TE AWAMUTU RACES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20600, 26 June 1930, Page 9

TE AWAMUTU RACES.

WOODSTOCK STAKES FIELD. PROSPECT OF KEEN CONTEST. GOOD CHANCE FOR TRUE BLOOD. With IB acceptors for the "Woodstock Stakes, the leading event to be decided at the Waipa Racing Club's meeting at le Awamutu on Saturday, a good field and an interesting contest should be assured. There are several recent winners engaged, and notable anions these is the topweight, Maori Boy, who won the York Handicap at EUerslie early in the month. With 10.11 Maori Boy has 13lb. more than he earned on that occasion, and horses like Standfast and True Blood, who will meet him. on 91b. and 101b. better terms respectively, should keep him very busy over the longer distance.

Compared with the Cornwall Handicap, which ho won. True Blood will have to meet Maori Boy 3lb. worse and Standfast lllb. worse, and fignjes suggest that Standfast may be the one from whom he will receive most trouble. However, Maori Boy's form in the Cornwall Handicap wa3 probably not correct, and, as he is a good weightcarrier and a very fit horse, his chance must be highly respected. Within 9lb. of Maori Boy in the weights is Eager Hose, who would have an undoubted chance on a dry track, but she has not shone under wintar conditions and the only thing that appears to be in her favour is her splendid condition. Then) are aeverul horses among the lightweights who would only hava to strike form to make the task of the topweighta extremely difficult., and two who may be singled out for particular mention are High Pitch and Barometer. "Without running into the money, these horses both ran one good race at Ellerslie, Barometer makirfg a *ery creditable showing in the Cornwall Handicap. It ia some time since either woe on the winning list, but they are distinctly partial to soft going and might como to light at any time now, ao that a win for one of them would not come ae a great surprise in. spite of their lack of recent form. None of the other lightweights have anything special to recommend them for a race o£ this description, although Flying Prince and Hannibal are recent winners and Luminary is a very fit horse who ran some good races on the flat before going over hurdles. Valstreet has won three races in succession lately, but until he demonstrates that he enn run a middle distance he ia unlikely to be favoured in handicap company. Possibly Flyin® Prince will be reserved for the sprint, and in his absence the best of the bunch might be the improving Hannibal, who galloped well with Maori 807 the other morning. Orazone, who ia coming from Hawera, is another lightweight with A chance, although <~n recent form she cannot be recommended. When backers have to make final Selections, they will probably follow horses with recent form and support TRUE BLOOD, STANDFAST. BAROMETER. THE OPEN SPRINT KACE.FIELD OF FIFTEEN ENGAGED TAKUTAMA FINDS FAVOUR. Fifteen horses have been paid up for in the President's Handicap at T# Awamuttl and it ia- anticipated that moat- of them will go to. the post. The even quality of the engaged gives the race an open aspect and the task of selecting the winner is likely to-~ prove difficult.. - No fewer than" seveq of. the candidate* were runners in the Visitors' Handicap on the final day of the Auckland Winter Meeting. These were Lady's Boy, Dave. Flying Prince, Abbess, Marble King, Sea Cob and Takutama. and the one to do best was Takutama. who finished third. For that performance Takutama will meet them on a few pounds worse terms this time, but he is a solid customer when rijjht and can bo expected to make > a good Ijid for victory. Marble Eing, who was very confidently backed. Sea Cob and Lady's Boy were close up in the race won by Havering and might do better here, especially Lady's Boy and Marble King As a result of defeats in the past few months these horses, axe now down in the weights and would onir have to recover form to take considerable beating in this company. Dave displayed a glimpse of his old dash at Ellerslie and should at least make a creditable showing, while Flyins Prince, who might be ridden by H. Gray, would only need to be caught at his best to make it interesting for the best of the others.

Lack of recent racing might trouble Paddon, and Eager Rose may be steadied by her weight, although she is fit enough to run a solid race. Form does not say a great deal for the' chances of the others, although Ohinemuri, Air Kins, Abbess, The Jack Jumper and Sir Kay all have sufficient speed to show up at some stage of the journey at least. Luck in the draw for post positions and the early running may have a decided bearing on the result, but horses at present in favour are-

TAKTJTAMA, LADY'S BOY, ' ' MARBLE KING. PERLE DE LEON'S AILMENT. MAY RACE AT WELLINGTON* Perle d<s Leon had to forfeit the Hawke'a Bay meeting owing to soreness in the shoulder which developed after the Wanganui meeting, where he ahowed good form. His owner, M-. W. J. Craig, does not regard the ailment a» serious and hopes to have the gelding at the Wellington meeting. Mr. Craig also*'stated that Gaze was not to bo produced this year. Gaze appears to be quite sound, but he is to bo given every chance in a. long spell. He is getting on in years, but jumpers last in amazing fashion, and these are lean years.

SCRATCHING OF OMEO. [BX TELEGRAPH. —PRESS ASSOCIATION.] WELLINGTON, Wednesday. Omeo waa scratched for tho Wellington Steeplechase at LL.IS a.m. yesterday.