TAKANINI Track Topics

Auckland Star, Volume LXVIII, Issue 269, 12 November 1937, Page 14

TAKANINI Track Topics

HORSES FOR TE RAPA.

A STRONG TEAM.

SPEARCOURT'S WEIGHT IN HVKDXdBS. Takanini interest in the forthcoming Waikato meeting should be well maintained, as a good team of candidates for this fixture is expected. Included among those engaged are recent winners in Arvakur, Valamito, Anion, Round Up, Bachelor King, Lady Ruier and Royal Passage, while others with form to their credit are Brazilian, High Sea, Spearcourt and Gaiwind. Interest will alsOvycentre in the first appearances of Poker Dice and Sir Robin. Lady Ruler failed to reach a place in either of her Wellington engagements, and as a result of these failures, is now coming down in the handicaps. In the Waimai Hurdles at Te Rapa with 9.7, Lady Ruler has another opportunity of showing a return to form. In this event it is interesting to note that Spearcourt has been allotted 10.7. He has won three hurdle events, at Whangarei, Pukekohe and Tauranga. and in each case only beat moderate company. His subsequent form did not seem to merit his giving weight to several contestants who have better form to thtfir credit. Arvakur has gone along nicely since scoring convincingly in the Musket Stakes at Ellerslie. He suffered a minor injury to his fetlock joint while rolling; h«t it did not interfere with his preparation to a great extent and he should be in nice order to contest the Tamahere Stakes. Despite his 9.4 in this event, the Beau Pere colt should be hard to dispose of. E. Pope brought back irom Whangarei a chestnut filly by Paladin—Capable. The newcomer, who is a half-brother to Maori Boy and who is in nice order to undergo a pieparation, is a four-year-old.

Another local juvenile claiming attention is the Christopher Robin — Door Stop colt attached to E. Pope's stable. Sir Robin is due to make his debut at Te Rapa. and having furnished considerably of late, he/ is expected to acquit himself creditably.' He is a keen worker, and as he has been rather a delicate customer his appearance under silk has not been hurried. Sir Robin was purchased at the Sydney sales, and several of the Christopher Robin stock have shown a lot of promise in Australia. After an unsuccessful trip to Wellington where he again showed "greeness" in his two races, the Hunting Song colt Nordic Song was eased up, and is to enjoy a respite of a few weeks before again being placed in active work. Nordic. Song showed plenty of pace in all his races and he may prove very useful when again recommissioned. Feldberg. from the same stable, is also to enjoy a respite before undergoing another preparation. W. Townsend has aiso augmented his team by the addition of a two-year-old filly by Vaals—Biddy Thurnham, thus a full sister to Lady Valma. The youngster is a docile sort who has done all that has been asked of' her in a kindly manner. Despite the fact that he was the last to leave the barrier in the Kauri Handicap at Whangarei on Monday, Lapidarian i made up a lot of ground to finish third. This was quite promising, and he should be a maiden prospect at the Takapuna meeting, if all goes well in the interim. By his success in the Kensington Handicap. Royal Passage provided. Trainer A. Quinlivan with a welcome change of luck, and incidentally showed something of the form expected of him. Royal Passage should win again now that he has struck form. Following his success in the Manukau Hurdles at Ellerslie. High Quality was eaoed up in his work, owing to having developed a slight filling in one of his tendons. A light blister was applied and the leg has cleaned up nicely. A promising jumper. High Quality's run of successes should not be stopped by his recent victory, and he should be of further sePv. vice to Mr. H. A. Swaffield. for whom he hit« won over £I'oo since l>eina purchased cheaply just before last Christmas.