MATAMATA HORSES.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 116, 19 May 1933, Page 10

MATAMATA HORSES.

TE RAPA CANDIDATES. THEIR PROSPECTS DISCUSSED. A number of Matamata horses are engaged at the Te Rapa meeting and most have been doing fast work this week. The principal attraction of the week has been a gallop between Master Nor val, Knight of Australia and Tapapa. They went six furlongs and at the finish Knight of Australia, slow to move, ranged alongside Master Nerval, with Tapapa a bad third. The time was 1.21. Two maidens in J. W. Anderton's charge, Grand City and Eva Rose, went five furlongs on Tuesday morning, with the latter finishing in front. Both are engaged at Te Rapa and if they can go on with it, either may create a surprise. Grand City got a place at the Bay of Plenty meeting on a preparation which had been severely interfered with. Standfast and Valpeen were sent over six hurdles on Tuesday and the maiden outjumped Standfast at every fence. Valpeen will be in a big field in the Kopaki Hurdes to-morrow, but is a distinct possibility. A. McArthur trains two of the horses accepted for in the Otorolianga Hack Handicap—Valreina and Chief Top. Both have disappointed on several occasions since Christinas, but each has met with injuries in transit. While they are useful hacks, neither appears to be a straightout win proposition in forthcoming engagements. Dark Marble is putting up very good hack time when occasionally brought to the track. The other morning he finished

in front of Try Luck over five furlor.gs, run in 1.5. This was a good gallop, and seeing that Try Luck has won twice at his only two starts, Dark Marble must be given a good chance in the Otorolianga Hack Handicap. In all his races this gelding is thereabouts. Knight of Australia is racing on the second day, and with the going soft may earn some stake money. This horse ran a very good race on the same course, to get topped off by Refresher in the spring. Standfast and Valpeen were sent a mile on Thursday morning, with the former doing the better in 1.45. Lord Val, Woodful and Prince Val were out. The former is in excellent condition and should show up in the six-furlong event on the second day at Te Rapa. There is nothing wrong with Woodful's condition and with a jump out to-morrow he should get a place. Prince Val is bearing a robust appearance, but he lias been in some months and is relishing short journeys. Five-furlong sprints have been his portion of late, and he is doing tlieni so well that his chances at Te Rapa cannot. be discounted. E. Keesing has been over from Te Aroha this week riding .T. W. Anderton_'s horses. He will have the mount on Knight of Australia on Monday.