TE AROHA NOTES.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 21, 25 January 1936, Page 18

TE AROHA NOTES.

HORSES FOR ROTORUA,

ROYAL SECRET'S PROGRESS

Professional, winner of the Trial Stakes «t the Thames meeting, was bred in the Te Aroha. district by Mr. Norman Kinn, of Wairakau. In due course he.was sold at a fairly high figure,"to Air. R: M. Seelly,. the Auckland sportsman. The Te Aroha horses engaged at Matamata are Keith Lu,Gay Rose, Bonnie Song and Libra, and all going well in the meantime this -quartet will be among the contestants next week.At Thames last week.- the Musketoon mare Libra showed improved form by getting into the money each day. She is still slow in getting away from the mark, and when she learns to get away from the barrier smartly should get on to the winning list. She appears to have lightened up a little since racing at Pafawai, but may run prominently at Matamata. The most recent- addition to Mr. G. Stephens' "team is Armacourt, owned by an Auckland sportsman. She has' been on the local tracks this week and, judging by ■ her appearance, will soon j.be ready 'to race. Royal' Secret, also, trained by . Stephens,-is looking decidedly well and no ill-effects -have followed the injury sustained through being kicked at Ellerslie by another, horse. The King Lu mare will be ready to carry Mr. Gardiner's colours at short notice. The local course, in view of the annual race "meeting, is in first-class order and, as a matter of fact, better than it has ever been previously. Ample rolling and regular cutting of the grass has resulted in a splendid smooth surface being obtained, ■while the rainy season, has tended towards, a closer sward of paspalum being in evidence. It will be .quite in keeping with the state of the racing track if fast times are registered on Febfiiary 29 and Match Te Aroha will be well represented at the fixture > for the local horses T toi 0 • ? in S- : Brierly, Mungacre, Sons PEI a S ul > Fei-Mah, Maziir, Bonnie oiTOed th bv la a ' w \\\ Acre—Purple Heather, owned by a well-kDown Auckland snnrtsman, and now trained hv T tt w i? " has now settled down to ,JT a " ace ' satisfactory' manner. For a week *+ a after arriving here his track work wj s not treat the'tasks' a? S »to treat tne tasks at all seriously. Apparently he lias changed his .ways, and this week has been staying on solidly with the pace right on On appearance Heatherland should develop into a racehorse of merit.

Consequent upon his Recent respite from work the Paladin gelding Fei-Mah is carrying rather too much condition to be at his best for a few weeks, but at the same time he might account for a weak field in the near future. 1 He is developing into a quality horse, and one that is likely to make good m due course. C. E. Mallowes is expected back from Thames shortly with Ellanui. This Te Monanui gelding may require to be care-; fully placed before scoring a win.