AWAPUNI PASSED BY

Evening Post, Volume CXX, Issue 144, 14 December 1935, Page 26

AWAPUNI PASSED BY

NORTHERN SECOND-RATERS

(Special from "Early, Bird.") ;AUCKLAND, December 13. Tlve Taranaki .Summer Meeting has drawn heavily On Auckland provincial stables for ,the second-rate performers, fop on the opening day alone the nominations from-the north total 43. On the other hand, the Manawatu fixture, which' used to attract a few Auckland ■ horses, has drawn a blank on th:s 1 occasion. Two of^the progeny of defunct Gay Shield reVealed pace at the recent Dargaville and . they shouH , not.be.diflicult.to place in the maiden class on the provincial circuit. One of these is Gay Papa, a half-brother to Catkin .and. Solomon,' the former oi: 'whom ran a very fine race m 'the ' Auckland Cup a lew years'ago before , being sent to Australia to compete in events there. Gay Papa is a likelylooking sort, for he finished fast in fourth place on the second day at Avondale. The other Gay Shield maiden is Gay and Gold, who was one of the leading division into the straight in the Maide:i Handicap. She is a very promising filly and perhaps she will be seen to advantage at> Thames next month, or at the Takapuna and Matamata fixtures, which follow shortly. Gay and Gold is out of Erry Val and is a first foal. Her dam is by Valkyrian from Prey Roe (dam of a good -galloper in Valroe), a daughter of Pptoa and Cherry Roe, by Penury. FOAL STAGES ASPIRANTS. One of the most interesting of the several promising contests at Ellerslie next Boxing Day will be the Great Northern-Foal Stakes,^in which Stretto, who has gone on the right way since she ran away with the Avondale and A.R.C. Welcome Stakes, will be op-posed-to improving youngsters like Wi Id Chase, Pelmet, Kindheart, Wagner, Gallio, and Maxown, not to .mention; Moque'tte, Gay Chief,' Anion, and Su'rview. Even'with such a brilliant field of youngsters' it may not; be. a real test, for ■■■ the jump-out in these six-furlong races means half the battle. In the past these two-year-old classics have promised great racing, but usually they have been' disappointing as spectacles. . Lornacre ran two. excellent races at Avondale and if he makes just average crogress as a result of his experiences he should be in the handicap class before the season ends. At present he has a rather ungainly action with a big striae, but this may be improved with experienced There is no reason why this fine big gelding should not stay a middle distance, for the breeding is in his favour. He is a halfbrother to Vera Acre,- and Sunny Downs, the latter a good hack over a bit of ground. .. . • Tybalt has come through his recent racing very well indeed and he should strip in the best of condition for the Auckland Cup. His trainer is not afraid to work him, and, on top of his spring, campaign, which commenced at Avondale nearly three' months ago, he should be at his peak on Boxing Day. Of'course", with aj! except two or thres of the field there is reason-for misgivings or at least doubt as to their ability to run two miles, but in view of the ■ racing and strong work that; Tybalt has got'through, .taken in conjunction with the fact.that he finished strongly from the back to beat all except Caliente, in the mile and a half Mitchelson Cup, he should be a possibility with 7.4. -The southern lightweight A; Messervey has been engaged for him. . . PROGRESS OF KILTOWYN. Kiltowyn continues to do Jong, steady work before - being sprinted and galloped over' long distances next week. Speculation is still brisk as to whether or not he will go two miles,'and on his 'two efforts -to date .over that disr tan.cc it-, can. be said- that he ;cannot, , especially as a horseman who should knew agreeg'with'this.contention. However, Mr.' Potter is1 confident that Kiltowyn's form both in the last Auckland and New Zealand Cups was all wrong and that he will run two miles in the class he is to meet on Boxing Day. Perhaps the best claims to stamina shown by the Kilbroney gelding to date were in. the mile and a half handicap "at Ellei'slie last Easter Mohday. when with 9.7 he finished fourth in the'mud, a rather impressive ■effort "under the conditions. The strength of some of the.Auckland provincial clubs is realised when it is learned that the.Bay of Plenty Racing Club, located, at one of the dead erids of the province, Tauranga, is allocating £300 for its Cup at tho meeting next March. Then, of course, there is the, impressive Te Aroha programme for next February, with its £500 open and £350 hack icup events.' The recent meeting of the Bay Of Islands -Racing .Club at P.ukekohe was a wonderful success and the Franks lin Racing Club, which sponsors the northern club's meetings on its own course; is hopeful that one more meeting will enable it to-present the Bay of Islands Club with a clean sheet, after which the Franklin-Racing' Quo. will obtain the permit for itself. Some racing ■ clubs are more enterprising than others. For instance, the secretary *of the Thames Club is to visit the Tarariaki district with a view to approaching owners there to patronise the Thames fixture in the middle of next month, and as^an extra inducement is offering free accommodation if "desired for horses competing there before fulfilling engagements at ths Takapuna Summer. Meeting at Ellerslie. . The Thames Club, conducts a popular meeting and' is making good progress, which is marked by an increase in stake-money next month.