TE AROHA FORM

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 22976, 2 March 1938, Page 11

TE AROHA FORM

SUCCESSFUL MEETING STRETTO'S BRILLIANT WIN COURTCRAFT BEATEN TWICE GOOD EFFORTS OF SULEIMAN BY ARCHER The executive of the To Aroha Jockey Club lias every reason to be gratified with the success of its recent meeting. The enterprising president, Mr. 11. L. Somers, and his committee have sot a standard for other clubs in keeping up stakes to the highest level, and in this respect they deserve praise for adopting the policy when the outlook for racing was far from bright several seasons ago. The To Aroha club enjoys a wide popularity and richly deserves all the success that comes its way. The only cause for complaint at the meeting was that the programme was allowed to get behind time on the iirst day, and the last race was a good deal late in starting. However, much better time was observed 011 the second day, and the meeting proved thoroughly enjoyable, the racing providing plenty of thrills and some vory exciting finishes. One of the best of these was when half-heads separated the first four horses in the Manawaru Hurdles. An unjustified demonstration was made against the judge after the numbers were hoisted, but there is no doubt that his placings were correct. Unfortunately incidents of this nature are becoming too frequent on our courses, especially in view of the fact that capable men of the highest integrity are officiating. An outstanding performance was registered by Stretto when she won the Merries Memorial Cup. It was her first race over a middlo distance, but she was turned out perfectly fit by 11. S. liagby and won in the most convincing fashion. Whether she will succeed over longer distances remains to be seen, but the manner of her perform- j anco indicated that a mile and a-half might not be beyond her. Stretto was assisted by her brilliance, and, after running very kindly in a handy position to the homo turn, she easily outpaced tho opposition in the straight. Breeding o! Strotto

Bred by her owner, Mr. A. J. McGovern, Stretto is n four-year-old. mare by Hunting Song from The Begum, by Chief Ruler from Lucella, by Lucullus from Seatonella, by Seaton Delavel from Arnorelle, by Phoebus Apollo. She is a member of the No. 18 family and. is the best daughter of her sire Hunting Song. There is no doubt that she is a mare of class, and in her present form she will be difficult to beat in any race in which she competes. Although defeated in his two races, the three-year-old Courtcraft did not lose any admirers. His effort in carrying 9.1 into third place over a mile and a-quarter on'the second day when conceding weight and age to his opponents was meritorious, a feature of the performance being the courage lie revealed when challenged in the straight. I Courtcraft is a fine individual who did not appear to be tuned right up, and he should derive much benefit from the racing. He can be confidently expected to record some fino performances at the autumn meetings. The improving Suleiman, who has < had rapid promotion since winning at j his first start in the spring, registered j two fine performances for a second and j a win. He was a shade unlucky to lose I when beaten by Royal Bachelor on. the ! first day and had a little in hand when ! he scored on Monday. An upstanding j gelding with plenty of reach and power, j Suleiman has developed from a maiden j into one of the leading sprinters in a j short period and has raced consistently well. He should run a good inile in the autumn and might be an Easter Handicap prospect. Royal Bachelor Improves

The racing lie had at To Rapa, where he did not have the best of luck, proved beneficial to Royal Bachelor, and he just prevailed in an exciting finish in the Waihou Handicap. The fact that he began very smartly from No. 1 proved a factor in favour of Royal Bachelor, who should make further improvement, and prove very useful. Royal Bachelor is bred to gallop fast, being by Musketoon from Reveal, by Leighton from the imported mare Glimpse, by Blink. Luck was against Arvakur when he was beaten into third place in the Juvenile Handicap, and, improved by the race, he scored very easily in the Electric Handicap on Monday. Arvakur is a big colt who possesses brilliant speed and he looks like, one who will bo served by age, although the fact that he makes a noise when going slow causes some doubt as to his future. However, the half-brother to Strctto has raced consistently and may carry the colours of Mr. T. Impey with further distinction.

The Hastings two-year-old Kathbella ran two very creditable seconds, but was not quite good enough at the weights. She is a shapely filly and may improve as the autumn progresses. Her stablemate Thala was left at the post on the first day, hut failed to gain a place after having every chance on Monday. Kathbella and Thala are trained by S. J. Reid for Mr. F. Ormond. Speedy Oration Filly The 3925 Avondale All-Aged Stakes winner Oration is endowing his stock with speed and claimed another successful representative when his daughter Noitaro scored a surprise victory in the Juvenile Handicap. Noitaro is a neat filly with a nice turn of speed, but she failed to repeat her first day's form on Monday, when she was never prominent. She was turned out in fine condition by the To Arolia trainer H. Eva. Two solid performances were registered by Kilonsa, who finished second in both' the Herrics Memorial Cup and the President's Handicap. _ Although she is a light-fleshed mare, Kilonsa was turned out in the pink of condition by H. Jury, being very bright and full of muscle, and she displayed the best form she has yet revealed. If slio maintains her present form, Kilonsa should make her presence felt at the autumn meetings. With age she has developed staying ability, which is not surprising in view of the fact that she is by Kilhroney from Alonsoa, by Catmint from Bouvardia, by Marble Arch from Pretoria, by Cuirassier.

SONS OF WALLA WALLA EACH WINS DERBY DIVISION 4 (Received March :l, 0.15 p.m.) MELBOURNE. March 1. Hadiant Walla and lien Walla, sons of tho former champion, Walla Walla, comfortably won the pacers' and trotters' divisions respectively, of the £SOO Trotting Derby at Ascot. STRETTO'S NEXT ENGAGEMENT The Herries Memorial Cup winner, Strecto, was on the truck at Ellerslie yesterday morning, when she was allotted easy work over a round on the tan. She looked in splendid order ami has taken no barm from her race on Saturday. Strctto's next engagement will bo tho Thompson Handicap at the Wellington Kacing Club's Meeting on March 17. She was not entered for the North Island Challenge Stakes, seven furlongs. A meeting between her and Courtcraft would havo created great interest.