NORTHERN FORM AS LINE

Evening Post, Volume CXXI, Issue 59, 10 March 1936, Page 13

NORTHERN FORM AS LINE

(Special from "Early Bird.")

AUCKLAND, March 9. A dozen of the horses accepted for the' Wellington Meeting next (Saturday have raced in late weeks on the Auckland provincial circuit, and their doings in the north may be of interest as a guide to their chances. The fact that ten of these are horses from the south indicates the drawing power of the good stakes at northern ■ country meetings. Happy Landing was brought north to contest the Herries Cup at Tc Aroha as a public' try-out for the St. Leger next Saturday. He was always prominent and was a possibility at nine furlongs, only to weaken into fourth place at the post. As this was run over a mile and three furlongs his effort in this class was not so bad and was certainly encouraging for the colt probably did as well as any other of his age might have done on the day. On the second day he was never in a good position, perhaps the soft track upsetting his form.

So far as Saturday's St. Leger is concerned, should Ellerslie summer form be repeated it would be the best of good things for Greek Shepherd, who scored in hollow fashion over Flood Tide and Heritage in the Derby, in conditions that favoured the latter. Entail was well beaten that day. Over the extra two furlongs it is just possible that Greek Shepherd may be tested by Happy Landing, in view of the latter's improved- running, for his Te Aroha showing was certainly encouraging in a St. Leger. connection. On the other hand, Entail, who captured the Great Northern Guineas in Brilliant fashion, has disappointed in the interim, though he did not go badly at Bulls last week. LIKELY JUVENILES. Gay Chief and Cricket, engaged in the Pacific Handicap on Saturday, both shaped well at Te Aroha, the former, with a third and a win the second day, carrying 9.0, proving himself a smart youngster. He sticks on well, and it will be remembered that at Trentham six weeks ago he dead-heated with Deficit. Cricket disappointed at Te Aroha,- despite the fact that he finished very fast into fourth place in the event won by Gay Chief; but he may perform better on his home track. Of the pair on Saturday, Gay Chief could be recommended more confidently, but there are several improving youngsters who may bother him. One is Wagner, whose form at Ellerslie during the holidays was very promising indeed. . -Rereatu, a Te Aroha winner, is engaged in the Thompson Handicap as well as in'the-sprint, and the former event also claims Beau Gallante , and Sir Nigel, two failures at Te Aroha. Beau Gallante still pulls hard in his races, and so he will be a problem for his seven-stone jockey on Saturday. Sir Nigel led for most of the way in the Te Aroha mile and finished fourth, but he still did not seem to be back to his best. Rereatu, however, is a good proposition, for he went well over seven furlongs at Pukekohe last Saturday with 9.10, less the allowance. Perhaps this race was chosen for him as a prelude to the Thompson Handicap, and if his owner was satisfied with his showing Rereatu will doubtless take on the big mile on Saturday. CHANCE FOE WOTAN. Grateful arid Wotan both raced at Te>-Rapa,- where Grateful won (he has since been beaten at Bulls) and Wotan was fourth. The latter can be improved considerably, and it is likely that' he will prove himself to be as good as thought before the Wellington fixture ends.. Grateful is good, .too, although not, unbeatable, as last week's results shgived,! Of the pair,. Wotan, if he has gone on. the right way since Te Rapa, is preferred, and may go close to winning the Tinakori Handicap.

Rereatu and Royal Dance figure in the Railway Handicap,, and, incidentally, they-- are "the only .; Auckland horses engaged at the meeting. The former is a very fair prospect in whichever race is, chosen for him, and Royal Dance must be back to his best to warrant this trip, especially when he could have been placed to advantage in the sprint, at Paeroa on the same day. With a light weight, Royal Dance spreadeagled a smart field of sprinters at Ellerslie ten weeks ago, and a repetition. Qf -■ that effort would make him a hard, horse to beat. His owner has done so well in past years.with Lord Val, Woodful, and Prince Val that it is not surprising that he is keen to add to his Trentham record with the latest member of his team.

Pukeko, Debham, and Supreme Court, engaged in the Silverstream Handicap, were successful in getting into the money at Te Aroha. The firstnamed' did not have any luck in his three outings on the trip, and he may do better on a roomy track such as Trentham, where he has previously gone good races. Debham led theChampion Hack Cup field at Te Aroha for nearly a mile the first day and then faded quickly; and Supreme Court.' failed to make a showing in the hack sprint. The pair met over seven furlongs on the second day, and with a soft track the conditions suited-, Supreme Court, who scored narrowly, with Debham cpming with a great run from the back to push him to half a. head. Now, on the handicap, Debham is allowed 51b for that defeat, and he should turn the tables, more especially as he was unlucky.