AWAPUNI NOTES

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 612, 14 March 1929, Page 10

AWAPUNI NOTES

COMMENDATION IMPROVING LOCARNO UNDER A CLOUD (Special to THE SI'XJ FALMERSTOX X., Wednesday. J-iie rain of last week has had a most beneficial effect on Uie tracks at Awapuni, and conditions were excellent for training operations yesterday morning. Tne course proper, however, was closed, and practically all the operations were cameo, out on the piough, which, while not last, was in goou order. Mister Gamp and Elicit are Awapuni acceptors for tlie First i-ligli-weignt at Trentham, the Bronzetti gelding oeing required to give his companion an advantage of 101 b. in the weights. Yesterday morning Mister Gamp, with T. Green in the saddle, ran along over six lurlongs on the plough witii Disrank, who had the services of a stable boy. The chestnut had the measure of the Lord Quex gelding in the run homo to complete Ins task in 1.24 2-5. Elicit (A. McDonald) went alone over a mile on the plough to cover the distance in 1.41 2-5.

Although Moutoa Treasury did not run up to expectations over the Cup distance at Bulls, tho Paper Money liliy is to fulfil lier engagement in the Xew Zealand St. Leger Stakes. Y’esterday morning she wa-s given a couple of solid rounds on the plough by R. Reed, who will be her pilot on the day, sprinting home over the last three furlongs

Hunting Boy, who got on the winning list at his first essay in public at Woodvillo will be a runner in the Plunket Xursery Handicap at Trentham in which Coon Song, who scored on the second day at Woodville, will be a fellow representative. In company with Vinella, Hunting Boy ran half a mile on the plough attractively, the last three furlongs taking about 40. Coon Song was worked in company with Desert Lad before darkness had actually lifted, and no time was taken. However, both will go through with their Trentham engagements, despite the fact that Desert Lad does not appear to have been any too well treated in respect to the poundage accorded him.

Commendation, who went through to the Xapier Park meeting in search of Cup honours, will make his next appearance in the North Island Challenge Stakes. The Limond gelding is undoubtedly benefiting by his active racing and the sprinters in the Stakes might find him fully extending them over the final pinch. Commendation will leave for the scene of action tomorrow, the Challenge Stakes to be his one outing at the fixture. Disrank is this centre’s sole representative in the Silverstream Handicap, and tho Lord Quex gelding, who is now much more solid than formerly, should run out a good mile. Keddar is likewise Awapuni’s sole representative in the Railway Handicap and, while the opposition reads strong, the Arrowsmith gelding should make quite a fair showing. In a gallop with Benmure yesterday morning, Keddar ran home alone in 1.21, the chestnut refusing to gallop over tho last three furlongs—a habit which he has displayed previously. At Awapuni With the Manawatu meeting following hard oil the heels of the Wellington fixture, it is not surprising to find a large number of horses declining to journey away from home. As was only to be expected this centre furnishes a big list of jumpers, Red Fuchsia, Elicit, Elysianor, Locarno, Novar. Vexatious, Red Bank, Hymestrason and Lin Arlington figuring in the hurdle events, and the majority will no doubt reach the post. Lin Arlington was to have figured in the jumping events at Woodville, but he met with an injury to his leg and he has since been on the easy list.

Locarno received a scraped shoulder and a cut under the arm when he fell in the Cup race at Bulls, but the Elyslan gelding is in work, although his task yesterday morning was of quite a light nature. Dobbin, the winner of the open six on the second day at Bulls, has Keddar and Broad Acre as fellow entrants in the Telegraph Handicap at Manawatu next week. The first named was not asked to show his paces, but Broad Acre, who looked very burly at. the Rangitikei fixture, was sent along with a couple of younger companions. Although the race he had at Bulls has fined him down somewhat, he may require another race or two yet before he is up to concert pitch. Skyrider, who emerged from the maiden ranks at Bulls, claim ain engagement along with Disrank in the Te Matai Handicap at Manawatu. The Day Comet mqre is carrying a little more condition than usual and may record a fair performance in consequence. Unfortunately, she lias always been somewhat of an indifferent doer. Grand Acre was a costly disappointment to stay at home backers when he failed at Xapier Park. Inflame has run his best races t« date over scurry courses, but his staying powers have given evidence of being on the improve, and he might well see out the six furlongs.

Lucky Bag has not been displaying quite the same brilliancy of late as she did earlier in the Xew Y r ear. The stable has also Le Champ and Malahat engaged in the hack sprints here next week, but the former has not been up long, while the latter has still to break his maiden status, although he went close to doing so at Dannevirke when he was placed second to Propaganda General Jottings Home Made and Cold Air. while thev do not claim engagements on the opening day at Awapuni, are in good order. They ran six furlongs on the plough yesterday morning in 1.22 without being pushed. One of the biggest youngsters in work on the local tracks is King Acre, an Acre gelding who will in due course carry the same colours as Desert Lad. A bold racy type, he stands in the neighbourhood of 17 hands and may in consequence require time.

\V. Bailey is now bringing to the tracks a yearling by Lackham from Signal March, who is a particularly shapely sort, the youngster proving capable of winning first awards at both the Royal and Marton Shows in the yearling classes. One judge considered him to be the nicest youngster he had ever seen, so he has only to live up to his looks to be good. The same mentor has also a Royal DivorceFootstep yearling geiding to take up in the near future.

American Pillar is having his education steadily advanced and this Sir Frisco gelding might be found competing in the steeplechase ranks later on. H. PI. Doyle, who has now Fee Simple under lease, purposes taking the Acre gelding down to the Westport meeting, and it will be surprising if he does not meet with some reward. On his return he will take up his Chief Ruler two-year-old King Hal. who has been out spelling. An early arrival on the scene for tne Manawatu fixture is the Gold Soult three-year-old gelding Goldlike, who is quite an attractive type of young&t Among those for whom accommodation has been booked for at puni are Rapiei' and Isiglit March. Pride -V well-known poet was saying. 1 was looking at the second-hand books in Charing Cross Hoad the other day when X was vastly annoyed to find a copy of one of my books in a box marked ’This lot Twopence Each.’ ” Amid laughter someone asked, “Did you buy it?” “Oh, no,” said the poet promptly, "but as a prop to my dignity I waited until the proprietor’s back was turned. Then I shoved it in the foul-penny pile.”