ANSWER TO CORRESPONDENT

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 133, 26 August 1927, Page 6

ANSWER TO CORRESPONDENT

“Ellerslie.”—ln the event of both Hipo and Mint Leaf starting in the Stratford Handicap at New Plymouth to-morrow they will be bracketed on the totalisator. Not Being Hurried The Seremond—Lute String colt in F. Gilchrist’s stable is very big in condition. and it is-- not anticipated that he will sport silk until well on in the season. He is not being hurried in his preparation, and perforrfis only light tasks. Hard To Train N. Cunningham has the French-bred Tidal working smoothly, and sends him along at Ellerslie when the opportunity occurs. This colt, who went amiss when taken to Australia, is built on racy lines, but has several peculiarities which make him a hard horse to train. First For O’Donnell E. Bartle was in brilliant form in the saddle at Moorefield last Saturday week. He piloted three winners, among them Bacagi, who gave R. D. O’Donnell, late of Trentham, his first success as a No. 1 trainer. Increasing His Team W. Donaldson, of Thames, increased liis team during his recent visit to Gisborne by the securing of Pita, and a three-year-old son of Our King and Rewanga, whom he now has at his training establishment at Thames. Well Overdue In winning the Hunters’ Hurdles last Saturday Fair Abbey gave a fine display. The only thing about it was that it was well overdue. He was never further back than fourth, and crossing the top he ran to the front, finally scoring with ease. Fair Abbey

is by Quin Abbey, who was represented by three winners on Saturday, Nukutere and Quinvardia being the other pair. With the other five victors sired by Romeo, Lucullus, Archiestown, Thurnham and Catmint—all from the province—it will be realised that it was Auckland-bred horses’ day out. A Three-year-old Mr. A. B. Williams’s Star God, who is among the three-year-old nominations for the New Zealand Cup, is a brother to Star Stranger. He has done no racing yet, but may make his first appearance at Marton on the. second day. Being by Martian from Star Lady, by Demosthenes from Lady Lucy, by Seaton Delaval from Hilda, by Musket from Ouida, he boasts a pedigree that is chock full of staying blood. In the New Zealand Cup Desert Glow gave a very disappointing showing in the Jellicoe Handicap on Saturday, but he was not ready, and in addition he seemed to be bothered by the going. The aged Day Comet gelding was the only NeAV Zealand Cup candidate seen out on Saturday, and he looked in nice order to commence a New Zealand Cup preparation. A couple of promoted hacks in Tinoiti and Harbour View were among the runners in the principal handicap on Saturday, and they both failed to show up. The mud was too much for them. Initial Attempt Wiltshire made his first appearance over the bigger fences in public when he was produced for the Greenmount Steeplechase at Ellerslie on Saturday. He jumped well, too, until reaching the second of the double on the flat the second time, when he was still in. the van. Here a slight mistake saw his pilot part company. Wiltshire should be a useful performer over country later on. A Good Start Nukutere was having his first race when he contested the Greenmount Hunters’ Steeplechase on Saturday, and that it was a winning effort speaks well for the futur£ of the Cambridge gelding as a 'chaser. He had done little schooling, and he cleared his fences in surprising fashion, a bit slow at one or two, a fault that will be eliminated with experience. Nukutere’s win, however, was gained principally through the agency of W. Rennie, who clearly outrode Sea Comet’s jockey. The latter had a decided advantage as they came down the hill the last time, but his rider failed to take advantage of the decline, whereas Nukutere came down on top gear to catch the leader before arriving at the stone wall. Then he scored a hollow victory, after being nearly a furlong behind in the early stages. In the Mud The new ground on the hill at Ellerslie had suffered considerably from the overmuch rain of late, and consequently it was bad, the horses getting right into it. Therefore it was surprising that there was only one fall there. The unfortunate horse was Glenlight. He never rose at the fence but crashed right through it, the impetus carrying him over. A pause to regain their breaths —and their confidence—and horse and rider retreated down the hill and came on again, finishing ten minutes after the first pair to get third money. But was it necessary for the rider to take the first fence on the hill again? He got over first pop, even if he rolled over, and he should have started again from there, if he thought that there was a reasonable approach. Went a Fair Race Lady Acre ran a very fair race in the Hunters’ Hurdles on Saturday, and she should succeed in getting on the winning list this season when the company is not overstrong. She was prominent to the turn, and then faded out, but with the benefit of that outing she should be a better proposition in a similar event at New Plymouth next Saturday. Mangjani and Town Hall both gave fair showings in the Hunters’ Hurdles, and so too did Royal Day, despite the fact that he finished out of a place. Royal Bonus must have thought he was climbing Rangitoto, for he was well in the air at each fence. This took a lot out of him, and he had had enough before the end, being pulled up. He would not have had to jump so big to clear the famous Aintree fences

Back In Work Looking all the better for his holiday, Master Clements has resumed work again at Ellerslie under owner J. Farnworths tuition. The son of Depredation will be ridden in his engagements during the season by It. Reilly. On Easy Street K. Heaton is not asking Lady Robinson to do a great deal, but the mare has been noticed doing a lot of walking exercise on the roads. Kawini Arrives After a fortnight’s sojourn in the South as the result of injuries received while contesting the Grand National Hurdle*?, Kawini has returned to Auckland. A long spell is prescribed for him, and the question of whether he is to race again will no doubt bo gone into later on. Waikato R.C. Annual Meeting The annual meeting of members of the Waikato Racing Club is to be held at Hamilton to-morrow, commencing at 10.30 a.m. The advertisement convening the meeting includes the following:—“Members of the Waikato Hunt have been invited to attend and substantiate certain statements made by them.” Crashed At the First Ramblin’ Kid was fancied for the Hunters’ Hurdles at Ellerslie on Saturday. but he took off too soon at the first obstacle and crashed, giving jockey H. Gilmer concussion and necessitating hospital treatment. He is now progressing. Ramblin' Kid was produced later in the day, in the Bracelet, but he was tailed off the whole way, giving an inglorious display. Mr. H. Dods, the rider of the winner, Quinvardia, gave an object lesson to the other amateur pilots. He waited in behind to the home turn, and then brought the daughter of Quin Abbey through to easy victory. Mr. Dods has ridden against professional horsemen, and has beaten them. Recently he scored on Royal Heather in a hurdle race at Gisborne, and a few races later was narrowly beaten in a steeplechase. Judging By Wireless At a recent race meeting at Capetown a wireless invention —the automatic timekeeper—was completely successful. It worked by an invisible ray from a lamp in the judge’s box, focusing a point of light one-fifth of an inch in diameter on a selenium cell fixed in the winning post. Anything crossing the invisible ray extinguishes the point of light and the clock ceases. The human factor was proved threefifths of a second slow in a two miles race and one-fifth of a second in a mile. This is an invention of the Capetown wireless expert, Mr. Streeter. Naturally, there are safety devices to prevent the light being accidentally extinguished, and in cases of long races Where the judge’s box is passed twice. The official clock is a giant affair — nine feet high, but the actual timekeeper is a pocket chronometer attached to a miniature wireless transmitter. The start of the race, etc., is controlled by a two-valve amplifier. Royal Blood Stopped Fortune’s pendulum has swung for R. P. King, of Newcastle, trainer of Lady Thurza, who won the Flying Handicap at Moorefield last Saturday. With Lady Thurza King has shown that he knows when he has a good one, as since her narrow defedt by Killarney she has won twice, and has been confidently backed each time. When nine-year-old Royal Blood, who was having his first outing during his latest trip from New Zealand, shot to the front ascending the hill, and led into the straight with a big advantage, he seemed likely to record his first win for almost three years. The last 100 yards found him out, however, and Lady Thurza, responding valiantly for N. Percival, was too good for him at the finish. Not a Wide Range Out of the 59 horses weighted for the New Zealand Cup, no less than 39 are on the minimum. On top with the

maximum, 9.6, are Rapine and Count Cavour, and the former has the same weight as when he was beaten last year. Rapine now meets the winner of that race, Count Cavour. on seven pounds better terms. On the handicaps, Rapier, Grand Knight, Beacon Light, Piuthair, Degage and Rapine appear to stand out. Beau Cavalier Mr. A. G. Quartley, owner of Beau Cavalier, states that the report of an offer by an Australian syndicate the ’chaser was premature. He explains that he had not put a price on the Chesterfield gelding. During the Grand National Meeting Beau Cavalier was under offer for a couple of hours, and was subsequently withdrawn. Work At Hawera On Saturday, as a result of the incessant rain, all the tracks were saturated, and the sand track was the only place fit to gallop on. W. Pine worked Fermanagh and Sovena good threequarter pace work. Bisox and Vivo galloped five furlongs together. Bisox finished half a length in front in 1.7 1-5. Killoch worked well over a circuit by herself. Gasnapper and War Flame took 55sec. to run their four furlongs. Orazone and Silvermine did steady pace work. Denier worked by himself, but was not out to make time. Reremoana and Euphonium worked together, running home the last three furlongs fairly fast. Reremoana should be all right by Eclipse Stakes time at Wanganui. Troilus and Airtight were associated over five furlongs run in 1.9. Bevis ran round to the five-fur-long post and was picked up by Bright Glow, the latter having slightly the best at the finish in 1.10. Partaga and Benzora worked separately. Partaga is in great heart and should show up prominently when the tracks are faster. Mr. G. F. Moore paid a visit to Hawera on Thursday, and was at the racecourse to see his horses exercised. O. Cox, who supervises Mr. Moore’s racing team, has no less than half a dozen in active commission, comprising Reremoana, Lady Cavendish, Dermod, Helen (who is being hacked on the roads), and the two-year-olds Kaka and Tane. The latter is Valerie’s first foal and strongly resembles his dam; lie was late in coming in, and it will probably be the back end of the season before he faces the starter.