Easter Carnival Will Open on Saturday

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 623, 27 March 1929, Page 12

Easter Carnival Will Open on Saturday

With the Auckland autumn meet- I ing opening at Ellerslie on Saturday I next, and concluding on Monday, interest in the Easter Handicap, the valuable classic, and other events on the programme at Ellerslie mis weekend, is beginning to quicken. The final gallops will be witnessed tomorrow morning at headquarters, and the report and comment upon them, together with “Early Bird’s” comprehensive reviews of the Auckland card and other important meetings, will be I=l Truck conditions were perfect for galloping at Ellerslie yesterday morning, but an inspection of the course proper at the termination of training operations gave the impression that a continuation of the present dry spell will find a concrete-like surface for Saturday’s racing. Crack Filly Arrives Trainer George Jones arrived by train this morning with Gay Ballerina and Vexatious, the latter being engaged in the steeplechase events, this being her first attempt in public over country. Gay Ballerina must have fully recovered from her mishap last week, 1 otherwise it is scarcely likely that she would have undertaken the long train journciy from Wellington to Auckland, particularly with Supremacy at the end of it. The filly absolutely donkey* licked Reremoana, Gascony and others in the Challenge Stakes a fortnight ago, so that on that running Supremacy does not look the gilt-edged proposition in the Champagne Stakes that he did a few days ago. The meeting of this pair is likely to be a real titbit at Ellerslie on Saturday. Also on the train to-day was P. E. Loomb with Prodice, Desert Glow, Air King, Flying Prince and Awamutu. An Interesting Cargo The steamer Rarawa arrived at Onehunga from New Plymouth this morning with an interesting cargo of horse-flesh, the five thoroughbreds comprising Llanore (engaged in the Oaks and St. Leger), Reremoana (Easter Handicap), Monalof (Champagne Stakes), Monsogne (Eden Handicap), and Polyphemus (Mangere Steeplechase). They all landed in good order. The To Awamutu trainer, George Paul, put in an appearance this morning with Aussie, Awarere, Papatu and that promising hack Den, who scored so well at Paeroa last week. ' It is highly probable that the team will stay over for the Avondale fixture. Aussie is not engaged on Saturday, and the only race he may have here is the classic at Avondale on Saturday week, the All Aged Stakes. After Classic Honours So far we have not seen Toxeuma in really fast work since he arrived at Ellerslie, but everyone knows all

they want to know about him and he has a staunch circle of admirers for Saturday. His condition is superb, and what a good three-year-old he is is indicated by the amount of racing he has done this season. Toxeuma’s mission is the G.N. St. Leger. and though Concentrate is the ruling favourite, it would not surprise if Toxeuma was to oust his rival from that j position on Easter Monday. Trainer W. McKinnon opines that he was unlucky to lose the Wellington St. Leger with the Arrowsmith gelding. Monday’s event should definitely settle this question—incidentally that ol' three-year-old supremacy, too. Is It His Turn? Ellerslie patrons will see jockey W. IT. Jones in action again on Saturday, after a prolonged absence in Australia. Jones cannot feel but pleased with the way two of his mounts, Vallar and Sleepy Sol. acquitted themselves in their track essays yesterday morning. Perhaps it is to be a lucky meeting for this knight of the pigskin. Who knows? A horse whose running in two-year-old events at the impending Elierslie fixture will command some attention is the Takapuna-trained Pellette. Nothing is known of her condition, but she should be very well at the present time, her win and second in the youngsters’ races at Paeroa recently giving that impression. It was considered that Pellette was not handled to advantage on the occasion of her last defeat, some critics inferring that she should have beaten Currajong. The calibre of the field in the Onslow Stakes on Saturday is not over strong, so possibly Pellette will confirm the good things said of her. Two Earrels The President’s Handicap on Saturday may not go down to J. Williamson’s credit, but that mentor is making a worthy attempt to capture this race. He has both Corinax and The Lover engaged, the pair to be ridden by R. McTavish and J. Cammick respectively. Both horses have been kept up to the collar, and The Lover must be given as good a chance as Corinax. Neither may be placed for that matter, but those who finish in front of them w r ill need to be good. Trainer F. Smith came across from Takapuna yesterday morning to school his jumper Uralla, at Ellerslie. She looked in decent order and went over a circuit of the big fences, including the hill, in pleasing fashion. She was beaten by Potoanui and Ivamehameha, but the daughter of Piedmont was not pushed to any extent and the trial can be accepted as a satisfactory preliminary for Saturday’s steeplechase. Coon Song was scratched at 9 a.m. to-day for all engagements at the meeting