MATAMATA MEETING.

Auckland Star, Volume LXV, Issue 27, 1 February 1934, Page 18

MATAMATA MEETING.

SOME OF THE CANDIDATES.

RECENT FORM DISCUSSED,

ENGAGED IN T HACK CUP.

It is some time since D'Artagnan won a race, his last success being in the Higliweight Handicap, eight furlongs and. a half, at Paeroa in October last. When raced last season as a two-year-old he showed promising form, winning two laces and being placed on other occasions. At the beginning of the present term he ran second to Gay Sheila in the Champion Hack Plate at Avondale and also in the Avondale Guineas. He is to make his next appearance in the Hack Cup at Matamata nest Saturday, and lie would only need to stay on to have a chance. ON EASY LIST. Argentic has been on the easy list since he returned to Riecarton from his unsuccessful trip to Trentham, but O. C. McCarthy hopes to have him going again in a few days, in preparation for the Canterbury Jockey Club's summer meeting. RECOVERED FROM INJORIES. Cricket Bat has recovered from the injuries he suffered in the Wellington Cup throngh being galloped on. He was going very well at the time of the accident and he may show lip in the Dunedin Cup, in which he will make his nest appearance. , TURNED OUT. Hurlingham did not race so well as was expected in his only start at Trentham, while his brother, Ranelagh, also ran below his best form iii his latest efforts. Apparently they have had enough racing for the present, and A. 15. Wormald has turned them out for a good spell. PROGRESS OF PETER PAN. The champion Peter Pan is progressing most satisfactorily from his recent indisposition (says an Australian writer) and works after breakfast at Rand wick in sweaters. There has been 110 return of the muscular trouble, and his trainer, P. McGrath, is confident the horse will be as good as ever in the coming autumn. RAN A CREDITABLE RACE. Don't Lap ran a creditable race when he finished second to Last Lap in a highweight handicap at. the recent Thames meeting, and it shouid not be long before he reaches the winning list. At Matamata on Saturday he is engaged in the Okoroire Handicap, run over eight furlongs and a half and is likely to be in the picture at the finish. A LIKELY SORT. Travelling Agent, who is engaged in the Tirau Hurdles at Matamata, is closely related to High. Commissioner and is trained by P. Tutchen, who also trained High Commissioner. He has had no racing experience, but has been shaping well in his schooling work at Te Rapa. He is a. solid-looking sort, rather bigger than High Commissioner, and just the type to develop into a good jumping proposition. A RECENT WINNER. Last Lap, the' top-weight in the Mata- ~ mata Hack Cup, won both high-weight handicaps at the recent Thames meeting, the distance being nine furlongs in each instance. The class he beat was not nearly as 'strong as he will encounter next Saturday and he will find "the task of winning much more difficult. However, he is a very fit horse at the present time and his condition will stand to him in his forthcoming engagement. WELL-SEASONED CANDIDATE. Sinking Fund won a double on the last day of the spring meeting at Takapuna. He raced at the recent summer meeting, finishing fourth in the Suburban Handicap on Monday. ,He is engaged in the Waharoa Handicap, six furlongs, and the Walton Handicap, seven furlongs and a quarter, at Matamata next Saturday, and as he is one of the best seasoned horses engaged at the meeting his prospects will have to be seriously considered. SHOULD BE IN THE MONEY. Record Plight, who lightened up a' bit after his racing at Thames, has freshened up and is stated to be working well at Te Aroha. This novice has a lot of speed ail'd shaped encouragingly when he finished second to Bonny Gay in the Tapu Handicap, six furlongs, at Thames." However, he is not too seasoned yet and may require more time before he is seen at his best, though the class he is meeting at Matamata is not over strong and he should be in the money. LUCK WAS AGAINST HER. Caliente was not favoured with the best of luck when slid ran third in the Rangitoto Handicap, nine furlongs, at Takapuna last Saturday, being checked 011 a couple of occasions. With a clear run she w'ould have proved much harder to beat. Caliente is engaged in the Hack Cup at Matamata next Saturday, which is a furlong further, and as this filly has shown evidence of staying 011 in her races the extra distance should not seriously trouble her. STAYING ON BETTER. King Mestor was in great form at the Thames meeting last month, where he accounted for the Pipiroa Handicap and the Parawai Handicap on the first day, winning both events- very easily. He was ridden in behind in both races, but finished on brilliantly. He was very speedy as a two-year-old last season and is now staying on, and slightly longer distances this season do not seem to worry him. He has a dual engagement at the Matamata meeting next Saturday—the Railway Handic'.ip, six furlongs, and the Walton Handicap, seven furlongs and a quarter— and whichever lie is started in he should prove hard to beat. LIMARCH IN AUSTRALIAN CUP. J. T. Jamieson intends taking a strong team to Melbourne (says a Sydney writer), and it is interesting that he has entered hit! three-year-old Limarch in the Australian Cup. Had an injured heel not affected him throughout the spring racing Limarch might have proved himself the second three-year-old to Hall Mark, for his form suggested real stamina, and lie possessed a turn of speed which would have stood to him in the classics. 111 the early stages of liis preparation Limarch has progressed well, and, although three-year-olds have not a good record in the Australian Cup, it is only because really good horses of that age do not tackle the long handicap. ODDS INDICATOR AT RANDWICK. It is proposed to have installed in the totalisator in the saddling paddock at Randwick mechanism to show the odds the horses in a race are standing at from time to time. This contrivance will apply to the straightout pool only and will enable prospective supporters to tell at. a glance the approximate return at the time of their investment. So far as the straightout pool is concerned, machine betting at Randwick has had little to fear from comparison with prices offered by.bookmakers, for the returns have compared favourably with those obtainable in the betting l ing. With.- the indicator backers will be in a «* / lretfc'P position-to receive the best value £cr ,t'a<i money. . .. .

KEEN ON JUMPERS. Mr. L. E. B. Wallace, who purchased True Shaft at Trentham last week, is keen oil jumpers, Adventus being one of the horses who comes under his colours. It will come as no surprise, therefore, if True Shaft is racing among the hurdlers later in the season. DOING WELL. Gaysome, who showed good form during the holidays, Ims gone on well at Kiccarton since then. She is booked for another trip next week to W mgatui, where she won the open sprint on Boxing Day, ana though she will meet stronger opposition this time she cannot be left out of calculations. TRAINER CHANGES QUARTERS. W. Stone, who came to Kandwick from New Zealand some time ago with Counterplay and Manchu, and later added Silver Peak to his small team (says a Sydney writer), has decided to try his luck at country race meetings, and has shifted his quarters to Kempsey, taking Counterplay and Silver Peak with him. BURST A FOOT. Silver Jest had the misfortune to burst a foot while working at lliccarton on Saturday. This will mean missing his engagements at the Dunedin meeting, which is bad luck, in view of his promising form. T. Lloyd has had more than his share of mishaps with his team this season, and he is overdue for a change. PROMISING NOVICE. A promising novice in Tuaheahe, a five-year-old gelding by Lapidary, is engaged in the Hiuuera Handicap at Matamata on Saturday. He is trained at To Awamutu by E. Savage and showed useful form at the recent Thames meeting, where he ran third in the Tapu Handicap on the first day and second to Prince Acre in the Kopu Handicap on the second day. He finished on solidly in both races and should be an improved horse when he is next produced. SHOWED UP AT PUKEKOHE. Huskie, who dead-heated for second place with Morehu in the maiden event at the Bay of Islands meeting, recently held at Pukekohe, is due to make his next appearance in the Hinuera at Matamata on Saturday. It was his firsi appearance in public, and he ran about a lot in the straight, anishing on the extreme outside. If this novice lias made any improvement in the interim he will be a possibility at Matamata. Huskie is trained by J. W. Cathro at Matamata and is by Snow King. SURE TO GET SUPPORT. Teels has not raced since she accounted for the Hack Cup, nine furlongs, at the •Bay of Islands meeting at Pukekohe recently, but if started in the Hack Cup at Matamata next Saturday she is likely to get solid support. She won very impressively at Pukekohe, and the extra poundage she has to carry on Saturday should not greatly trouble her. This mare won the Waipa Cup, one mile and a quarter, at Te Awamutu last season, so that there is no doubt about her being able to go the distance. A NIGHT RAID COLT. At the Trentham yearling sales last week the Night llaid —Zany colt attracted a great deal of favourable notice. He is a very big, loosely-built colt, with scope for development into a liorse of the highest class. Some of the critics were disposed to regard him as a risky proposition on account of his size, but from that point of view he resembles Phar Lap more nearly than any other Night Raid yearling who has been seen in the sale ring at Trentham. He excited keen bidding and at 750gs he was knocked down to Wright, Stephenson and Co. as agents. A report gained wide currency' that he was bought on behalf of an Australian owner, but this was. not the case. The colt is owned in New Zealand. He has been sent back to Elderslie, where he will be broken in and put through the early stages of his education. When the time arrives for him to go into training lie will join the stable of a Island trainer. That will not happen, however, for some time yet. It is realised that this big fellow, if lie is going to turn out well, will repay a pjftient policy, so it can be taken as certain that he will not be hurried. A.J.C. PRIZE MONEY.

Prize money will be increased for all the events at the autumn meeting of the Australian Jockey* Club. In fact, the programmes issued nowadays are beginning to look more like those or the better years (says an. Australian writer). There are now nine races worth £1000 or more on the autumn programme. The prize for the Doncaster Handicap is increased to £1750, and £500 has been added to the Sydney Cup, making the prize worth £4500. The added money for the Sires' Produce Stakes is £2500, and the Champagne Stakes lias been increased by. £250, making it worth £1750. The added money tor the King's Cup, which will be run this year, is £2000, and among the weight-for-age events the Autumn Plate is now worth £1300, the All Aged Plate £1500, the C. W. Cropper Plate £1000, and the Cumberland Plate £1000. Last year the A.J.C. Plate was on the programme, but it is missing on this occasion because of the King's Cup. An increase of some consequence has been made in the prize for the Easter Plate for two-year-old fillies. Last year the race was worth only £400, but on this occasion it will carry £750 »added money. There have been increases in the minor handicaps, too, and- this year's programme will have the races at the following values: Vaueluse Handicap, £500; La Perouse Handicap, £650; Biranganbll Handicap, £450; Wentworth Handicap, £500; Tocal Handicap, £500; Rous Handicap, £450; Dangar Handicap, £4oO; Fernhill Handicap, £450; Final Handicap, £650.

TIME LIMIT IMPOSED. The last has probably been seen of farcical weight-lor-age races over distances ot two miles or further, the committee ot the Australian Jockey Club.having tlecided that in future races of this character not run in a time specified.in the conditions shall carry a prize to the winner only halt of that originally advertised. First to be affected is the Cumberland Plate, to be run at the autumn meeting. Due to the fact that the King's Cup will be decided at this" fixture, there will not be an A.J.C. Plate on the programme, and the only long weight-for-age race will be the Cumberland Plate, the distance for which will be increased from one mile and threequarters to two milcVi. The added money this year is £1000, but if the race is not rim in 3.35 or faster the stakes will be reduced to £500. The, committee has reserved the right to alter the specified time as may be deemed necessary in the event of a heavy track. The last weight-for-ag'e race over a distance decided at Kandwick was a ridiculous affair. Kogilla, one of the greatest stayers seen out for some time, won it from liough Neagh, and was not required to go any faster than 3.45% for the two miles. It does not seem at all unreasonable to ask champions to run the two miles in 3.3 a. Looking back on the results of the Sydney Cup for the past .ten years, it .is. found that the average time is approximately 3.28 2-5, and similarly the average time for the Kandwick Plate," also run over the two miles course, is 3.32 4-5. So far as the Plate is concerned, this time has been equalled or bettered on seven occasions. This average includes last year's time, but if this be excluded the average time drops to 2.31 2-o, only tlu'ee seconds slower than the average for the Sydney Cup. Even this time has been bettered on five occasions in the Randwick Plate.

TOO BACKWARD. Concentrate has done a lot of short sprints lately at Riccarton in preparation for more serious tasks. It was intended to nominate him for the Dunedin meeting, but he was too backward and it is by no means certain that he will stand up to the severe work that will be necessary to fit him for long races. ALPINUS AT TAKANINI. Alpiuus, who was formerly trained at Ellerslie, was taken over by E. Pope after the Takapuna meeting. Alpinus will be racing in new interests in future as he 1 has been acquired by the well-known Dargaville sportsman, Mr. R. W. Cuthbert, who is considering giving him his next race at the Dargaville meeting. AGAIN IN COMMISSION. Great Star, who has been off the scene for some time, owing to an accident when racing at Trentham in the spring, is again in commission" at Riccarton, and he may not be long before he is ready to show good form. As a preliminary he will be seen among the sprinters at the Dunedin meeting next week, but he may be ready soon to take on longer journeys. OUT OF HACK CLASS. Davolo has worked his way out of hack class, in which he has shown good form this season, and he figures in two open races at the Dunedin meeting next week. Having demonstrated that he can run a good mile, he is to be tried over a longer journey, and he will have an opportunity to show his quality in the Jockey Club Handicap, one mile and a on the second day. FOR DUNEDIN CUP. Vintage was kept going in strong work ;it Riccarton during the absence of his trainer at Trentham. He looks in great order and he hit out in good style over about a mile on Saturday. The Dunedin Cup will be his fust outing in open comIMny, but he will receive plenty of support, as his racing during the Inst few months has left no doubt that he possesses stamina as well as epecd. FOR MATAMATA.

The Hiker, who was successful at Piikekohe in the Hokianga Hurdles, is to make the trip to Matamata for the Tirau Hurdles. He is to leave to-morrow, and will be ridden by his usual pilot,. C. Walters. The Hiker has only to jump as well as he did at Pukekohe to again be prominent at the finish, despite the fact that he will be meeting a couple of better class performers than those which he defeated recently. MAY MAKE AMENDS. Chief Lap, whose form has been dis* appointing for some time past, will have an opportunity to make amends in the Railway Handicap at Matamata next Saturday. At hie first start on this couree two years ago he won the Putaruru Stakes, but has not succeeded in getting on the winning list since then, though he ran a good second to Tin Lap at the last Waipa meeting. This hack has plenty of speed, but has been a bit difficult to train. If produced at his best on Saturday he should be very troublesome.

DISPLAYED PLENTY OF SPEED. Bally Money, a three-year-old gelding by Diacquenod from Starella, showed a lot of speed when raced in a maiden event_ at Pukekohe last month. It was his first appearance in public, and after getting away smartly he led for five furlongs, when he weakened, and finished well back. It was a creditable effort for a novice, and the race ehould do him a lot of good. He will be taken to Matamata to-morrow to contest the Putaruru Stakes, five furlongs, and should again go well, for the distance will be in his favour. He is a half-brother to Belle Star, who raced well in the Taranaki district a couple of seasons ago.