ELLERSLIE CANDIDATES

Evening Post, Issue 37, 12 August 1936, Page 11

ELLERSLIE CANDIDATES

(Special from "Early Bird.") - AUCKLAND, This Day. Etama, the newly-named gelding by Vaals from Country Picnic, owned and trained by H. Rama, is to have his first race at Ellerslie next week. He has shown promise on the tracks, although it may be later on that he will be at his best. Etama is a four-year-old half-brother to' those . goo.d gallopers Taneriri, Hoariri, Horowhenua, Mana Whenua, and Perfect Day. A more than useful hack engaged in the minor sprint at the Pakuranga fixture at Ellerslie next week is Sergia (Lord Quex —Sunny Hours), who won three races at the back-end of last season. She is very fast and promises to make a good sprinter this.season, while she may be more forward than most of her opponents. " Nothing is galloping better at Ellerslie, than Rereatu, but his 10.6 will require him to pull out his best if he is to win next week.' He won at Avondale in the autumn with 9.11, so that he cannot be overlooked entirely. Another horse engaged next -week who is to carry a lot of poundage is San toft, who -has 12.4 in the Bracelet. However, the opposition is just about as weak as it could possibly be and so he has only to start to make a great showing. At present Santoft is engaged at Riccarton. If Con Fuoco goes to the post in the Jellicoe Handicap at Ellerslie next week he will be one of the wellbacked. candidates, for his -third-

placing in the Cornwall Handicap was a meritorious one, as he had to come from a long way back. He failed on the final day .of the Great Northern Meeting and this was not surprising, for he was asked to race all the way and so failed to win his race at both ends. With the prospect of a rather small field next week he appears to be well placed. The most interesting novice jumper engaged in the Hack Hurdles at Ellerslie next week is certainly Master Norval, whose form on the flat a couple of seasons back was very promising. Unfortunately he did not go on as anticipated, his last important sue.cess being in the handicap event at the Avondale Spring Meeting in 1935. Master Norval is in a stable that knows how to prepare horses for jumping events and it is this that suggests the Romeo gelding as a useful horse to follow over the sticks if he shows any form next week at his first attempt.

An unlucky runner on the last day of the Great Northern Meeting was Armacourt, who was decisively beaten by Mustang in the final event of the fixture. She was badly placed early and her finishing effort was a really good one. With a good run she might have defeated Mustang. On this showing Armacourt looks a strong possibility for the hack mile at Ellerslie next week.