RACING AT TE AROHA.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 49, 27 February 1935, Page 14

RACING AT TE AROHA.

THE FORM REVIEWED.

GAY BLONDE'S SUCCESSES

TWO SPLENDID EFFORTS

Gay Blonde was easily the best performer at To Aroha. On the-first day she was installed favourite for the Waihou Handicap, and, after waiting on the field till the straight, she then put in her claim, and, galloping in great style on the outside, she soon settled the leaders and won handsomely. On Monday Gay Blonde was a starter in the President's Handicap, and, after allowing Aga Khan and Knight of Australia to make the pace to the straight, she put in her claim, and beat I&aight of Australia by a neck. This was a really good performance, for the daughter of Gay Shield carried 111b over weight-for-age and just played with the opposition. If this, filly retains her form and is kept in Ne«. Zealand the forthcoming weight-for-ai* races over a distance •at Trentham, Awapuni and Auckland look to be at her mercy. MAY DO BETTER AT PUKEKOHE. Prince Colossus ran a good race in the Hemes Memorial Cup at Te Aroha_ on Saturday. He was oue of the principal fancies and was always near the leaders, eventually finishing third. Prince Colossus was giving a good deal of weight away to those who beat him, and he is meeting them on much better terms in the Franklin Cup next Saturday, in which race he should again run prominently. A NICE FILLY. Astarth, the half-sister to Ammon Ra, is a nice-looking filly and she should win good races before she is much older. On the first day at Te Aroha she was at long odds on the win machine, and, jumping out emartlv, led till the straight, eventually being beaten narrowly by Tybalt. On Monday she did not commence so well and was badly placed throughout, finishing in the ruck. Astarth has had a good deal of racing recently, and in her last start was probably feeling the effects of it. GOES WELL AT TE AROHA. Knight.of Australia has not done much racing recently, but that he is well forward is shown by his running in the President's Handicap at Te Aroha on Monday. He was raced in the Cup on Saturday, finishing eixth, while on Monday he was the leader with Aga Khan till well into the straight, where he drew out, and the only one to beat him at the finish was Gay Blonde. Knight of Australia always races well on this course, for last year he was third in the Cup and dead-heated for first in the President's Handicap with King March. His turn should not be long delayed. FURTHER IMPRESSES. The Posterity—Homage colt Heritage was not produced until the second day at Woodville, when he easily accounted for the Debutante Stakes. Heritage did not begin fast in his race, and ran in behind the leaders until the turn, when he swept round the outside and went on to score with the greatest of ease. This colt gained further admirers by his appearance and performanpe, and it looks as if it will take a very good one to beat him. Heritage will make his next appearance at Trentham next month, where he is likely to contest the North Island Challenge Stakes. EMANCIPATION IN FORM.

Emancipation was brought on to the course on the first day of the Te Aroha meeting, but he did not start, the other horses having left the birdcage when he arrived, and he had to be withdrawn. He, however, was saddled up for the Manawaru Hurdles on Monday, and was installed favourite. He was always handy to Val Watch, and three furlongs from home was going comfortably just in behind her. He was on terms at the last fence and then went on to score very comfortably from her. Emancipation is a good jumper when at his best, and from now on he has only to keep right to be very troublesome in big hurdle events during the autumn and winter. KELLY'S SHOWING. Kelly' bolted about six miles on Friday at Te Aroha when doing his final work-out for the Henies Memorial Cup, but his connections evidently thought that it had done him no harißj for he was allowed to take his place, in the event. He made a very bold showing to the straight, being second when they straightened up, but from then on he weakened and finished in the ruck. Kelly is a good three-year-old, and only for his escapade the previous day wuold have been a very much tougher proposition. His admirers must not be downhearted about his effort, for Kelly will win really-good races before his career is finished. There are few three-year-olds in the country better than him. A PROMISING HURDLER. Record Flight, who was making his second appearance as a hurdler at Te Aroha, made a most creditable showing, and it was no disgrace to be beaten by that speech- jumper Val Watch. Record Flight was the only one that had any chance with "Val Watch when the field settled down, and across the top his rider took him up to her. However, she had far too much pace for him. and also was a much more experienced jumper, and after the last fence was crossed his task of trying to beat her was hopeless, and he had to be content with second place. All the same, Record Flight is a very promising hurdler. He jumped well throughout, and with more experience he should hold his own with the best of them. A SPEEDY JUMPER. Val Watch, who got hurt in the spring, made her reappearance as a jumper at the Te Aroha meeting on Saturday, and, running to the front quickly, she soon tied up the field with her pace. With the exception of the hurdle in the straight the first time she gave a great exhibition of.jumping and won very easily at the finish. On Monday shs again endeavoured to wm from end to end. and held her position in the lead till the last fence, where Emancipation got on terms with her and beat her home. Her impost of Ili3 told its tale at the finish. Val Watch is one of the most speedy hurdlers there is in the Dominion, but ber fractiousness at the barrier will always be against her. while she is a very, highly-strung mare. If her temperament could be improved this mare would take a ]ot of beating in any company. FIRST FOR SOME TIME. Gipsy Moth has plenty of speed and eticks on well, but weight will beat the best of them. Earlier in his career he showed that he was a good hack, but until the Te Aroha meeting on Saturday he had not raced since the spring. He was produced in the Shaftesbury Handicap and, setting a good position early, he waited on the leaders till well into the straight, and, ranging alongside half-way down, drew out to win very comfortably by a neck. ±le was doing it so easily fifty yards from home that his rider did not seem to worry, a id when Miss Lorraine came at him he had to be stirred up to score by the margin stated. On Monday, with 9.5. he made a creat effort in the Wairakau Handicap, a furlong further, but he hnd to be content with fourt'.i place. Gv\ v Moth n etil capable of improvement. . ..i.J he has ou.y got to go on the right .rratf to meet with iurther success.

SALE OF COPYIST,

Sir Charle 9 Clifford has sold Copyist to a West Coast owner, and he will be trained at Greymouth in the future. Before becoming affected in the wind Copyist was a good performer up to seven furlongs, and may even yet pay hlfl way in his new home. UNABLE TO RACE. The three-year-old gelding Pin Money was unable to fulfil his engagements at Woodville last week, having jarred a. joint on the eve of the meeting. lin Money had been galloping exceptionally well up to this stage, and it looked ns if he would have got some stake money at the meeting. GOOD EFFORTS. Du Barry was made second favourite for the two-year-old event on the first day ot the Te Aroha meeting, and once heads were turned for home she came through on the rails, and a hundred yards from home looked to have a great chance, but she could not sustain her effort, and was narrowly beaten into second place. On Monday she was installed first choice and again made an excellent showing, but was tot quite good enough. This filly will turn . more than useful later on. GOT INTERFERED WITH. Caliente ran quite a good race till the straight in the Herries Memorial Cup at Te Aroha on Saturday. She was always handy to the straight, but in the run home failed to go on. On Monday she looked like having a show in the President's Handicap, a furlong shorter, but going along the back received a bad check, which eventually settled her chances. Caliente is a good stayer, as was shown by her fourth in the Auckland Cup, and it would be pleasing to see her owner, Mr. J. L. Webb, who has not had the best of luck in racing recently, win a good race with her. With a good run the relative to Phar Lap is quite capable of extending a good handicap field.

STAYED ON WELL. Sinking Fund has improved in staying ability, for it is not very long since he was looked on as a sprinter. At the Takapuna meeting he showed that he was likely to go a distance, and at Rotorua finished second to Prince Colossus in the Cup. He won the next day over a mile, and was then produced in the Cup at Te Aroha on Saturday, in which he was qsked to goa mile and three furlongs. He was little fancied, but was one of the pacemakers all the way. Mungatoon beating him at the finish by half a length. His was a really good effort, and if he takes his place in the Franklin Cup on Saturday he will only have to run up to that form to keep the opposition very busy throughout. WON SECOND DAY. Gay Sheik showed greatly improved form in his second start at Te Aroha. On the first day he was third and fourth favourite on the win and place machines respectively and was never in the picture. The number board precludes a good view of the start from the Press stand, and as he was one who was obscured it could not be seen how he got away, but it is stated that he was nearly down when he went to jump off. Anyhow, the betting on him on Monday was much more confident, for he was installed second favourite, and, after lying about fifth to the turn, he put in a great run in the straight to mow the leaders down and win in good style. Gay Sheik comes from a great galloping family, but owing to growing fast has not been overtaxed, and he should turn out a good three-year-old next season. He is a beautifullybuilt colt.