TAKANINI TRACK.

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 32, 8 February 1939, Page 18

TAKANINI TRACK.

ANION'S PROGRAMME. THE ROTORVA. CUP. A. Tinker is rapidly gaining recognition as a trainer and now hae a big team under his guidance. On Monday two well-known performers in Marie's Acre and Philcourt were trans/erred to his stable, this pair having been trained at Ellerslie prior to their being sent to Takanini. The same trainer is expecting more additions, including Cometarium and a colt by Pink Coat, while at present lie has under his guidance Bachelor King, Lady Fox, Strathearn, a filly by Vaals —Sea Song, Dauber, a colt by Vermeer—Shebang, Vaaletar and another filly by Vermeer. The Hon. E. R. Davis and Mr. O. Nicholson are also having their horses trained at Takanini, and during the last few weeks Jack Tar, Gamoe and the Night RaidQueen March two-year-old colt have been taken over by their private trainer, F. Verner, and the horsee are quartered on the Waione Farm, where Birthday Boy is at present enjoying a epell; and there are also a couple of yearlings who are to be broken in, these being the progeny of GayMarigold and Queen March respectively. The young trainer P. Mcllroy ie also associated with the stable, Brilliant Acre, who was formerly under his guidance, having been leased by his owner to new patrons of the sport.

E. Pope is another trainer to increase hie temn. which now comprises sixteen horses, and timing the last week there have been two recent additions in the shape of a three-year-old filly by Vaals— Miss Lucullus and a two-year-old gelding by Tea Tray from the imported English mare Blackeyed Sue. The former is a solid-looking filly, whfl shapes rather well, while the Tea Tray gelding, who has yet to be broken in. is a particularly fine stamp of thoroughbred, who looks every inch a galloper. He arrived from the north last week. Pope's team now comprise* a yearling colt by Vermeer—Lady Lois, Romani, Estro. Pahietre, Bronwen, Penzance, Maxam, Bronze Trail. Esquire, Solitary, Saccone, Nordic Song and Lysia. Anopheles having been allotted a spell. This trainer has a team of five which he intends taking

to the Rotorua meeting this week-end, these beinjr Maxam, Solitary. Palustre. Roinani and Bronwen. Maxam disappointed

at Matamata but it ie expected that the Rotorua track ■will suit her, while Paluetre has freshened up nicely\after an easy time since racing at Christmas, and should take a hand in the open sprint evente. Romani gave a glimpse of the form expected of him by beating all but High Delight in the hack six on the second day of the recent Eller.slie meeting, and he should be a highweight possibility. Romani will be ridden in this event by F. Foster. Bronwen won impressively at the same fixture, and while ■the class she will be opposing on this occasion is much stronger she won so well that she should be strongly fancied for her coming engagement. Bronwen ehows promise of going on to better deeds.

C. Morse is also making the trip to Rotorua, and he will be represented by the unlucky Inquisitor, Dutch Girl, Valimeen and Hunter's Rose. Inquisitor is another high-weight prospect, but would not be entirely suited by a soft track. Dutch Girl hae won over a handicap distance in hack company, but it is doubtful whether she would be capable of beating the field in the Rotorua Cup. Valimeen gave her best display this season by leading the field in the open sprint at the Thames meeting until about fifty yards from the post, to eventually finish fourth. Slight improvement on this form should find her a source to be reckoned with in similar events at this meeting. Hunter's Rose is a very speedy novice, of whom the best has yet to be seen, and she is expected to give a good account of herself in the novice events.

W. Townsend is booked for a trip with Gay Opal and Pocket Venus, the former being a maiden who ha» shown form on the track to encourage the belief that she may noon win a novice event, while Pocket Venus' second to Full Hand in the Wynyard Plate will be remembered when she is paraded this week-end.

P. Smith's sole representative at the meeting will be Anion, who in to be tried over a handicap journey in the Rotorua Cud. Up to the present Anion has contested sprinting eventß only, and while his breeding suggests possibilities sprinting lias been his forte, and it remains to be proved whether he can successfully negotiate a handicap distance. Hot Box was transferred from F. Smith's stable on Monday, having been sent to Thames, where he will in future be trained by his owner. Hot Box's sole victory thin season was his succese in the Great Northern Guineas, in which he was awarded the race after Gay Son had been disqualified for interference. There is some excuse for Hot Box's recent failures, as he ricked himself on the eve of the Christmas meeting, from which he has apparently never fully recovered.