NOTES ON THE FORM.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20758, 29 December 1930, Page 7

NOTES ON THE FORM.

ARROW LAD'S EASY WIN. GOOD RACE IN STAKES. CUTICLE'S OPEN SPRINT.. [DY TELECII API!. —OWN COIUIESrONIIENT.3 • PALMJSRSTON NORTH, Saturday. The' versatile , Skyridor finished too strongly for the favourite. Ilawkshaw. in Ihu hack distance event at the Mannwptu meet ing to-day. Hawkshaw led' in the straight, whero Straightcourse tackled him, but could not head him off. Then SkyWder caino with a strong rim and won by n length and ahalf, Hawktihaw beating Straightcourse by a neck. Grand Jury wns a good fourth, and then came Dainty Ways. Fallow and Spearopa. Skyridor won decisively. Hawkshaw had i&very chance. Strnightcourso repeated his form, but was not good enough, nor was Grand Jury. . \

Avro, favourite in the High-weight Han dicap. was handily placed throughout the running, but he was doing his best a long wny from home to head off Tunbridge, who battled it out to the bitter end. However, Avro was too good. Tunbridge was taken to (lie front over five furlongs from home, so his effort was a good one. Easterly and Kilorell wi?re the only others to threaten danger, but they both weakened at the finish. Tins hurdles race on the first day apparently affected Easterly. Surprise by Pythia. The three-year-old filly Pythia, who has onlysstartod once since she won a maiden event at Otaki in the spring, surprised in the hack sprint by leading all the way and scoring nicely by a length from the second favourite, Arisus. Arisus was well placed all the way, but he was not good enough to give tha winner 211b. Cadland, who was well back in the early stages, finished over the ruck I'or third money, but he was well back, at least three lengths away., Portray went with the leaders to the straight, but then failed to come on. Lord Thomond, the favourite, was in trouble throughout, but he put in a good finishing run. Sharp Thorn wan handy throughout, and finished fifth.

The President's Handicap was a twohorse contest between the favourites. Arrow Lad and White Fang: White Fang made the pace clear of Arrow Lad, but" Gray had the latter in front entering the straight, and he run home a comfortable winner by nearly two lengths. Spearmiss showed a return to form by finishing over the beaten lot for third money, three lengths away, just cutting out' Staghunter for that position. Staghunter's first effort over a distance was quite a fair one.

Lady Quex touched a short price in the PiUmerston North Stakes, and she duly won. but at the same time she was flat out at the finish. Lady Quex, Consent and Kins Colossus began best, and ' Kins Colossus and Lady Quex led Consent and Esteem past the half-mile. Lady Quo* ran to the front on the homo turn and led into the straight from Consent. Esteem and King Colossus, Esteem running out a trifle wide at this iitage. Lady Quex was then going comfortably, but Consent and Esteem drew up on hi»r, and she was doing her best at the finish to beat them by a good lialf- \ | length. .

Mainly through the vigorous riding of L. G. Morris, Consent just managed to squeeze homo fiom Esteem for second money. Esteem would have been second but for hanging out on the turn, and his effort was a very, creditable one. King Colossus ran well for five furlongs. Lady Quex is going to Auckland for the remainder of the meeting. - r ' : : ■: The favourites in the Terrace Handicap, Lordlike nnd I'm Alone, got a bad run. Lordlike in particular being right back early, and he was never prominent. I'm Alone, on the other hand, got up to third place, and but for getting stopped more than once would have been hard to beat. The divi-dend-payers. Adclphi and Spearful, were always in or near the front, and in a good battle home Adelphi won by a Head. Laconic looked likely on the turn, but eventually weakened into fourth place. Bon Acre, Sultpot, Zephyrus and Courtlike did best of the beaten lot. Desert Song's Success. Desert Song led practically all the way in the Himitangi Handicap, and completed a good-priced double for T. Lloyd's Riccarton stable. The favourite, Kahikatoa, made a great efi'ort to overhaul him in the straight, but he had to come from too far back, and also did. not get too smooth a passage on the turn. Rory Mor ran another good race, while Miss Ransom looked likely in the straight, but did not see it right out. She appeared to be a trifle lame on pulling up. Ravine finished sixth, after just a moderate showing, and Full Feather was never within striking distance. Cuticls surprised in the open sprint by leading all the way and scoring decisively from the heavily-backed pair, Just an Idea and Havering. Juat an Idea was well placed for his final run, but he wns not good enough. Havering, on the other hand, met with bud luck. He was lying snugly m behind Cuticle on the rails nil the way, but just as they were turning for home Gray apparently received a bump, and this settled what looked like ft winning prospect. Even after the bad luck he finished a creditable, third. Honiton was fourth, after ft failrace. but none of the others ever had a chance.

WAIRARAPA REHANDICAPS. [by trEr.EGP.APH. —PRESS ASSOCIATION.] PALMERSTON NORTH, Sunday. The following rehandicaps havo been declared' for' the' Wairarapa; Racing Club's New Year Meeting:—Wairarapa Cun! Historic, 10.4; Arrow Lad, 8.10.- -Wardell Handicap: Arrow Lad, 9.8; Rameses, 7.13. Further rehandicaps will bo disclosed on Tuesday.