NAMARA USEFUL

Evening Post, Volume CXXVIII, Issue 49, 26 August 1939, Page 22

NAMARA USEFUL

SUPERFLUITY OF MAIDENS

(Special from "Early Bird.")

AUCKLAND, August 25

Another failure was debited against Bachelor King at Ellerslie last week, and his supporters will have to wait until he gets into the slightly weaker classes on the provincial circuit. He will be caught at his best on the easy tracks in the spring, and one may not have to wait long for him to prove himself once again. He was handy for most of the distance at his last appearance, and he ought to be improved by the run.

Namara proved himself to be one of the best hacks in Taranaki last term, and since his arrival at Takanini, where H. Gray is now training, he has furnished nicely and may be a good winner this season. He looked a bit on the big side at the Pakuranga Meeting, but revealed a lot of pace, being prominent throughout, and finishing not far away from the placed horses. He will do well on the provincial circuit.

Long Span declined his hurdles engagement last Saturday in order to take on the mile hack flat event, and his performance indicated that it may not be long before he is tried as a jumper. He drifted badly in the early part, and the further they went the further he was tailed off. However, he finally finished seventh in a field of sixteen, so his effort was quite good. Unfortunately, that tendency to lose ground in the early part will always be against him. Gadger was not seen to particular advantage in either of his engagements at Ellerslie, even if he did hang on for second in the hurdles. He was produced again in the Hunt Cup, and here he performed badly, his fencing at every obstacle threatening to be his last, but he negotiated the course all right, although he gave his pilot a most difficult ride. As he is now eight years of age, a great deal of improvement cannot be expected.

Two useful gallopers who failed in the Jellicoe Handicap at Ellerslie were Airam and Jayola, despite the fact that they appeared to be well favoured. The former was slow to find her feet, and in consequence was never able to get in the fighting line. Nothing in the field impressed more than Jayola in the preliminary, and although the heavy going might have been responsible for his failure to show up, his effort was not in keeping with his appearance. However, an improvement can be anticipated.

Finishing well on the heels of the placed horses in their respective divisions of the Sylvia Park Handicap at Ellerslie were Beverley and Hunto. The former appears to be coming more solid and should not be long in winning a maiden race, even if this class is going to be most difficult to score in, harder perhaps than a handicap class. Hunto is one who may progress rapidly as a result of that race. He is a three-year-old brother to Requiem and a half-brother to Call Again, winner of several hurdle races a few seasons back.

A three-year-old noticed finishing in good style in her division at Ellerslie was Princess Val, a half-sister by Vaals to Hot Box and Sastrugi. She revealed pace last season but has now grown a great deal in the interim. Another three-year-old filly who will be improved by her outing in the same class at the Pakuranga Hunt Meeting is Royal Tray, who was a winner in the old term. She came to hand early last spring, being runner-up in the Avondale Stakes, and as she appears to be coming more solid it is probable that she will enjoy a good season. Glen Connell, who impressed last term, although he did not win any money, has developed into a very solid three-year-old and he should have a successful season. The more one considers the numerous hack possibilities in the province, the more one wonders just how many will be still in the maiden class at the end of the season, for obviously their chances will be limited and there must be over a hundred horses now ready to compete in the non-winners' classes.