SCOTLAND'S GOOD DIVIDEND

Evening Post, Volume CXXIII, Issue 47, 25 February 1937, Page 13

SCOTLAND'S GOOD DIVIDEND

(Special from "Early Bird.")

AUCKLAND, February 24,

Two more failures went down to Mazir at Te Rapa last weekend. He was up closer than usual in the middle stages and. was handy enough on the second day at the home turn to have made a better showing had he been good enough on that occasion. From all accounts there is a difficulty in training a handicap horse at Te Aroha, with a dearth of riders and galloping companions, so Mazir may be impr.oved as a result of his races.

It was not surprising that Scotland should have won his .last handicap, for his performances this season have made him out to be one of the best gallopers over a middle distance in the province. He was eighth at the home turn on Saturday, and then came fast on the outside to catch the leader, Lagoon, near the post, and return a surprising dividend for a horse with his record. On this showing. Scotland is going to be a prime fancy for his engagements at Te Aroha, for he is not yet outweighted. WAS NOX HERSELF. Lagoon, on her fine showing on.Saturday, was solidly supported on Monday, but from all accounts she was not herself, and this would be sufficient excuse for her failure to show up. She will be racing at home at Te Aroha, and that may be to her advantage although as yet ten furlongs is just about as far as she can go. Tybalt must now be considered a likely proposition for the Te Aroha Cup contest, for under the altered scale of weights he is dropped. 61b, and his third last Saturday, was a brilliant effort. He now meets Lagoon 31b better and Scotland half a stone better. Jan Ridd's first and second last weekend suggested that he is back to really good hack form, so he may not be long in winning again on the provincial cirr cuit. It was no disgrace for him to be beaten by a good hack in Day wind, to whom he was conceding weight, for last season the latter was shaping like a handicap horse, his last success having been in the handicap on the second day at Thames thirteen months ago, when he defeated Lagoon and Prince Acre. Jan Ridd comes from a family of good winners, and he looks the makings of a fine sprinter. ' Far Land made a favourable impression when he had his first race last Satoday, for he was in front for a little bit, and finally finished in the bunch behind the third horse. On the second day he was behind Clooneen into the straight, and then ranged alongside, shaking off the latter and then going on to score convincingly, if narrowly, after stalling off a late challenge by Superior Guard. On this form Far Land should go on to better deeds. He is by Acre from Rose Arch, who is by Mar.ble Arch from a mare by St. Hilda. STRONG CLASS. The maiden class at Waikato was strong as usual, and; the winners pf these events usually go on to graduate through the stages and develop into good hacks at least. There should be a bright future for both victors in this grade last weekend, especially m. the case of the first day's winner, Pirate King, for his success was very easily achieved, nothing being able to get near him over the last half-mile. He is a thrte-year-old colt by.King Lv from Santa Fe,. and he should not be long in scoring again. . Of the beaten horses in the maiden classes, none impressed more than Superior Guard, Young Paddon, Very Glad Bronzette, Clooneen, and Cometarium. The first-mentioned is a five-year-old brother to Alunga and halfbrother to those good performers Eager Rose, Sweet Rose, and Arawa Rose, and on his'fine finishing effort on Monday, when he put. in-a thrilling .run from the back to .press.Far Land to a head, he will do well.later on. Young Paddon was promising earlier in the season, and he now appears to be coming right. Very. Glad, a half-brother by Tinokoa to London, may do bettei when he furnishes more, for. he is not big, and much-improvement can be expected in his case. Bronzette looked a bit above herself on Saturday, and that race brought hei along very nicely. . While on the first day s-ie'was Nprominent early, on the second day she never got near the leaders till near the post, so her final run into third place was certainly promising. A three-year-old filly by Bronze Eagle from the Absurd mare Whitianga. sh! has only raced three times and there is every reason to be optimisnc ticketed' as being rtneanv time now.' He is a three-year-intn fourth place on Saturday. lnl; s a three-year-old gelding by defunct Surveyor from Lady Comet, by Day C Aiemaiden that contested the hack £S Sf him tfne^h^lmdf Is a three-yea^old gelding by Lapidary from Lunette, the latter being a halfsisto to the Young Pad don previousy discussed, White Comet, Paddon Chang (a century dividend-payer at ie Aroha a few years back), and Grand Score.