IMPROVING PACERS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23143, 15 September 1938, Page 11

IMPROVING PACERS

READY FOR PROMOTION OPPORTUNITIES OFFERED ' RECENT ADDITIONS TO RANKS STARGUM, TOMMY McELWYN BY ABAYDOS Improving pacers will have ample opportunity at Hamilton, Auckland and Thames to advance a step or two. Having had his first taste of victory, Stargum (should race fell in his now class. He has more condition than formerly and has abandoned his habit of pulling, which made him to diliicult to handle. Tommy ilcKhvyn lias developed stamina and he is a real racehorse.

Tagua is on ail awkward line, 3.40, as limits are usually arranged in the Auckland Province, but he should have prospects in the 3.43 class. Closter, a consistent performer, but with only one win to his credit, is in a similar position Gold Circle ran second to Tommy McElwyn last month from 48 yards behind and registered 2.55, one of the best times of the meeting on a holding track. A. W. Broughton appears to have given the Gold Bell guiding conscience. The disappointing Kaita'wa, one I of the best , track horses, is pottering about away from the training centre and will not be given much fast work. It is hoped that the change will induce him to do his best when he races again. Mandalay a Winner A win last sea.son put Mandalay on 3.39, and, while she will find it difficult to give improving novices start, she may be in the picture among the 3.38 horses. She does better on lefthanded courses. Keymere has not sported silk since joining G. C. Young's stable, but he is doing everything required of him very satisfactorily.

When Frankenstein won at Thames, it was his first appearance and the good impression created gained him heavy support in subsequent starts, but ho did not respond. JJy Frank Wor thy, he is likely to show improvement.

Fisher, who ran useful races laet term after a lengthy absence, has come up to ;3.38. He is displaying fine form on the tracks, but has not raced up to the standard his early form suggested. As she is still growing, Kewpie's Queen did not run on as well as when she was successful at Auckland in December, but she may do much better later on. She is a well-mannered and courageous young pacer.

Hillcrest, who has been spelled, should develop into a good four-year-old. He is a nippy pacer. Elsie Hamlyn Improved

Elsie Hamlvn has shaped creditably and has a good chance of changing from the .'J.3B line. She has improved in every department and can see out a mile and a-haJf.

Like several*others in the improvers' section, Nerihana tightened his mark by running second out of his class, making tho effort in a -2.22 saddle event at Epsom. The Nelson Derby gelding is very useful in this department and may not take long again to alter his handicap. Roma Girl was not attuned at the August meeting and her failure should not lose her supporters. She will have good prospects at two miles. Contender, winner of the only two-year-old race in the North Island, begins his three-year-old programme on ii 3.37 line, having received the same penalty as Bed Rock, who won the New Zealand Sapling Stakes. Tho Travis Axworthy youngster has grown a good deal, and should be in good order when required for the Great Northern Derby.

Lady Potts has reached the age at which a good deal of improvement can be expected, and too much importance need not be attached to her defeat last month, a.s she is not happy in soft ground. Tangaroa has not won ont of his turn but ago may assist him. When he learns to go without pulling, the Great Parrish pacer will lire up to his early promise, as few in his class can show more speed. , Prospects of Ratepayer

Ratepayer, who showed something worthy of his breeding toward tho end of the season, may not remain long in tho 3.37 class. Post Haste cannot be sized up on his first Auckland display, as ho was far from racing shape when taken in hand by L. J. Mahoney. That ho is useful, Post Haste proved at Hutt Park when he was second to Marlene in 3.21 1-5 off 3.38. There has never beeu any doubt about tho speed of Atarau King since he joined tho Auckland brigade. He is now trained by W. S. McDonald. While he won only once in several years of cfiort, .Kia Kaha is on a 3.36 mark, through running second in a class three seconds faster than his handicap. However, he is capable of racing in any company when he elects to give of his best. lioman Chief, a young pacer, is likely to do better eventually at a longer distance.

Keto Kura, one of the very few by Truman Direct to race in Auckland, may not be long in going into the next class.

is building up an unenviable record as a placo-getter. Although back to 3.35, he has not scored an outright victory, his two winning efforts being dead-heats, first with Sir Frank and then with Bronze Queen, both of whom have reached tighter classes. Adversity has not won since getting to the 3.35 stage.

MOUNTS FOR FOXTON ENGAGEMENTS ANNOUNCED Tho following riding ( engagements have been announced for' the Foxton meeting:— "v W. J. McDowell.'—Hanover. G. R. Tattersall.—Quadroon, Prediction. 13. H. Morris.^— Snigger, Tho Bigot, Royal ■ Choice. N. C. Trillo.—Entheos. H. Stewarti —Vadanoo^-". V. Dve, —Puroto, Rarotonga. H. J. Callahan. Warehi, Barley Almond. J. Forsyth, —Florence Mills, Merryman. P. Burgess.—Rolling Homo. J. Chaplin.—Sporting Luck.

CLUB MEMBERSHIPS

CANTERBURY LIMIT HIGHEST While tho Canterbury Jockey Club, at its annual meeting recently, agreed to raitso the limit of its membership from GOO to 050, the Wellington llacing Club, whose present membership is 550, decided to close its list when '6OO persons had been admitted. At tho time of the annual .meeting this week there were only 25 further vacancies before reaching a full quota. In both cases tho limit of accommodation was a factor in the dec'isipns., A year ngo, when the eventual absorption .of the Tnka<puna Jockey Club by the. Auckland B(tcipg Club was arranged, tho latter body resolved to extend its available membership from 500 to 600 to permit of the inclusion of Takapuna members. At present tho Auckland Bating Club has well over 500 members.