FOR TRENTHAM

Evening Post, Volume CXXV, Issue 150, 28 June 1938, Page 15

FOR TRENTHAM

AUCKLAND'S CONTINGENT

(By "Ariki Toa.")

Several recent winners are included in the Auckland contingent under orders for the Wellington Racing Club's Winter Meeting, and as has proved the case in recent years it is more than likely that a goodly share of the stakes will again go north. More than average interest will centre in their efforts by reason of the fact that included in the northern representation are seven of the winners at the Great Northern Meeting, including the treble victor Full of Scotch. Bryce Street, who ran second in the Great Northern Steeplechase, will also make the trip. In previous years northern horses have usually played a prominent role in the Stewards' and Whyte Handicaps, and last year, it will be remembered, Royal Dance won the sprint race, and Enge shared the honours with Ponty in the Whyte Handicap, prior to registering an easy victory in the Parliamentary Handicap. Enge is the only one entered this season in the mile event, and after his convincing win in the Woodstock Stakes at Te Rapa on Saturday he is sure to come in for serious consideration. It may be interesting to note that last season he won the Arapuni Handicap (the open sprint) at the Waipa Meeting prior to his successes at Trentham, and it would not be surprising to note his again performing the feat of winning at» both fixtures. ALLOTTED TOPWEIGHT. In the Stewards' Handicap at Trentham the Auckland entrants total twelve. Whirling had the honour of being installed topweight with 10.4. It is a considerable increase in weight after his victory at Ellerslie earlier in the month with 8.13, but the 8.0 minimum accounts for this. According to reports from the Waikato he is working exceptionally well, and promises to be a very fit horse a week hence. He will probably be accompanied by Rollicker, who is also down to compete in both open flat events. The latter has registered some sound efforts this season, but it is doubtful if he is more than an average rprinter and the class may prove to be a shade beyond him at Trentham. The Te Rapa trainer, A. Winder, will probably bring Prince Acre and Merial. The former has shown a partiality for the course, having won on his two previous visits, both successes being recorded over six furlongs. That he is again at the top of his form was demonstrated by his convincing victory at Ellerslie earlier in the month, and provided his trainer decides upon the trip he is a likely sort to keep in mind. Merial finished second in the Stewards' Handicap last year with 8.8, and has been allowed in at the minimum on this occasion. Her form of late has not been encouraging, however, and a victory for her would come as a surprise. Triune and Erndale are both useful gallopers up to a mile, but the former is too wayward at the barrier to be a good betting poposition. Erndale has been placed at his last two starts, and is a proved winter performer. However, it is problematical whether he is up to Trentham class. Hunting Blood is a real speed merchant and is sure to attract attention after his recent brilliant displays. He is evidently not a good stayer, but over six furlongs is always liable to upset a field. SHOULD SOON IMPROVE. The racing Maori Song has been getting recently should' fit him for his tests at Trentham, and he is a likely sort to keep in mind. He won both hack events on the course last season in very easy fashion, and has come on a lot in the interim. He received a i "stormy passage" in the Arapuni Handicap at Te Rapa on Saturday and will lose no friends by his finishing right up fourth. He is partial to winter conditions. Farland is a sprinter with a future, and Du Maurier is a promoted hack that looks certain to do better later on. Sweet Rose and Young Paddon complete the list engaged in the Stewards' Handicap, but a victory for either would come in the nature of a surprise. According to reports from'the north there is no fitter galloper at Ellerslie than Kilonsa, and if present intentions are adhered to she will make the trip to Trentham. This mare drew attention to her future propsects by finishing an excellent third in the Cornwall Handicap, and was also right in line with the place-getters in the King George Handicap at the Great Northern Meeting. She is a rare finisher, and being at home in any sort of going should be a good prospect for a stake at the meeting. Flood Tide was responsible for a couple of creditable efforts at Ellerslie, and it is reasonable to expect him to be much improved as the result of the racing, as he had not been seen out since last November. However, with 9.4, he has got plenty of weight in the Whyte Handicap. Gold Vaals has come right into the limelight of late with four wins against useful handicap class, but he seems to have reached his level. Airam, a stablemate of Triune', is most wayward at the barrier and rarely jumps away with alacrity, with the result that her record is not an imposing one. However, there is no denying her ability. Gay Rebel, General Ruse, Loombination, Requiem, and Te Hai have not accomplished anything of late to encourage the belief that they will beat the class that usually assembles at Trentham. TURF NEWS IN BRIEF Acceptances for the first day of the Wellington Meeting and for the Winter Hurdles on the final day are due at 5 p.m. tomorrow. The surprise of the Grand National Steeplechase entry is Bonnie Rollox, who was reported to have been turned out for a year. According to a Wanganui report, Pekoe Is back on the tracks after a short let up due to being slightly amiss. His stablemate, Kindheart, is also in steady work again. M. B. Edwards has had the bad luck temporarily to lose the services of his apprentice, C. Masters, who broke a collarbone in a fall a few days ago. Masters rode Ponty in the Whyte Handicap last year. Te Hai, who raced well at Tauranga, is to go south on Thursday to compete lat the Marton Jockey Club's Meeting lon Saturday, where he is engaged in the Winter Stakes, seven furlongs. It was somewhat astonishing to find the Great Northern Steeplechase winner Valpeen going out rank outsider in the Park Steeplechase at Te Rapa last Saturday. Slippery holds to that splendid one- . win-in-five-starts average of his, and his connections are getting some fine prices about him. He was winning his seventh race in 32 starts this season when he scored at Dannevirke on Saturday. Myriam, who is now in R. Penman's stable, resumed work at Trentham last week after having been left at Blenheim for a short spell following the Marlborough Meeting. Though they claim no engagements at Trentham, Royal Limond and Forest Glow are being kept in strong work at Awapuni with a view to a trip south to the Grand Nationals. Neither has ever shown to advantage at Trentham, but each has done well in the south. Mr. H. Coyle has rehandicapped Shining Hours to 8.13 in the Farewell Hack Handicap at the Marton Meeting. One of the most unlucky hacks during the last couple of months has been Joe Louis, who has been repeatedly running into or near the money under big weights. It is interesting to note that he has been entered for some of the open races at the Wellington Meeting, and under lighter weights he may make some amends. According to a Matamata report R. H. Martin is leaving his old stables and going into those vacated by W. J. McLean. He will commence the new season with about 12 horses. He is just concluding a most successful season, having had a good run with Rona Bay, King Key, and more recently with Full of Scotch. Full of Scotch took no harm from liis three successful raccs at the A.R.C. Winter Meeting, and though it is not certain yet that he will make the trip to Trentham, as an alternative is offered by the Matamata Meeting on July 23, he will be a force to reckon with if he does go south.