SPORTING

Hawera Star, Volume L, 5 August 1930, Page 3

SPORTING

NOTES AND COMMENTS (By “Maecenas.”) 'Thursday’s 1 racing at Awapuni closed the season l for 19(29-30, and the club’s fixture last Saturday ushered in the racing seasoni for 1930-3], As the Manawatu Facing (Club distributed' greater stake money than the average which hunt clubs- offer, and in addition .paid the Manawatu Hunt Club something like £4OO for its day at last week’s meeting, it will be lucky if it- clears expenses over thei meeting. On the form he displayed' at the late meeting- of the ElgiWonts'W’anganui (Hunt Club. Pikimai looked gjood' for the Kiwirca Hunters’ Hurdles at Awapuni last Thursday. die duly won, but Ms success was not due to the manner in which lior was ridden. That Coon Fong is improving with each race he demonstrated at Awapuni last Thursday. Tie was certainly favoured' wit'll! the conditions of th'e race, ■but titei manner in which he disposed of Pat’s Boy and' fourteen others suggests that Coon ISong 'may win in open 'class, amongst' which lie will have to ra'ee l in future. That sufficient 'care in l drawing up conditions for maiden) races -is not. always shown was -clearly demonstrated (by the wording of such for the Oroua Platcl at last week’s meeting of the . Manawatu 'Facing (Glu'b. 'This event iwas for horses that had not won a race of more' than £IOO at the time of nomination. (On nomination day Coon Fong had won a two-year-old' race at 'Wood ville worth £IOO, and he was' eligible. A fehv days later he won another £4OO at Tren'tliam, (but the conditions' allow-

ed! Coon Fong to compote' against maidens, whereas lie was really out of ■ha’c-ik class by having won £-300. This must 'be unprecedented. Pat’s Boy has .been working well and ran 1 a good race to finish second toi Coon Fong at Awapuni last- Thursday. The absurd conditions all ojwed 'Coon. ißong to come in- on th'e same term's as Pat’s Boy, but had the race been ;i. handicap, Coon 'Fong must Grave had US lbs. more than l the former. •Pandia, a, filly by Chief Ruler—(Panpipes. showed remarkably good form to run third in. the Oroua Plate at

A'wapuni .last Thursday. She finished really well ami! will do; well if she makes aver.-iye. progress. Prior to tire running- of the Manawatu .Hunt iCup «• prospective (buyer was anxious to secure Ivalakaua anid was prepared to 'give what to an any was regarded as much above the gelding’s worth. Lu'ekily for the; prospeteI tive Ibuyoir no deal was made, and as | Kalakaua 'broke! down 1 ho can eoni gratnlato liim'seTf on not making a deal. It is stated that £7OO was the price ]>ut 'on 1 Kulak-aua. in the Why to Memoria 1 'Best Fri'end was kept, very close to- the leading division, in the .early stages of the race, but. last Thursday Gray had 'Best Friend at tiro rear of the 'Clifford [Handicap field. Best Friend' (was taken to the lead with half a mile to go. hut was unable to hold off Marjoram in a punishing finish. On- this occasion Gray did not exhibit his usual riding ability. (Considering she had not done l much racing of late, Orazono ran a. really good ra'ee last Thursday. -A* usual, / Ora zone finished on well and 1 was jusi behind the plnr-e-.gei tors. As lOrazone is small she may be prominent next time out when' the seven stone minimum will lboi iin force.

.lust prior to'falling in film Awapuni Fteepleielvase O-meo was moving up, but lie, at that stage’ was conceding FkvJ’lffer a, big start, null! if is doubtful if ha could have won. The performance was no guide to ’Oinico’s Grand Nat-

ional Steeplechase prospects. 'Considering his inexperience, Llyn Dhu carried his 'll,G with 'credit in the Bongo tea. 'Hurdles last Thursday. ' As n Grand .National trial it had’ little

value, as the 'class of competitor was poor. In. time Llyn Dhu will, no

doubt, do well as a hurdler, but it is doubtful if he has had sufficient: experience to hail him as a dangerous eandi-

cl'n-fo- for The long distance hurdle race In he nm ht '.RicAarton somu Oonsidierin'g the form lie shewed a't the AVaikato and Egunonit meetings, To Atiawa was paying -a false price to win against moderate company on. the opening day of The rdeent meeting of tire Man a waki Ivncin.o- (‘l-iilh. Te Atiawa was trot .lucky in tHie runn-inlg, 'hut finished 1 hotter than, any other runner.

•Calamine- run a good- race in the Broadway .Handicap -at AwapiuiL last week, and' it. was only ini Thei fast

couple of: -chains that he l lost, a winning position. :As (lie event was decided

over nine furlongs, 'Calamine should he handy in some of the- seven and eight furlong back events of the future.