ARRIVAL OF VISITORS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21807, 23 May 1934, Page 9

ARRIVAL OF VISITORS

GREAT northern horses HOUNSLOW AND SPEAKEASY PERFORMANCES AT TE RAPA BY ARCHER With the approach of the Auckland Pacing Club's winter meeting there should be an immediate increase in activity on the tracks at Ellerslie, and the work from now until the meeting opens on Saturday week is sure to be decidedly interesting. The schooling of the jumpers can be expected to provide plenty of thrills, and there will be special interest in tho doings of the visitors, tho first of whom have already arrived. The first of tho Southern contingent to put in an appearance are Prince Colossus, Count Lendroif, Leo Colossus. Hounslow, .Make Up, Tudor and Speakeasy, who were brought on to Ellerslie after racing at Te Papa. Of these Prince Colossus and Make Up were winners at Te Ha pa. and Count Lendroif acquitted himself well by registering a third and a second. On the other hand, the form of Hounslow, Speakeasy and Leo Colossus was not impressive.

Hounslow lias fined clown as a result of the four races lie has had since commencing his northern campaign at Han-era and, with the work ho will yet before the end of next week, lie may make sufficient progress to show marked improvement upon the moderate displays he lias given in his latest outings. .It would be unsafe to discredit a staying hurdler of Hounslow's ability for defeats 111 the short-distance hurdle events he -has contested, and it is quite on the cards that he will run bettor at Jfllerslio than his recent performances would indicate. Billy Boy's Preparation As the result of striking fences hard the South. Island steeplechaser Speakeasy lost his rider each day at Te Hapa. Speakeasy seems to be developing a habit of doing this, but lie gives the impression that lie is a good horse if }i r becomes reliable iu his fencing. On the occasions 011 which ho has completed the course in tho past few months 110 has generally been successful. and ho was going particularly well when he fell about a milo from home in the King Country Steeplechase last Saturday. Jt will be interesting to see how Speakeasy fares when schooled over the iiteeplechaso course at Ellerslie. The schooling display of Billy Boy Testerday was one of the nicest pieces of work he has accomplished in tho course of his preparation for the Great Northerns. There was not sufficient fcpeed on for the effort to be regarded as brilliant, but he jumped in a stylo which left 110 doubt that his fencing is as polished as ever. Owing to tho fact that he did not feed well when stabled, Billy Boy has hitherto been paddock-trained, but this year It. W. Lewis has been able to stablo him regularly, and he is carrying more bloom than for sonic time past. Performances indicate that Billy Boy is a better steeplechaser than a hurdler and, although sufficient was thought of his hurdling; ability to mako him favourite when /'ho failed ingloriously in the Great Northern Hurdles last year, he may always be preferred over country. He has no recent form of any note, but with /11.8 he may tako a lot of beating in the Great Northern Steeplechase. Wee Pat Doing Well Without doing anything exceptional Wee Pat has been going pleasingly in her preparation for the Great Northern Hurdles, and her schooling effort yesterday was distinctly good. So far Wee Pat has not been raced beyond two miles, but she has shaped like a true staver, and an extra half-mils may not : trouble her as seriously as some of the others. Wee Pat lacks size, but fitness and solidity are factors which will bo in her favour in such a long race, and she is worthy of a place in the likely division, more especially as she has more than once proved her ability to jump the hurdles at Ellerslie, which /have often proved tho undoing of visitors. Cargen and Valpcen have advanced in favour for tho Great Northern Hurdles 4and the Great Northern Steeplechase respectively, as the result of their good performances atTe Rapa. Cargen's efforts were very impressive and, although only third on the second day, he was running on splendidly at the finish. At Ellerslie he will meet Monday's winner, Mia Stella, on 61b. better terms, and it is also in his favour that with 9.8 he has a very handy weight. " Sheer grit enabled v alpeen to triumph in a punishing finish in the Kawhia Steeplechase, his sucond start of the day, and his effort was indicative of great possibilities oyer longer distances. Valpeen is at. improving young 'chaser, who has previously won over the country at ILllcrsliei and may prove a strong contender for honours with 9.4 in the Great Northern Steeplechase. NOTES FROM EVERYWHERE TRACK. AND STABLE GOSSIP T. Green is to have the mount on Puss Woth in the Cornwall Handicap. Other riding engr.g*ments announced for tbnt race fire: S. .T. Cammick. Protomiul: and lv. v\« Gay Broney. The three-year-old Uorowhemiu has be^*n •teadily improving lately, and lie run right up to expectations when he won at le ltapa, last Saturday, always being well placed and running on splendidly at the end. Like his relatives, Manawhenua and Taneriri, Ilorowhenua acts well in t'.oft going, and there should bo some more success awaiting him at the winter meetings Having his first race for nearly 12 months, Haakon did not show lip prominently in the early stages of the Maniapoto Hack Steeplechase at Te Rnpa on Monday, but he was making up ground rapidly at the end. the only doubt about Haakon making good is ■whether ho will stand a* he is n natural stayer and jumper, who is a good steeplechaser in the making. One of the most promising novices seen out at the Te Kuiti meeting was tho four-year-old Gipsy Moth, by Romeo from Midget. hence a half-brother to the speedy Puss Moth. All Gipsy Moth requiios to. bring him to form is a little racing, and it is probable that ho will be greatlv benefited by the two outings lie had at Te Rapa. Owing to an eye injury he received when Copey fell with* him in the Wnnganui Steeplechase. I. Tucker did not ride at th« Te Kuiti merging at Tn Rnpa. but he will in the saddle at the winter meeting at Rllers'.ie. Two years ago Tucker won thp Creat Northern Steeplechase on Copey. and last year lie «os successful on Make Up in the Hurdles. ELLERSLIE ACCEPTANCES 1 Acceptances for all events on the' firSij Hay of the Auckland Racing Club's winter vneetins nt Kllerfilie, and for the Great i Northern Steeplechase on the second day, j close at n p.m. next Friday. RACING FIXTURES May 23—Pa?ngaroa-Te Puke Racing Club (non-to'alisntor). May 2G—South' Canterbury Jockey Club. June 2, I—Otaki Maori Racing Club. Juno 2. 4, s—Dimcdin Jockey Club. June 2, 4; o—Auckland Racing Club. June o—Greymouth Jockey Club. June t>—Foxton Racing Club. Juno 14, JO—Hawke's Bay Jockey Club. June l'j—Waipa Racing Club.