FORM DISCUSSED.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVIII, Issue 38, 15 February 1937, Page 12

FORM DISCUSSED.

X.UCKT JACK UHLTSCXY. BYRE ALWAYS IN POCKET. ' .n~ £ h ?i. lrtren * h of her IMe£ul Performsnce m the novice event on the first day of the Auckland summer meeting Eyre was.installed a solid second fancy for the :S*? t ™*W on Saturday, but she raced without luck. Eyre began smartly enough, but it was not long before she was m a pocket on the rails. As a consequence she was going backward when the neM entered upon the last quarter of a 2r e -' i.*"" 1 . ifc wa * not until "ft** >nto the straight that she got clear to finish on well in fifth place. Backers of the daughter of Great Parrish and Great Eyre should not have to wait long to get evens. , A BRILLIANT PACER. It has always been recognised that Star Pronto is one jof the best pacers in the North Island, but he so rarely does his work thai he is a risky betting proposition. In his latest track essays he has i been working brilliantly, and there was no fitter horse paraded in the Otahuhu Handicap on Saturday. B. Dyer took the gelding off the mark very slowly, but he ■till made a slight lapse to lose about seven lengths. Once he settled down Star ttwnto was taken up very quickly with tte result that he was in front when a little over half a mile had been traversed. ■ low _ over first mile and tLw JwiTL"!??* ,nto *K«*aight. Lucky *™So„^w'S ed , •t'onßly i\* last furlong but the leeway was a trifle-bevond him and Star Pronto won by I lon?neck * The success was a welcome changed !? rtune , J ? or hl * owner - MrTB. IW and the gelding would only have to ' ££ correctly on Wednesday to again take power of beating. - ™:

HER FIRST SUCCESS. Our Peggy was backed with surprising confidence in the Waiheke Handicap on Saturday, and she had either worked exceptionally well at Hamilton or else the public backed the driver, Roy Berry, as she had not previously shown any outstanding merit in her races; in fact she failed both starts in easier company at Cambridge last month. However, Ou? Peggy was always in a prominent position on Saturday, and over the last furlong always had the measure of her opponents. The manner in which she finished over the final stages suggests that this mare will continue to pay her way in the future. best Race for some time. Since joining W. Clifton's stable at Takanini Guid Hairst has evidently made some improvement in stamina, and he went the 1 best race for some time when he acted as runner-up to Kewnie's King in the Papakura Handicap. He took charge from barrier rise, and setting a fast pace soon had the horses near the rear in trouble. Over the last couple of furlongs there were only two in the contest, and Guid Hairst hung on really well even though beaten. The way in which The Triumph geldi'.i? hung on suggests that he has returned to his best form, and he should again be worth following on the place machins on Wednesday. A HIGH-CLASS HORSE. It is a pity that Kewpie's King w not sound, otherwise he would have little trouble in making the highest grades. His trainer. C. Goodall, has taken a lot of trouble to keep the Blue Mountain King horse on his legs, and it says much for hie ability that the chestnut has now gained two firsts, and a second in his last three starts. In the Papakura Handicap on Saturday Kewpie's King began particularly well, and was handy in fourth place when a mile had been covered. Hie driver took him alongside Guid Hairet, who was leading, crossing the top, and once into the straight finished particularly well to score very decisively by two lengths in 3.22 1-5. Kewpie's King is one of the l>est horses in training, and it is only a matter of his remaining sound to continue on his winning way. SHOULD HAVE WON. There is little doubt that backers of the Southern pacer Lucky Jack should have collected the win dividend in the Otahuhu Handicap on Saturday. He did not begin too well, and his driver was content to drop into a position near the rear. He held this place until near the quarter-mile post, where he sent Lucky Jack up fast on the outside, but was checked, and was still well back as the tieid straightened up. Once in line the chestnut made a wonderful effort to overhaul Star Pronto, but failed by a narrow margin. R. Berry did not show to his usual advantage, and there is little doubt that had he made a little more use of Lucky Jack earlier he would have won comfortably. The Southerner will have a further opportunity to m.«kc amends in the principal events on the second day, and his prospects look second to none.

A SOLID PERFORMANCE. A splendid performance went to the credit of Handicapper in the Waiheke Handicap on Saturday. He had only arrived from the South about four weeks, and in his latest work had not accomplished anything out of the ordinary. However, this did not stop him from going a great race. Beginning very fast, Handicapper was in sixth place before the field had gone two furlongs. He moved up into second position as the field raced - across the top the last time, but although he hung on well he had no chance with Our Peggy, and had to be content with'second place. Handicapper is a big rangy gelding by Great Bingen, and gives the impression that he is not yet at his best. There should be no trouble in placing him to advantage. '