Te Kara Scores Notable Triumph at Ellerslie

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 159, 26 September 1927, Page 6

Te Kara Scores Notable Triumph at Ellerslie

Story of Interesting Tussle in Avondale Cup COME-BACK THAT WAS ANTICIPATED The race for the Avondale Cup was most notable for the success of Te Kara, in his day one of the finest handicap horses in the Dominion, and even now a power to be reckoned with over a distance. There was not the semblance of a fluke about Te Kara’s victory, which was pleasingly accepted by the crowd, who were not slow to recognise the effective come-back of an old favourite. It was nearly four years ago that Te Kara defeated Muraahi in the Auckland Cup, and nearly three years back that he won that rich distance event outright. The General Latour still has his punch, but the hero that shared the-. Auckland Cup stake with him, Muraahi, has been oft the scene for over twelve months. His really last appearance on the racecourse was as the clerk of the course’s hack at 'Wanganui six months ago. FIRST FOR TWO YEARS Not for some time has Te Kara won a race. His last success wars when he pulled off the Brisbane Cup under a big weight a couple of years ago. Therefore his success on Saturday was a bit overdue, and that in itself made it al3 the more memorable. There were many who were confident of his ability to beat those opposed to him in the Avondale Cup, and they were so strong in their support that their fancy was sent out a good second favourite with nearly £1,200 placed on his chances. So that, taking the circumstances enumerated above into due consideration, it can be said that his backers had to be content to accept a comparatively short price. WINNING COMBINATION In the saddle was his old pilot, R. McTavish, who had been associated with the horse in the latter stages of his career. His pilots in his principal successes at Ellerslie were H. Goldfinch and the late lamented Jack O’Shea. The race itself is described elsewhere, so there is no need to go fully into the order of the running. Sufficient to say that Te Kara was in an admirable position throughout, thanks to McTavish and the fact that the horse had the early pace to win a good position and to hold it. He was second soon after the start, and then went back to fourth, then fifth, with six furlongs to go. ON GOOD GROUND Crossing the top Te Kara made an advance, and to do this he had to go round the leaders, but this was not a

disadvantage, for in doing so he was running on better ground. Cohesion, who made all the running, was joined by Te Kara two furlongs from home, and the pair made a great finish on their own, a struggle all the way up the straight resulting in a win lor the older horse by a bare half length. The stamina of Te Kara turned the scale in his favour. Cohesion ran an excellent race, fulfilling the promise he showed at Wanganui, and was a bit unlucky in striking the winner in rare fettle, added to the fact that he was coming down in the handicaps. The Gisborne representative, one of the defunct Polydamon breed, should not be long in winning a good handicap. Both Te Kara and Cohesion were credits to their trainers, A. Cook, Te Awamutu, and W. Goscomb, Gisborne, respectively. THROUGH THE FIELD Eden Hall did well to finish third, and the racing he had at Marton and Wanganui materially assisted. He too was always well placed. Royal Mint was to a large extent unlucky. He was a long way back in the early and middle stages, and was still well behind when heads were turned to the judge. He finished with a rattle, however, and was a close fourth. Mint Leaf and Mask were fifth and sixth, many lengths behind Royal Mint, so that there was little merit in it. The former was asked to make up a lot of ground, and was running on at the end. Mask was taken in behind after the start, and having a clear run all the way failed to come up after flattering slightly at the. bottom of the straight. He was on the rails, and so had all the worst of the going. LOOKED A POSSIBILITY At one stage of the contest it looked as if Alloway would play no small part in the finish. This was half a mile from home, by which time he had com 6 from well back up to fifth position. He appeared to be going on with it too, but he compounded two furlongs from the judge. Queen Arch was prominent with Cohesion in the lead for a mile and a-quarter, and then failed to see it out. Te Monanui started off well by being in a handy position, and then gradually lost his place, until at the end there was only one horse behind him. Lord Star failed to make any impression, and Desert Glow did not look like a winner at any stage, after being nicely positioned early. THE WHIPPER-IN If anyone before the race had even suggested that such a proved mudlark as Master Dnon would chase the field home, he would have been pitied for his ignorance. Yet that is what happened with the Lucullus gelding. Over the last four furlongs he simply dropped right out. With the track as it was, it was only reasonable to expect that no good times would be registered. In the race under review the first three furlongs took 44 4-5, five furlongs in 1.14 1-5, six furlongs in 1.28 2-5. seven furlongs in 1.42 2-5. nine furlongs in 2.9 4-5, and the mile and a-half in 2.52 3-5. This time is the slowest by nearly six seconds for this race since the distance was extended six years ago to a mile and a-half. The last two contests have been held at Ellerslie,