Branson Creates New Time Figures

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 330, 16 April 1928, Page 6

Branson Creates New Time Figures

KEEN RACING ON AVONDALE’S BIG COURSE

THE magnificent new course at Avondale was successfully opened on Saturday, on the occasion of the first day’s racing in connection with the autumn meeting of the Avondale Jockey Club. The conditions were favourable, although an overcast sky and a strong wind made the weather at least seasonable.

THE attendance must have been a -*• record for Avondale, for the capacious lawn and, outside enclosure (which is free for this fixture) were thronged with humanity, and on all sides nothing but praise was handed out to the club in their enterprise in providing such a grand racing track.

The racing was of the best, and as predicted the stayers came into their own, several fancied candidates finding the more than two-furlong straight a bit beyond them. Aussie proved himself once more as one of the best sprinters Auckland has seen, for he won the All-Aged Stakes under the maximum penalty in comfortable fashion, .the minor places going to the consistent Prince Humphrey and Joy King. Branson’s Record

Although he was only moderately fancied, being 10th in the order of betting, Branson ran a great race under his light impost in the principal handicap event, the Foley Memorial, and in running the 10 furlongs in 2.6, with a good head wind to run into over the last quarter of a mile, he registered new time figures. The previous best was Taiamai, who covered the distance on the old course

nine years ago in 2.6 1-5. Star Stranger carried his big weight into second place, with Valkon, once again unlucky, and Town Bank right up. It was a fine contest, rather marred by some trouble at the start. The totalisator handled £48,826 10s, against £57,265 10s last year at Ellerslie, and £56,855 on the opening day of- the last autumn meeting held at Avondale three years back.. This, however, does not a comparison, for things financially to-day were not so good as three years ago. There was nothing lacking in the management of the meeting. Notes on the racing and. details of the concluding results follow: A Double Figure One Backesr started off on the wrong leg in the opening event, the Maiden Plate, the favourites in a field of 21 being Josie Melville £340, Luminary £314, Bombarder £263, Double Mint £224, Eager Rose £2lO and Kerry Dance £IS2. When they were let go the first to show out were Master Clements, Luminary, Kerry Dance, Josie Melville, Diamond Queen,. Kyngzone, Bombarder, Parfait Amour and Miss Myrtle. At the end of a couple of furlongs Josie Melville was making play from Kerry Dance, Diamond Queen, Luminary, Parfait Amour, Bombarder, Master Clements, Blue Spear, Arihana and Kyngzone. Diamond Queen, Kerry Dance and Josie Melville were in a bunch at the home turn, close up also being Bombarder, Luminary, Parfait Amour, Master Clements and Blue Spear. In the van at the furlong post were Kerry Dance, Bombarder and Parfait Amour, and in this order they finished, Kerry Dance winning by three-parts of a length from Bombarder, with Parfait Amour a length away. Luminary was a good fourth, and the next to cross the line were Kyngzone, Miss Myrtle, Diamond Queen, Ponticus, Josie Melville, Huephano, Merry Light, Master Clements and Catamaran.

Uraila’s Hurdles A six horse field contested the Hobsonville Hurdles, Lady Spalpeen £976 being a slightly better favourite than Uralla £936, with Lady Cintra £842 also well backed. Nola Night refused at the first, fence. Lady Spalpeen, Lady Cintra, Uralla, Karamu and Luxurious was the order at the second hurdle, and passing the post the field was only going three-quarter pace, Lady Spalpeen and Lady Cintra being together ahead of Karamu. and Uralla, with Luxurious tailing off, and to finally fall at the next obstacle, where Uralla blundered. Lady Spalpeen and Lady Cintra terms in to the straight, with Uralla a length and a half back, and Karamu half a dozen lengths off. Over the last fence Uralla wore Lady Cintra were on terms into the straight, with Lady Spalpeen five lengths away and Karamu well back. Branson Does It Well The big handicap race, the Foley Memorial, provided a stirring contest, an outsider taking the honours. Star Stranger £1,346 was the favourite, while there was also good support for Valkon £1,041, Town Bank £942, Papatu £678, In the Shade £593 and Princess Ronnie, £521. The field carried the tapes away with them, Hipo carrying them for a good part of the journey. In the Shade was badly left, Branson showed the way out of the straight from Town Bank and Valkon, the trio being together, followed by Day Guard. Papatu. Queen Arch. Hipo. Desert Glow, Star Stranger, Transformer, Princess Ronnie, and Golden Krist, with In the Shade several lengths back. Down the back Day Guard was in front from Branson and Town Bank, following them being Val- - Hipo, Desert Glow, Papatu, Star 'Stranger, Queen Arch, Eden Hall Transformer. Princess Ronnie, and In the Shade. Day Guard Jed across the top and into the straight from Branson Town Bank. Valkon. Star Stranger and Desert Glow, these being in close order, with Papatu, Queen Arch, Transformer Eden Hall and Princess Ronnie. At the turn Day Guard was off the course, and at the distance Branson was in the van, and apparently going well with Town Bank, Star Stranger and Valkon all threatening danger. Branson went on to win, however, by half a length from Star Stranger, who finished under the judge’s box. a head in front of Valkon and Town Bank, with Desert Glow, Princess Ronnie and Papatu right up. and Queen Arch, Dav [ Guard, Transformer, Hipo, Eden Hail

and In the Shade next. Golden Krist was last. The winner was entrusted with only £IBB and paid a big double figure dividend. Easy for Ohinemuri Ohinemuri £1,615 was a tall order in the Oakley Handicap, while Micrometer £1,003 and Auriculus £S73 headed the other quotations. Arch Queen, on the rails, led out from Respirator, Miss Mercia, Ohinemuri, Takuraiiga, Auriculus, Micrometer, Modest Boy, Restaurant and Waning Light. At the end of a couple of furloTgs Ohinemuri and Miss Mercia were running along in front from Arch Queen, Auriculus and Respirator, and the favourite then drew out, turning for home with an advantage of two lengths over Miss Mercia and Auriculus, following the trio being Arch Queen, Respirator, Micrometer, Restaurant, Modest Boy and Waning Light. The rest was easy for Ohinemuri, who went on to score by a length from Respirator and Restaurant, a head separating this pair. Micrometer was right up next, with Miss Mercia, Arch Queen, Auriculus, Waning Light, and Takuranga following, and Modest Boy lastBrilliant Aussie

All but Mithra and Te Atiawa came out for the All Aged Stakes, and from the start of financial operations Aussie was always favourite, winding up with £2,539, against Joy King’s £99S, Paganelli’s £7BB, and Prince Humphrey’s £66s. A fine start saw Prodice, Prince Humphrey and Lysander jump out best, but at the end of a furlong Prince Humphrey had a slight lead over Paganelli. Prodice and Lysander, with a gap back to Aussie, Joy King, White Wings and Lucy Rose. Crossing the top Prince Humphrey and Paganelli were clear, the former leading by half a length into the straight,, with Lysander and Aussie handy, and White Wings, Joy King, Prodice and Lucy Rose next in order. Prince Humphrey shook off Paganelli at the bottom of the straight, but at the distance Aussie had run up to him, and toward the judge the favourite forged ahead to score handsomely by three parts of a length. Joy King finished strongly a length behind 'the two-year-old. with Paganelli a length and a half back, four, lengths in front of Lucy Rose; Lysander and White Wings, Prodice having tailed off.

Aston Scores Well Sixteen started in the - Chevalier Handicap, British King £1,102 being made the medium of heavy sqj>port, others to be in the market being Newbury, £1,082, Ladies’ Boy, £1,045, Aston £760 and Welcome Home £652. Waltzer got the best of the despatch, leading out from Appellant, Welcome Home and Whaka King, but at the end of a furlong Vallar and Ladies’ .Boy were in the van from Aston, Appellant, Wyoming and British- King. . Turning for home Vallar and Ladies’ Boy were together two lengths in front of Wyoming, who was three lengths ahead of Aston, Welcome Home and British King, with Appellant, Waltzer and Pinon following. Vallar was clear at the distance, but Aston got to him then and won by a neck, with Whaka King a head in front of Wyoming. Vallar was a close fourth, and then came Appellant, Ladies’ Boy, Welcome Home, Glenetta, Pinon, Newbury, British King, Idun, Wee Marble and Waltzer. Awarere’s Sprint Awarere £1,866 was all the rage In the open sprint, the Railway Handicap, while PTying Juliet £1,215 was also a popular fancy, those best backed outside these, being Kingfield £9S4, and Covent Garden £ 801. Aurumavis dwelt at the start. Flying Juliet being the first to show out, from Covent Garden. High Finance, Awarere, Royal Tea, Kingfield and King Emerald. The favourite ran up into second position crossing the top, the order into the home stretch being High Finance, Awarere, Flying Juliet, Kingfield, Melissa, Covent Garden, Subdivision. . The Immigrant, Tinokoa and Royal Tea. High Finance was still the leader

at the distance, but Awarere’s run was too good, and he won by half a length from Covent Garden, who came with a great rush from the back, with Flying Juilet and High Finance deadheating for third an neck away. Royal Tea was next,.and then came Melissa, Subdivision, Tinokoa, The Immigrant, Aurumavis and Kingfield. Final to Le Choucas A warm favourite in Romford was served up for the concluding event, the

Titirangi Handicap, the Nassau gelding being entrusted with £2,037, Le Choucas £1,335, Mervette £632, Quincoma £591 and Judge’s Box £506, also claiming fair support. Quincoma got away badly, Romford goin.j- out fast from Prince Lu, Archeno, Le Choucas, Judge's Box, ,Tlie Thorn, High Pitch, Matinee, Oration and Quincoma. At the five furlongs Prince Lu was in the van from the favourite, Archeno, Le Choucas, Judge’s Box, Matinee, High Pitch, The Thor* and Oration following. Into the sti-right Prince Lu and Romford were together ahead of Judge’s Box, Le Choucas, Archeno, Matinee, High Pitch and Oration. Once straightened up Le Choucas, came on the inside to win by threequarters of a length from Judge’s Box, with High Pitch a similar distance away third. Archeno was a good fourth, being followed by Oration. Matinee.

Concluding results: CHEVALIER HANDICAP Of £250; 6 furlongs. 4—ASTON (H. R. Campbell), ch g, by Landgrave—Bridle Way, syrs’ 10.5, R. Reed .. .. i 0 WHAKA KING (J. H. Greenhead), ch g, by King Lupin—Karitea, 6yrs, 9.7, S. Holland 2 12 — "WYOMING (W. A. Strahan), b g, by Lucullus—Kuratan, aged, 8.1, L. Pine « Also started:— 7 Vallai*, 8.0, H. Wiggins 4 10— Appellant. 8.3, S. Henderson .. !! 5 3 Ladies’ Bor. 9.0, P. Brady . . .. 6 —Welcome Home, .3, T. Green .... 7 16—Glenetta, 8.0, L. Tremain .. .. 8 2 —Newbury, 8.9, R. McTavish 9 I—British King, 8.0, C. Goldsboro . . 10 13— Idun, 8.0, A. Driscoll 11 14 — Wee Marble, 8.0, J. Cammick .. 22 9 Waltzer, 10.0, A. Tucker 0 15— Catapult, 5.5, R. Hall 0 8— Pinon, 7.10. O. McMahon 0 11— Desert Knight, S.O, W. H. .Jones 0 Winner trained by T. Clarke, Hastings. Won by a neck, head between second and third. Time, 1.15 1-5. RAILWAY HANDICAP Of £400; 6 furlongs. 1— AWARERE (Geo. Paul), ch g, by * Swift Flight—Sibford, syrs, 9.0, A. Tinker 1 4 COVENT GARDEN (G. M. Currie’)’, by Absurd—Cherry Mart, Syrs, 7.05, Hodson 2 2 FLYING JULIET (E. Robinson')’, blk m, by Romeo—Penella, 4yrs, 7.9, W. H. Jones * 5 HIGH FINANCE (F. Earl, K.’c.’)’, br f, by Paper Money—Rebekah, 3yrs, 7.0, S. Bryce * ♦Dead heat. Also started:— 11— Royal Tea, 5.4, L. Manson .... 5 7—Melissa, 7.4, C. Goldsboro 6 12— Subdivision, 7.0, A. Stead ...... 7 6 Tinako.a, 7.4, H. Wiggins ...... S 9 I The Immigrant, 7.2, P. Brady .. 9 3 Aurumavis, 7.2, J. Cammick . . . . 10 3—Kingfield, 7.7, K. Gill It 10— King Emerald, 7.0, C. Husband . . 12 Winner trained by owner, Te Awamutu. Won by half a length, neck between second and third. Time, 1.13 3-5. TITIRANGI HANDICAP Of £250; 1 mile 2—LE CHOUCAS (C. G. Macindoe), b g, by Magpie—Kiki, syrs, 9.2, T. Green 1 S—JUDGE'S BOX (J. McGregor), b

m, by Nassau—Brayton, syrs, S.l, Tv. Manson 2 6—HIGH PITCH (J. Irwin), b g, by Sarchedon—Shrill, 4yrs, 5.4, R. Reed 3 Won by three-quarters of a length, third horse a . similar distance away. Time, 1.40.