FAST TRACKS

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 241, 31 December 1927, Page 4

FAST TRACKS

Gallops at Ellerslie

DERBY CANDIDATES’ TRIALS

THE rain of Thursday has only served to sharpen up the tracks at Ellerslie, for there were some brilliant gallops clocked this morning. Three tracks were available for fast work—the course proper, number one grass, and the tan.

The course proper was open for Derby candidates, and some trainers took advantage of this. Great Charter, with a lightweight up, was sent six furlongs on the course proper, and getting well into his stride without delay he reeled off the first two furlongs in 25 3-5, Three furlongs in 38. and five furlongs in 1.3 4-5, completing the journey in 3.17 1-5, and was going nicely at the finish. The last half-mile occupied fl 3-5. Cimabue, with R. Reed up, was given once round on the course proper, and he cut out the first two in a slick 271-5, three in 39 1-5, four in 51 3-5, five in 1.5 3-5, six in I.IS 3-5, and came home from there in 41 2-5 for the lost three furlongs, making the full time for the nine furlongs 2 minutes dead.

It was a nice effort, and the Leighton gelding was wide out over the first part of the bend, and was just as wide as Great Charter for the remainder of the journey. Cimabue finished quite strongly, and in the event of the Derby being a false run race —which is not likely—then Cimabue will go with the best of them over the last bit. As it is, however, his stamina is open to question. He made some friends this morning. AGRION PLEASES Again the favourite, Agrion, was worked on the tan. He was sent once round, being picked up by Golden Armour at the six furlongs, and then the colt had the best of it. Timed from the mile post Agrion slipped over the first furlong in 3 3 4-5, two in 27, three in a lively 3S 3-5, four in 52 1-5, five in 1.4 3-5, and the last three in 42, the colt running the last mile in 1.46 3-5. This was an excellent gallop for the tan track, and shows that the Derby favourite is m great order. There is little likelihood of his being superseded from the position of first fancy on Monday. LAUGHING PRINCE AGAIN On number one grass. Laughing Prince was partnered with Mandane over a round. They went particularly well, covering the distance in 3.48 3-5, which was splendid time for the distance. They were ridden out at the finish and were on even terms. It was a great work-out, and as they came home from the half-mile post in 49 4-5, it showed how fast they were travelling. If one could be sure that Laughing Prince would only see out the final furlong of the Derby he could be given a rare chance of beating the favourite. EPISODE GOES FAST The two-year-old Episode found Thaw of little use to her in a spin home from the half-mile post. They were a bit slow off the mark, and the filly conceded Thaw over a length’s

start. Episode soon made this uo over the last couple of furlongs th. outpaced the three- vea---old -rC filly finished half a dozen lengths' - front. The initial furlong took 1 1 ■> and the half-mile 4S 2-s—a brtlfaS effort. Eulalie was worked on the tan he. mission bemg a strong six furlonA which she ran in an easy 1 ->o -j the first three being left 'behind' £ Silvermine and a companion sarnt-H half a mile, the latter being timea to run 49 3-5, and was going well ar the end. MASK SPEEDS UP With a companion to carry him along, Mask put up a splendid trial on the number one grass. He was sent seven furlongs, and timed from the six he got to the end of the next

quarter in 25 3-5, and completed th® last six furlongs in a fast 1.15. u was a great gallop. Bennanee was not extended to get to the end of five furlongs on number one in 1.4, time which the two-year-old Moehau had little difficulty in beating, the two-year-old’s time being 3.2 1-5, which was good going. SPEED MERCHANTS Aussie and Awarere were together most of the way in their bout over half a mile, and the latter, on the inside running, was going almost as good as his companion at the end. They ran the first three of the four furlongs in a phenomenal 35 1-5. and took 49 for the half-mile, neither beinx extended. Whaka King was going better than his companion over four furlongs. The chestnut was flying when he passed the starting peg, and therefore hia time of 48 2-5 for the distance would not be quite so good as Episode’s. Nevertheless it was fast, and the sprinter can go on the tracks. The two-year-old Pari showed that his race the second cay has improved him a lot by getting to the end of hall a mile in 49 3-5, and finishing well clear of Ridgemount. Goshawk was bowling along nicely at the end of four furlongs with a companion in 49 3-5, and will be hard to beat in his engagements the next two days. THE COUNT BRILLIANT Count Cavour and Satrap went seven furlongs on number one track, and setting away on terms they ran the first furlong in 13, three in 38 1-5, and cut out the seven furlongs in the brilliant time of 1.2 S 4-5, the final six furlongs taking 1.16 1-5. They finished together, with Count Cavour apparently going the better at the end There were a number of other gallops. but those recorded above wero the best.