NORTHERN STRING

Evening Post, Volume CXXXIX, Issue 146, 22 June 1945, Page 8

NORTHERN STRING

PROSPECTS REVIEWED (Special to "The Post.") AUCKLAND, This Day. Twenty-six horses from the Auckland Province have had their engagements continued at the Hawke's Bay Meeting tomorrow, and several are expected to give a good account of themselves. The contingent may be regarded as a shade better than that which competed at Awapuni last week, and the two wins and a third registered there by northerners can be improved upon. Half a dozen horses will represent Auckland owmrs in the opening event, the Hastings Hack Hurdles, Gayjax is a winner, and as he has a lot of speed he will be suited by the mile and a half, particularly if the going is heavy. He fell at the second fence in his one engagement at the Great Northern Meeting as a result of being blinded prior to taking off. , Auld Mackay and Kanui Tekoa were credited with going good races at Awapuni, and they will be improved considerably, for they are comparative novices. Irish Fox has the makings of a fine jumper,- and in this, his first race over obstacles, he should make a showing, for he comes from a stable rich in jumping successes. Brahman is expected to reveal improvement, but a really live proposition is Royce, who has tons of speed and can jump Yell. Summed up, Royce and Gayjax-should give their northern admirers a great run for their money. Chaka, Tonight, and the two-year-old Beau Martian are northern hopes in the Hastings Maiden. Tonight has not shown much ability yet, apart from a little speed. ; High hopes are held of Beau Martian being good next season, and he galloped- well before leaving Takanim for Hawke's Bay. Chaka, a three-year-old half-brother to Corot, was third to-Syllis and Tin Musk in the near-maiden event at Te Rapa last month, and Syllis was later second in a hack race at Ellerslie. At his last start Chaka was fourth in his division of the Jervois Hack at Ellerslie, this representing something better than maiden class. Chaka should be in the money, with Beau Martian also a place prospect. Royal Jay has always been a good jumper, and after a fair showing on the flat at Awapuni he should be capable of a solid effort in the Hawke's Bay Hurdles. Winning Tray is a dashing fencer, and if started here in preference to the cross-country race would have a chance. Expellant is better than his recent efforts indicate, but he is also in the steeplechase. On his form in the north Moderate should hold this trio safe, but for all that Winning Tray and Expellant are likely place-getters. AIR PORT FANCIED. Babrow galloped very well at Takanini prior to leaving for Hastings, and he may improve on his northern showings .in the Winter Handicap. Royal Musk is a rare stayer and a possibility if he can be kept reasonably close to the pacemakers, but the best of the northern string is sure to be Air Port, who was unlucky at Awapuni. At 8.10 under the lighter scale this galloper looks a rare prospect. Babrow may gain a place. Expellant is an unknown quantity as a 'chaser and the stable may be more adequately represented in the Hawke's Bay Steeplechase by Winning Tray, who badly needed the race he had at Awapuni. He should be a stone better horse as a result. The Hastings obstacles usually take some jumping, and in this respect they ought to hold no terrors 'for Winning Tray, who is a fine lepper.' Some hacks do not worry about weight in winter going, and if Leigh Hark is one of these he should have a first-rate chance in the Rotopai Hack Handicap. He has gone up 111b on his Awapuni" impost ■ and that will try him out, but at the same time it illustrates that his success was highly rated. Of the Auckland quintet in the open sprint, the seven-furlong Havelock Handicap, the best chances are definitely held by Black Beret, Rara Avis, and Lord Dink, who could.be favoured in that order. Down to a handy weight, Black Beret may go close to winning after his nose defeat on the final day of the Great Northern Meeting, his conqueror being the speedy. and promising Regal March. Rara Avis is the type for this sort of contest, and Lord Dink, back to his best, .would stand a chance. Black Beret is favoured as a potential winner, and Rara Avis as a place proposition. Good Bay won so well at Awapuni that he cannot be overlooked in the Final Hack Handicap, for in addition to winning form he should be improved sufficiently to overcome the increased weight allocated. Laddie Boy is not an everyday sort, although! useful, but Grey Salute should be about right after his outing at the Great Northern Meeting, and he should be capable of at least adding; to his record of minor placings. j SIR RINGMAN CASE P.A. AUCKLAND, June 21. "I am not going to enter a conviction at this stage in view of the psychiatrist's report," said Mr. J. H. Luxford, S.M.,,when a 17-year-old stable boy appeared before him in connection with the stabbing of the wellknown racehorse Sir Ringman, at Takanini, on May 4. • The Magistrate said he proposed to adjourn the case for six months and in the meantime the youth would be placed under the probation officer for advice. RACING FIXTURES. June 23—Hawke's Bay J.C. July 7, 14—Wellington H.C. July 21— Manawatu-Rangitike) Hunt. July 28—Chrlstchurch-Souih Canterbury Hunt.