RECENT FORM DISCUSSED

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 19844, 19 May 1927, Page 4

RECENT FORM DISCUSSED

AT THE EGMONT MEETING Doings of Candidates for Coming Cross-Country Honours (BY ■■ KESTREL.”) The racing at the Hawera fixture last Thursday and Saturday, on the occasion of the winter gathering of the Egmont Racing Club, may be considered as having an important bearing on the events to be decided at the Wanganui meeting to-day and at other fixtures in the big cross-country campaign now getting under way. A budget of news and notes may interest readers.

Onward’s Two Thirds. A hack seen out at the Egmont meei ing of whom good things were expected was the five-year-old chestnut mare Onward (by Hallowmas-Iona). On the opening day Onward was entrusted with £274 in the Telegraph Hack Handicap, in which the large field of seventeen faced the starter. Getting away with the smart division when the tapes were skied the Hallowmas mare was lying in fifth position when the field had traversed the first furlong and then improved her position until, when they rounded the bend for home, she was in third berth, just behind Town Bird and Eka. The latter faded out of the picture at the finish and, Baby Bun and Berinthia both challenging the two went over the line together, necks separating them, two and a half lengths behind Town Bird. On the concluding day the Hawera-traincd mare was backed to the extent of £396 10s in a much smaller field but could get no closer than third to the useful Toapaiti and Denier. Onward figures in the Purua Hack Flat Handicap to-day with 7.10 but meets a better class than at Hawera. Double Winner at Hawera. Quite a promising Purua. Hack Flat candidate was a contestant in the hack events at Hawera. This was the four-year-old Antagonist-Cornice gelding Toapaiti, trained by J. T. Wade nt Stratford. He was not raced as a youngster, and probably he is none the worse for that. Last season Toapaiti started eleven times for two wins and three seconds, which made him out to be a fair hack. Prior to racing at the Egmont meeting the Antagonist gelding had started seven times this season without running into a place, but at his eighth outing, on Thursday, he was the leader to the turn, and probably this is what he wanted to sharpen him up. Tn both his winning starts on Saturday Toapaiti was sixth favourite, and substantial dividends rewarded his supporters. When he won the opening event on Saturday he carried the minimum weight (7.6). For this win he was raised 81b. by the handicapper for the final event, but his trainer claimed 51b. apprentice allowance for Adlam, and this meant that Toapaiti was lucky enough to get off with 31b. above the minimum. Ho is set to carry 8.2 today. Denier Impresses. Trained by W. Pine at Hawera, Denier was well placed to score in two events on Saturday, but was decidedly unfortunate on both occasions in having to make his run in front instead of cqming from behind. The BisogneDecima gelding would perhaps have won the Shorts Hack Handicap but for being started in the Ngamutu Handicap earlier in the day. On both occasions Denier was in front until nearing the winning post but he was overhauled and had to be content with second money. With 7.9 in the initial event to-day Denier should run well. Zircon Shows Improvement. When he contested the Tongahoe

Hurdles on the opening day Zircon was fifth favourite, entrusted with £174, and eventually finished in fourth position, about seven lengths behind the winner. On Saturday the Merry Moment gelding was supported to the extent of £256 10s, three others counting more friends on the totalisator. When it came to racing, however, there were only two in it—Zircon and the recruit Troilus. Though the margin Zircon won by was only small he got there comfortably and gave an exhibition that secured him many friends in his early engagements over the battens. It will be remembered that Zircon was third in the Great Northern Hurdles last year and later secured honours in the illegitimate game. He is asked to carry 10.2 in the Century Hurdles this afternoon and should be in the money at the finish. Koauau Should Go Well.

Koauau carried 11.8 in the Tongahoe Hurdles and was responsible for a particularly good performance in running third to Brigadier Bill and Mount Marta, especially in view of the fact that he covered more ground than anything else in the race. It is some time since Mr J. B. Gaisford’s fine jumper last raced over sticks, although he has had quite a few outings on the flat, no doubt with the object of bringing him along in view of his winter engagements. At the Awapuni meeting three weeks ago Koauau went close to bringing off a big surprise, when he finished second to a particularly smart hack in Cohesion, and giving nearly a double figure return to his few supporters. Koauau is handicapped to carry 10.5 in the Century Hurdles this afternoon and there will be no lack of support for the AH Red gelding.

A Second Day Horse. Though it was stated that A. M. Wright overlooked the acceptances for the opening day at the Egmont meeting, he started Elvaette on the concluding day and the Ghoorka mare was the elect of backers. It was not until the field had completed more than half the journey that Elvaette was at fi.ll prominent and she was lying third as they came round the bend, but in the run to the judge she could make no impression on the two leaders who were a good two lengths ahead of her at the post. Elvaette has a chance in the Century Hurdles with 9.9 and J. Proctor up, but the stable also has Nukumai to rely upon and the public will be anxious to get a lead before investing. The daughter of Ghoorka and Molly has on several occasions won on the second day of a meeting. Passin’ Through, who is set to carry 10.13 in the big Steeplechase to-day, was a starter both days at Hawera and gave indications of being in good nick for cross-country events. It was unfortunate that he threw out at the sodwall in the Egmont Steeplechase as he promised to make a race of it with Llewellyn and Peter Rosa. On Saturday he beat all but the dividend-pay-ers in the Adamson Steeplechase, fencing in good style throughout. The old chap promises to give a good account of himself to-day.