Durf Notes

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 326, 11 April 1928, Page 10

Durf Notes

Conducted by

“EARLY BIRD"

NOTES AND COMMENTS THE ARC. EASTER HANDICAP Avondale Acceptances The acceptances for the opening day, Saturday next, of the Avondale Jockey Club’s autumn meeting, to be held on the new course at Avondale, close at five o’clock this afternoon. Theory Went by the Board It has been said by men who should know that an Auckland Easter Handicap could not be won by a horse unless it was well placed at the home turn. Previous results have proved the contention, but the theory was exploded with a vengeance at Ellerslie last Saturday. The winner turned up in a rank outsider —No. 13 in the book, and thirteenth favourite in a field of 14. The Winning Age The result of the Easter Handicap last Saturday just goes to show what a fair three-year-old can do when let in with a light weight. In The Shade was weighted at the minimum, and his paralysing run over the final couple of furlongs left the opposition absolutely stranded. The start was a brilliant one, but In The Shade could not go the pace set, and before the field had gone a furlong he was at the reur. Tailed Off

With- half the journey gone—passing the four-furlong post it was—ln The Shade was tailed off some dozen lengths behind the leaders, with the field somewhat strung out in between. Three lengths in front of him were Joy King and Flying Juliet, so it will be seen in what an apparently hopeless position Jamieson’s representative was. He was still last turning for home, and it was here that he made his phenomenal run through the opposition. A Rare Performance

Goodness knows how In The Shade managed to thread a way through the 13 horses in front of him, but he did it, thanks to a good run on the inner, catching the tiring Awarere 50 yards from the post, and beating him by half a length. Very rarely indeed has such a performance been seen at Ellerslie, and never before in the Easter Handicap. The fact that In The Shade was conceding the leaders such a break over the last half-mile showed that, despite public opinion, the Australian-bred gelding has not been overrated, and that Mr. W. S. Glenn, M.P., should win more with this three-year-old. Fast Final Half

The official timekeeper reported that the last four furlongs of the Easter Handicap was run in 50 4-5, as against 47 2-5 for the first half-mile. in The Shade must have cut out that last four furlongs in about 47, which was phenomenal travelling. The leaders hurried over the first three furlongs in 35£, so that perhaps accounts for In The Shade being unable to keep up; but it does not explain how he 3lew up the straight. Had the bookmakers been operating on the Easter Handicap at Ellerslie, a 100 to 1 against In The Shade would have been a pretty safe bet for them to lay as near as three furlongs from the judge. it goes to show that you can never tell in the racing game. Cannot Do It Yet

It was feared tjbat the eight furlongs would he a bit too tar tor Awarere, and so it proved to be in the Easter Handicap. The chestnut gelding had been galloping particularly well prior to the meeting, and thus it was that he was a good third favourite. He began witn his customary brilliance, and with Bailymoy IX. made ail the running to the home turn, where the imported mare dropped out gradually. Awarere looked an udds-on proposition a furlong from home, and less, and when in The Shade came on the scene he caught Awarere weakening, for he put up only a feeble light. As yet a mile seems to be a bit beyond Awarere, who nevertheless ran up to his track form, and when more seasoned will run out eight furlongs with the best of them.

Retains His Pace Considering the fact that of late months he has been raced over distances ranging from a mile to a mile and three-quarters, Great Charter displayed rare sprinting ability in the Easter Handicap on Saturday. He was

never further back than sixth over the first six furlongs, and although he drifted a bit coming into the straight lie came again at the finish to get third money. It was a sterling effort on Great Charter’s part, for he had a bit of ground to cover on the turn, and he answered Green’s call in unmistakable fashion. Probably, if it is decided to keep Great Charter to middle distances, his owner will yet earn another winning bracket, for the King John gelding retains his brilliance. An Unlucky One At the finish of the Easter Handicap last Saturday at Ellerslie there were four horses practically in line behind the placed trio. They were Nancy Lee, Joy King, Valkon, and Bright Glow. Of these, Valkon must be given credit for running a fine race. When the field had gone a couple of furlongs he was lying second to last, and approaching the half-mile he had moved up into eighth place. Continuing his run, the Valkyrian gelding the outside of several horses, to be in fourth position at the home turn, so that his sixth placing was a really good effort. Bright Glow Disappointed When Bright Glow was one of the first out of the tapes in the Easter Handicap at Ellerslie on Saturday, her backers were on good terms with themselves. She kept her position right to the home turn, lying third there, which place she had occupied from the start. Like the favourite, however. Bright Glow’s finish lacked punch, and she was hard ridden to be close up seventh when the judge was passed. The daughter of Day Comet j was having her first race at Ellerslie. and she showed up in a favourable ;

light. Though beaten, she was not disgraced, and she may get on the winning list before returning home. Improved Form With Mr. G. M. Currie having won the two previous flat races at Ellerslie on Saturday, many backed Lysander in the hope that he would complete the hat trick for the Wanganui owner-breeder. The Absurd horse went a good race, too—his best for

some time —for he did not get too good a passage, and at the end was not a great distance behind the placed division. There is yet hope that Lysander will stage a. come-back. His next outing will be in the All-Aged Stakes at Avondale to-day week. Lost at the Barrier When she had 'succeeded in drawing the ace in Saturday’-s Easter Handicap. it was expected that Nancy Lee would be among the She was never able to hit the front, however, for she appeared to dwell slightly

when the barrier was skied. She was still on the rails at the finish, but half-way through she lost her position after lying fourth for over three furlongs, and made a forward move again as they turned for home. She finished resolutely on the rails in fourth place, a length and a-half behind the winner, so that it was altogether a creditable performance, suggesting that Nancy will win over the distance yet. She was very unlucky in the sprint on Monday. Not Up to Weight?

Prior to the Easter Handicap one would have thought that what In The Shade could do so too could Joy King. The Easter Handicap on Saturday proved that this did not always follow*. As previously mentioned. Joy King was running second to last half a mile from home, three lengths in front of In The Shade, but whereas the latter received an uninterrupted passage through the field, the favourite met trouble halfway up the straight when being forced through. Nevertheless, the Comedy King gelding did not put much heart into his task over the last bit, and altogether disappointed with his final hurst. He missed the jump-out after being drawn second from the rails, and ho was always making heavy weather of it near the rear. It does not look as if he will be up to. weight .vhen he is ranged with the good ones.

GONE HOME Several horses have returned South after fulfilling their engagements at Ellerslie. Fred Tilley took Mandane, Freehold and Laughing Prince back to Fordell last night, and he is to go to Awapuni with his team on Monday. Other Southern horses on the express last night were Great Charter, Doree, Pure Gold, Revel, Wild Pigeon and Staghunter. Walter Rayner returns to Wanganui to-night with Mask, Episode, Thaw and Damaris. his other horses, Lysander and Covent Garden, being left behind to race at Avondale. Rayner will have three or four horses at Awapuni next week.