TUAHEAHE'S PROMISE

Evening Post, Volume CXXI, Issue 29, 4 February 1936, Page 14

TUAHEAHE'S PROMISE

MAZIR FOR HERRIES CUP?

(Special from "Early Bird.")

AUCKLAND, February 3.

One of the disappointing gallopers at the Takapuna Meeting was ' Light Comedy, her complete failure last Wednesday when regarded as having an undeniable winning chance being a big disappointment, to her supporters.

Among the best hacks seen out at the recent Takapuna fixture was Tuaheahe. Over seven furlongs on his initial appearance he carried 9.0 into second place behind Kurapae, the latter being in receipt of 191b and running right up to his best form. Carrying one pound more on the second day and in a field that appeared to be stronger, Tuaheahe registered a very fine performance, although he was all out to beat the fast-finishing Vera Acre (receiving 191b) by a head.

A very promising filly is Valise, who opened, her winning career in a very attractive manner at the Takapuna fixture at Ellerslie last Wednesday. She began smartly from number one and was then allowed to drop in behind, but when asked for her effort she disposed of Red Flame after a short duel. Valise is only a three-year-old, not a big one either, and is by the Aus-tralian-bred sire Vaals out of Danesia. She should not be difficult to place to advantage in the future.

Badly left the first day ana then finishing very well indeed, backers plumped solidly for Mainland in the Moana Handicap on the second day. He was in the middle of the field early, and did well to fill third place at the finish. He is a very likely sort, and should not be long in. winning. Another unlucky horse in the same race was The Vamp, who had to be ctiecked when disappointed in going for an opening on the rails less than a furlong from the post.

While Sweet Rose and Bellkyrian were cutting at each other out in front in the hack sprint on Wednesday, Gloucester's rider restrained his usually impetuous mount and dropped in behind. From the false rail Gloucester went through on the inside, and, with the pacemakers tiring, he ran on for a clear-cut victory. The favourite, Whirling, who was handily placed on the rails at the half-mile, was badly interfered with at this point, being nearly put over the rails. He was in similar trouble at the, same spot on the first day of the meeting. One of the best performances seen in an open handicap race in the north was Mazir's in the Ralph Handicap, and his price, although short, was an excellent one for the calibre of horse he proved himself to be. Plis check at the five furlongs was a serious one, for he was then about a dozen lengths away from the pacemaker, the speedy Enge. However, when Mazir got into his stride properly he simply flew round the field to make up that ten lengths with two furlongs to go and score. Though he did not have much in hand at the finish, this was what was to be expected. An older half-brother to the brilliant Stretto, this horse may have his next outing in the Herries Cup at Te Aroha in a month's time. The' effort of Keith Lv in the Hauraki Plate had to be seen to be appreciated. He was backing out when the tapes lifted and he gave the whole field half a dozen lengths' start. Once the field had straightened up for the run in Keith Lv flashed up on the outside and in a close finish he not only gat up to snatch victory by a neck, but he was going away at the post. Keith Lv looks like developing into a stayer, and in his present form he will be hard to beat at the coming autumn fixtures. A new method of riding a horse out of the barrier was seen at Ellerslie last Wednesday. A horse who was rather slow on the jump-out was given the services of a strong horseman, who was instructed to use the whip to get his mount away when the barrier rose and to drive him into keeping a position. Anticipating the start in a remarkable fashion the jockey got in three or four cuts with the whip before the tapes actually rose, and m this direction at least the rider got a flying start. Incidentally the horse concerned did not finish in the first eight, so probably his trainer will have to think of another plan.