SPORT OF VOTERS

Waikato Independent, Volume XXXI, Issue 2780, 26 November 1931, Page 6

SPORT OF VOTERS

GENERAL ELECTION RACES. PROSPECTS FOR DECEMBER 2. Now that the horses are being saddled up for the general election race meetings, a perusal of the fields in the various events and form in past seasons will interest those contemplating putting their shirts on some of the certainties, says the Momnsvillc Star. That greatly advertised sire Coalition (by Reform —United) is represented by 71 of his progeny, while the old stayer, Socialism, has 54 descendants engaged. Among the six horses by Delating to race at the various meetings are Cocky’s Friend in the Waikato Cup, Farmer’s Favourite in tkc Rotorua Stakes, Farming Worst in the Ivaipara Handicap, The Captain in the Tauranga Cup and Country Leader in the Bay of Islands race. A feature of this year’s events is that only fiat races will bo on the programmes, as the popular contests over the steeplechase course between Continuance and Bone Dry have been discontinued owing to reduction in stakes. This is perhaps just as well, as the wa-ter-jump and the stonewall were difficult obstacles for horses to negotiate. However, the flat races promise to be strongly contested, particularly where there are good fields, as in the Auckland East Free-for-all, the Eden Scurry and the Rotorua Flying Stakes. “The Waikato Cup.” The Waikato Cup will be contested by only two horses, and it looks like a good thing for the colt, My Past Record (by Joyful Farmer out of .State Advances), which will be ridden by the veteran jockey Freddy Lye, who, it will be remembered, had the mount on that dashing two-year-old, United, which won by a short nose three years ago, and on Liberal, which led . the. field home in the same event nine years ago, besides riding a good race to get second on Nationalist in the 1925 event. However, there should be a good following for that promising colt Cocky’s Friend (by Derating—No Tariffs), which has been training in the country for the past two years and may prove a dark horse. Ziman, a rider with an overseas reputation, will have the mount, on Cocky’s Friend, and though new to the course should get the best out of his horse, who may be a bit green yet. The race gives promise of being a fairly close go all the way, but the odds arc in favour of the Coalition horse, who is descended from a line of stayers. Most punters will prefer to back any liorse ridden by such an experienced horseman as Freddy Lye, who has, of course, had two wins in this race out of three starts. The solid Reform punters arc backing the Coalition horse, while Cocky’s Friend should have a good following among his stable connections at Mangateparu and Motumaoho. “Rotorua Flying Stakes.” There is a good field in the Rotorua Flying Stakes, and fancies may take a wide range, with most support at present for the Coalition horse Youknowme ridden by the veteran,.. C. H. Clinkard, who was successful in this event last time on the United colt, Change Member. Supporters of the colt, Pale Pink, and his jockey, A. F. Moncur, are likely to make him a good second favourite before the tote closes, and the outsider, Old Reformer (Tauporails— Friend of Bill’s), should also receive limited support. It is hard to say how the old grey mare, Farmer’s Favourite, will stand up to the solid going, and a good many punters will have doubts as to the ability of the apprentice rider, D. R. F. Campbell. Still it is probable that a good deal of money will be invested on the Derating mare. This race is likely to prove one of the best of the election racing season, and may end in a very good finish between Youknowme and Pale Pink. The Tauranga Cup should bo a good race, with the odds in favour of that tried stayer Safe Scat, with Charlie Macmillan up, who although ho carries a big weight should again command most support. It is hard to forecast just how much support will bo forthcoming for Independence, ridden by W. Sullivan, and The Captain, one of the Derating line of stayers, who will be ridden by that experienced horseman, F. Colbcck. All things considered, the cup race seems a good thing heavy-weight. Kaipara Prospects. In the Kaipara Handicap that old stayer, Who Gets Things Done, will be saddled up again, and should show a clean pair of heels to an untried horse in the shape of Farming Worst, who is also by Derating, and will be ridden by A. E. Robinson. At the Bay of Islands meeting the public will have a hard job to select the winner with two horses like Ding Dong, ridden by Allen Bell, and Country Leader, ridden by H. M. Eushworth.

Three years ago the same riders ran a dead heat, and the stewards decided after an inquiry that there had been interference during the race, so it had to be run again. In another gallop round the Bay of Islands race track Country Leader stayed on to win by several lengths. As Ding Dong won this event in 1925, 1922 and 1919 he should have a solid following, but it remains to be seen if he can reproduce his old form. Country Leader is a younger horse who has been attracting a good deal of attention on the Wellington training tracks.