NOTES AND COMMENTS

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXIV, Issue 121, 7 May 1934, Page 2

NOTES AND COMMENTS

H.B. ENTRANTS AT WANGANUI. (By “Tho Barb.”) Hawke’s Bay has helped to swell the record (recent years) acceptances received last Friday by the Wanganui J.C. for its winter meeting, as no less than a score hail from this end of the district, this number being composed of McHeath and De Trop (Trial Handicap), Royal Hunting, Royal Bengal, Souchong and Cullus (Winter Oats), Manuiri and Bon Ayran (Grandstand Steeples). Werohia, Tres Sec and Freeze (Balgownie Hack), High Grader and Million (Century Hurdles). Speed, Chopin, Stitch and Kaihoro (Empire Handicap), Cawbeen, Arauline and Grumpy (Borough Huck). • • • McHeath has been racing over five furlongs in most of his recent starts, and on his running, it appears that the Lord Quex three-year-old is not favoured by short distances. He may not be of high class, but on his breeding and make up, should not be the “dud” his past makes him appear. De Trop, in her first race at Hastings early in April, when she ran second to Royal Record, showed fair form, but afterwards trained off a little. On the present circuit she has had two races, but was never prominent, so that now over seven furlongs she does not appear to be anything but an outside possibility. # • * The. district claims a quartette in the Winter Oats, six furlongs. Royal Hunting has the steadier of 9.4 in a very smart field, and although ho is galloping well and never looked better in his life, from a weight point of view he, has a big contract ahead of him. One thing in his favour is that he, has always run at his very best fprm on this track. Royal Bengal, on Thursday last, got a track to his liking, to show his galloping ability by being there at tho finish. The Wanganui track, being of a sandy formation, is never soft, nevertheless “Bengal” has winning form. Cullus has been disappointing, and on his Egmont form is not recommended, but if he is himself the little fellow, on this turning course, may make amends. Souchong ran his best race for some time at the last Hastings meeting. Down to 8.10 he appears just about the best of the quartette of the Bay’s representatives. o * * Manuiri undoubtedly is the better of our two jumping representatives. In tho Steeples tho ‘‘pony” should be a better horse for his two runs last week ever country, and although he may not improve sufficiently to win, neverthe less Mr D. Lane’s nomination should not disgrace himself. The d.stance may suit old Bon Ayran. -* it • In Werohia and Tres Sec the district holds two worthy representatives in the Balgownie Hack, but Freeze, on form, will not tempt many. Werohia at his last meeting (Avondale) won over a middle distance among the best of the northern hacks, to come out the second day in the open handicap to run a very creditable fourth. This form certainly reads good, and the Greyspear gelding has done exceptionally well since his return from the north. Tres Sec was first and second last week, and as the distance will be in favour of the Gainscourt gelding he, too, will appeal. « * * High Grader has received a very patient preparation for the Century Hurdles. He is not carrying perhaps so much condition as last season when he won his three hurdle races on end, but will, with more jumping, develop muscle. He is sure to make the pace, and maybe the Okawa-bred jumper, Knollmere, will be his co-pacemaker High Grader, in some of his races, has been inclined to hang out, and on a course such as Wanganui, will need to be Icept in check. Million is an improving mare, and on last Wednesday’s form has to be considered. Since being trained at Greenmeadows this mare’s health has improved. « « « The Empire Handicap, the first day’s chief handicap (flat) finds another quartette from here. Speed is not the horse he was last season over middle distances, as in all his contests this season ho has failed to win one, but over six or seven furlongs has shown ability. Chopin was in the money the other day, but same cannot be held as a reliable guide for Wanganui, as tht: little fellow had nothing of account behind him. Kaihoro was second in the Pahiatua Cup, but the next day was never looking a winner. Stitch has yet to win over a middle distance, but he has shown the promise to do so. In the Hawke’s Bay Cup he was second. At Pahiatua he did not meet with a track to his liking; nevertheless, on the second day a but for breaking his leather, may have seriously troubled the winner, Walton Park. # « • A trio will do battle for the Bay in the last event. Cawbeen ha s been galloping well enough since going away from here to suggest that she is back to her earlier form. At Hawera, the first day, in a good field, she was a close third, whilst on the second day her fourth was under adverse running conditions. Grumpy, on her behaviour of late, has but an outside chance, but tho writer cannot explain why the little mare has not been showing her right form. Arauline is not a payable proposition to follow, all the same she is always liable to pop up in a short hackrace. « * * There was not a great deal of schooling done on the Hastings tracks on Saturday. « • • Ex Dono hopped off at the sod wall to make a screw and la.nd on the right side all right. The next fence saw him again screw, with a similar result, but at the first of the double ho stopped dead to get his foot in the panelling, and he was not further persevered with. He should do better than this, and it is on the cards that this novice a schooling mate of experience. * * * Heliotype and her stable companion. Glasslough. were given a schooling lesson of once round the hurdles to show every satisfaction for jumpers of their short experience. « ♦ * High Grader gave his usual brilliant display of hurdling over once round, lie schools without a mate, # # # Kimbo made a very fair fist of his schooling over the country.