Episode Is Ready For the Classics

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 449, 3 September 1928, Page 10

Episode Is Ready For the Classics

BEST THREE-YEAR-OLD LADY'S BOY SHOWS DASH? (Special to THE SUN) WANGANUI, Saturday. With the Marton Jockey Club’s spring meeting due to take place on Wednesday next, and the Wanganui spring fixture to follow the week after, training operations are commencing to brighten up a little. The weather here has been exceptionally fine during the winter and early spring, and those of the older generation state that never has such a mild off season been experienced to the best of their recollection. Certain it is that three-year-olds have never appeared so forward as they do this year, and the number of good conditioned two-year-olds is much greater than has been the custom in the past. Heavy rain fell on Thursday night and Friday morning, there also being a bit of a downpour later in the day, but this morning broke fine, with only a chill breeze blowing from the north, assisting in some small degree to enable the horses doing fast work to clip a fraction or two off the time for the initial quarter between the six and the four down the back stretch. The going was good considering the rain that had fallen, and the times recorded by the few that were on time-making missions showed that Wanganui has not lost its reputation so far as being one of the fastest training tracks in New Zealand.

Avondale Candidates The first to work were Mask and Episode, the former with all of 9.0 in the saddle, while the Limond filly had a light-weight up. The pair hopped off from the six-furlong peg and covered the threequarters of a mile in 1.16 3-5, which was a most satisfactory gallop. Timed from the five furlongs, they ran a furlong in 12 2-5, the middle quarter in 24, and the three furlongs in 36 3-5, while the time occupied over the final five furlongs was 1.3 4-5. When they had reached the end of the first furlong Episode was fighting for her head and had to be kept back to her companion. She finished full of running alongside him, however,

and appeared as if she could have gone on with it. One could describe her effort —perhaps it might be termed only a task —as very impressive, and she seems to be in great heart to make the Wanganui Guineas of 1928 the third in succession to go down to the credit of Mr. G. M. Currie, who bred and owned Lysander and Damaris, the previous two winners, as he does this strikingly marked daughter of Limond and Homage. As for the Avondale Guineas, it may be said that it will have to be a very smart Aucklander that will have any chance of heading her off in the Northern classic, for she is improving every day. As she was the filly of the year when a two-year-old, so she promises to be the best of her sex, and her age, during the 192829 racing season. Mask is Well

Mask’s performance was also a pleasing one, for there is no doubt that he is a stone better horse at present than he was this time last year, and Aucklanders will remember that it was at Ellerslie that he ran his best races. This morning he kept at it steadily all the way, and though it might he thought that a distance of eight to 10 furlongs would find him better suited, the son of Limond and Cowl will beat more than beat him In the New Zealand Eclipse Stakes on the second day of the Wanganui meeting, two weeks from to-day. After the Wanganui fixture there will be the Auckland campaign for Mask, and it would not be surprising to find him crediting Mr. Currie with much more in stake money than the £3,025 that was earned by the half-brother to national and Tho Monk last season. A Flying Hack

Perhaps the most brilliant gallop that has been done since the days when Civility was wont to do her flying “fives” was that to the credit of Lady’s Boy this morning. When the Some Boy II gelding had reached the end of the first furlong of his task it was realised that something good was in prospect, and expectations were fully up to the mark. The initial furlong was covered in 12 2-5, which might be considered very satisfactory, but the pace was clapped on to still better purpose over the next, which took 11 1-5, making the time for the quarter 23 3-s’. The third furlong is on a bend, and this accounted for the 35 2-5 that the watch showed for that distance, and the run across the top continued at a similar pace, for the half-mire to take 48 2-5. Naturally It could not be expected that this pace could be kept up all the way, and Lady’s Boy slackened somewhat over the final two furlongs the run up the .straight being done" in much slower time than was the initial portion of the journey, but nevertheless the time recorded on the watches when he “passed the post was 1.16 3-5. He was not distressed in any way when he Completed the journey, and though he was only lightly shod and carried a very light weight, it could not be regarded in any but a favourable light as a final gallop prior to the Marton meeting. At Marton Ladv’s Boy is engaged in the Spring Hack Cup and the Railway Handicap, and though as yet no definite decision has been made, it appears certain that he will start in the Hack Cup, while he niay also be saddled up later in the day for the open sprint, in which he is favourably situated to spring a surprise. Whichever he starts in he is worth following. Several others did useful work this morning, but the two gallops above recorded were outstanding, and have most bearing on forthcoming fixtures.