TURF NOTES

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 153, 19 September 1927, Page 6

TURF NOTES

Will Be Good The majority of the Auckland two-year-olds are still backwards, and with some of them suffering from colds the chances of Auckland winning the Avondale Stakes next Saturday are not particularly bright. Red Lion, the 1,000guinea. youngster by Solferino from Rose Re.d, was sprinted three furlongs at Ellerslie on Saturday, and he hit out in most attractive style. Later on this -'two-year-old should make a name for himself. Youngsters Sprint

Avoncourt. Nankin Blue and the Seremond —Lute Strings colt were also seen in action on Saturday, but they were not bustled in their sprinting tasks. Avoncourt and Nankin Blue are fairly well advanced in their preparation, and as the latter is a Tea Tray youngster he should come to hand fairly early. However, at present it looks as if the visiting youngsters will have most to say in the decision of the babies’ classic.

Speedy Hurdler The astonishing part about Saturday’s track trials at Ellerslie was that a hurdler should be responsible for easily the best gallop of the morning, and return figures for a half-mile that nothing else got to within a second and a-half. This was Archibald, and it is expected that he will run well in the Henderson Handicap next Saturday. On Saturday with a fair weight in the saddle he slipped over four fur-

longs in 50 3-5, which on a heavy track was rather phenomenal time. Promising Try-Out Sir Archie went remarkably well at Ellerslie in a sprint over five furlongs. He carried about nine stone, and then was too good for his companion, Bahama. Sir Archie had the outside running and covered more ground, and got to the end of the fastest five furlongs recorded at Ellerslie on Saturday. The chestnut figures in the Flying Handicap next Saturday on the minimum, and although he will be up against some classy sprinters he should do well, even if it is too much to expect him to defeat the crack three-year-olds. Prominent in Last Two Races Included in the second division of the Maiden at Ellerslie next Saturday is a promising hack in Royal Doulton, a four-year-old half-sister to Quincoma. At the Waikato meeting last autumn Royal Doulton created a very favourable impression by running two seconds in races of the maiden class, the fields in both instances being very large, numbering 31 on the second day. It was her finishing dashes on each occasion that impressed themselves on the minds of those who saw her, and as she had only three starts last season her next appearance, as above, will be awaited with interest. Trials For Guineas Candidates

Several Avondale Guineas candidates will be seen out on the first day of the fixture, among them being Star God, Laughing Prince, In the Shade, Car in- - Damaris, Thaw and Paganelli, and after seeing these in action a more satisfactory idea of the prospects for the mile classic may be gained. At present Laughing Prince appears certain to go out favourite, for he not only has the Eclipse Stakes to his credit:, but Aucklanders know that he can handle the bad ground. And with more rain over the week-end the going will be very heavy. His Second Race On his first appearance on the turf Star God ran quite a respectable race. This was the eight and a-half furlongs hack event the second day at Wanganui, and for a green one the three-year-old went very nicely. He figures in the first division of the Maiden at the Avondale meeting, and if he has improved anything at all since his race it would occasion little surprise to find him performing creditably in the weak class to which he will be opposed.

May Make Amends Whaka King has been sprinting in great style at headquarters, and it is obvious that he is now in better form than ever. On Saturday he had Automne doing his best in a ty-out. Whaka King has been trying for some time to win a race, but he is so well just now thsit he will probably have to wait not much longer before retiring from the maiden class. He is to run in the first division of the Maiden at Ellerslie next Saturday. Probable Lightweight Cohesion went very well in a gallop at Ellerslie on Saturday morning, returning good time for five furlongs while being allowed to run along under a pull. He is to contest the Avondale Cup next Saturday, in which he is on the minimum, and if he can see the journey out he mightcause some bother for better fancied candidates. At Wanganui he was running on in third place at the end of a mile and - quarter, and with his light weight he should be able to stay out the extra couple of furlongs at Ellerslie. Brampton’s Future When trained by F. Davis for Mr. T. H. Lowry last season, the two-year-old Brampton showed plenty of speed in his races, finishing second in his last start to Tea Lady at the Avondale autumn meeting. Since then Brampton has been located at Ellerslie, and he will be making his first appearance in his new owner’s colours at the Avondale fixture. The three-year-old has been working nicely at headquarters. Disappointed At Trentham At the last Wellington meeting Thurnus showed some form the first day, and on the strength of this he came in for a lot of support for his remaining engagements. However, he ran badly then, and since that time he has not been seen in action. At Trentham on the occasion referred to he certainly showed a lot of pace after getting left, and if he can recover that form he might run well at Ellerslie during the forthcoming spring meetings. Related to a Good One A twc-y€‘ar-old that was thought something of last season was Standfast, but he did not succeed in winning a race. Nevertheless he showed some pace in his outings in public, and as he appears to have gone on the right way in the interim he may soon make amends. Standfast is a halfbrother by Valkyrian to Te Monanui, and as the latter was a long time in making good his younger relative may also be best served by time.

By “EARLY BIRD.”

Out of the Cup Those that failed to survive the acceptance for the Avondale Cup were Beacon Light, Degage, Transformer, Delightment, Imperial Spark, Phaola, Hangawera, and Calithe. The most pleasing feature is that the four top-weights stand their ground. Might Pay To Follow Gala Day continues to gallop attractively at headquarters, his latest being a pleasing effort over six furlongs. There is no denying the fact that he is particularly well, and although he might need a race to sharpen him up on his track form he promises to take all sorts of beating when next stepped out. Two-Year-Old Classic Although there are 23 remaining in the Avondale Stakes next Saturday, it is expected that this number will be considerably reduced by starting time. Penalised Horse Drops Out The only winner since the declaration of the weights was Royal Damon, who scored at Dannevirke on Thursday and was raised three pounds therefor in each of the three engagements made here for him. Royal Damon failed to survive the acceptance on Friday, being withdrawn from these three races.

One In Three Another horse freely engaged at Ellerslie on the first day of the Avondale meeting was Town Guard, who was handicapped for three events. The Arcliiestown gelding has been paid up for in the open sprint only, and here the opposition is likely to be very warm, and such as to warrant larger odds than those now available. Although working well. Town Guard has yet to prove the equal to the crack sprinters, and he is to meet a few of them this week. The Three-Year-Olds

It is pleasing to note that the majority of the three-year-olds weighted in the Flying Handicap at Ellerslie next Saturday have had their engagement continued, for this event promises to be a Guineas tria.l, and the result as between those of the age mentioned seems likely to throw more light on the classic for the second day. The three-year-olds left in the Flying are Laughing Prince, Paganelli, Covent Garden, In the Shade, and High Finance —all good ones.

Meetings Clash This spring the Avondale and Napier r ark Clubs clash with their spring meetings. The Auckland body has attracted wonderful fields, whereas the Napier fixture Hooks like being a very poor one. Only half-a-dozen horses were; entered for the principal event, while the other races on the programme have filled only moderately. For many years the Napier Park Club has drifted slowly, but none the less certainly, and the way out suggested by the Racing Commission, i.e., amalgamation with the Hawke’s Bay Jockey Club, will have to be adopted sooner or later. Waiting His Chance It was surprising to find King Lu taken out of the Flying Handicap next Saturday, and being paid up for in the Henderson Handicap. There might have been method in the procedure, for the company is not so select as in the Flying. Perhaps on the second day King Lu will be found contesting the sprint, when the three-year-olds will be out of it. He has shown fine form this winter, and before the tracks dry up he should get on the winning list again. Looking Healthy Tea Set, who is trained at New Lynn, has visited Ellerslie on a tiouple of occasions during the past few weeks, and the son of Tea Tray appears to be in healthy condition. Last season Tea Set was only started on two occasions, running unplaced each time. He has displayed some waywardness, and it is to be hoped that this season the chestnut colt has become more settled, for he has plenty of speed. Dannevirke Casualties Arataura met his end in the hurdle event, attempting to fly his fences as usual. He appeared to land right on top of ‘H. Gordon, and the spectators feared the worst. Gordon escaped with

a bad shaking, but Arataura broke his neck. T. Tito, who was injured on Wednesday, way able to leave for his home on Friday. P'akuranga Point-to-Point The point-to-point races annually promoted by the Pakuranga Hunt are fixed to be held this year at East Tamaki on Saturday, October 1. The programme drawn up comprises half a dozen races, including a ladies’ race, Invitation Race and an Open Race. In each contest trophies for the owners of placed horses are provided for. Entries for all events close next Friday with the secretary, Mr. R. D. Neal, Union Buildings, Customs Street. At a meeting of the Pakuranga Hunt Committee on Friday it was decided to hold a dance in the East Mangere Hall on Monday, October 3, to attend which invitations have been given to farmers whose properties have been hunted over.