FROM AUCKLAND

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 79, Issue 173, 26 July 1935, Page 4

FROM AUCKLAND

PAKURANGA PROSPECTS NOTES AND COMMENTS. (Special to “Chronicle.'’) AUCKLAND, July 24. Courthaven, a failure on ti;e flat, if one excepts one win on the h-ghweight class, is to be put to hurdling when the tracks firm up. She is the ideal type for a juniper and the surprising part about it is that she had not been tried before this. Courthaven sticks on and that will stand to her is she is able to handle the battens. As predicted, the Pakuranga Hunt Club has taken advantage of the provision made in the matter of a minimum weight for the chief flat event at its* meeting next month. All flat laces except the Jellicoe Handicap come in with an 8.0 minimum, while the 7.0 minimum will prevail in 'he event mentioned. So far the Pakuranga Hunt Ululi is the only club to have the alternative winter minimum in its programme. Ju the Pakuranga programme the main events are the Pakuranga Hunt Cup, £250, the Jellicoe Handicap, £2OO and the Dunedin Handicap, six furlongs. £l5O. One of the improved junipers considered to have a fi.st rate chance in the first mentioned event was Cromwell, winner of the Tamaki Steeplechase on the final day of the Gieat Northern meeting, but this success placed him beyond the pale, for the Pakuranga Hunt Club is foi horses that have not won a race of any description to the value of more than £lOO at starting time, hunters’ races excepted. Jt is an event purely for I hunters. Kiltftwyn continues to please in his work-outs at Ellerslie, although of course he is not bging speeded up yet, with nothing in view for another four or live weeks. However it does seem that another tw r o or three sprints will quickly bring him to u-acing condition. Kiltowyn will probably have his next outing in the Jellicoe Handicap at Ellerslie next month, and if the going is not bad she should be a hard horse io boat, for he is the type good enough to win first up. Jewelled Girdle. Whgn he ran second in a hack ra'ce at Ellerslie last month Jewelled Girdle indicated that he would soou get on the winning list. He failed later at the meeting, however, and conveyed the impression that he is not too genuine. Perhaps it is that, like hip stablemate Catoma, he does not do enough racing and if he was given more opportunities lit; would soon be in the winning list. I'he mile hack at. Ellerslie next month will suit Jewelled Girdle, but of course he could not be recommended with any degree of confidence. Mhcn she first got on the winning list, as a three-year-old at Marton in the spring several seasons ago, Inianiint looked as if she would develop into a high Class performer. Unfortunately she proved difficult to train and she has not done a great deal of racing. That she retains her fine turn of speed, however, is proved by the results of her occasional outings, and as she is-back in work again at Ellerslie it is probable that she will be prominent at the early spring meetings. On Saturday Imamint sprinted home three furlongs smartly and indicated that she would soon he in racing trim. She can handle ' winter conditions well. Another attempt was made at Ellerslie on Saturday to make a ’‘chaser out of Catoma. but it would appear as if his trainer has the job still in front oi him. Parkhurst was his companion last. Saturday and while the former performed very well indeed Catoma baulked early and when tried at another fence he stuck his toes in and refused. That was the end of his second lesson over the steeplechase fences at headquarters and perhaps he will be kept at hurdling. Back From Australia. The Auckland horseman L. will return from Victoria eaily next month and expects to be riding at the National fixture. His mission was the riding of Mcmbo, and while the combination failed in the Victorian National it was successful two or three weeks earlier and that probably made the trip a profitable one all round. Uulicu was to have ridden Haakon at Riccartou, so the inability of that juniper to line up will leave him without a mount.

A recent arrival at Ellerslie was the hack Sir Romeo, who had been racing round the Manawatu district for the past couple of years, formerly beingin the same stable as Lady' Court. Sir Romeo has been 7 a disappointment for he has pace all fight and is a good type physically, whiyh-makes his poor * ecord difficult to understand. lie has been qualified now and he will probably be seen out in the role of a jumper at Ellerslie next month, and as he has given evidence of staying on he should do well provided he can jump, and he should be able to do so. Hawthorn has been one of the disappointing northern hacks, and it is not surprising that J. M. Buchanan is trying him out as a hurdler. This gelding had his initial experience last week and over three pony obstacles ho shaped \ ery pleasingly, (Jisplaying more <lash then than he had done in races for some time. Hawthorn s a very likely sort for this branch of raving and it his education is deemed sufficiently advanced he will probablv have his public introduction to the battens in the hack hurdles at Ellerslie next month. Hurdle Novices. Other hurdle novices in work at Ellerslie are Supreme Ruler and Chief Emerald, who have shaped promisingly over the pony hurdles. The former is a likely sort for jumping, even if he has been very disappointing on the flat, for he is still a maiden. Chief Emerald has not done a great deal of racing, but it is known that she possesses pace. It is usually at the start of the winter raving period that recruits to hurdling make their appearance, but. in the Auckland province at (he moment they have suddenly been produced, so that uow there are over a dozen waiting for their initial race. The hack hurdles at Ellerslie next month will give them the opportunity. Gay Egypt is a very smart hack, but his form during the current season was not up to expectations, although he ran several good races. He has a lot of pace, hut after winning nis first rave, at two years, like a topnotcher, he was difliciilt to train and has not been overraced as a result. Hitherto Gay Egypt was trained at Paeroa, and since this track has been practically closed for reconstruction he is being prepared at Te Aroha. The Gay Shield gelding is only rising four, so that he may be a good one to follow in the Vnm ng sea-