Turf Topics

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 1, Issue 102, 18 December 1939, Page 8

Turf Topics

(By Zetland)

HIS LUCK WAS INT Mr J. C. Edmonds, of Takapunn,' who lias recently scored successes with the sprinter Orate, is a young English sportsman who has not been long in this Dominion. Attending the sale at which Orate was to be sold "without reserve the idea struck him that the Oration gelding greatly resembled a favourite hunter lie owned in England. "With a bid of 50 guineas he secured what has* since proved to be a sale ring bargain. Occasionally Orate refuses to leave the barrier with his field, but ;it other times lie gets a break and is then pretty hard to beat. Lately Mr Edmonds has started his acquisition in middle distance events, but nevertheless Orate is still merely a spirntcr. RE-COMMISSIONED Last season in Australia great interest was manifested by the sporting community in the expected meet ing between the Australian and New Zealand champions, Ajax and Defaulter. But fate decreed they should not meet in the battle for supremacy', for it vva?- deemed advisable to treat Ajax to a well earned holiday Avhile following several bard contests, Defaulter sustained a sprung tendon. The latter is now being indulged in road exercise work about Riccarton. /while Ajax is in slow work on the Caul field track's. Whether either Avill again stand a thorough preparation remains to be learned. LLANGOLLEN'S CREDENTIALS So far this season Llangollen has contested seven events, all of which were run over six furlongs. Her best performance was in running second to Our Jean at the Waikato meeting, where the. course record 1.12 1-5 was registered. Although not a winner this season the gallant bay mare's efforts have to a certain extent been in the nature of a racing preparation, and just now she is distinctly in favour for the Auckland Cup, two miles. Her best credentials as a stajxM- was her victory last February in the Herries Memorial Cup, eleven furlongs, carrying 8.5 conceding weight to several very capable performers. On breeding lines Llangolle-i should indeed rank as a stayer of merit. By the Ace (by liayardo from Llanberis by Marble Arch, from Recoup byHierarch from Agatha, by Nelson from Sister Agnes bj' Rosicrucian, she has pedigree strains of exceptional stoutness, while in the matter of gameness she ever ranks distinctly high. It is perhaps worthy of note that the Ace was the sire of Fast Passage, winner of the New Zealand and Auckland Cups in the same season, while Llan gollen's great, great grandsire, Nelson, by King Cole —My Idea, included in his many important victories, three Auckland Cups, in 1885-6 with 7.8, in 1886-7 with 9.8 and in 1887-8 with 9.12. This great winner for the late Major F. N. George registered the fastest time during the years in which the race was mn over two miles and a quarter, and also carried the heaviest burden 9.12, when the minimum weight was C.7.