TE AWAMUTU MEETING.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20744, 11 December 1930, Page 13

TE AWAMUTU MEETING.

SOME LIKELY CANDIDATES.

REVIEW OF THE PROSPECTS.

CHANCE FOR MARBLE KING. "With very useful fields engaged in the various events, fhe prospects for interesting sport at the Waipa Racing Club's meeting at To Awaniulu on Saturday are bright and a successful gathering is anticipated. Added interest will bo given to the racing by the presence of a number of horses who have enjmironionts at the Auckland Racing Club's Summer Meeting, and tho chance of seeing aome Auckland Cup and Railway Handicap candidates in action should prove a strong attrition for racegoers. In view of tho fact that most of the races appear fairly oiien, the following comments on the latest perfcrmances and track doings of somo of tho likely competitors may prove interesting. For a newcomer to the ranks of jumpers Marble King displayed aptitude for the business when ho won at his second attempt over hurdles at Taumarunui last week and hia future should bo full of possibilities. Besidee having plenty of speed and aplondid physique. Marble King fences with considerable dash for a beginner and now that he has had a little public cxperionco ho should have evon more confidence. Marble King will have to oppose a stronger field in the Pirongia Hurdles than ho defeated in his recant victory, but, in spite of that, he should be a very difficult liorso to beat. Air King and Pendavies. On the form they have revealed this season, Air King nnd Pendavies should both bo worthy of consideration in tho Pirongia Hurdles, more especially ns they are the dashing typo of hurdler who will be perfectly at homo on the turning course at Te Awamutu. Only last month Air King and Pondavies both performed well at Te Rapa and when they last met there was 121b. between them in favour of Pendavies, who won, Air King being unplaced. Now they aro set to meet on equal terms, and, under the circumstances, there may be little to choose between them. When confidently backed in the Borough Handicap at Takapuna last month, Tenakoo failed his supporters by stopping quickly after going five furlongs and missing a place. Some excuse was available for this improving galloper on that occasion, as ho was bustled early after being slow-to move. In the circumstances his failure to run on was not surprising. Tenakoe is in a class which should bo to his liking in the Kihikihi Handicap and can be expected to show up in ft more favourable light than ho did in hi 9 latest outing. Valroe's Consistent Form.

Consistency has been a feature of the form of Valroe this season, and, although he has been unplaced several times, ho has rarely been far from tho placed horßes. At his last appearance Valroo ran True Blood to a neck over a mile in the Hamilton Handicap at Te Rapa and a reproduction of that form would give him an undeniablo chance in the Kihikihi Handicap, in which he is topweight with 8.12. Past performances indicate that Valroe's pet distance is Beven furlongs, and possibly he may emphasise his liking for that journey in his coming engagement.

Without winning, Honiton ran two very creditable races at Takapuna and her efforts were good enough to indicate that she is likely to make an early return to the winning list. Last season Honiton did well to notch three wins and two thirds in eight starts, and, although she has not performed as well as expected since being promoted to the open class, there is no reason why she should not do likewise this Beason. Under the care of J. Paul, Honiton has lately been making favourable progress and Bho is one who may havo to bo seriously reckoned with in the Kihikihi Handicap.

A Promising Two-year-old. Two useful performances were credited to Toujours in tho juvenilo handicaps at Te Rapa, where she notched a third and a second. One of tho pleasing features of the youngster's displays was that sho was running on well at tho end of her races ond she may go quite as well at six furlongs as she has done at five. Toujours will be pitted against the older brigade under scale terms in the Waipa Plate, and, as the opposition will be composed of novices, few of whom havo shown any form, sho may be equal to a forward showing. Up to the present the two-year-old filly Aspian has not shown any particular brilliancy in the races she has contested, although she made a respectable showing in tho Welcome Stakes at Ellerslie. In the meantime Aspian seems to have made somo improvement and has been responsible for Beveral smart sprints on the tracks'at Te Awamutu in the past few weeks. Whether she will be capablo of running out six furlongs solidly at present remains to bo seen, and on this account her prospects in the Waipa Plate are a little difficult to assess. Track form suggests that she has speed enough to be dangerous, and, if she runs on, she may be handy at the finish.

Merry Lu Very Tit. There will be few fitter horses in the field for the Waipa Plate than Merry Lu, who has been working well since running a good second to Karangapai at Takapuna. So far Merry Lu's form has only been moderate, but she is now more solid than formerly and her splendid condition may enable her to beat more than will beat her in her coming engagement. One thing that should be in her favour in the big field likely to contest tho race is her ability to begin quickly, which will be an asset on tho Te Awamutu course. Although beaten in both of his races at Taumarunui, Wee Prince produced two solid efforts and slight improvement on tho form he revealed will make him a possibility in any novice class event he contests at the country moetings in tho near future. Weo Prince is to be a runner in the Waipa Plate, and, as lie is likely to have benefited by his recent racing, he can be expected to give a good account of himself. One of the most-improved horses racing in this province is Cruachan, who has been performing consistently well and won thrice in his last four starts. Against, horses of tho calibre of the class of In tho Shade, Standfast, and Eager Rose, Cruachan might find the task of winning a raco liko the Te Awamutu Cup just too great, but in leas pretentious company ho will bo a very difficult horse to beat in his present form. Cruachan is also in the Paterangi Handicap, in which the class is not strong, and if started in this event in preference to the cup he must have excellent prospects. A Fine Sprint Field. Tho reports of tho training work at Te Awamutu direct attention to the fuct that A. Cook's sprinters, Pegaway, Karapoli and Lcitrim, aro nil in capital trim to contest the Flying Handicap and it will bo something of ft problem to select which will be the best of the thrco at tho weights. Pognway's six furlongs in 1.13 on Tuesday wns a brilliant effort and it is evident that lie retains all his brilliancy. As he is a master of weight, Pejtnway looks like taking a <leal of beating with all his weight. However, ho will be meeting Karapoli on Blb. worse than woight-for-ago terms, so that, if Kn rapoti is as good a three-year-old as generally supposed, the topweight will be severely tested to beat his younger rival. • With five successive victories to his credit Chromadyne has an imposing record and his effort in the Flying Handicap is being awaited with interest, because of tho. fact that he is a strong fancy for the Railway Handicap at Ellerslie. With sprinters of the quality of Pcgawoy, Knrapoti and Lcitrim to oppoao him, Cliromadyne will havo a good test on Saturday and ho will only require to coino through his engagement successfully to advance in favour for his important engagement in the big sprint at Ellerslie on Boxing Day. Nothing very strenuous has bcon exacted from Sir Mond since he raced ut Taumarunui. where his form scarcely reached expecfafions. Sir Mond lightened up with the racing he had last week and it is not known for certain whether ho will be a competitor on Saturday. Ho is engaged in both the To Awamutu Cup nnd the Paterangi Handicap. and. if he makes tho trip, will probnblv contest the minor event, in which ho should beat moro tjian will beat him. ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS. " Inquirer," Auckland.—Gay Crest has never won a two-miles race. Tho longest distance over which ho has won is ono milo and three-quarters, when ho wns successful in the Waverley Handicap at Randwick on October 11 last, carrying 7.12, The only two-miles race won by Count Cavour was tho New Zealand Cup in 1920, when ho carried 8.13. Tho longest distance over which Gustavo has won is one mile.