GENTLEMEN PREFER BLONDES!

Taranaki Daily News, 22 February 1935, Page 10

GENTLEMEN PREFER BLONDES!

GAY WAY IN WAIHOU SPRINT? Gentlemen, they say, prefer blondes, and Gay Blonde is certainly going to be a popular young lady if she takes her place in the Waihou Handicap field at Te Aroha to-morrow. Ten other sprinters, most of them in form, are carded to provide the opposition, but they will have to gallop to foot it with the Northern three-year-old filly. Gay Blonde is set to carry 9.o—a hefty load for a three-year-old—but her record this season makes her out to be just about the fastest thing at present running on four legs in the North Island. Gay Blonde has not raced since Ellerslie, where she won the Railway Handicap in Im. 11 3-55., ran second to Synagogue, in the King’s Plate and then won the Great Northern Derby. Still, the short spell will probably have benefited her. Next on the list is Greek Gold, a most consistent sprinter last winter, but who has yet to return to the winning list this season. Greek Gold can go fast in any going, but he shines most in the mud. Weighted at 8.2 LucidUs looks like troubling most of them. At his best the Illumination gelding is a class sprinter, and his recent form has been good. Lucidus won “three in a row” on the Taranaki holiday circuit, gained place money at Trentham, and won again at his last start at Rotorua. British Columbia is always a possibility, but consistency is not his watchword. At Trentham last month Star Artist showed that she was near her best by running second to Princess Doreen, ahead of noted sprinters like Diatomous and Autopay. Star Artist usually produces top form in the ailtumn. As a hack"Tai Ao was something of a sensation. He showed almost brilliant pace, but went Out of the picture until recently, when he returned to the winning list in Hawkes Bay. Coronis, probably the most improved Sprinter up North, has been very successful in her recent starts against Open company. Probably the best performance of the Gay Shield mare was to win the Devonport Handicap at the Takapuna fixture in fast time. Sirona, a speedy three-year-old filly, also raced prominently at Takapuna. Gay Lap is without recent form, but he has shown himself to have a penchant for Te Aroha. Exaggeration has not done much racing this season, but Scotland was good enough to give Mother Superior and Rereatu a close call in the Bowen Handicap at Ellerslie. Leaving out Gay Blonde, the field appears to be very evenly balanced, with chances evenly distributed. However, if the sprint is preferred for her she will have many followers. The favoured division may be — GAY BLONDE (if reserved) LUCIDUS STAR ARTIST CORONIS. iniHfiiiiiiiiiiniiinnHiiiiittitHitiiitiiiitlHiiiitlHifitinHHiii