THE MATAMATA MEETING.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20172, 5 February 1929, Page 14

THE MATAMATA MEETING.

NOTES ON THE FORM. BY ARCHER. The Mntamata Racing Club lias reason to foel gratified with tho success that attended its annual meeting last week. Thero was a good attendance and the totalisator returns kept up to show a slight, increase over those for last year. The Mutaniata meeting is one <hat. lias retained a. true picnic character and is always a pleasurable fathering for those who attend. Finance has not yet permitted tlie club to erect any buildings in the shape of grand stands, but the slope overlooking the course provides a splendid natural grandstand and in this respect the club is very fortunate Racing at the various meetings in the past couple of months has wrought considerable improvement in tho condition of Prince La and ho scored his first success for some timo :in winning tlio Tirau Highweight Handicap from cud to end. At on<j stage he was well clear of the field and looked like winning easily, but lie was being kicked out at the finish to beat Schorr by a length. Prince Lu may win more races 011 the country circuit where tlio clas3 is not strong and also has great possi bilities as a hurdler, hast winter lie dis pluyed fino promise by running second in his first run over fences and it was unfortunate that n mishap should necessitate his being spelled. Princo Lll is one to keep in mind when the winter rolls round. Despite lii 3 solid impost of 10.10 Schorr was installed favourite for the Tirau Highweight Handicap and ho gave his supporters a fino run by finishing well into second place. Schorr was conceding the winner over a stono and a-hulf and it was 110 disgrace under the circumstances to bo beaten As it was his first run for a couple of months, it is likely that he will strip better at his next appearance and probably a winning bracket will come his way early. There was heavy support for To lvorok-j in the Tirau High-weight Handicap, but tho best he could t(o was to finish a fair third. No excuses can bo offered for his failure because ho was favoured with a nico run and had every chance. To Koroko L'll3 disappointed this season and docs not appear to be quite so good as lie was this time last year. However, he has run some fair races for minor placings in his latest engagements and will not need to improve greatly 011 his latest form to account for a stake at one of tho meetings 011 the country circuit.

Outside of tho placed horses, Glena Bay made the best showing in tho Tirau Highweight Handicap by finishing on strongly in fourth position. Others to shape respectably were Kipon Abbey and Maurca, who were Prince Lu's closest attendants for most of the journey and were not far behind the place-getters at the end. Glena Bay has shown no particular brilliance in bis races, but stays rather well and does best when racing at a middle distance. Tho oilier pair relish distances of a mile nnd under better and Maurea may be a possibility at Uotorua. As tbe season has been advancing Hakanoa has been steadily on the improve and he is now a very useful galloper. His two victories at Ihe meeting were achieved in good style and there was a good deal of merit in his win in the Okoroire Hack Cup. When the field settled down in that race he was some lengths behind the leaders, but lie finished well after running np fast in the middle stages and having to go round three horses at tho turn. Hakanoa should win his way out of the hack clarAs nnd lias only to maintain his present rate of progress to win in better company. It is some time since Whaka King was on the winning list, but he gave evidence of striking form by running a good second to Hakanoa in the Waharoa Handicap. It is very likely that Whaka King will go on improving in tho next few weeks and in that case he should earn a winning bracket before tho close of the country circuit. Distances up to seven furlongs suit, him best, but he may run a mile well enough to score where the class is moderate.

'J he field to contest the Matamata Clip was very weak and the race resolved itself into a struggle between Queen Arch and the odds-on favourite Siaosi. Honours went to Queen Arch by a head and she deserved her success, although Siaosi might have won if the pace had been cracked on earlier. Queen Arch was produced in splendid trim considering that she had not raced for some months and she promises to show further form in any engagements she keeps in the next few weeks. Siaosi will have another chance at Roloruti and in a truer-fun race he should prove very difficult to beat. The Matamata trainer A. McArlliur sprung a surprise on backers in the Hinuera Handicap) with Flapperette, a three-year-old filly by Quin Abbey from Redfern, who won narrowly. Flapperette showed a nico turn of speed to secure a prominent position early and ran to the front on entering the straight to last just long enough to beat the fast-finishing Avchieleen. Flapperette is a full-sister to Bracken Abbey, who was very smart over short courses until becoming affected in the wind. It was with a fine finishing run that Archieleen secured second place in tlie Hinuern, Handicap. Nearing the turn she was about eighth, but once the straight was reached she unwound a splendid effort and in another few strides would have won. Arcliielccn has had very little racing and should improve as she becomes mora seasoned, so that her turn should arrive in the near future.

There was solid backing for Black Mairc in the Okoroire Hack Cup and ho saved his backers any loss by running second. He was out in front' with Glenslar from barrier rise and was narrowly beaten after a keen tussle with Ilakanoa, Black Maire ran out the eight and a-half furlongs in good stylo and it is on the cards that ho will be an early winner. It is expected that he will be given further opportunities at the coming country meetings and ho should bo a good one to follow in his next few starts.

As a result of good form lately, Glenstar was made favourite for tho Okoroiro Hack Cup and he ran another fine race only to go under by short margins to Hakanoa and Black Maire. Glenstar is thriving on his racing and should recoup his followers in tho next few weeks, when ho will have favourable chances to give further evidence of his worth at the meetings on the country circuit.

Confident support wis accorded Mncroom in tho Railway Handicap and slic duly scored. It ivas not a strong field that she beat, but she von very easily, and, now that plie is in winning iorm a sain, more success is likely to come lier way in the next couple of months. About this time last year Mncroom had a Rood* innings at tho minor meetings and she might do likewise tins season.

The disappointing Town Bird ran two of his best races for sonic time fo finish second in both the Railway Handicap and the Walton Handicap. Although ho gathers speed quickly, the black sprinter seems to have developed a habit of hanging slightly at tho barrier, as ho has lately failed to jump out cleanly in any of his engagements. Only for being slow to move, he would probably havo bca'.en Lucy Rose in the Walton Handicap mid this should be worth remembering when he is racing elsewhere in company which is not strong. The surprising part of his latest effort was the determined manner in which he finished at the end of 7J furlongs.

On the (strength of a promising effort earlier in the season Tc Taono was sent out favourite for the I'ularuru Stakes and he acted right up to expectations by drawing out in the last furlong and winning with ease. To Taono has improved considerably lately and there was sufficient merit ill his performance to indicate that ho will at least prove a useful hack. He is a three-year-old gelding by Archiestown from u Ouin Abbey mare and is trained by A. Cook at 'J'e Awamutu.

It was the general opinion that the Walton Handicap would prove easy for Lucy Rose and her admirers had no hesitation <n backing her down to odds on. The Lucullus filly pulled her backers through all right, but it \vns only by a narrow margin, as she had to be ridden right out to beat Town rrc .by a head. With a les3 experienced horseman than A. Tinker, who realised the ' misllt easily have bcen