FORM AT WAIPA.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVIII, Issue 302, 21 December 1937, Page 20

FORM AT WAIPA.

GRATEFUL'S VICTORY. AUCKLAND CUP HORSES. GAY ROSE DOES BEST. Of the six Auckland Cup candidates who contested the Te Awamntu Cup on Saturday Gay Rose did best by finishing third, while Sinking Fund was fifth, Ferscn next with Jonathan and Fricsland further back, and Mazir last. Gay Rose was always third after the field settled down, and she put up a good performance considering her limited racing. Sinking Fund was in fourth position till rounding the homo turn, while Fersen and Jonathan were nearer the tail of the field. Sinking Fund ran quite a creditable race, while Fereen and Jonathan were doing better at the end than at any other part of the contest. The latter trio and also Mazir started in the Auckland Cup last year, Mazir finishing fourth and Fereen next. However, they will again have their work cut out to head off some of their southern rivals. Friesland was sore, and his display was anything but encouraging.

Grateful was a good performer as a three-year-old a couple of seasons ago, winning up to nine furlongs- Last season he did not show a great deal of form, his best effort being when he accounted for the New Plymouth Handicap at the Taranaki Christmas meeting. He has not done much racing this season, and in consequence he was the outsider of the field in the Te Awamutu Cup on Saturday, and taking charge shortly after the start was never afterwards headed. Grateful has engagements at Taranaki, Stratford and Auckland during the holidays, and he should get some more money i'or he is right back to his best, and stayed on very solidly on Saturday when challenged in the run home. Dark Shadow, after his dual victory at the Takapuna meeting, looked to have a great show in the Te Awamutu Cup. He went down well in his preliminary, and hopping away smartly he dropped in behind the leader, Grateful. He looked to be going very comfortably at the turn, but when asked to go up to Grateful he could make little impression, and the latter beat him decisively. However, seeing he was conceding the winner JBlb, Dark Shadow put up a good performance, and he should be hard to beat during the holidays. A Promising Jumper. Lady Diana made her tinst appearance as a hurdler at Te Awamutu on Saturday, and put up a very creditable showing till she made a faulty jump about three furlongs from home, and that put her out of the contest. Up to that point she had been in front with English Night, and a little more experience should find her in the money. English Night, w-ho was favourite on the win machine, never gave his backers much cause for anxiety and taking charge before the straight was reached went on to score nicely. Curlew surprised by his forward running, for he has been anything but a reliable betting proposition since he took to this department of the game. Lady England ran her usual honest race, while Gascoyne is a likely improver. Te Monowai made her first appearance in a race at the Waipa winter meeting in June when she won the Trial Handicap, six furlongs, in easy fashion from a large field. She was narrowly beaten by Gay Sister in the Bardowie Handicap at Cambridge in her next start. She was beaten out of a place on the first day of the Waikato meeting, but on the second Forest Acre surprised by finishing a length in front of her in the Tauwhare Handicap, seven furlongs. Her next effort was at Te Awamutu on Saturday, when she won the Kihikihi Handicap very easily in smart time. She was one of the first away, and followed Miss Te Koura into the straight, but when called upon ran past the latter in effortless style. Te Monowai should show to advantage at the Auckland meeting. She has only started five times for two w f ins and two seconds. Pirate King showed a lot of pace in his races last season, winning over six furlongs at Te Rapa, and over a similar distance at Te Aroha, beating big fields. He made his first appearance this season in the Kihikihi Hack Handicap, and was prominent all the way, finishing fourth. Pirate King will be improved by the outing, and it should not be long before he makes a return to the winning list. Finished Very Fast.

Kena put in a great finishing effort to win the Hack Cup. He was well back carljr, but had improved his position considerably at the home turn. He put in a great run down the straight, and just got the decision by a head from Balinavar, who had been much better placed th roughout. Kena is engaged in the Queen's Plate at Ellerslie, and though lie has some good southern hacks to meet he should again go well. Jack Tar had every show. He looked to be the winner about half a furlong from home, but he weakened over the last bit into fourth position, though there were only inches between the first four horses. Sly Fox, a three-year-old colt by Hunting Song from Gazi. did well to finish third, and more will be heard of him. He is a full brother to Sporting Blood, and is owned and trained by Mr. A. Mcintosh, of Gisborne. Lady Meath was in front to the straight, but then faded out. The success of Stretto in the Flying Handicap will bring her into favour for the Railway Handicap at Ellerslie. She was a very speedy two-year-old, but went off when taken to Australia last season. She has only started three times this season, and on Saturday she made a job of the field. She allowed Orate to make the pace till half way down the straight, and just flew past him to win easily. Orate went a good race, but he does not run out six furlongs too solidly. Tray Bit and Whirling, after being well back for most of the way, finished on to get fourth and fifth respectively, but Galilee was never prominent. Trilliarch had every show, being one of the first out, but finished well back. Raced Consistently. Suleiman made his record four wins out of five starts when he accounted for the Paterangi Handicap. He was in front with Mangukaha when the field had gone about a furlong, and once in line ran on to score narrowly by a head from Crooning, who finished on well. Suleiman is engaged in sprint events on the latter days of the Auckland meeting. Prince Rangi showed up in the Waikato Hack Cup at Te Rapa, and was expected to run prominently in the Hack Cup at Te Avvamutu. However, he was allowed to forego that engagement in preference to the Oliaupo Handicap, and duly won- He was well back early, but half a mile from home moved up on the rails, and getting a nice run came through entering the straight to go on and win by a neck from Strathire. Prince Rangi w;w a good performer last season, winning four events, including the Ohinemuri Hack Cup, one mile and 130 yards, and the Wairakau Hack Handicap, seven furlongs, at Te Aroha. He is engaged in the Queen's Plate and the Robinson Handicap at the Auckland meeting, and now that he has struck form he should again be seen to advantage before long. ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS. "STAR" READER (Warkworth).—£l 9/. G.A. (Parnell): £3 10/6. SPOUT (Hunterville) .--Grand Jury was scratched for the Gothard Handicap at Woodville at 12.40 p.m. on the day of the race.