DASHING JUMPER

Auckland Star, Volume LXXVI, Issue 146, 22 June 1945, Page 9

DASHING JUMPER

ROYAL JAY IN FORM

CANDIDATES AT WEEK-END

Royal Jav, topweight in the Hawke's Bav Hurdles, is one of the best horses over the battens in this province, and thrt he is all right again was ernphas ised at Awapuni last Saturday, when he lust failed to get a place in the Mangawhata Handicap one mile and a quarter. At le Rapa last March, he carried 11.3 and elmply walked in from a big field in the Pum Hurdles, but he pulled up lame after contesting the McGuire Steeplechase at Paeroa a couple of weeks later. Hie son of Jay won the Brighton Hurdles last year. STII/L IN HACKS Da Vinci, which has 10.1 in the Final Hack to-morrow, made an exhibition 01 his opponents in the Ruahine Handicap No. 2 at Awapuni, this being his fourth success. He is a three-year-old black son of St Boswells and the Captain Bunsby mare Mona Lisa, a daughter of Phrosa. which came from the very successful Limond—Cowl family. Da Vinci is still eligible for hacks, but it is noticeable that he has been entered for open races at Wellington.

NOAV TRAINED ON COURSE The Vaals —Limeen gelding Royce, fullbrother to Beau Vaals, a Railway Handi- ; cap winner, is now trained by H. Greene at Hastings, this mentor having taken him home after the recent Northern meeting. Royce has yet to win over hurdles, but he was in front throughout the Orakei Hurdle race at Ellerslie on June 4- until he fell at the last fence. At that stage Royce had a slight advantage, and although it is doubtful that he would have won, he was assured of a place. He has the minimum In the Hastings Hack Hurdles. A PROMISING MAIDEN The Ellerslle-trained Chaka, a three-year-old gelding by Dink from Llanore, has been taken to Hawke's Bay to contest the Maiden, in which he has drawn the second division, together with another Auckland horse, Beau Martian. Chaka is a half-brother to Corot, and has shown splendid promise, for a third and fourth at his last two starts. At Te Aroha on May 12, when he was having his second start, he led nearly all the way in the First Trial Handicap, being beaten into third place by Sylis and Tin Musk in the last 50 yards, while at Ellerslie, on June 2, he was again in front for over six furlongs, ultimately finishing fourth. A USEFUL SORT The Otaki-trained hack Prince Wheriko has raced only four times this season fqione win, and he has run good races at his three other appearances. He covered extra ground in Saturday's hack sprint at Awapuni, but was in the firing line with the leading bunch at the turn and finished just out of a place, states a southern writer. Prince Wheriko is a solid type of hack well suited to winter conditions, and his prospects of adding to his record in the near future are bright. SHOULD BE IMPROVED Having his first outing since the Manawatu Christmas meeting, Solver ran surprisingly well in the Rualiine Hack Handicap No. 2 at Awapuni. He was handy enough all the way, even though he was standing up Da Vinci an advantage of several lengths at the straight entrance, taut he held on determinedly to fill second place and pay almost much as the winner. Solver is engaged in the first division of the Final Hack. STAYS ON WELL Foxcatcher, engaged in the Havelock Handicap, looked bright and fresh when paraded for the Manawatu Winter Cup, and, as usual, she pulled her way to the front before the field had travelled far. She weakened out of a place in the last furlong, probably because she was in na?d of a race. She was brought out again three races later to run in the Rongotea Handicap, and was closer in sixth place at the finish than at any stage of the race. The Defoe mare has won up to a mile and a quarter.

A SOLID HACK Leigh Hark may add to his winning record in the Rotopai- Hack, in which his I toughest opponent should be Blanket. In taking the Mangawhatn Handicap at Manawatu, he proved himself a solid hack, for he had to make up a lot of ground from the six furlongs and was still capable of sustaining the effort. He ran out the mile and a quarter without ; ever looking likely to submit. Like Fly- I ing Tor, he is by Leighon from a Hunt- | ing Song mare, so heavy ground is no trouble to him. Leigh Hark is now . trained by M. Coon at Ellerslie. j HAS THRIVED | It is reported from Wellington that Moderate has thrived since his return to Trentham from tha Great Northern meet- , ing. His trainer holds the opinion Uiat ' Moderate was beaten by the puggy state of the going at EHerslie. Moderate is a j good horse in wet and slushy ground and his best form was shown when he could break through it. He is also capable on firm going, and he should find conditions to his liking in the Hawke's Bay Hurdles. ,