HORSES IN THE WAIKATO.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 22, 27 January 1928, Page 10

HORSES IN THE WAIKATO.

NOTES FROM TRACK AND STABLE. CANDIDATES FOR TAKAPUNA. There will not be so many horses from Te Rapa racing at Takapuna as is usually the case. The hard condition of the tracks at present has something to do with the drop in numbers. Trans" former, Macroom, Branson, Flying Juliet and Orchus form a quartet from the chief Waikato centre who are already on the scene and they can be looked upon to play their part* with some credit during the week-end racing. W. Tricklcbank, the Te Aroha horseman, has lodged an appeal against the six months' disqualification imposed upon him by the Dargaville Racing Club. The displeasure of the northern body was incurred over Tricklebank's riding of the hurdler Maniahera on the first day of the recent meeting. Transformer has been nominated at the coming Taranaki meeting. It will depend on how the Thurnham gelding acts over the week-end whether the southern engagement will be fulfilled. On the Injured List. Kingfield injured a shoulder while racing at the Auckland meeting. The King Lupin gelding is now well on the mend and will soon be ready to re-enter the racing lists. Archeen continues to improve with the duty A. Tinker is extending the Marble Arch—Kaween gelding at Te Rapa. With a little racing Archeen will be in order for his best effort. The big striding King Merv has been rolling into his tasks on the plough at Te Rapa. He will be in action At the early meetings in the country circuit.

La Roma, who figures among the acceptors for the Trial Stakes at Takapuna, was shaping nicely in her work at Te Aroha prior to going north. The daughter of Romeo and Miss Alicia has shown speed in some of her races this season and is likely to do better with experience.

Lady Spalpeen, who is to race at the Takapuna meeting, is in very nice condition at present. Te Aroha track watchers do not expect the Spalpeen mare to be outclassed in the company she will meet at the week-end.

Gold Beauty, who has recently joined the track workers at Te Aroha, is a halfsister, by St. Amans, to King Lu, and is in the same stable. Gold Beauty is a classy looking four-year-old filly. Although she has been up only a few weeks she is coming to hand quickly. It is intended to race her at Matamata and Te Aroha fixtures.

Tea Time is going to have support from this district, at least, for his sprint racing at the Shore this week-end. He has been working nicely on the tracks at Te Aroha. The Tea Tray gelding put up a good performance when he won the Flying Handicap at the Waipa fixture and a repetition of that showing will make him dangerous at the week-end. Transformer and the Cup. Transformer's prospects in the Cup on Saturday are being viewed with mixed feelings in some quarters, owing to the failure of the Thurnham geiding to j acquit himself up to expectations in the races he has participated in so far this season. However, those who have followed Transformer's most recent track work at Te Rapa feel convinced that W. Wood's charge will run a race within measurable distance of his best on Saturday. Before he took his departure from liis training headquarters yesterday Transformer readily accounted for Branson in a work-out over six furlongs. Nancy Lee is to keep her Takapuna engagements. Although she is well up in the weights, her prospects must not be despised, as she is very well. It may be decided to race the Lucullus — Flagship mare at a longer journey than six furlongs. There is no reason why she should not get a mile in good style.

Orchus was in good order when he' left Te Rapa yesterday to fulfil engagements at the Takapuna meeting. The full brother to Ruffles, both of whom are in Woods' team, performed very creditably when he was raced on the North Shore track in the spring. The Quin Abbey—Necktie gelding won at seven furlongs, and was in a forward position in his second-day engagement when he lost a lot of ground through stumbling as he was racing across the top stretch. Even then he reached third berth. Orchus has the advantage of being a quick beginner, and this feature probably counts more at Takapuna than it does on most other courses.

Flying Juliet was not hitting out at all well in the racing she was indulged in prior to the New Year. The Romeo

filly was unable to put the dash into her gallops, which was so marked a feature of her racing last season. This member of W. Woods' team has not sported silk since the Waipa fixture, at which she was started on two occa-

sions. Taking a line through her most recent work on the track at Te Rapa, the writer expects Flying Juliet ta be more like her old self during her weekend duty. If this summing up is realised, her prospects will demand serious consideration. The chestnut daughter of Archiestown

and Lady Gwendoline, Macroom, reached Takapuna yesterday. She is in excellent trim for her week-end racing. In her work at Te Rapa this week Macroom has hit out in attractive style. A favourable feature in her make-up is her ability to handle the hard tracks. The class she will tackle in the Zea-

landia Handicap on Saturday is the best Macroom has been sent against, but she is an improving sort, and it will not surprise her Waikato admirers to find her making a prominent showing.

Desert Glow in Favour.

According to private advices from Te Awamutu, Desert Glow is going to be the hardest horse to beat in the Takapuna Cup. The Day Comet—Lady Winsome gelding had been working well of recent times, which is evidence that lie has thrown off the lameness that developed through colliding with another horse when pulling up after winning the Waipa Cup. His showing on that occasion marked a vast improvement in his form. With the handy weight of 7.12 on Saturday, Desert Glow has only to be somewhere near his best to keep the opposition very busy. P. AV. Scally, who has been located at Te Rapa since the New Year, left for headquarters yesterday with Branson. The Creyspear—G«rston gelding, who had a let-up after spring racing, had been working quite satisfactorily prior to leaving for Auckland. He is such a promising sort that his prospects will come in for a good deal of . attention during the week-end racing, and indications point to him giving a good account of himself.

Day Guard is trained at I'garuawahia, and there is little opportunity of watching his work-outs. The Day Comet— Keep Watch gelding was raced with the field in the Flying Handicap at that centre on Saturday, when he carried 10.6 into second place behind Abbess. He did not begin quite as promptly as is his custom, and it may have been that the hard track was not to his best liking. Day Guard is engaged in the Zealandia Handicap on Saturday, but it looks as if lie will require everything in his favour to score with 9.0 up. Te Koroke, who will be raced at Takapuna, is now a member of Jack Wallace's team at Te Aroha. The Humbug—Tigritiya gelding has greatly improved since he has been located down this way, and, judging by the manner in which he has been hitting out on the tracks, can be looked to to race well in his early engagements. Ripon Abbey and Wedding March are in good condition for their racing at Takapuna. The latter appears to be flying at high game in the Cup, but lie will stay it out for one thing.