RACING.

Waikato Times, Volume 107, Issue 18024, 20 May 1930, Page 11

RACING.

FROM TRACK AND STABLE. NOTES AND COMMENTS.

(By' “Martian.”)

With three wins at Wanganui H. Gray has brought his total successes for the season to 64 or 11 ahead of A.E. Ellis,' .whose tally stands at 52. Waitaunaha disappointed his supporters in the Hack Steeplechase at Wanganui, hut he ran a creditable race to finish third. He seemed to be , a trifle sore as the result of his races at Hawera, and possibly he will do better now that the tracks 'are softer.

According to Hawke’s Bay reports, there is a rising two-year-old halfbrother. by Hunting Song to that solid mare Nancy Lee that shows considerable promise. He is to race as Middle Watch. Hunting Song horses are great property, and, bred as he is, this fellow should be among the winners next year.

The Wellington Racing Club has altered the date for opening its Winter meeting. Originally July 9, 10, and 12 were the dates chosen, but It has been deoided to open the meeting on July 8. This will avoid a olash with the Rugby match between the British team and the Maoris, which is to be played in Wellington on July 9.

Perle de Leon created a favourable .Impression by his race in the Century Hurdles in which he finished second at Wanganui. He had been a fairly lengthy period in retirement,-so that his forward showing was an indication that he has a ohanoe of again picking up a good stake during the jumping season. Perle de Leon is not engaged at Auckland.

Matu, when paraded for the Wanganui Steeplechase, did not appear to have made the progress; expected of him since his race of the previous week in the Egmont Steplechase. While it must be said that he ran a very creditable race he never really looked like catching the winner. Matu has not had very much racing to season him, and it looks as if it will be a bit late in the jumping campaign before he is' at the top of his form, writes “The Watcher.”

Paleta, who showed up at Hawera, aii another good race in the sprint on he first day at Wanganui. Having to iegin. from No. 12 at the barrier, he md to make use of liis speed in the eif'iy stages to get a position, and in th. straight the effort' had taken all hii reserve power, and he quickly f ..ped over the final furlong. It o 'is as if he might not come quite so early as his race at Egmont the n't ious .week suggested, but at thp sar.e time every race he has is going lo work an improvement, ■/ j.

Mister Gamp ran a good raoe in the Gentury Hurdles at Wanganui, which was his first over the fenoes for a long period. He has had some flat racing in the interval, but he can be expected to. improve a lot as the result of the race he had last week. While he could not be said to he by any means distressed when he pulled up, his breathing showed that he has sbme way to go yet before being seen at his best. Mister Gamp figures in the Great Northern Hurdles, which event he won last season.

The outstanding performance on the opening day of the Wanganui Winter meeting was the win of Aurora Borealis in the Century Hurdles, writes “The Watoher.” As a result < f her success, which was attained by a rare display of stamina, the Day Comet mare has come into the limeigiit for the' Great Northerns next month. The Auckland handicapper failed to exercise his right to rehan!icap her in the steplechase after her win at Egmont last week, but he will, •lo doubt add to her impost in the Great Northern Hurdles, which at present stands at 9.4. (She has been reImndicapped to 9.ll—“Martian.") She has the minimum weight (9st) n the steepleohase, and cannot, under •.lie Rules of Racing, be rehandicapped ’or a win over hurdles. It is unlerstood that the 'steeplechase will low be her mission. Aurora Borealis is a good jumper, a rare sticker, and as she goes well in bad ground it looks as if she will be very hard to beat in the cross-country event at Ellerslie.

As the result of the fall he had in the Autumn Steeples at Ellerslie last month one of Pouri’s fore legs filled, but the damage bleared away. On Saturday morning Pouri was schooled over the country at T 6 Rapa in company with Rawhetu. Everything was all right with the gelding then and for some ..time, later, but‘during the afternoon the leg injured at Ellerslie again came up. While the horse is not lame and the hope, is that everything will clear up well, it would have been much more advantageous to his preparation to have avoided this mishap. Pouri’s particular mission at Ellerslie next month is the Great Northern Steeplechase, although he is still in the big hurdles and it is not unlikely will also go to the post' for that event.

In dealing with, an item from the opening day’s racing at Wanganui, “The Watcher” says:—“Second only to the display of Aurora Borealis yesterday was the win of Ponjola in the Wanganui Steeplechase. It may be said • that here, as at Egmont, the opposition was not as strong as it will be later in more important events, but Ponjola is a splendid jumper, with plenty of speed, who is likely to win at least one big race over the fences this season. He is in both the Great Northerns, and the present intentions of his owner are to let him take his place there. The distance of the big cross-oountry event' at Ellerslie may find a weak spot in Ponjola, but he is an ideal horse for Riccarton country.” Ponjola has been rehandicapped from 9.3j&i0 9.10 for the main event over country at Ellerslie next month.

Mendip had his second race since a lengthy spell in the Connolly Handicap at Wanganui, his first having been at Hawera on Saturday. He finished eighth, his stablemate, Bright Glow, being the winner, and he is worth ticking off as a likely progpect for the winter. The chestnut Bisogne gelding, who is in the Cornwall Handicap, was a good performer last season, for he won the Spring Plate, one mile, at Riccarton. and also the Ilagley Handi-

cap, nine furlongs, at the same fixture. He .was placed in both the President’s Handicap, one mile and aquarter, and the Grandstand Handicap, nine furlongs, at Awapuni. Mendip was second in the Aldworth Stakes, one mile and 137 yards, at Marton, third in the Tonks Stakes, one mile and a-quarter, at Egmont, second in the Earle Stakes, one mile and a-half, at Wanganui, second in the Prince of Wales Handicap, nine furlongs, at Awapuni, and won the Masterton Cup, one mile and a-quarter. At his only start early in the present season he won the Waverley Gup.

Waitaunaha, who was favourite for •the Hack Steeplechase at Wanganui, but had to lower his colours to the Awapuni-trained Red Bank and Hymestrason, has an interesting lineage attached to him on the distaff side, his dam Vermil being by Maniapoto— Ruby by Turquoise—Denbigh, the latter having also produced Moifaa, New Zealand’s only winner of the Liverpool Grand National Steeplechase (1905). On the male side Waitaunaha is of doubtful parentage, his dam, by the records, having been stinted to both Taunaha and Heather Mixture. Waitaunaha was-bred at Hastings by Mr A. Ellingham. He races in the interests of Mr B. C, la Pouple, who holds him under lease, which expires on August 7 this year. Waitaunaha has alreday been returned a winner on two occasions this season, in the Hunt Gup Steeplechase at the annual , meeting.of the Taranaki Hunt Club, when he won easily by five lengths from Rayonnant, with San Fera third, and In the Haok ’ Steepleohase at Hawera recently. Last season he ran second in the Egmont-Wanganui Hunt •Cup, and on the first day of the Wellington Winter meeting last July he won the First Hack Steeplechase easily from Alaric and Aurora BorealisThere was a good field in this race.