NOT A GOOD LOT IN THE LADIES’ RACE

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 322, 5 April 1928, Page 13

NOT A GOOD LOT IN THE LADIES’ RACE

SPEED THE MAIN FACTOR Fairly recent winners of the Great Northern Oaks were Parody and Ilka, both of them pure sprinters, and the success of this pair, taken in conjunction with the previous result of this cUss'e at Ellerslie, proves that speed rather than stamina is the necessary factor. Twelve months ago Flying Juliet prevailed, and although she has since shown good form over a mile, that is as far as she has been able to get with comfort. She succeeded in downing a particularly hot favourite in Lady Desmond, but on the day thc> Limond filly —who had the best credentials to see out the mile and a-half —was not nerself, and was soundly beaten. Chance for a Stayer Of course, if a filly took part in the race, and showed that she possessed real staying ability, it would be odds on her winning, but outside of this attribute a brilliant sprinter is more likely to have her name added to the winning list than the plodder of second-rate ability—and there are one or two of Saturday’s field that cyme under this category. Take the case of Doree. She was made a warm favourite for the Oaks at Riccarton in the spring, but she tailed to see it out, despite the fact that she had won over a mile at Trentliana a few weeks earlier, beating quite a good field. Her victor at Riccarton was Wild Pigeon, a filly that up till then was a maiden, although it must he said in extenuation that she was always running on at the end of her races, due to her being so slow over tho first part. Since then, however, Doree nearly pulled off a mile and a-quarter at . Ellerslie at Christmas, and in addition ran prominently in the Thompson Handicap three weeks ago. Wild Pigeon did nothing after winthe New Zealand Oaks for some

time. Then a month ago she beat her opponents in the mile and a-quarter event at the Marlborough meeting, so it can also be said for her that she is improving. Auriculus and Idun have won one race each, and Partial Eclipse has yet to do so. Miss Mercia has of late been running on better in her races, although in her case she may continue to be known more as a sprinter than anything else. Nevertheless, one can never tell, for with age she may run on well. Outside of Doree and Wild Pigeon a likely two are Damaris and Ti Tree. The former won the Wanganui Guineas, but it was not a wonderful

performance. However, if she can handle the Ellerslie ups and downs she may well prove to be the winner of this year’s ladies’ race. Up to the present she has not done so.

Strictly on winning performances Ti Tree seems the more probable to score in the fillies’ cbntest, for she has won several races up this way during the last four months, prior to which she spread-eagled a. good field of hacks over the Trentham six furlongs. Her latest effort in public, however, was not over-encouraging. The Tea Tray filly’s best distance may be said to be seven furlongs, but in form she will be able to show the right speed for the race to enable her to come home first. That, of course, is in the lap of the turf gods.