RACING

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 418, 28 July 1928, Page 7

RACING

(Continued.) WAIKATO NOTES HORSES IN TRAINING RECENT FORM REVIEWED (Special to THE SUN) TE AROHA, Friday. The track work during this week has been interfered with t.o some extent owing to the rain. Although Te Aroha has suffered badly over its lowlying area, the course is on high ground and there is no likelihood of floods. As the rain has been general, the inconvenience to track work has not been isolated. When the Te Aroha Club carries out its two days’ programme during the new season, it will have a very much improved course upon which to race. i>v the purchase of additional property, the course proper has been extended and a favourable feature of the remodelled plans is to see a greater length of straight. In the past the run home from “the turn” has been rather short, and, as a result, horses well placed as the field reached the course proper have had an advantage. The executive of the local club has always been alive to the requirements of the sport, and the successful position the club holds today is a tribute to the success of its efforts. No club, away from city precincts. can boast of a more successful annual gathering than Te Aroha. Had Shown Promise

Ring Potoa was on the scene on a few occasions this season among the •ranks of the jumpers. The Potoa gelding. who was a more than useful sort among the ranks of the hacks in his day, was shaping well enough as a

jumper to expect that "Tie would come all right in time. It was a sound policy, however, not to give him too much hurdling for a start, and next season Ring Potoa should give a good account of himself. The engagement of King Lu in the Winter Cup was not kept, which was hot surprising when the impost placed on hi nr is taken into account. With • s o many improving horses, handily weighted. King Lu was set a very stiff task, despite the fact that his latest form has been so good. The Lucullus horse has been among the first flight since he sported silk for Mr. R. R. Hines, and as he is still a sound galloper liis days of usefulness are not over by any means. A. Tinker deserves more than passing credit for the success he has made of the local horse, the colours have been worn. Tinker has understood King Lu thoroughly, and he has got his mount home where many other horsemen would have failed. His Winter Cup Ride Although more than one horse lias ; '»en mentioned is Hie mount for. A-i Tinker in the Winter Cup. it is probable j that Ring Bov will be tin? candidate to have his services in the mile at the ; National meeting. There are not many more capable riders about these days j than the Waikato horseman, who, in j < addition to being vigorous, can show!; considerable judgment, a factor which!; is so generally lacking with some jockeys of the present time. The popular Thames owner, Mr. j I>ave Twohill. had a comparatively lean h season with Transformer during 19272s. The son of Thurnham has been Ji a kood sort, nevertheless, the preceding | ] term being particularly good with him j ti;om the stake and cup gathering 1 viewpoints. Transformer gives the ! 1 impression of having jumping ability, h far as 1 know the big fellow has <

j not been tried out in this direction, but it would be nt\ surprise to find j him tackling the job before he goes ? off the turf. Transformer was more advanced in years than the majority of horses before he was seriously introduced to racing, and should, therefore, be good for some time yet. Dobbin Keeps the* Flag Flying Matamata is a centre which has its name kept in the forefront in Northern racing districts. During the latest season Dobbin was the equine who upheld the reputation of the district referred to. The Day Comet gelding was dispatched to the Manawatu district for further preparation and racing after Christmas, and he kept the flag flying by several wins on courses | in that vicinity. Dobbin has* had the | advantage of being well placed in bis races, a fact which counts these days. When he appears for the new season Dobbin should still be capable of adding to an already useful record. No one ever had occasion to take much notice of Scat on the race tracks until he bustled into second place at North Shore about three seasons back, incidentally returning a dividend over two-thirds of a century. The Day Comet—Pet gelding more than paid his way for a time after that, but the latest 'season has been anything but a good one. He has had an outing over | hurdles, but not sufficient to enable ;an opinion to be formed as to his : future in this department. Success at Rotorua A club that has made a marked sue* j cess of its annual two days’ fixture of recent years is Rotorua. It has proved one of the energetic bodies among tho country clubs, and the reward it has reaped has been well justified. It has a very pretty course, which is nicely appointed, and with the further draw of being a tourist resort, there is no reason why this outing in February should not continue to be looked forward to and very freely patronised. Biilikins and Ohlnemuri, the pair in i Harry Spinks’s team at Paeroa, have | more than paid expenses this season: in fact, they have had a very successful term. It was late in the season before they showed their best form. From their efforts over the recent period of. racing it appears as if they ar© both getting more solid with age, and when produced for the new season’s programme they are due to be kept under consideration. Promise of More Prodice has shown that the spring period of racing is suited to the Catmint—Hyades filly. When matters in this direction are put into progress for 1925-29, Prodice will not only be at hand, but the work she has got through in the meantime will place her in very near the right order. Prodice was not in the top grade among the two-year-olds, but she was capable of winning a few races and her record in the provincial class gives | very favourable indications for further results next season.

! Mia Bella failed to make any rei turn on her visit to the winter meeting jat Trentliam. The aged mare, by | King Soult —Miss Sphinx, was beaten i by the quality of the opposition she i met in the South. Her second in the Great Northern Hurdles had caused her Southern prospects to be looked on with some confidence, and sporting folk in various parts of the Waikato gave her some practical support in her latest mission. The fact that she i is now rising 11 years, points to Mia Bella having seen her best day, al- : though next season may find her ; hurdling still with some success. Paddon in the Paddock “What has become of Paddon?” is not an isolated question where racing | followers congregate. While in Hamilton recently the writer made inquiry on the point, and was advised that Paddon was still out on the farm, where he had been browsing for the past season or more. There was mention a little while back that it was contemplated that he would go Into work again, but so far there has been no mention of his appearance at Te Rapa. Pinon was back on the galloping sand fairly late in this season, after a couple of years of£ the turf. She stood only a few races, however, and it has been decided to keep her in permanent retirement. Pinon, who is by the former Cambridge-located sire. King Lupin (now defunct), from Mignon, who threw some useful stock, will probably be sent to the stud.

Valkon is a better horse than his stake earnings of the season indicate. It will be freely admitted. I think, that tho descendant of Valkyrian was very unlucky on more than one occasion during his racing- this season. It is expected that Te Aroha will continue to be Valkon’s training headquarters. With the benefit of age, Valkon should improve as a stayer. Although he has won at a mile and a-quarter, he was most preferred at a shorter distance when the class was strong. A jumper who has been on the scene on very few occasions this season is Lucullent. The .Lucullus gelding, who pulled off the Winter Hurdles a couple of years back, had little or no luck in his training. On several occasions -when matters were looking favourable for him the bug of ill-luck would make its call and “out to the paddock’* was the answer. If memory serves me correct Lucullent had to forego his projected Trentham and Riccarton trip 3 2 months back through meeting witfc lameness.

When Aussi© first came under notice on the occasion of winning a double on the course in this centre as a two-year-old, there were many good judges to be heard then expressing the view that George Paul's Australian purchase would prove a great prospect. Their prediction has been well fulfilled. but the limit has not yet been reached. The son of Fortafix looks a proposition of further pronounced value for the next season, r\nd especially so now that lie has given proof that a mile is within his radius. Aussie is indeed a valuable piece of racing machinery.