SEES OH THE CIRCUIT

Taranaki Daily News, 25 February 1931, Page 4

SEES OH THE CIRCUIT

form and other fallacies IN THE SHADE WAS UNLUCKY. VERTIGERN BEST', IN BIG RACES. LADY QUEX & LAUGHING PRINCE. ; Generally the * form shown on the Taranaki-Wanganui circuit was not difficult to follow and good or bad riding accounted for any surprises. Vertigern proved himself the best as well as the most consistent middle-distance handicapper, but, handled judiciously, In The Shade should have won the. Taranaki Clip and the Earle Stakes. Honours were more evenly distributed among the sprinters, Bayacre, Arisus, Lady Quex, Consent, and Laughing Prince succeeding, but there is no doubt Lady Quex and Laughing Prince stood out in this class. Otairi ran right up to his good form during the holidays to take the Egiriont Cup, but he collapsed badly in the Taranaki Cup. Last week he partly made amends by running second in the Wanganui Handicap. However, - one cannot rate him more than a secOndclass performer, though his essays on the flat should be. a sound preparation for his winter racing and he is already being mentioned in connection with the big jumping events. Vertigern s lapse of form in the early part of the season proved to be only a temporary failing and he ran solid races throughout the circuit. He was just short’ of a gallop in the Egmont Cup, but from there he showed steady improvement, and his three successive wins were all full of merit. It showed the Rossendale gelding back to his best form. He did not race at Wanganui, but,he should add to. his record during, the next month or two.

Without hesitation, In The Shade is nominated as the unluckiest horse on the circuit. He should have won the Takapuna Cup and, on the strength of that good performance, he was sent out favourite for the Taranaki Cup. R. b. Bagby rode him into the field and, apart from, staging a circus turn that :was scarcely funny to the backers ..of the favourite, handled the Australian Sun gelding very poorly. He was asked to make his run. six furlongs front home and consequently there was no sting in his finishing effort; With the same rider aboard again at Wanganui he looked a ‘‘sitter” in the weak Eatle Stakes field, but again he was the best of good things beaten. The fact that he was three times in front in the ten furlong race at Wanganui and even then narrowly beaten, only because he was weakly ridden at the finish, indicates what a good thing In The Shade should have been.

Royal Parade ran up to hie Wairarapa form when he ran second in, the Paul Memorial and won the Earle Stakes, though neither performance was but of the ordinary. Nevertheless, he ''should win in his turn at the minor meetings. First Acre did not run up to expectations in Taranaki, but his improvement the first day was proved genuine by his decisive win in the Wanganui Handicap. In that race he o-ave the public a taste, of his best form. Of the beaten division,_ Concentrate is worthy of first mention. He looked too burly to show hie best at New Plymouth, but the fact that he ran good races- makes his autumn prospects appear bright. Chopin, Calamine and Grand Jury filled minor places and should all pay their way if carefully placed. - Calamine’s effort was true to ;form and the Hawera mare must be given more than a rough chance in a race like the Opunake Cup. She is at the top of her form at present. Lady Quex, Hunting Cry. and Laughing Prince rank as the Dominion’s best sprinters, but Hunting Cry was not ■ seen at his best and may be all the better for a short let-up. He was galloped on the first day at New Plymouth, and that did not tend to improve matters. Lady Quex recorded one of the smoothest victories- witnessed when she walked away from the classic Fly in o ' Handicap field at New Plymouth, but fate dealt even more harshly with her than with Hunting Cry. The New Plymouth mare received a cut that gashed her to the bone, and, apart from the fact that she was badly pocketed in the Taranaki Stakes, that injury alone would account for her poor display. She went on to run a wonderful second to Karapoti in'the Jackson , Stakes.

Laughing. Prince made one appearance and won the sprint at Wanganui under the steadier, of 9.13. He looked as if the race would improve him, but class told and the Quantock horse rose to the occasion to score brilliantly. He likes the Wanganui track, but there was no doubt he was the pick of the sprinters at the meeting, and the outing should brighten him up for the Awapum Gold Cup next month. 'Bayacre won two of the six sprints on the circuit, but attracted most attention as a bhd-dispositioned three-year-old. His barrier manners make him a hard horse to back, even m a weak field and, judging by his display on Saturday, when everything was 1U his favour, he should be all the better for a good spell. Consent, who wen the second day at New Plymouth, looks a better prospect for immediate engagements. He was a trifle unlucky the first day to be beaten out of a place, but he demonstrated his class on hie next appearance and won in approved style. He should pay his way next month. White Fang ran a fair second to Laughing Prince at Wanganui and this was a glimpse of his best form, while Just An Idea and Blue Paper gave promising displays and should be payable propositions where the company is not too select. The best hacks seen on the circuit were Orapai, Statuary, Monalof, Tea Queen, Arikira, Saltpot, Chief Sa'age, Royal Finance, Knollmer?, Crennatown, Arisus, Grand Jury, Paratoo, Leisure and Isa. Of those, Orapai, Statuary, Arisus and Grand Jury look capable of holding their own in open company. Orapai is a smart beginner and runs on well. Up to a mile he should be a payable proposition. Grand Jury is still a maiden, but he has been placed in open company' on several occasions and has not been favoured with the best of luck.