Durf Notes

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 167, 5 October 1927, Page 10

Durf Notes

By “EARLY BIRD.”

• mart Sprinter I! Aussie continues to do all that is sked of him, and despite the fact that ie has been galloping with plates on here is no denying the speed he shows n his trials. It was noticeable prior o the Easter meeting at Ellerslie, and te won then. It looks as if it is going o be difficult for other horses to keep tim out of the money on this occasion 00. His mission on Saturday is the Shorts, six furlongs, which is his best tistance. Star Stranger In Form As on Saturday, the outstanding eature of the work-outs was a briliant gallop by Star Stranger, and the nanner in which he was running along it the end of nine furlongs went to show that he should take a lot of seating in the Mitchelson Cup on Satlrday. If no more rain falls it is ilmost certain that Star Stranger will jo out favourite. He pulled up sound m Tuesday after reeling off nine furlongs in 2.4, and it was an extended nine furlongs, for the trestles were out nearly 50ft, and for once round this neant that the distance exceeded nine curlongs by a good bit. In addition the joins in patches was not good. The Swallow Catcher Anybody who has seen Finelli in iction would not make so bold as to leny a soft impeachment that she is i regular swallow catcher. On Tueslay morning she caught a few at Blerslie, and the way in which she saw he six furlongs out suggests that she must be back to her best form. Archeno never saw the way she went, md yet the daughter of Archiestown went well too. Finelli reeled off the six furlongs in 1.20 3-5, and as she finished three lengths ahead of Archeno t must be considered a line trial. Better On Top Daraaris is appreciating the change "rom heavy tracks to running on top :>:! the ground, and she is now; hitting mt with the same freedom of movement that characterised her efforts prior to her winning the Wanganui Guineas. On Tuesday morning she was much too good for Gala Day, a jood trial horse, for he has been doing well in the mornings, and Damaris was sjoing much better at the end of six furlongs. The Limond filly, together with Thaw, will contest the Great Northern Guineas, and with the conditions suiting the Wanganui pair better than those prevailing at the Avondale fixture, they promise to take a hand in the decision. A Gallop Discussed There was much discussion at Ellerslie on Tuesday morning after the gallop indulged in by Desert Glow and T’e Monanui. The former had all the best of it so far as weights and the running went, for he was on the inside, whereas Te Monanui had a big weight to carry and covered much more ground than the Te Awamutu horse. The pair went a mile and a-quarter altogether, and at the end Desert Glow was sweating profusely, so that the ?ffort should do him good. Te Monanui, on the other hand, pulled up well, although still looking a bit on the big side. Their time for the last nine furlongs was a good three seconds slower than that registered by Star Stranger uver two hours earlier, and in that period the course had dried up a. bit more, and so would be slightly faster.

Arrivals at Ellerslie Among the arrivals this morning at Ellerslie were the Wanganui trio, Civility, Kiosk and Paleta. Other arrivals are Tresham, Anchor, Romantic and Manly. Tracks Improving The work at Ellerslie on Tuesday morning was intensely interesting, and for the first time for many weeks the horses were able to stride out on the course proper, which was drying quickly. With a continuance of the present weather the tracks will be quite hard for Saturday, although the continuous rains will prevent them being of a billiard table smoothness. A Quiet Morning To-day was an off-day at Ellerslie, so far as track work was concerned, the majority of horses being- given light ; exercise on the sand, tan, and two-year-old tracks. Catkin hit out freely in a sprint on the tan, coming home , from the three furlong peg in 38 3-5. . Lysander was allowed to stride along ' over five furlongs on the sand, taking | 1.12 1-5 without being required to make ' time. The Guinea’s Favourite It is quite expected that Laughing Prince will retain liis position of Guineas’ favourite on the day, another 1 good track effort at Ellerslie on Tues--1 day consolidating his position in this direction. The Quantock colt hit out with freedom over six furlongs, and he was going well at the finish in the best time for this distance until Finelli • came out after breakfast and did bet- ■ ter. Laughing Prince can run out a good mile on any sort of track, but the ; opposition will be so much better than : before on the improved tracks that it 1 promises to be a great race. Goes Fast Another Shorts Handicap candidate . seen in a favourable light at Ellerslie i on Tuesday morning was Ballymoy 11. ; She Avas accompanied by Gold Acre ! over half a mile, and Ballymoy 11. fin- ; ished in front of what was the best [ four furlongs of the morning. With the . trestles well out this would be easily i the equivalent of 50 on the course - alongside the rails, so that it was a • fine trial. The English-bred mare is : in good fettle, and with her share of - the luck in the running of the Shorts : she will bother some of the more fan- ' cied ones. Mask’s Chances Improving ' That was a fine gallop at Ellerslie on Tuesday morning in which the illfated Alloway met his death. He went Avith Mask, and although at the end the latter was interfered with when the ; injured horse made him carry him [ along for a bit, Mask wound up his ; task in great style. The 1.35 for seven J furlongs Avas good, and shoAVS that the Limond gelding A\ r as not seen at his ’ best in his contests at the Avondale ; meeting. Perhaps he Avill do better on ' top of the ground. • Promising Youngster " When allowed to stride along at El- ' lerslie on Tuesday morning the two-year-old Volimond created a vei'y ; favourable impression. This filly is by Limond from Tivoli, a daughter of , Absurd, and when she gets experience , she should be able to hold her OAvn . in good company. On Tuesday she ; stuck pretty, well to Freehold, despite • the fact that she was off the course at the turn. Her outing Avas sufficient : to make the cognoscenti sit up and take notice, and they had cause to. Volimond is among those left in the Welcome Stakes, and is trained at Te Awamutu by G. Paul for Mr. P. Swney.* 1 Episode’s Condition ’ The cause of Episode’s withdrawal 1 from the Welcome Stakes was an in- : jury received while galloping over a L week ago. Probably a bit of dirt got up and lodged in the elbow, with the result that inflammation set in, and 1 trainer Walter Rayner was kept busily i engaged applying hot fomentations.

The Limond filly has now almost recovered, and her trainer expects her to be able to take her place in the field for the Wellesley Stakes at Trentham this month. Episode has been on the easy list of late, but steady work from noAV on should help to tune her up for the Wellington classic. Looks The Part A youngster that made a most favourable impression when he made his debut in the Debutante Stakes at Wanganui a month ago was Shot Silk, in which event he filled third place to Knightlike and Chit. Shot Silk made his appearance on the Ellerslie tracks this morning, and the manner in which he carried himself gained him a lot of admirers. The two-year-old has furnished magnificently; in fact, he is one of the best-looking youngsters in commission, and it will indeed be surprising if he fails to show up in the Welcome Stakes on Saturday. By Leighton from Blended, Mr. Eric Riddiford paid 600 guineas for Shot Silk at the yearling sales at Trentham last January, and he looks like proving one of the bargains of the sale ring. Captain Gage Williams has worked a vast improvement in the youngster during the past three weeks. Real Thoroughbred With reiterated assurances from Trentham that Grand Knight was in better condition than ever, the appearance of the English-bred horse at Ellerslie this morning was aAvaited with interest. He ‘Avas sent a couple of rounds on the sand, and Avas keen to go at more than the half pace ordered. Grand Knight certainly looks as fit as a fiddle, and with 'a bit of luck in the running—he doesn’t alAvays get his share—he would perform prominently in his engagements at Ellerslie on Saturday and Monday. It is in his favour that he can act in any going.