THE TURF

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 87, Issue 202, 27 August 1943, Page 6

THE TURF

FOR COMBINED HUNTS POINTERS FROM ELLERSLIE

(Special.) Auckland. Aug. 26. The going at Ellerslie last Saturday was quite heavy and the conditions may be somewhat similar to what can be expected at Hawera on Saturday. Some horses that were seen out at the Pakuranga Hunt Club meeting claim engagements on Saturday. The Dozer might have won the Pakuranga Hunt Cup but for clipping a fence on the hill the last time and he received cuts that may possibly prevent him travelling to fulfil his engagement this week. If he does arrive at the track his chances in the Hunt Cup could be highly assessed. Bisquit tired badly at Pakuranga, but he is a good fencer and on the flat Hawera country he may stay better. Mendelssohn finished fourth in the hurdles at Paeroa recently and may be a place prospect in the Hunt Cup. Smooger, who did not pull up well last week, will need to improve. Mamaku plodded along in the minor ’chase. Although Huirangi Sun beat Forest Glen by a nose in the Pakuranga Hunt Cup it was all Victoria Avenue to a gooseberry against his holding his position. He bored right across the course on to Forest Glen and only the outside fence prevented the latter being carried behind the stands and so on to the Great South Road. It was a thrilling duel between . the pair nevertheless, the most exciting ever seen at headquarters. The form as between the pair should they meet in Saturday’s Hunt Cup will.be full of interest again, for while Forest Glen was certainly badly hampered, the continuous boring could not. have helped Huirangi Sun either. Perhaps there may not be much between them, but Forest. Glen now meets the Taranaki jumper on three pounds worse terms. It would seem that. Forest Glen is the better stayer. Both jump well and he may score again, especially ly as Huirangi Sun will have to be piloted by a different horseman.

Indian Sport would have run Landveyor close for favouritism in the open mile last Saturday had he gone to the post, and he had worked well prior to the race. This suggests that he may show to advantage in the Halcombe Handicap this week, and it is recalled that he won at Hawera last May. Gaymiss petered out badly in the open mile won by Landveyor, but there were excuses. She got a great run through on the rails all the way across the top for the reason that the others kept out and the bad ground there stopped her badly in the straight. She may go close at

Hawera. Noble Fox went a very fair race here and he is a likely improver However, Indian Sport and Gaymiss can both be recommended from this

Betterman gets very far back in the early part of his races. The open sprint this week may be a bit short for him but. it will be in his favour that the field will not be large and so he may he able to do better; he should be a place proposition. Racing in the same ownership as Betterman are Bettermusk (who has not shown any form to date), Skyette and Skydonna. The later pair shaped well at. Hawera last May, Skydonna winning the hack seven. Then he finished third last Saturday with the same weight as he has at Hawera. so he is a. form horse. Skyette won the event for amateur riders decisively and the rise in weight may not hamper her. Both these horses may not win. but they are definitely place prospects.

A few other Auckland horses that did not race at Pakuranga are also scheduled for Hawera. Incidentally Meermint, now trained at Hawera, was not far below the best two-year-olds last season in Auckland and this suggests a win in his division of the maiden. Grey Salute, a useful grey, was second in this class at Paeroa and they stand out in their division. In the first division La Rosita may gain place money. Last week Marinoto beat all but Takau Kara in the hack seven and he should go close in the Waihi Hack and the Necklace. Do not. be surprised if Hunting Mar-

is right in the picture at Hawera. He is in the Hurdles and the Waverley Hack. If he can jump—and he is in a stable that has plenty of trying-out tackle--he may account, for the opposition. The hack flat race looks pretty good for him after the manner in which he ran down the loaders in his division of the Trial at Paeroa earlier this month, for Skyette was only a moderate fourth in that event.

ON HAWERA TRACKS

FINAL GALLOPS FOR HUNT MEETING There was a big improvement, in the track conditions at. Hawera yesterday morning for the final gallops of horses engaged to race at the Combined Hunt Clubs’ meeting on Saturday, writes “Batt.ledress” in the Hawera Star. The pegs were shifted in to 30 feet from the rails, with the going still slightly holding, and a cold wind blowing. With a continuance of fine weather the course on Saturday should provide first-class winter galloping ground. First out. the maiden Greek Art. (Potroz) sprinted three furlongs in 41sec. Corday (Potroz) went evenlv over four furlongs in 55 l-ssec. Indian Sport. (Holland) was going better than Nightray (Clutterbuck) at the end of five furlongs completed in 1.10, the last three furlongs in 42£sec. Manpower (Williamson), alone, compassed four furlongs in 54 l-ssec. doing it nicely. Peter’s Choice (Potroz) and Black Plato (Holland) galloped five furlongs in l.lOi, the last two in 27sec.?> Gay Theio (Clutterbuck) and Battle Pal finished together in a sprint over three furlongs in 4(Hsec, Gay Theio showing to advantage. Fort Royal (Neill) shaded Meermint (Clutterbuck) at the end of half a mile in 54sec. War Effort (Neill) finished in front of Student Prince (Williamson) at the end of five furlongs covered in 1.10, the last three in 42sec. Vermette (Clutterbuck) sprinted three furlongs in 40k<ec. Arabic schooled over three of the steeplechase fences, improving at each jump. Grey Salute and La Rosita finished together at the end of five furlongs in 1.10 1-5. It is understood that Grey Salute will start in the Waihi Handicap, instead of the Weraroa Stakes. The two-year-olds Apocalypse and Aiderman, Killarney Boy and General Saleve were sprinted up the straight in pairs and are all making good progress. A number of visiting horses were given solid pace work on the sand. Smooger was scratched for the Hunt Cup Steeplechase at 11.45 yesterday. Riding engagements announced include:— J. Williamson: War Effort, Manpower. Ascot Bloom. N. Holland: Indian Sport. Black Plato, Ring Chief, Peter’s Choice, and Greek Art. R. Caddy: Marinoto. S. Green: Grey Salute, Bright Mint. S. Brown: La Rosita. V. Dye: Plato Boy. Alexcelia, Prince Plato. C. T. Wilson: Sporting Gold. D. Redstone: Red Glare, Gaymiss and Foxcover.

L. J. Clutterbuck: Fort Royal or Meermint, Nightray. Vermette. The following horses have arrived or are arriving to-morrow, accommodation having been booked:—La Rosita, Penny Royal, Sir Wina, Russell Lupin, Grey Salute, Marinoto, Bisquit, Arabic, Mende.ssohn, Sanction, Vivid Night. Indian Sport. Taane Pango, Gre~k Effort, Skyette, Royal View, Aupaunga, Astute. Half Caste, Red Glare, Autolite, Soutane, Betterman, Foxcover Lucullus Boy, Skydonna. Bettermusk, Battle Pal, Piko Pik'o, Lotto, Light Moments, Hunting Mac, Circular Note. Noble Fox and Foxcover have dual engagements at the Hawera meeting. It is understood that Noble Fox is to run in the Stratford Handicap, the open sprint, and that Foxcover will contest the Waverley Hack Handicap in preference to the Stratford Handicap.