the market for the Great Northern Hurdles, and he will most likely finish up the actual -first favourite on the day. This trainer appears quietly confident that Star Comet will also acquit himself capably in the cross-country race next month. The Day Comet chestnut has tackled brush obstacles in his latest training, and he lias literally flown them. Ellerslie is not over-difficult, and a horse which can clear the hurdles as freely as he did in the Brighton and the Autumn Hurdles last month should take readily to the more varied game. P. Brady, the son of the trainer, who rode Star Comet in the Brighton Hurdles, will again be in the saddle in. his coming engagements. Rider for Pompeius

The scratching of Pompeius for the Northerns came as a surprise, as he had been given work which indicated that jumping would be his mission. Since then the Lucullus—Miss Winsome gelding has had his attention turned to efforts on the flat. He is hardy in condition, and very fit. The prospects of Pompeius in the Cornwall Handicap will be greatly enhanced now that rain has fallen, as he ia a rare finisher in holding ground. An endeavour is being made to get B. H. Morris to take the ride. The third member of Brady’s stable is the Day Comet—Miss Winsome gelding Rawhetu, who has form in Australia to his credit. He has been at Te Rapa for about six months, and has had a couple- of outings on the flat. At the moment Rawhetu figures in both Great Northerns, but he is also in the Green Lane Steeples, the opening item of the meeting. As Rawhetu is being schooled over the country at Te Rapa, the evidence prima facie is that he will be kept to this division. Now that Pompeius has been pulled out, the connections of the pair must be satisfied that Rawhetu will carry their banner with credit in the big steeples. He certainly shapes like a horse of distinct possibilities as a ’chaser.

A good bracket for the Northern is Wedding March—Roman Abbey, who will carry the cream jacket and crimson cap of R. Hannon’s stable. This pair of jumpers will bear comparison with the best in the land. Wedding March has the distinction of having won the Northern Hurdles, while Roman Abbey acted in the roie of runner-up in both races 12 months ago. Neither horse has had many outings in public this season, but they belong to a stable which knows to the last letter what is wanted. From what can be gathered both horses will see the post in the Northerns. With W. Rennie’s services again available nothing better could be required so far as a pilot is concerned. Knows the Country A few seasons ago . Pendavies was showing capital form as a steeplechaser, but he went amiss. The Aichiestown gelding, who is in tlie same stable as Wiltshire, is standing to his work again and there is every hope of him being in action at the meeting next month. The rain which has fallen in the Waikato of late has just been what Pendavies requires. It is the intention to race him over hurdles on the two opening days of the Northern meeting, and to send him cut for the Winter Steeples on the third day. Pendavies knows the Eilerslie country thoroughly, but as he has not had a race since the autumn cf last season he will probably be at a disadvantage against the many wellserved jumpers he will meet next month. That one time good performer, Mosiac, whose efforts on the flat of late have been sadly disappointing, is among the latest recruits to the jumping game. His schooling work has been very promising and a minor hurdle event should not be beyond him within the very near future. Another novice hurdler in Lupin Abbey is shaping well in his schooling tasks. The King Lupin gelding has a fair turn of speed and is a good jumper. He will probably be seen out at Tauniarunui, where he should give a good account of himself. About Paddon Paddon, who is now trained privately, is not very forward in condition, and even if he does go to the post in the Cornwall Handicap, it is doubtful if he will be ready to do himself justice. Paddon who, it will be remembered, ran' a good second in the Cornwall last year, relishes winter conditions, and may be heard of later in the term. A kick he received at Ellerslie was in a large measure accountable for Prince Val’s disappointing displays at the Avondale meeting. He has given very pleasing displays on the Matamata track during the last week, and as he is well suited by winter conditions should soon be on the winning' list again. Old Boomerday is doing all that is asked of him at local headquarters. Although he fell when looking to have a great chance in his last outing over the Ellerslie hill, he is generally a safe conveyance, and should be kept in mind for minor steeplechase events.

REONUI AS HURDLER

SCHOOLS WELL The ex-New Zealander Keonui, who ran second to Niglitmarch in the A.J.C. Epsom Handicap, promises to make good as a hurdle racer. He schooled over six hurdles at Flemington recently, and beat Cockcrow, Affirm (another New Zealander), and Longlands in particularly good style. He is a member of Stan Reid’s team, That trainer also has two other good hurdlers in Tirade and Kendler, and with 4his trio he should be very prominent during the jumping season.