THREE-YEAR-OLD RACING

Taranaki Daily News, 22 September 1931, Page 4

THREE-YEAR-OLD RACING

£HE FORM SHOWN AT WANGANUI GIBRALTAR VERY PLEASING,

(By

"Hurry On.”)

Though the support of the public was jnot good and the stakes were poor, the lacing at Wanganui was excellent and las exposed the form of a nuinbei’ of horses. With the more important Avondale and Auckland meetings coining alinost immediately, this form will give a lead, and perhaps a guide, to followers of the game. The win of Croupier in the Guineas was very convincing, more especially as he was suffering from a cold. He was first out and never looked like being beaten, even when Cricket Bat headed him three furlongs from home. He figures in the Flying at Avondale with 7.8, and as he cannot be re-handicapped for his classic win he would appear to have a royal chance. The stable has another candidate in Kozan in the same race, and the Tea Tray four-year-oid-is a nice horse and one that is expected to do well this season. He was very badly served at the start in the’ Flying the first day at Wanganui and had no chance. However, he is well and must be respected. On his form at the meeting the three-year-old Cricket Bat would look rather like following the habits of his halfbrother, Fall Feather, who for the last two or three seasons lias invariably run • bad race the first day and then come cut the second dav and scored in a decisive manner. Cricket Bat finished a rather inglorious fifth in the Guineas, but in the big handicap the second day le scored an end to end win in an Impressive manner. However, excuses can easily be made for him in the clastic race as he was not very artistically handled, and he may show that ; he is more than. a second day horse. ■

King Colossus, who was making his first appearance in a race since last January at Trentham, made a very favourable impression. He sweated very freely prior to the race, but this did not prevent his putting up a great showing. He made a bold challenge a furlong from home, but was weakening slightly on the post. However, the race should do him a whole lot of good, and h_- will do better at Avondale, where he won the Stakes last year. : -There is no doubt that the Hunting fiong —Haligan gelding View Halloa has developed into a nice three-year-old. Though he displayed pace in most of hie starts last season, he only scored one win. This was at Awapuni in March, when he beat Easter Time. He Is still a hack, and when he next tackles that class .he will have plenty of supporters. The aptly-named Childstudy, by Psychology out of that useful performer Paoanui, went two good races. He is a nice type of a horse, who will improve a lot yet. He should win a decent handicap this Beason. Quite a lot has been heard about rhe (Jainscourt —Polonaise three-year-old Gay Court of late, and when he made the opposition in the Maiden look very cheap comparison; were being made between him and Croupier. However, when, as an odds-on chance, he was unable to overhaul Pomp on the second day, his admirers received a bad setback. Nevertheless he should not be condemned too soon, as he did not receive the best of passages. L. G. Morris, apparently alarmed by the presence of Pomp out in front, attempted to push him through very doubtful openings in the field, a>.u this left his mount without a strong finishing effort. He figures in the Swanson Hack at Avondale on Saturday and is sure to be in the firin line at the finish.

Even though Gibraltar haj shown a lot of improvemen J in his work on the track the big three-year-old’s finishing effort in the short Wanganui straight was worth watching. Gray got him properly balanced before making his effort, but when he really got down to business the New Plymouth horse just mowed them down, though the distance was quite far enough. However, on the big Avondale course he should make things very interesting for Biddy’s Boy and Aspian in the Champion Hack Cup if he woes the right way this week. He looks like proving a worthy substitute for Easter Time.