HORSES AT EPSOM

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23023, 28 April 1938, Page 11

HORSES AT EPSOM

SATURDAY'S PKOSPECTS VANORA MUCH IMPROVED PIRATE'S LAST VERY SOLID BY ABAYDOS Epsom trainers will be well represented at the Auckland Trotting Club's meeting on Saturday, but they will encounter very strong opposition from the Takanini, Mangere and Waikato centres. • ~ ■, » . Thirty-five horses will take part from Epsom, and these include recent winners, Pirate'p Last, Wah,. Equipoise, Hillcrest, Kewpie's Queen, Petite Jewel, Vanora, Argolis, Munga Tangi, Lucky Love and Bedford, while several others have been placed. Although he had some placed performances, Vanora was in the maiden class when he began his West Coast tour, but wins at New Plymouth and Hawera have brought him to tho better grades. L. J. Mahoney's pacer started six times during the trip for two wins, a second and three thirds. Pirate's Last, in the stable, was tho form horse among the novice and improving trotters irt February, when he won the Trial Handicap off 3.49 and the Manurewa Handicap from 3.45. He has developed into a solid trotter. While ho has a chance in the Innovation Handicap off 96vds., he may be a brighter prospect off 60yds. in the Whitford Handicap.' 1 Mahoney has a recent addition to his team in Luminate, a horse who won good races for J. A. Gerrard'. He has not been a success since coming to Auckland, where he has been under several trainers. Luminate cost Mahoney. £l2, but a quantity of gear was included in the purchase. Lucky Love Consistent

For two seasons Lucky Love paid his way by junior placing* and dividends, .and lie scored a popular, although unexpected, victory when he, won the saddle heat at the February meeting. The Nelson Tasker gelding is again working attractively and, while he is back to 3.30, he is likely to continue racing solidly. Munga Ta'ngi returned a winner in the spring, when he gained a decisive success in the Insulation Handicap. Munga Tangi has not raced since December, but he is capable of a sound effort if the track is yielding. Argolis opened his season's account by taking the Orakei Handicap in August and, after being twice placed in close finishes at the spring meeting, won the Onslow Handicap, in saddle, at the summer meeting, going 2.12 off 2.18. Argolis has shown a deal of all-round improvement for S. M. August, and the best Jias not been seen of him.

The three-year-old Equipoise, in the same stable, gave a taste of his quality at Thames, when lie' won the Puriri Handicap from end to end in 3.28 1-5 off 3.43. The Rev de Oro colt should add interest to the Franklin Handicap. Hillcrest, who was twice successful at matinee meetings, defeated a field of novices in February, when he won the Howick Handicap, after a stubborn tusslfi with Lady Potts and Vanora. In a lighter class at Thames, Hillcrest was close up fourth, and; being a smart beginner, he has further stakes in store, r Wall's Fine Form ' >

Kewpie's Queen, also a three-year-old, won at the Auckland summer meeting in 3.28, and at the last fixture put up a gallant fight with True Trust, ■who narrowly defeated her in the Mount Albert Handicap. Kewpie's Queen adapted herself to the holding conditions. She is nicely placed on the front of the Franklin Handicap. Petite Jewel won the Stewards' Handicap at Hamilton tind the Handicap at Cambridge, run over a mile and five furlongs. ■ The Jewel Pointer gelding stays particularly well. - 'he trotter Wah was outstanding in his two winning performances at the February meeting. He Von the Fehruaij Handicap from 144 yards behind and the Forbes Handicap,from 60 vards, handling the heavy track perfectly. In the Papatoetoe Handicap, Wah will be treated with respect. Kewpie's Crest, who won three races ill the winter, showed a glimpse of returning form in February and he has gone along the right way since. Forest Jewel has not earned a first certificate at a totalisator meeting, but on three occasions she has returned place dividends, and secured the 12 yards penalty for earning over £7O. Bedford an Unlucky Horse

Although ten years old Canadian has not had a great deal of racing and his displays on the West Coast circuit were not in keeping with his private reputation at Hastings, when trained by D. Hvslop.

Tommy McElwyn has run fair races, his best effort being at Cambridge in the Pukerimu Handicap, limit 3.2, won by Eoman Chief, with the consistent and more experienced Aerial Bell defeating Tommy McElwyn for second place by a nose. A. McKenzie has the Guy McElwyn gelding in great order and he should race soundly. While Bedford has won twice, each time ho had to share the honours with another horse. His best this season was at the Thames spring meeting, when he dcad-heatod with Bronze Queen in the Totara Handicap and just failed to concede Chili Bean 24 yards in the Hauraki Handicap. Bedford is working well again and on a reasonably good track will have prospects. If John's Last repeats the form he showed at Epsom when second to Nerihana and at Thames, when shaded by Isabella Pointer, he will be difficult to beat iu the first division of the D.evonport Handicap. The Frank Worthy pacer is steadily improving. Handicapper has not succeeded in winning this season, but his 3.21 3-5 for third in the Parnell Handicap behind Crocus aud Sir Frank on a dead track was full of merit. He was second to Nawton Parrisli at Thames and run-ner-up to Argolis in the saddle race at Auckland. He appears to bo carrying more condition than usual. Promising Novices Blue Crest, who displayed promise earlier in the season and then went off, is .putting more dash into his work again. He is a good type of three-year-old and should be improved with racing. Worthy Quest rati good races at New Plymouth and Hawera, and on three occasions narrowly missed third money. She has taken no harm from the trip and racing and, having freshened since her return to Epsom, may show improvement. , : • Lack of race experience will be against the trotter Great Surprise, who., has made very fine progress fory-Cf. Laver during the last feAv weeks. The Surprise' Journey gelding has a better action than his well performed halfbrother, Young .Hodney. , j G. H. Phipps is persevering with •Lady Mijskf vrho is trotting evenly. Alindited to pace at the stArtj she'is now picking up the trottinjg gait much more qiUckly, and it should not be long before she repays her ownertrainor for his patience. As a two-year-old Lady Musk was a pacer of high promise.