HAWERA LEADS WAY

Taranaki Daily News, 30 April 1931, Page 4

HAWERA LEADS WAY

OPENS THE JUMPING SEASON FORM SHOULD PROVE VALUABLE. FIRST REVIEW OF HANDICAPS. GOOD RACING SEEMS ASS'llllED. Tatanaki sportsmen are in the happy position of being able to witnesb the first of the winter race meetings, which opens at Hdwera oh Wednesday, and so may get a line on the prospects of horses likely to be very much in—or but of—the limelight during the winter .months. Although tlifefb will ptobably 'tie penalties for the winners in connection with the Wanganui and Great •Northern meetings, the running of the leading lights in the jumping world will be followed with exceptional interest. Hawera “country” is not hard to negotiate, thoiigh it is sufficiently formidable to test fencots, old and new, at the beginning of the winter season. Several minor steeplechases have already been run in the late autumn; is is true, and quite a number of our best hurdlers have already rehevVod thbir acquainthndb vVith the battens, but the serious business has yet to be undertaken, and next week’s gathering is generally regarded as a drOss-fohearsal for WangaiiUi, Ellerslie, TrOnthAm—and finally the Nationals at. RlcchrtOn. The mifnber of entries received • lor the Egifiont Steeplechase id sohicivliat disappointing, but in some measure this is compensated by the quality attracted. Last year’s Great Northern and Grand National winner Aurora Borealis heads the list with A steadier of 11.13. To carry that weight successfully so early iii the sbhfconj 'she will have to register a phenomenal performance; arid her most sanguine admirers cati scarcely be enamoured of her prospects oil Wednesday. Red Fuschia has woii liis laurels as a hurdler and will hate to prove himself. Not so Omeo. The New Plymouth candidate is a versatile performer and 9.12 is an iiivitatibfi for him to pick up travelling expenses to the bigger meetings. He is in great heart just now and is sure to prove a tough proposition to -head Off. Nukumai won his oiife and only steeplechase when he scored in this event three yeafs ago, but the veteran will not cut much ice this time. Fine Acre is an unknown quantity over the “timber,” but the hunter Birkbeck revealed surprisingly forward condition when he beat the hurdlers at the Hawke’s Bay rileetirig held at TrenthAni. Hb goes over the big fdiice* well afid will be one of the fittest horses in the race. Kowhatu was- a itSefiil sorb last seAsbii, but lacks racing and should be held safe by Copey. J. Fryer’s ’chaser won in good company last Sdifebii and his win over hurdles at Stratford indicates that he fe not far from his best. Omeo, Gopby and Birkbeck appeal ai this stage.

Mister Gamp lias been off . the scene for a while, but the top-weight in the Tongahoe Hufdles races well at Ha-wei-a as a riilfe. Royal Acte will-telijsh a few pounds off. his back; but Luminary, Avro and. Nucleus may be all the better for a race dr two. Llandudiio is ;a new-conier to the game, , but both Callamart and Goldlike are in Winning form, the latter perhaps being the better proposition. Oriieo would have a chance if started in this race, and Moerangi should be the pick of those on the minimum. The position appears veiy open, but Mister Gamp, Goldlike, Royal Acre, and Avro will all have to be considered.

..ißldck Duke , has accepted for Marton meeting, so it looks as if he will be a>., starter in the Mcßile Handicap. Merry ■Damon is reported to be approaching his best, dnd it will be rbffiefnbOred He won this face last yfear. However, he had the benefit of autumn facing oil that occasion.. Bright Glow,would have ho chance at all on 'Stratford running, but it would -be wise to disiiiifis that berfOriridhcbj for she ife Cefthiii to' give an improved display Oh lifer hoirie track. Chopin looks as if lie lias had enough for the present, but Baku and Paitoiiu are just coming back to their best. Of the pair, the prospects of Paitonu probably appear, the brighter.. Paiko. does_ not appeal, and Calamine has temporarily mislaid her form, but- Shrewd should be coming to hand and is a useful sort when right. Little Doubt must be given an outside chance, but Paitonu, Bright Glow and Merry Damon appear to possess pfoopebts ah bright aS any.

There are some smart sprinters in lhe Flying Handicap, but Refbmoftna’g display at Strdtford will place him. outof favour. Rin Tin Tin is a doiibtful acceptor, blit Awaken showbd at Stratford that she has come to hand quickly. She is a- sprinter above the averiige,dnd that race should top-her. off nicely. Orapai will JiWtO.be considered if the sting is out of the going, and he has dome . through his. recent racing -well. ! Ridgemount can never be left out of’ the question, although his barrier tactics make him a difficult horse to follow. Assemble is fast, but Richfield should be held safe by Blue Paper. The useful Royal Songster, as well as Blue Paper, will have a race at Marton on Saturday, and some light will then be shed oh their immediate prospects. Gold. Dawn is altt-ftys a possibility and Royal. Finance; Cuticle. Chief Link and Hopwood will all have to be considered at the weights. However, Awaken, Orapai, Blue Paper and Gold Dawn read as likely as any at present. There are a dozen in the Hack Steeplechase, but, except for -Kpwhatu, they are all maiden ’chasers and anything is liable to happen. Royal Acre, Ca 1 Again and Kopje all juffip fairly Wdll, and the pick of this trio may give the most trouble to Kowliatu.

Royal Finance may riot start in the Telegraph Handicap, and that leaves three useful hacks in Wallaruh, Glenrossie and Orby s Choice at the head of the list. They arts all ih winning foim and will consequently be in demand. Illuminate and Moatoa, went well at Stratford’, the fotnibr being definitely mi the up-grade. Of the remainder Silver Fern, Singer, Compulsory, Garrick and Royal Bengal may do best, but the top-weights promise to be the hardest to beat. Crennatown, the top-weight in thq Tawhiti Handicap, was backed and beaten at StrUtfotd, blit he may be favoured with a clearer rim aitd, ilitdcr those circumstances, would be sure to be prominent at the finish. Joyspear

Will be all the better for his race last week, but Green Patch won very well and. must be favourably considered again. Maidhat has been winhifig oil the Eftst Coast ahd. itakahub ivas unlucky at Stratford. Arrowhead, Little Doubt, Merry Melody ami Banbridge all stay on well, and it looks as if the early favourites will be Little Ddiibl; Takahue, Banbridge and Green Patch. Taranaki owners and trainers ' are reminded that acceptances for all events on the first day of the Egmont Raciing Club’s programme oft Wednesday, close with the secretary, Mr. E. P. Lox, Hawera, at 8.30 to-morrow nigiit. The Hawera telegraph office closes at 8 p.rri.