DOINGS AT RANDWICK

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 125, 17 August 1927, Page 10

DOINGS AT RANDWICK

COMMENDATION AND AGRION TAKE TRACK HONOURS The New Zealand crack, Commendation, has recovered from the knee injury he sustained on arrival in Sydney, and that no harmful after effects remain was indicated by the good gallop he did yesterday week with another New Zealand champion, Agrion. They ran five furlongs in 1.21 on the course proper at Randwick, and it was the best effort of the morning, comments a Sydney writer. They went nine furlongs in all, but for three furlongs observed only threequarter pace. Then the speed was improved, and the six furlongs occupied 1.181, but the fastest section of the gallop was the last half-mile in 49L A GOOD EFFORT It was a remarkably good effort. Commendation kept two lengths behind Agrion for a time. He caught up at the home turn, however, and was slightly ahead on the inside with a furlong still to go. Then Agrion settled down to his task determinedly, and finally beat Commendation by half a neck. Commendation was not all out by any means, however. Agrion did well, and he must be giving his trainer, R. J. Mason, every satisfaction with the work he is performing in his Derby preparation. With all the smart sprinting he has done to date he still maintains his robust appearance. A TRIFLE BURLY Commendation also looks a trifle burly, and there is room for a good deal of improvement in his condition before he strips for racing. But he pulled up well after the gallop, and evidently is clean winded. Another of the cracks, Valicare, went smartly over five furlongs, running the distance in 1.3 easing up. She, too, retains a robust appearance, despite the speed work she has had. Bravado’s half-mile in 50i was a very satisfactory effort and he looks as fit now as he ever did since he began his Australian career. He may be a better horse this spring than in the past season, but whether he will prove sufficiently reliable to possess an Epsom chance remains to be seen.