"SUPER HACK" CLASS

Evening Post, Volume CXX, Issue 111, 6 November 1935, Page 6

"SUPER HACK" CLASS

THE TAKAPUNA PLATES

(Special from "Early Bird.")

AUCKLAND, November 5.

The so-called "hack classics" to be run at the Takapuna fixtures this season might more suitably be called

"super hack classics," for the' horses that actually went out of hacks as a result of successes since the nominations closed are still eligible. These contests are the Takapuna Plate, seven furlongs, and the Pupuke Plate, one mile, run on November 30 and December 2 respectively, and similar events run each day of the Summer Meeting two months later. Entries for these races closed prior to the Racing Conference's reducing the hack qualifications so far as money won was "concerned, and/ therefore a few horses not now eligible for hack races may still participate. The plate conditions are that horses will be eligible that have not won a flat race to the value of £250 to the winner, or races to the total value of £500. The weights to be carried are set ones, 8.5 for horses older than three and 8.0 for three-year-olds, with maiden allowances. A condition imposed this season for the first time is that winners of races to the value of more than £250 shall carry a 71b penalty. Among those that will have to shoulder this penalty are Kahapa, Silver Brier, and Mazir, to name three likely runners, and it''cannot be said that each of this trio has not earned such an increase. Kahapa and Mazir have each won three races, to the value of £290 and £370 respectively, and Silver Brier has won five, totalling £447. The last-named would have been debarred under the present hack qualifications. There is some promising material among the three-year-olds in these events. Both Mr. T. H. Lowry's representatives. Haut Monde and Plato, are, however, ineligible. The former should not: have been entered as he won a £250 stake at Trentham last December, removing him from hack class even under the old rule, and Plato's last success put his winnings up to £615 for first placings. Three-year-olds generally have played a prominent part in Ihe decision of the plate events, and last spring two smart horses of this age.-Namakia and Kelly, won. It was the four-year-olds in the summer, Lia Fail and King Musk being successful. A smart three-year-old engaged at the end of this month is the Trentham winner Lowenberg, who is as yet unpenalised, but success at Riccarton in his coming engagements would at least earn the 71b penalty, for his two wins to date amount to £225. After show-, ing good form in the eai'ly sprint Bantry appeared to train oft", but with a chance to freshen up he may come up strongly for the Takapuna fixture. The horses named, only a few of those that will survive the final payment next Friday, will provide the backbone of the fields to contest the Takapuna and Pupuke Plates at the end of the month, so that these events | are going to prove every bit as interestI ing as in the past.