Fast Track

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 474, 2 October 1928, Page 10

Fast Track

ELLERSLIE SPEED TESTS Cup and Classic Candidates There was plenty to interest track watchers at Ellerslie this morning-, a dry track being responsible for some very smart gallops, and provided no further rain falls the course should be in excellent order for the racing on Saturday and Monday.

For fast work this morning number one grass track was opened, and this provided excellent going. With a continuance of fine weather it is expected that the outside of the course proper will be open on Thursday for the final gallops, the extra couple of days giving the new ground between the six and five-furlong posts, which is very heavy just now, a chance to recover from the cutting-up it received last Saturday.

The were granted the special concession this morning of working on the outside of the course proper, and some youngsters were sprinted there. Number One Grass Among the early workers were four Mitchelson Cup horses: Mask (A. Rayner), Star Stranger (H. Wiggins), Valkon (L. Manson) and Mint Leaf (C. Goulsbro), their task being once round, but they were timed over the last mile only, with the object of obtaining the sectional times. They got away fairly well together, Mask being right on the outer, with Valkon and Mint Leaf on the inside. The pace was clapped on right from the start, the first two furlongs being struck in a smart 25 4-5, while the three was reached in 38 1-5, fairly good sprinting time round a bend. The first half-mile was run in 52 4-5, and the five furlongs in 1.5 3-5, and from the three furlongs they came home in a slick 39, the time for the full eight furlongs being 1.45 1-5. This was a rattling good gallop, with Mask, who covered by far the most ground (although Star Stranger came on the outside of him on the home turn), half a length in front of Valkon and Star Stranger, who were in fairly close order, with Mint Leaf a couple of lengths further back. Ready For the Fray Both Star Stranger and Mask carried . considerably below their Cup weights, and there was probably just the amount between them that there will be on Saturday—Blb—so that lie efforts of Valkon and Mint Leaf must be considered in having shaped so well under much worse terms. A big impression was made by Mask, for practically all the way he was wide out and was pulling his light bov almost out of the saddle. Star Stranger was finishing very solidly, but Mask was still fighting for his head at the finish. Brilliant Sprinters Nancy Lee and Benzora are also coming to hand fast, if their effort over half a mile this morning was any criterion. They left this journey behind in 49 4-5, which was the best of the morning, and they both did it well, too. Nancy Lee appeared to have the best of it, and yet it seemed that they could have improved a bit had it been wanted. This pair are engaged in the sprint events over the week-end, and it would occasion little surprise to find them racing prominently. Episode Comes Back After being under a cloud since Wanganui, Episode shaped this morning in a style suggesting that she lias completely got over her disability. She was sent six furlongs with Lysander and Vivo, but she left them in the straight and finished on her own. a couple of lengths in front of her stable mate, with Vivo close up, after being asked to cover a bit of extra ground. They cut out the first two furlongs in 25, and reached the end of three in a phenomenal 36 3-5, Episode returning 1.17 for the six furlongs. With another gallop on Thursday the Lirnond filly should be fit enough to run a great race in the Guineas, for she is reported to be eating well now. One to Remember An impressive effort went down to the credit of Laughing Prince. He had over eight stone in the saddle, and was sent once round. Timed from the mile, he got to the end of his first, quarter in 25, the half-mile was left behind in a briliant 51, and the five furlongs in 1.4, and completed the eight furlongs in 1.44, finishing very freely over the last half in 53. The chestnut was well out all the wav, and coming round the home bend was on the outside of the track. He was reminded of his task over the final furlong, and finished most generously. He is one of the likely ones for the Mitchelson Cup. if he lines up. / Sir Russell shaped well in a spin with Lomint, easily defeating her over six furlongs in 1.17 4-5, the first three in 38. * Nice Two-year-old© On the outside of the course proper the following two-year-olds were timed, the trestles being about 25 feet out. First Money and Hunting Hay went four furlongs, and after the former had shown considerable early speed they finished together up the straight in 50 2-5, which was a very smooth performance. Hunting Hay was doing it well in the run home, finishing very straight, whereas the Paper Money colt was inclined to run about. After breakfast Clever went over the same ground, not being bustled to cover the journey in 51 2-5. Guineas Horse Performs Well* High Faultin’, a Great Northern Guineas’ candidate, comfortably defeated Royal Game in a spin over six furlongs, doing the trip in excellent time. They cut out the first three in 37 1-5, and the three-year-old was just clear of his companion at the finish m 1.17 4-5. Cashier, another classic representative from the Fordell stable, did a strong working gallop, and sprinted up the straight. An interesting gallop over a mile was that by White Fang. He went exceedingly fast over the first part, reeling off the first quarter in 25 1-5 and the four furlongs in a slick 50 1-5. The five took 1.3 4-5, and he ran out seven in 1.32, but he was tiring over the final furlong, the mile occupying 1.46. White Fang is fast coming back to form. Hard Held Actually the first to work was Catkin, who was travelling fast as he approached the half-mile peg, coming home from there in 51, the last three in 38 2-5. He was hard held all the way up the straight. King Emerald went a. round, and timed from the mile post he cut out the eight furlongs in 1.53 1-5, the first couple in 29 4-5. the half-mile in 57 2-5, and the last half in 55 3-5. Gold Money picked him up at the six furlongs, taking 1.23 2-5 for this portion of the journey, both travelling at nothing more than three-quarter pace over the last furlong. The filly looks in great fettle for the Great Northern Guineas. Te Money, on the inside, was in front of Judge’s Box, and doing it well too

at the end of a nice four furlongs in 50 2-5, the last three being cut out in 37 4-5. Sir Archie, with a big weight in the saddle, encompassed the last mile of a round in 1.50 comfortably, the last half-mile taking 54 1-5. Could Have Done Better Billikins and Ohinemuri were not ridden out to get to the end of five furlongs in 1.6 3-5. the last three being left behind in 40 2-5. Corinax was doing it better than Bombarder over a similar journey in 1.6 2-5. The former appears to be rapidly coming to hand. White Wings was let off with an easy task, the filly covering six furlongs in 1.21, the last three in 40. She is in great buckle at present, and on a dry track next Saturday she should run up to her breeding. Sprinter Impresses Freehold, who is expected to contest the sprint on Saturday, shaped very pleasingly over five furlongs. He was only cantering over the initial furlong, but even so recorded 1.6 4-5, the last four in 50 4-5, and the last r hree in 37 3-5. He was carrying his full handicap weight, so it was a really smart effort. Under a strong hold, Bulolo and Monetize took 1.22 to cover six furlongs, and a good lot could have been clipped off this had it been desired. Hoariri sprinted four furlongs in 51 2-5, doing it easily. He appeared to move a trifle short, and unless further rain falls before Saturday there would appear to be little danger of his repeating his Avondale performance, when he captured both sprints. Blue Spear moved comfortably over half a mile in 52while Rose Mint, who is very green, was accompanied by Lady Suzanne in a three-furlong sprint (on the course proper), the pair taking 43 3-5. Lady’s Boy gave Mountain Guide and Bennie a start, but nevertheless finished on terms at rhe end of seven furlongs in 1.38. Violation travelled over six furlongs in 1.22, moving evenly throughout. Harbour View took 1.38 1-5 for his seven furlongs, and did it well. Royal Form (M. Conway) had Piet (H. Hulieu) to accompany him over four schooling hurdles, the former pleasing better than his companion. The 'Chasers There were only five 'chasers to participate in a bout over the full steeplechase course this morning, the honours going to Potoanui (J. Burgess), who was in advance of Rahepoto (H. Hulieu), Clockwork (M. Conway), Uralla (R. Oliver) and Kyoto (E. Garrett), the quintet finishing in the order named. Rahepoto spoilt a good display by making a faulty jump at the last obstacle, the stone wall. The remainder of the field gave a creditable display.