NOT STARTING

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 979, 23 May 1930, Page 14

NOT STARTING

TOWN BIRD, WAKO KING AND LUMINARY TOMORROW'S HURDLES The scratching pen will be used freely in connection with the Manunui Hack Hurdles at Taumarunui tomorrow, and three of the principal fancies in Luminary (who was expected to start favourite), Town Bird and Wake King will decline their engagement. Luminary’s name appearing among the acceptors was sufficient to indicate that the connections of the horse had decided to turn his attention to hurdling once again, but Luminary will not make actual contact with this branch of the game just yet a while, for he injured himself severely when he got into a wire fence recently. It is highly probable he will not be seen out at Auckland either.

Incidentally, this change in plans necessitated rider A. J. Gilmer securing another mount, and he is now to be on Lupin Abbey, whom he has been schooling at Te Rapa. Further attempts to make a jumper out of Luminary should be an unquali-fied-success, inasmuch qs the chestnut has shaped pleasingly in liis few efforts to date. lie is one of the many hardy sons of Hay Comet, a horse who has earned no little distinction as the sire of jumpers. Besides, Luminary has won from over middle distances this season, and it would not surprise were lie to prove something like another Prince Lu!

POURFS LEG HORSE NOT A SURE STARTER AT ELLERSLIE There is no gainsaying the fact that Pouri is causing his trainer some anxiety at present, and it is not with a great deal of assurance one views his prospects of reaching the post for either of the Northerns. The seat of all the trouble is one of Fouri’s forelegs, which tilled when the Spalpeen gelding struck himself while schooling at Te Rapa last Saturday. It is a recurrence of the trouble which came against Pouri when he fell in the Autumn Steeplechase at Ellerslie last month, and prevented him from starting in the Northerns twelve months ago. Te Rapa trainer F. Tutchen is giving all liis attention to the injury, and he was apparently satisfied with the Xorthern candidate’s appearance after working yesterday morning. It was not a strenuous effort set Pouri, and he completed a couple of rounds at a strong half pace the reverse way on the course proper. He appeared a bit sore in front when returning to the stalls, but this was not altogether unexpected. However, the setback may seriously hinder Pouri in his preparation, and when he is being keyed up it may be found that he will not stand up to the work. That is not an optimistic view, but it i»v hoped that all difficulties will be overcome in time to pave the way for Pouri’s success in one of the big Northerns.