MATAMATA MEETING.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20794, 10 February 1931, Page 9

MATAMATA MEETING.

COMMENTS ON THE FORM. MONETIZES HURDLES WIN. LORD VAL SHOWS PROMISE. The Matamata Racine: Club's meeting last. Saturday was notable for the rout suffered by the favourites. Not one actual first fancy was successful and tbe outsiders had a great innings, three winning at' double .figures and another scoring at a prico that was not a groat deal short ol that mark. As at other Meetings this season, there was a decrease in the totalisator turnover and the drop of £6218 represented a falling off of over 33 per cent. In the circumstances there cannot be much left for profit when all expenses are paid, although on the figures the club should come out without a loss. The hitherto disappointing Monetize made a successful debut as a hurdler in winning the Tirau Hack Hurdles and he won so convincingly that he seems sure to win again on the country circuit. Superior speed enabled Monetize to have most of his opponents in trouble a good way from homo and ho was also assisted by the fact that the fences wero not too formidable. At the same time, ho shaped very encouragingly for a beginner, going into his fences with plenty of confidence, and he should prove a better proposition as a hurdler than he was on the flat. St. Warrigal's Failure. Form pointed to St. Warrigal having an excellent chance in the Tirau Hack Hurdles and the public had no hesitation in sending him out favourite. "When he ran into a handy position behind the leaders with a mile to go, it appeared as if be was certain to be placed, but he. was doing his' best a good way from home and faded at the end to finish sixth. St. "Warrigal has scarcely enough spee'd to make a successful hurdler, but he is a finished jumper over any kind of fences and he can always be expected to do better over country than over hurdles. The four-year-old Lord Val, by Valkyrian from Sweet Colleen, who effected a surprise in the Hinuera Handicap, had raced onlv once previously and few people were aware that he possessed any ability. It was thought that he might not be seasoned enough to win in such a big field, but ho soon secured a handy position and made no mistake about winning when asked for an effort in the straight. Lord Val is a solidlooking customer likely to be improved by the race and he should give a good account of himself in his engagements at Rotorua. Running of Three-year-olds. Mr. H. nicely-bred three-year-, old' Hit the Deck, by Nassau from Opera, trained by A. Tinker at To Rapa, was accorded solid support in the Hinuera Handicap and he looked a winner until reaching the straight, where he weakened to finish fourth. Hit the Deck's effort was nothing to enthuse over, and he will require to improve upon it "to secure winning honours. At the same time, he should not be discarded for the failure, because he is comparatively green and may be an entirely different proposition when he becomes more seasoned. . For,a horse who Was haviiig' his first race Production displayed plenty of pace in the Hinuera Handicap and he faded out only in the last furlong after being in the lead with Hit the Deck until reaching the straight. Production is a. three-year-old .colt by Quin Abbey from a Lord Multifid mare and is owned and trained by R; Hannon. With a little experience he may make rapid improvement and might win i_n the novice ranks before the country circuit concludes. _ . , ; ; . High Pitt's, Victory. . . / Well, ridden -by. the. hurdle horseman A. Gilmerl High Pitch created & Burprise by finishing, strongly to win the Waharoa Handicap, in which he wa? the extreme outsider in a field of -five. With a 61b. penalty, which brought 'his weight to 9.8, he registered another solid effort in the Walton Handicap, but the distance was a trifle short and he had to be content with fourth position at the end, where he was running on better"than-anything:" Highr Pitch's win was his first since ho won the Jellicoe Handicap at the Pakuranga Hunt meeting last August. Usually he is not seen to. advantage when the tracks are firm, but he is very fit "at present, and unless he has been affected by his two races he should perform well at Rotorua. Another defeat went-down against Taneriri when ho finished last of the five runners in the Waharoa Handicap, but he need not be discarded oil account of his recent failures. Although he has been working rather well, it is evident that he wants more work and racing to bring him to the pitch of condition necessary to win races. For a horse' of his ability Taneriri is in a nice position in the handicaps at present, and he should be worth watching in tlio next couple of months, because he is benefiting with every race, and may come on very quickly in the next few weeks. Onco he reaches the proper condition he will not be long in winning. Defeat of Standfast. When Standfast was bowling along nicely on the rails in front once the field had eettled down in "the Waharoa Handicap it appeared as if he- would win, but he just failed to withstand a strong challenges from High Pitch, and went under by lens than a length Standfast has not done as well as expected since winning the King Edward Memorial Handicap in the spring, and there seems to bo just some little thing lacking in his make-up to prevent him from being a good handicap horse. Nevertheless, he is capable of a sound effort over a middlo distance on his day, and in view of the fact that he should be improved by the race he will have to be taken into consideration when the prospects for the Rotorua Cup are under review. Lack of ability to run a mile and a-quar-ter right out eolidly and nothing elso wna responsible for the failure of Manawhenua to fnish closer than third in the Matamata Hack Cup Until he went to the front at the home turn he had had a nice run bohind the leaders, and if he had been able to stay on solidly he would have won. A furlong from the post he held an advantage, but weakened in the last 100 yard* and was beaten home by both Haviland and Prolomint. For tho present distances just a trifle shorter will suit Manawhenua better than tho one he raced over on Saturday.

.JOCKEYS FOR ROTORUA. The 'following riding engagements have been announced for the first day of the Rotorua Racing Club's meeting next Saturday:— K. Gill.—Tetrarchate, Sir Russell, Indolent. L. Manson.—King Win, High Pitch. E. Ludlow.—Heremia.' L. Dulieu.—Sub-Editor, Steady Firo, Searcher. - ■ • RACING FIXTURES. February 12, 14—Taranaki Jockey Club. February 12, 14—Dunedin Jockey Club. February 14, 16—Rotoriia Racing Club. February 18—Clifden Racing Club. February 19—Tolaga Bay Jockey Club. February 19, 21—"Wanganui Jockey Club. February 19, 21—Dargavillo Racing Club. February 21—Canterbury Jockdy Club. February 25, 2G—Woodville Jockey Club. February 25, 26—Goro Racing Club. February 2G—"VVaiapu Racing Club. Februnry 27, 28—Marlborough Racing Club. February 28, March 2—To Aroha Jockey Club. March 7—Franklin Racing Club. March 14, 17—Ohinemuri Jockey Club.