Brilliant Sprinters Seen at Woodville

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 224, 10 December 1927, Page 6

Brilliant Sprinters Seen at Woodville

WILL RACE AT ELLERSLIE FORM OF HORSES ENGAGED AT AUCKLAND MEETING (Special to THE SUN.) WELLINGTON, Friday. Of the horses competing at the Woodville meeting this week, none attracted more attention than Those engaged at the big Christmas and New Year meeting of the Auckland Racing’ Club at Ellerslie. Several Auckland Cup candidates were seen in action, and although some of them ran with promise of better deeds in the future, one of them, David Garrick, got on the winning list by annexing the principal handicap on the second day of the meeting. David Garrick had been showing form over middle distances for some time past, and had raced unluckily on the first day over a mile and a-quarter, finishing with a remarkable run from almost

last place to third half a mile from home. In that race the field was very much strung out, and David Garrick was lying eighth in a field of nine. He was still almost as badly placed at the home turn, and then he came with a phenomenal run, and was flying in third place at the end. HOW DAVID GARRICK SCORED It is said that his rider was having difficulty during the running through his cap coming down over his eyes. The observant ones backed him on the second day, and after lying in a,handy position all the way to the straight he held too much of a finishing run for his opponents, and scored nicely. He comes of a staying family, and as he has shown over and over again that he likes a distance of ground to race over, he must be considered as one of the likely light-weights in the Auckland Cup. A POOR SHOWING Grand Knight contested only the one race at the Woodville meeting, and that was the mile and a-quarter handicap on the opening day. In this he ran badly, and on his running no one would give him much chance of wining at two miles. However, he is going to take his place in the field, and he will be ridden by S. Henderson. Whether Henderson will be able to get more out of him than his other pilots remains to be seen, but he is becoming a bit of a problem. PIUTHAI R'S PROSPECTS Piuthair contested one of the sprint events. She was, as anyone would ex-

pect, well back in the early stages of the race, and had little chance of winning at any stage. However, she finished very fast, and was not far away as the judge’s line was crossed. The Kilbroney mare looks very well, and will be a, probability for a big race during the holidays. She might race at Manawatu instead of Auckland, but if she goes to Auckland do not altogether discard her. Bennanee was produced on the second day. He is in great order, and he ran a really good race, although he was beaten out of a place. He was pulling hard all the way, and ran as though he will be among the winners in the next few weeks. Catkin contested a couple of hack races. He was a little bit above himself, and will be an improved horse at Christmas time. He is galloping well, and will be a strong fancy if rightly placed. CIMABUE’S FORM The best sprinter seen out at the ■Woodville gathering was beyond doubt Cimabue. He looks big and healthy, and was not confidently backed when he contested the mile and a-quarter handicap on the opening day, but when lie was saddled up for the open sprint on the second day nothing could hold punters back, and his price was one of the smallest that has been paid for a very long time in a handicap event. He was one of the leaders for most of the journey in his race over a middle distance, but could not run on in the straight. In the i sprint he was in front soon after the ! dispatch and he was still there going very easily at the finish. He might not be quite forward enough for a Derby course, or even a mile and a quarter by Christmas time, but should be hard to beat in some of the short distance handicaps he tackles. He seems to have retained his two-year-old speed, and will be capable of making the sprinters gallop. He is a Railway Handicap possibility. ANOTHER FINE SPRINTER After his good form at Feilding *t was not surprising that Royal Damon won the six furlong open handicap, but the manner in which he won it was striking. He was going very easily all the way, and when his rider sent him along in the straight he won in a common canter. He won more easily in fact than Cimabue did, and the company was somewhat similar or perhaps a little stronger. The promising two-year-old Pure Gold was raced on the second day of the meeting, but was not seen at her best. She is rather big and needed a race, but in any case she did not get away well and was never prominent. She has improved in appearance and is fairly certain to be good later on in the season, or as a three-year-old. If she goes to Auckland she is not likely to win the Foal Stakes, and might be better for a little more experience. She is a possibility for one of the juvenile handicaps. A stable-mate of Pure Gold, Marion’s Birthday, looked big when produced, and the best was not seen of her either, but her prospects at Ellerslie do not appear to be bright. WAITING FOR RIDGEMOUNT Ridgemount, whom everyone wanted to see and to back—was not raced. He had a big weight and rain was falling when the meeting commenced, so he was not started, but his owner, Mr. W. G. Stead, brought out a couple of other youngsters that showed some promise. One of them was Amplifier and the other Pari. Amplifier was more forward than Pari, and Roy Reed was given the mount on him. He was not heavily backed, but it was considered that he liad a chance and he proved that he had. He jumped out smartly and was in hehind the leader all the way, eventually taking charge m the straight. He looked a certainty of certainties inside a furlong from home, but a remarkable late run by Moutoa Treasury cut him down and saw him defeated on the post. Perhaps if Reed had been able to see sooner that

Moutoa Treasury was coming he would have been able to extract another little bit from Amplifier and win, but the appearance of the winner on the scene was too sudden. Both Amplifier and Pari are almost certain to go to Auckland, and Pari will be better there than he was at Woodville, as he will benefit a lot by the race. The pair are by Leighton. Amplifier is from Lady D, and Pari is from Cassock. They are useful sorts, but it can hardly be

said on the form they showed this week that they are as good as pome others Mr. Stead has brought to light