SPORTING

Hawera Star, Volume LI, 25 August 1931, Page 3

SPORTING

(By “Maecenas.”)

NOTES AND COMMENTS

* The annual meeting of the Taranaki Hunt Club, to' ibe held at New Plyimouth next Saturday, wilJ open the » racing season of 1931-32 iso far as this 1 province is concerned. Excellent & acceptances have been received for the meeting. 2> , * * * * *

Tavora has shown plenty of speed in her races, but is still a maiden performer,. She appears among, the acceptors for the Opunake Scurry at the Taranaki Hunt Club meeting, and if she faces the starter she should he a good favourite. * * * * *

After Love Song had finished second at Ho sell ill last Saturday Trainer J. H. Jefferd entered a .protest against the winner, but it was dismissed. When R. Heed complains about air opponent the incident would be very bad, but it evidently missed the eyes of the stipendiary stewards. Love Song, despite a recent win, .started at a great price.

The crack jockey, J. Pike, journeyed from Sydney to Melbourne last week to ride the champion Pihar Lap in the Underwood Stakes. which event was .set down for last Saturday, but owing to bad weather the meeting was postponed until to-day. Seeing that Pike elected to miss the Rioselii.ll meeting at bis own door he must have been convinced that Pliar Lap is as well as ever. *****

The Blenheim two-year-old. Croupier, hais only competed! against hack class so. .far, but his performances at Riecarfcon were of outstanding, merit and, as he will be better seasoned than his opponents, he will possibly start favourite in the coming Wanganui Guineas in which event he will meet performers that held their own. in last season's two-year-old races. Croupier is to be ridden by H. Grav. * ' * % * *

An effort was made at Riccarton to develop Panther into a hurdler, hut his jumping was. such that Ins chance of ■winning a good hurdle race is very remote. Panther lias more pace than in cist hurdlers., and a,s he has now qualified for jumpers’ flat events he should soon pick up a. stake.

In the first part of the winter Goshawk and White Fang schooled well over smalll fences, and; 1 went well enough in races at Hawke’s Bay meetings to suggest their being dangerous candidates a.t important meetings. Bad weather and .race tracks were against the pair and they were reserved, but from now on they will make their presence felt if produced for hurdle races. * * * * *

Historic and Lady Pain are both working exceptionally well at Trentham and, although the prize money is anything but attractive, both of these good class performers may be seen under .silk at the coming meeting at Wanganui. With an important meeting ahead, the Wanganui fixture serves the purpose of getting horses fit * * * * *

The once brilliant hurdler, Overhaul, was supported to win. the Grand National Hurdles by some close followers of the sport, .oven though he had little racing for months. .As only to he expected. Overhaul found the journey too far, but from now on will be dangerous in jumping rapes * * * * *

Last season Cricket Bat showed pretentions to stay in his races among the two-year-olds. He has done well over the winter, a,n>dl is well forward for early races. In. all probability be will compete in the \\ anganni Guineas next month. * * ' * * *

Last spring Korokio showed much brilliancy in her races, but as time went on' developed the bad habit of “boring out” badly in. races, a feature that cost her more, than one race. Korokio lias not- grown muck since last season, which means that she is on the small side. She is showing plenty of speed in her training and. while she may never stay. Korokio is likely to run prominently in short distance races.

i W lien _ Lorn den started on his racing last spring he gave promise of doing even hotter than the proceeding season. during which lie put np an attractive record. Fernden, however, developed a rare complaint and for a. time he appeared to- be developing paralysis of the legs. The complaint yielded to treatment and a. lengthy spell has done much good. He is again galloping well and will soon he in action at spri no meetings. \ ‘ * *

After showing splendid form at Ellerslie bust June, Sea-town was allowed to miss the important meetings of Wellington and Canterbury. He appears as an acceptor for the Members’ Handicap at the Taranaki. Hunt Club meeting, but as the event is run over a seven furlong course the chestnut gelding may not be seen at bis best. Now an. eight-year-old Seatown can bo expected to decline, but a.s he done ittle racing between, three and five venrs lie should still retain his pace

"When Chide was sold ;it ;t g rea i price to an Australian buyer most Now Zealanders wore prepare.,]i to find him an outsta.nding cliamnion in Australia Like ltnnnyinede, Tlaasa.y and several J > o, ; i ses «»nt across tlie Tasman, t Inde faded very haclly and obviously ■did not show in Australia, anything like the form be displayed in this Dominion However. Chide won at noselnll last Saturday am[ the suecess, coming so early in the spring, may be the forerunner of successes hi some of the important, handicap*. for it is only a matter of (bide strikin ' »"«. hnio form and no race in Austral la.sia would be beyond bis -apahilities

t,. 1 ."; «arlv ipart of last spring -Mindysr. Bov displayed form that suggested his developing into a first-class three-year-old. His later efforts were decidedly disappointing, and in the autumn he was beaten by moderate f-1 a 1 1 a o-lvR. Ho w over, 1 1 <» in s 1 iowOfl a. glimpse Of brilliancy in bis last lew races of the. season just closed. }l „d now I}inii ho has won carta in the current season it argues well for bis future .prospects. He may prove a worthy representative for' the Cook stable, win oh .shelters some useful perfm.mers at Te Rapa. Cook has not liar! Biddy s Roy very long.