THE TAKAPUNA MEETING.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20480, 4 February 1930, Page 9

THE TAKAPUNA MEETING.

SEVERAL EXCITING CONTESTS NOTES ON THE FORM. • • BY ARCHER. Heavy rain before racing commenced kept many away from tlie second day of the Takapuna Jockey Club's Summer Meeting mid the decreased attendance was reflected in the totalisator investments, which dropped £15,021 for the day. With an illcrease of £3909 10a on the first day, the club seeriied to be well on the way to a very successful meeting, and it was extremely unfoituuivte that the rain should comiMust at a time when it was likely to have a most damaging effect. The total decrease of ±'ll,lll for the meeting would mean a considerable loss in revenue for Ihe club and might result in a reduction in stakes next. season, as it is impossible for clubs to keep stakes up to tho present standard unless the totalisator returns ore maintained. Apart from tho decrease in betting, the moeting passed off very satisfactorily on the racing side, the outstanding features being good fields and keen racing. Tho two wins achieved by Honiton stamped the filly as a decidedly promising hack, who should win her way into better company. A lucky 'run ou the rails pksisted Honiton to victory on the second occasion, but she would have been very unfortunate to lose, as she stumbled and.lost some ground at the start and then had to make a good effort to run up into a handy position early. Honiton's record of two wins in three starts since she commenced racing a few weeks ago is highly creditable for a beginner, and, even if she does iiot prove really good, she should at least be very useful. Principal Events. Form in the principal handicap events lit this meeting is likely to have a hearing on some i of the country cups to come up for decision in tho next few weeks, and the running of Maori Boy, Prince Val and Sir Russell, when they finished almost in line with Royal Doulton, the winner, in tho Takanuna Jockey Club Handicap, should be -worth noting. There were only heads between the four at the finish and on tho. form revealed each of tho horses mentioned should have a chance of winning a decent handicap shortly. Maori Boy, who was a shade unlucky and finished brilliantly, has been under suspicion for unsoundness and might not be altogether suited if tho ground becomes hard, but Princo Val and Sir Russell will not be affected by each » contingency and therefore appeal as good prospects for the country meetings. Having bis second run in open company since ho won hiß way out of the hack class on Now Year's Day, Valuation was installed a good second favourite for the Suburban Handicap and ho justified tho support by hopping out smartly and leading throughout. Despite the fact that ho had a good concession in weight, he created a fine impression in beating that smart filly Eaglet so comfortably, and, unless anything unforeseen occurs, ho should be in the limelight again at the autumn meetings. Valuation has been very carefully handled by A, Tinker and he has not only raced with success this season but also developed into a sprinter of more than average ability.

For a beginner Chromudyne created a favourable impression in running second in tho Trial Stakes, and ho confirmed it by notching another second in tho Moana Handicap, which ho might have won only for hanging, away slightly from, the rails and allowing Honiton through on the inside nl tho homo turn. These two races should be of .inestimable benefit to Chromadyne, who has only • to .train on satisfactorily to be an early winner. As ho has plenty of size and belongs to a family that has been repx-csented by. some fine junipers, the four-year-old should be a splendid proposition as a juniper when he gets the opportunity, although at the moment v liiß possibilities cn the flat appear to be well .Wprth cxploilins to the full

. v King Guard's Success. As a jumper King's. Guard has achieved considerable success and lie was seen in ft new role at this .meeting, when he raced well on the fiat for a second, a win and a fourth- in three starts. Tho' surprising feature of his efforts was the dash ho revealed in tho early stages of his races and there is not the slightest doubt that be is right at the top of his form -t present. ' "Where tho class is not too strong, he. may achieve further, victories over middle ,distances on the. flat before- his attention is again, turned to jumping. If produced in the same form ns he is now. King's Gnard should be well'in tho limelight in important jumping events at the autumn and winter meetings.

Although ho looked much above himself in condition. Sir Mond ran two very creditable races at the meeting, and. as soon as he becomes thoroughly attuned, the four-year-old should not havo to wait long for a win in hack company. Other beaten horses in the novice events at the meeting who tray lie worth notice for meetings ahead aro Loving Cup aud Ruapatu. Loving Cup has been trying to win in novice company for some* time now, but liis third in the Moaua Handicap, in which he was not altogether lucky, denoted improvement Mid his turn may not be far away. Ruapatu shaped very creditably for a beginner in his only run, nnd, though there may l.e some prejudice against the progeny of Depredation, whoso descendants '.ave proved of small account, this good-looking four-year-old should make a winner when he becomes seasoned. Prince ol Orange. Although ho had run good races. Prince of Orange was rather disappointing until he scored in the "Wynyard Plato and tl« manner in which he defeated the opposition in that race must havo surprised even his most ardent admirers. Over Ihe last couple of furlongs 110 ran past tho others as if they were anchored, and, to say the least of it, his finishing run wss very impressive. Possibly some of his opponents were hampered by tho soft state of tt'o going and his performance'might therefore have to bo discounted slightly on that account. At-tho same time, he must bo given credit for a very encouraging effort, and, if his form can be accepted at its face value, ho must now be regarded as a greatly-improved horse. As a result of the win, Prince of Orango > will ill future have to race in open company, but he will only have to maintain his present rate of progress to successfully bridge the gap between back and open class. For a novice Helium ran a surprisingly good race to finish third in the Wynyard Plate, and on this showing he seems' likely to bo an early winner in easy company. Helium is a three-year-old gelding by Gas-, bag, who has sired a few useful winners, and apparently like Blimp, who is ono of the beat of'his siro's gets, he is going to prove partial to soft going. The raccH he had at the meeting should benefit tho threo-yenr-old considerably and next tirno out in novico company 110 should require a deal of beating. Moderate Two-year-olds. As a class the two-year-oldu seen out ot the meeting were moderato nnd Hard Words, who accounted for both the juvenile handicaps, was undoubtedly superior to tbo other 3 jn spaed. r Ha did not havo much to. sparp either day, and his efforts wero therefore not particularly impressive,, although they revealed that ho is a steadily-improving youngster who might bo considerably better in the autumn than he is at present, llari Words is tho first of tho progeny of Diacquenod to win and he might givo his siro a further advertisement before tho season is over, for ho is a, good stamp of juvenile likely to make considerable progress beforo ho reaches the zenith of Kis powers. The two defeats of ITnvaspot were costly to his backers, who suffered a partial loss when ho was unluckily beateri into second place 011 tho fust day and a complete ono when ho .ran unplaced in the Wynyard Plate. His failure on tho second day. was especially disappointing to his .admirers, for ho faded out just when ho was expected to bo running 011. The soft, state of the going may have had a great deal to do with his defeat on (his occasion, and therefore tho three-ycnr-old should not bo discredited in any way until lie has had another opportunity to show his real worth. His record indicates that he is a, young galloper of more than average promise and the chances are ho will make a totally different showing the- first time ho races on a dry trackj'