TE AROHA TOPICS

Taranaki Daily News, 22 February 1935, Page 10

TE AROHA TOPICS

RecCnt form is not going to count for much in the Ruakaka Hurdles at Te Aroha, as none of the runners can boast any. Still, the field includes some of the best kndwn northern hurdlers, such as Emancipation, the dashing Vai Watch, Imperial Prince, and Brown Abbey. Emancipation is reported to have improved out of all knowledge since he disappointed at Stratford at NCw Year. The Waitoa Handicap at Te Aroha is worth £l5O, but the hacks competing are generally nothing to write home about. Ammon Ra’s half sister, Astarth, seems to have come right, and she certainly has the class breeding. Express was a recent winner at Rotorua, while Croupier’s disappointing brother, Alignment, Ford Acfe, and Tin Lap are others with projects. Prior to Christmas, at the Takapuna meeting at Ellerslie, Dubarry flashed into the limelight by clearing right away with the Rakinb Handicap. The Chief Ruler filly is owned by a pair of vpry wellknown Northern sportsmen In Messrs. E. H. Davis and R. T. Reid, and since her striking initial win, Dubarry’s reappearance has been keenly awaited. She is down to contest the Juvenile Handicap at Te Aroha to-morrow, and the opposition includes speedy youngsters in Gay Blonde’s relative, Gay Sheik, Fleetwind, Application and Lady Ruler. • One performer whose reappearance will be clOsOly watched in the Shaftsbury Hack Handicap at Te Aroha to-morrbw is Gipsy Moth, considered to be one of the smartest hacks in training in the North. Since winning at Ellerslie in the spring, Gipsy Moth hfis not done much racing so far this season, but the Romeo gelding usually : races well fresh up. Tray .Bit, Ballymoney, and Astarth are form hacks Engaged in the same race. Well Above Average. At Ellerslie at holiday-time Matorni showed himself to be the best hack competing at the carnival, by carrying topweights in the Robinson Handicap and the County Handicap, mid winning each event decisively. It is an open Secret that Matorni is considered to be something well above the average', and his open company debut in the Hot Springs Handicap at Te Aroha to-morrow will be watched with interest. Matorni will not be meeting strong opposition, with the possible exception of Sirona, who also figures in an earlier race.