STABLE AND TRACK NOTES

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 117, 19 May 1936, Page 14

STABLE AND TRACK NOTES

FIRST START OVER FENCES. Chief Lap had his . first race in public ove rthe battens at Te Awanjutu on Saturday and was strongly supported, being installed second-favourite. He -and Grand Score were in charge passing the stands and entering the back stretch, where Chief Lap ran down the first hurdle encountered there and lost a lot of ground. However, his pace enabled him to make up a good bit of it across the top, but he then tired and finished a long way back. With experience Chief Lap should make amends, WILL BENEFIT BY EXPERIENCE. Grand Score liad a couple of races over hurdles at the Taranaki summer meeting and made his reappearance in this department in the Hack Hurdles at Te Awamutu on Saturday. He soon hit the front and led till about three furlongs from lioine, where Roxy and Sporting Song ran past hini, and lie eventually finished eighth. His jumping was not too good, but as soon as he improves in this respect he is sure to be returned a winner. His brothers, Chang and Paddon, were both successful over hurdles. RACED CONSISTENTLY. Lucidus was saddled up for both hurdle events at Te Awamutu. In the Hack Hurdles he was a fair way back when half the distance had been covere.d, but improved his position, and, jumping and staying on much better than formerly, he beat all but Roxy and Sportiug Song. Later, in the Orakau Hurdles, he was ridden a different race, being taken to the front, and carried 011 the running with Woodful till the straight, the pair being well clear o* the field. Woodful then drew away and beat him home. Lucidus is improving and he should soon make good in this department. FINISHING ON. Arctic Star was saddled up for the over the baten6 at Te Awamutu on Saturday in preference to the Park Steeplechase. He was a long way back for over half the distance, but then connnenced to move up, and was staying on solidly in third position at the end. Arctic Star jumped well afid he should be much harder to dispose o£ in some of his forthcoming engagements. He was engaged on the first day of the Waikato meeting, but did not accept. However, he is entered for the Melville Hack Steeplechase and the Waikato Hurdles 011 the second day, and will then come on to Ellerslie to raec at the Great Northern meeting. STAYED ON WELL. Roxy was produced in excellent condition for his engagement in the Hack Hurdles at Te Awamutu on Saturday. He was always handy and ran to the lead crossing the top, Sporting Song joining him just before the entrance to the straight. The pair fought out the issue, but Roxy proved a bit too good at the last jump and beat Sporting Song home by a length. Roxy jumped well throughout and he should add further to his record during the next few weeks. At the recent Auckland meeting he won the Mangere Steeplechase in good style and next Saturday is engaged in the Waikato Steeplechase, in which he has the minimum, and in his present form should keep the opposition busy..

GREAT NORTHERN CANDIDATE. King's Archer looked to be in great heart when he paraded for the Park Steeplechase at Te Awamutu on Saturday, ' and with his steadier of 11.10 he ran a really good race. He was a good way back early, but along the back the last time went up into fourth position. He was still there crossing the top and into the straight, though he was a long way behind the leaders. However, he finished on well to get sixth, and it was a really encouraging - performance, seeing that it was his first race over the big fences. King's Archer is not engaged on the first day of the Waikato meeting, .but he is in the King Country Steeplechase on the second day. ' AN EASY WIN. Woodful was a good horse on the flat, particularly in heavy going. He made his debut as a hurdler in the Orakau Hurdles at Te Awamutu on Saturday and had the conditions to suit him, the only question being his jumping ability. However, he ■ soon set all fears at rest on that score, ■ and with Lucidus he carried on the run- [ ning throughout, and, fencing splendidly, won in very easy fashion. He is engaged on the second day of the Waikato meeting next Monday and also figures in the Great Northern Hurdles, the Campbell Hurdles and flat events at the Great Northern meeting. Woodful is in the same stable as Master Mn,sk and races in the same colours, being trained by his owner, Mr. J. H. Greenliead, at liotorua. SHOULD HAVE WON. Little Ruse showed Rromise when he ran second to Matoru in the second division of the Awaiti Handicap at Paeroa in March, but despite this fact he was allowed to go out at very long odds in the Trial Handicap at Te Awamutu on Saturday. He jumped away well and was fourth going across the top. He was the leader into the straight, but ran a- bit wide, allowing Cyllaros to come through on the rails and join him, the latter beating him by three-quarters of a length at the finish. If Little Ruse had held on to the fence it looked as though he would have beaten Cyllaros. Little Ruse is a four-year-old gelding by Little England from Perouse, by Nassau from Kinetic. The lastnamejl is the dam of Adalene, who is also by Little England. HAS SOME SPEED. Black Thread showed a lot of speed in the Arapuni Handicap at Te Awamutu last Saturday. He began very quickly and set a solid pace along the back and across the top, Matoru heading him at the home turn to go on and win, while High Tea got up in time to beat him by a head for second money. Black Thread, who is one of W. Goscomb's team at Gisborne, and is owned By Mr. D. J. Barry, has shown good form qt Manawatu and smaller meetings in the southern part of the North Island, and in his present condition he is not likely to return home empty handed. He is by Mimetic, who won, among other races, the Great Northern Foal Stakes, from Slipstitch, who some seasons ago produced a speedy one in Threadneedle, who also raced in Mr. Barry's colours. WILL BE HEARD OF AGAIN. . Windsor Lad created a most favourable impression when he won the Park Steeplechase at Te Awamutu on Saturday. He was not bustled in the early stages, but passing the stands the second time he'was lying fourth. He improved his position along the back, and crossing the top ran up to Cromwell, who had been the leader to this stage. Windsor Lad ran past him before the second to last fence "and was not troubled afterwards to score by half a dozen lengths. Windsor Lad never made a ' mistake throughout, and when called on for an effort over the last half-mile had no difficulty in gathering in the leaders. He is a fine type of 'chaser, and a great deal more is sure to be heard of him. Earlier in the season he ran third in the Farmers Steeplechase at the Waikato Hunt Club s meeting, which was his best performance this season, HAS RACED CONSISTENTLY. Matoru showed plenty of pace when lie won at Paeroa in March, and he was well supported for his engagement in the Waitakerei Handicap at the Avondale autumn meeting. On that occasion he jumped out smartly and led the field for about three furlongs and a half, where he lost his position. However, once heads were turned for home he came through fast and was in front with a furlong to go, but could not quite see it out, Sebrof and Queen Nona beating him narrowly. Matoru was again, produced in the Arapuni Handicap at Te j Awamutu on Saturday and again came in I for serious attention. He began smartly,. but was eased into third position. However, 'he assumed command at the home turn,' going on to win nicely by half a - length. This horse lias been most consis-, tent since he first commenced racing, and he is due to make his next appearance at Te Rapa on Saturday in the Otorohanga Handicap. He should again race promi- j ; nently, for he is improving all the time.