TE AROHA MEETING.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18342, 7 March 1923, Page 6

TE AROHA MEETING.

NOTES ON THE RACING.' BY ARCHER. The annual two-day race meeting of the Te Aroha Jockey Club is always a popular one with race-goers, and this year's gathering proved no exception. The club was most fortunate in being favoured with beautiful weather on each day. and consequents the attendances were large. Speculation on the totalisator during the two days was very brisk, and the investments amounted to £61.351. compared with the 57,056 passed through th« machine last year, and show an increase of £4195 for the two days, which is a very gratifying circumstance. With good fields for the most part, and with a fair class of horse, engaged, the racing proved very interesting, and the judge, Mr. G. McGlashan. had some close finishes to decide. There was little fault to be found with the management; but for the fact that the races were not got off up to time on the first day, everything passed off most successfully under the direction of the energetic secretary, Mr. E. O. Nash. By the conditions of the will of the late Bir William Hemes the club will in future have some distinction in the matter of trophies, as a sum of £1000 has been left to the club, the interest on which is to be expended each year in trophies. In the Waihou Handicap, Alfort did not find a great deal of support, going out seventh in order of favouritism and. after showing a bold front until the straight was reached, retired and finished about sixth. With the placed horses in that event raised from 3lb. to 91b. and Alfort with 81b. less, in the Farewell Handicap, the Aus-tralian-bred gelding was evidently expected to do better. At the outset of the betting it seemed that Golden Bubble would be favourite, but the money came so freely for Alfort at the olose that he was elected to that position. After racing in fourth position for the first few furlongs, he moved up smartly crossing the top. but a little further on Prince Abbey drew out and Alfort was beaten out of a place. It is said that his rider lost an iron. Ruapapa looked a picture of condition as he paraded around the birdcage prior to contesting the Cup, for which he was made a good favourite, and never gave his supporters much cause for uneasiness, as he was in a prominent position soon after the start and, going to the front along the btck, was not afterwards headed. Since being purchased at the end of January by Mr. W. Scholium for £900 he has won £850 'in stakes and, having eo quickly made such a good return, looks a cheap horse. Ruapapa is settling down with racing, and should accomplish something better than winning a country cup. J. D. McFarlane (Keystone twice) and A. Collins (Gold Bud and Gold nip) were the most successful trainers at the meeting, while others to turn out winners were: P. E. Pope (Shortland), F. Loorob (Ruapapa), H. Eva (Golden Bubble). C. Cole""fin (Bute found), W. Sharp© (Flowing Bowl). J. Buchanan (Pretty Man). R. Hall (Marble Glass), R. J. Graham (Loch Abbey). F. Marshall (Bedford). F. Gilohrist (Namutere). R. Hannon (Prince Abbey), and F. Tutchen (Flying Abbey) and J. E. Dobbs (King Quin) prepared a dead-heater each. H. Wiggins, with two wins and a deadheat, headed the winning jockeys' list, being successful on Bute Sound and Ruapapa »nd scoring a dead-heat on Flvine Abbey, H. Goldfinch (Flowing Bowl and Shortland) and C. Burgess (Keystone twice) came next with two wins apiece. L. Manson (Bedford). J. Buchanan (Pretty Man). E. Keesing (Gold Bud). R. Hall (Marble Glass). A. McFlynn (Gold Kip). L. Jarvee (Loch Abbey). M. Young (Namutere). R. E. Thompson (Prince Abbey), and R. McTavish (Golden Bubble) each rode a winner, and T. Glover (King Quin) scored a deadheat. Keystone won both of the hurdle races, but had it not been for the fact that Coroglen, who had fined down a trifle since the Thames meeting, was slow, to , move he may have had more diffloultv in winning on the first day. Raised 81b. far this win, he led the field home on the second day, winning by a length from Shell Shock, who has had a lot of racing lately, with Sea De'il, not yet back to form, third, which makes the others out to bo poor class. Despite his poor displays at the Thames, Bute Sound was sent out favourite for the Waitoa Handicap, probably on account of the weak field opposed to him, ana was in front from the bctrrfe-r-'-i-w, winning attraotively at the finish. With alb. more in the saddle in the Tourist Welter on the second day .he had every opportunity, but was beaten into third place, and at present he .must be regarded as only useful. Having galloped well on the previous Tuesday and Thursday at Ellernlie, Cool Stimulants was installed a firm favourite for the Waihou Handicap, hut. failing to begin smartly, he never looked a winner at any stage. On the second day in a field of six he drew the outside at the start and, after racing in the rear is the early at sores, he finished fairly and got third. His failures were pretty costly to backers. Since being brought to Auckland. Syoorax has been a sad disappointment, but she finished fast in the Cup and secured third place. This, ranks as about, her best performance this season and. with the coming of the autumn, perhaps she is at last going to strike some form. She was outside of i» n'af- ii the President's Handiest) on the second day, but the distance was hardly far enough for her. It would be pleasing to see the black mare returning to her best again. ' While eating soma hay during the train journey to Te Aroha Emer&Jd Hill partly choked, and was afterwards in a bad way and was allowed to forego his engagement on the opening day. On the second day he was saddled up for the Electric Handicap, but after showing pace for a few furlongs he faded out of the contest, and was evidently a little off colour. . Badly drawn at the post in the Trial Handicap, King Quin was not greatly in favour, but began fast and, after making most of the pace, dead-heated with Flying Abbey, to return ■ his supporters a nice dividend. King Quin is a lean-looking three-year-old gelding by Quin Abbey, and if he continues to train on should win in much better company- in the future. When Prince Abbey scored at the recent Te Kuiti meeting, he threatened to return to form, but his subsequent displays were nothing to enthuse over. However, he occupied fourth position in the Waihou .Handicap on Saturday and, improving on this form, won the Farewell Handicap' on the second day convincingly, and may win again ere long. i It was pleasing to see Golden Bubble doing a turn for Mr. D. McDonald, who has not been having much luck with his horses for some time. The Absurd gelding made his supporters* nice return in the Waihou Handicap, which he won attractively, but with 9!b more- he was beaten out of a place in the Farewell Handicap on the second day. Evidently benefited by the racing he had at Tarnnaki Young Thurnham ran two good races, beine third in the Trial Handicap and narrowly defeated in the Maiden Plate bv Pretty Man. Provided that he trains on tho chestnut gelding should not be long in crediting Mr. J. Paterson with a minor race. Geoffrey raced prominently to the home turn in the Cup, when he died out of the contest. With two furlongs less to go in the President's Handicap on the second day he was well fancied, and finished fourth. He may have been a little unlucky in not getting a place. Tama-a-roa wa-s not produced on the opening day. but. took hi« place in the President's Handicap field on the second day and was the prime fancy with backers. Alwaye well placed, he ran a creditable third, but was not quite good enough at the weights. At a mile in the Cup, Aroh Salute was well up and appeared to be going strongly, and many expected him to make a good showing in the President's Handicap, one mile, on the second day. but he could not obtain a place. The Marble Arch gelding prefers a soft track. Raceful sported silk twice, once each day, and pulled up groggy after bis second race, and that would indicate his trainer having some difficulty in keeping him sound. It is to be hoped that the trouble will be nothing serious. Namutere ran second to Golden Bubble in the Waihou Handicap, then won the Electric Handicap on the second day after a keen struggle over the final stages with Queen Abbey, whom he only bested over the last little bit. Wbitianga, the five-year-old daughter of Absurd and Black Watch, showed plenty of pace in the Piako Handicap, but was troubled by the distance., and will be more at home over a shorter journey. Infante notched two seconds, one in the Hot Springs Handicap and the other in the President's Handicap. He finished strongly each day. and is evidently returning to his spring form. Gold Bud has been racing very consistently, and after running a good second in the Cup went one better on the second day, and just got home in the Touirst Welter from Bright Day. She is a genuine little mare, and has paid her way well. Sans Gene, who, registered two thirds at the Thames meeting, again raced consistently, notching two seconds in as many starts. Both Marble Glass' and Glenidle. who finished first and second respectively in the Hack Cup, paid double-figure dividends. Only four first favourites were successful at the meeting, three on the first day and one on the second day. Mr. R. H. Wynyard framed the handioaps for the second day's racing.

A.R.O. AUTUMN MEETING. The programme submitted by the Auckland Racing Club for the consideration of owners, in connection with the approaching autumn meeting at Ellerslie will require attention 6n or before Friday next, on which date, at 5 p.m., nominations close for all handicap events, and forfeits also require to be deolared respectively for the Great Northern Champagne' ' Stakes, Great. Northern Oaks* and Great Northern 3Tx*«Str