RACING CARNIVAL

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 236, 24 December 1927, Page 4

RACING CARNIVAL

Final Gallops at Ellerslie COUNT CAVOUR IN FAVOUR THAT fine galloper, Count Cavour, has come through his final preparation for the Auckland Cup with flying colours, and he is now a prime fancy for Monday’s big race. Aussie and Gascony continue to do the best gallops of the sprinters, their times this morning being excellent. Laughing Prince, Mandane and Money Order also pleased by their efforts this morning. The final trials at Ellerslie are dealt with here,

The conditions this morning were again ideal, the trestles on the course proper being about the same distance (55 feet) out as on Tuesday. The course was in fast order, and good times were again registered by the better class of horses. There*" were only a few long gallops, and consequently the work was not quite so interesting. A mist hung over the course for the best part of an hour after training operations commenced, and ihis mode it difficult to get all the trials, while at times it was impossible to get the sectional times. CUP HORSES Star Stranger and Mask, both with good weights up, were the first of the Cup candidates to be sent along, their task on this occasion being restricted to a mile and seven furlongs. They ran tlrp fy'st furlong round the bend in 15 1-5 before they disappeared into the mist, completing the mile in 1.49. Mask was a couple of lengths aher.d, but both were going well within themselves. Mask has been doing fi ,e track work, and the only doubt abcut him is the distance. Star Stranger went much better this morning, and his prospects cannot be ignored. GRAND KNIGHT’S EFFORT

After doing a fine gallop at Awapuni a few mornings ago, Grand Knight was the subject of much interest when he went a mile from Ir.e new post in company with Bennanee. The imported horse was on the inside, and they finished together, but Grand Knight was doing it very easily. The time for the distance was - -14 3-5. Grand Knight has the pace, and although he has won a Great Autumn Handicap he has yet to be proved over a mile. He recently showed some

form at Riccarton, and with what amounts to a luxury weight for h a 8.0, he will only need to be in a generous mood to be in the picture. PAPATU AGAIN Papatu, Battlement, and Rapier participated in a splendid trial over a mile and a-quarter, and the time returned was much better than others over this course. They ran the first furlong in 13 3-5, three in 41 2-5, halfmile in 54 2-5, five in 1.7, six in 1.21 3-5, seven in 1.34 2-5, the first round (nine furlongs) in 2.0 2-5, and the 10 furlongs in 2.13 4-5, an excellent gallop. Battlement, on the inside running, was being ridden to keep with Papatu, and they finished on terms, the latter again giving an impressive display. Rapier started on the outside, and at the end of three furlongs he began to drop behind. Two furlongs from home he was under punishment, and he finished several lengths beli.nd the other pair. Papatu has b'*en carrying a stone above his Cup weights in his gallops, and therefore his trials have really been the best of any. It looks as if trainer-owner George Paul is. going to make a bold bid for the double with Papatu and Aussie. THE COUNT AT HIS BEST

According to the touts, who have made a practice- of being at Ellerslie in the early mornings for mmy •''•ears, Count Cavour is better now than ever he was, and that is saying something, for he has b.en rUnner-up in the last two Cups. This morning he was ranged alongside of Te Monanui in a spin over a round, and came home from the seven furlongs in 1.34 2-5, being well clear of Te Monanui. They were brought home from the six furlongs by a companion. Count Cavour is now in demand for Monday’s big race, for he was going very freely at the end of this morning’s trial. Gala Bay had the Cup candidate Transformer as a companion for once round, the former getting away with a five lengths’ break, but they were almost together at the finish. T ney ran the first three furlongs* in a good 38 4-5, and the half-mile in 52 3 -5. but the pace told its tale, and it tool: them 1.11 4-5 to come home from the five furlong peg, the time for the nine furlongs being 2.4 2-5. THE SPRINTERS Gascony, ridden by E. Ludlow, who will probably have the ride in the Railway Handicap, once again set the standard for the sprinters. He i s sent six furlongs, running ti.e first in 12 2-5. two furlongs in 25 2-5 the

three in a smart 37 4-5, and the final three taking 39 3-5, made the six left behind in 1.17 2-5. It was a fine effort, and again proved that the three-year-old is almost back to form. Gascjr.y may be the actual favourite on Monday. Sir Archie had little difficulty in disposing of Bahama over half a mile in 51 1-5, and was going very easily at the end. Lysander got away at the five furlong post with a three lengths’ lead over Joy King, and they finished together in 1.5 2-5. Joy King went nicely throughout. Cl MABU E PLEASES At the end of,half a mile Cimabue was going much better than Silvermine, and could have done better than the 50. 2-5 registered. Cimabue is in great order, while Silvermine is also well, but not quite so seasoned as some of those he will meet on Monday. This also applies to Cimabue, although he looks ready for the fray. .Limited was not hurried in getting

to the end of five furlongs in 1.6 3-5. the last four taking 52 AUSSIE’S SIX FURLONGS

The stablemates, Aussie and A vva. rere, both of whom figure in the Rail way Handicap, in which they will b bracketed, galloped six furlongs. Th latter was given three lengths’ start They were soon together, however, ant they cut out the initial furlong in 12 the two (over the hill in 25 j-5, ant the three in 3G 3-5. The first fiv

took only 1.2 3-5, and they finished up their task in 1.17 2-5, Aussie being in front. no stage over the last half-mile did; Aussie appear to be going more than three-quarter pace*, and this was particularly noticeable coming up the straight. Reed was on the bigfellow, and a feather-weight on Awarere, so that there was over a couple of stone difference in the weights. It is going to take Gascony and company something to do to beat Aussie on Boxing Bay, even at the difference in their imposts. CHILDSPLAY SPRINTS A six-furlong sprint was the task allotted Childsplay, and she ran the first furlong in 12 1-5, the first five in 1.3, and the full distance in 1.17 4-5. She was doing it well at the finish. Royal Boulton finished in front of Whaka King, with Saucy Lass and Respirator further back, at the end of seven furlongs in 1.31 4-5. They went fast over the first part, cutting out the first couple of furlongs in 24 2-5, and it was a fine effort on the part of the first pair. Lady Robinson, after running the first three furlongs in 38, tired up the straight, taking 1.34 1-5 for the seven furlongs. Raasay and Staghunter showed plenty of speed and could have done better had it been required, in getting to the end of half a mile in 50 4-5, while Episode went as well as Amplifier i na similar task. EASILY THE BEST SEVEN Fred Tilley had the honour of being responsible for the best seven run for some time with Mandane and Laughing Prince, both of whom went from the new mile post. Timed from the seven they cut out the first four furlongs in a smart 49 4-5, and came home over the final three in 39 3-5, their time for the seven furlongs being 1.29 2-5, a remarkable gallop. Mandane was conceding her companion probably a couple of stone or more, and although she finished a length and a-half behind Laughing Prince she was doing it comfortably, while the Berby colt was ridden out. It was a great trial, and showed both Fordell representatives to be in splendid form. Freehold, from the same stable, went half a mile, and after cutting out the first furlong in 11 1-5, finished strongly in 49 3-5. MONEY ORDER’S SIX A smart six furlong effort was credited to Money Order, who with a fair weight up got to the end of the journey in 1.17 1-5, running the last five in 1.5 1-5. Marion’s Birthday again pleased, when, in company with Shot Silk, she ran five furlongs from the new post in 1.4.

Siaosi went well over a mile, getting away from Poshawk in the jump-off. He made a merry pace, doing the first two furlongs in 24 1-5 and the three in 35 2-5, while he ran the half in

49 3-5 and the five in 1.2 3-5, finally finishing three lengths ahead of Goshawk in 1.44 3-5. Siaosi is apparently coming back to his best form, for he went extremely well over the first five furlongs, but he was • slackening up over the final three, which took 42. Martarma hit out freely to get to the* end of a mile from the new post in 1.44 4-5, while Berinthia showed plenty of speed in getting over half a mile in 50 3-5. CENTREPIECE GOES NICELY Accompanied by Ruanui, who had the outside berth, Centrepiece finished strongly in front at the finish of a solid mile, the first two furlongs occupying 24 2-5, the four 50, five 1.3 2-5, and the full journey 1.43 2-5. High Falutin’ covered four furlongs in 51, Bay Guard did a strong seven in 1.32 1-5 (the last four in 53 4-5), King Emerald four from a stand in 53 2-5, Paper Boy and Bone Jose seven in 1.34 4-5, and Catonian half a mile in 53. War Officer finished in front of Abbey Bay in 1.34 1-5 for seven furlongs, the last half mile taking 53 4-5. Judge’s Box and Antrim Boy went six furlongs in 1.22, and Piet was moving better than Pompeius at the end of six furlongs in 1.20 2-5. There were several other gallops, but those given above cover the more important efforts. ON THE TAN Sir Roseberry moved briskly over six furlongs, which he left behind in 1.25. Royal Mint had Right and Left as a mate over a round, doing the last mile in 1.52, the first half taking 55 3-5. Royal Mint, who finished well in front, is in tip-top order, and with a wet unlikely contingency at present, but one never knows —he would be a danger in the Cup. Among others to gallop on the tan were Belightment and the members of P. Mason’s string. Beau Cavalier (J. Mcßae) negotiated four hurdles in very easy fashion. His jumping was faultless.