MATAMATA HORSES.

Auckland Star, Volume LXV, Issue 5, 6 January 1934, Page 13

MATAMATA HORSES.

T.TA FAIL and poi dance. PRINCE YAL ON EASY LIST. Three Matamata-trained maidens were taken on the Tarnnaki circuit and two, Lia Fail and Poi Dance, lost their xnaiden status. The former won twice and also ran second, while Poi Dance won once and was also second. Poi Dance did not feed well on the trip, so that the performances were quite meritorious. This is the lirst of fepeardance's progeny to score, but there are several being trained here which should run prominently during the late summer meetings, particularly .b'irst Dance and the Queen Street gelding in Mateer's stable, and Royal Dance, owned by Mr. J. Clothier. The trio will probably be seen out at the Matamata meeting. Matamata stables were represented by five horses at Ellerslie, Woodtul being the only one to earn any money. Welcome Boy was unlucky in his two starts, but he probably found the jumps a bit more difficult than those he has been used to. He certainly did not negotiate the hurdles with his customary freedom. Pound Sterling was slightly sore when he left for Ellerslie and his best performance was on the second day in the softer going, when, he ran fourth, heads behind the winner. However, he was in front of some good ones in Brown Betty, Bodyline and Kerepai. Prince Val was taken to Ellerslie, but ricked himself prior to the racing and was not started. He had been working freely and might have run prominently in the soft going on the sccond day. Maori Jack was not quite forward enough to be taken to Ellerslie and is a doubtful acceptor for Thames. This maiden is not being hurried. Master Norval arrived home in charge of F. Thompson on Wednesday, looking none the worse for his three efforts at Ellerslie. He was rather unlucky, being badly interfered with in two of his races. He will be given a slight spell, and in the meantime W. J. McLean will be at Te Awamutu assisting with the team of H. L. Russell, who is indisposed. Grand City has been brought in from his owner's farm, apparently having recovered from the rick he sustained a couple of months ago. He has been fed in the interim and is looking very healthy. It should not take R. Martin long to get him ready. A magnificent case of cutlery was attached to Last Lap's win in the Pirongia Cup. This was Last Lap's first effort over a mile and a quarter, and as he ran the distance in 2.10 on a small track he should be a distinct possibility in high-weight handicaps at Thames. R. Martin has Last Lap looking particularly well. W. C. Vincent is working an upstanding gelding by Lackham —Megalo, who should race before the summer ends. _ The same owner-trainer has Valueless in forward condition. Overtures are being made to the Matamata Club to either adopt the 70, 20, 10 per cent straight-out system of betting or revert to the old 75 and 25 per cent scheme. This club was the first in the province to change to the win and place machine, but whether it will be the first in the province to go back will be decided by the committee. It is quite certain that regular racing men in this district are tired of the new system and would welcome a change to the one dividend system. i