THE RIDERS

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 633, 9 April 1929, Page 12

THE RIDERS

The following are some of the riding engagements known to have been completed for to-morrow’s racing at Avondalei H. Goldfinch: Sea Cob. Lorient 11.. In the Shade. Brilliant Light and Le Choucas. R. Reed: Stormy. Subdivision and Kawainga. H. Wiggins: White Fang, Justify, and Arihana. H. Gilmer: Whaka King, Grand Tea and Lord Hopetoun. W. H. Jones: Lady’s Boy, British King. Welkne and Otranto. R. McTavish: Branson, Gemlight and Archileen. E. Ludlow: Eager Rose and Good Boy. S. Bryce: Merry Mason, Cynthia N. and Chelone. O. Mclnally: Wenday and Value. D. Cotton: Lady Eustace. J. Burgess: Clockwork. M. Nicol: Kilburn. L. Husband: Golden Wedding. A. McGregor: Karamu. E. Warner: Pouri. J. Sharkey: Potoanui. T. Green was on the boat from Sydney that arrived at Auckland this morning, and he will probably be offered a few rides to-morrow.

Respirator and Haviland finished on terms right behind the first two horses. Air King and British King, in the Chevalier Handicap, at Avondale on Saturday. The former made a good run in the straight, but Tlaviland was always with the leaders, and he hung on surprisingly well, considering that he has been stopping pretty badly at the end of five furlongs in his few starts to date. He is fast for a short trip. i • * * <= Unsighted over the early portion of the Railway Handicap at Avondale on Saturday, King Lu pounced on the leaders right on the post, and so fast was he travelling then that he scored by almost a length. It was a wonderful burst, and his appearance on the scene so late in the race was a dramatic incident. That run was the equivalent to anything he has yet shown, and proves that the Lucullus horse is far from a spent light, even allowing for the fact that, considering the high scale of weights, he was exceptionally well treated. The best performance in the sprint on Saturday outside of the placed division was undoubtedly that of Lady’s Boy, who was always in the forefront, and finished well in fourth place. With the tracks becoming softer, Lady”s Boy should do nicely in the open sprint class. Vallar went a good race for over five furlongs, when his weight began to tell, and he finished well back, not being persevered with. On the eve of the Avondale meeting Hipo went exceptionally well in a gallop with Lady Quex over six furlongs, and on the strength of that trial was fairly well backed in the Titirangi Handicap. The old fellow was decidedly unlucky to bump up against Ohinemuri at her best, for his second was full of merit. Hipo finished with so much dash that it was difficult to realise that no less than five years have elapsed since he won the A.R.C. Easter Handicap. Unlucky horses on Saturday engaged again to-morrow were Archileen, Komak, British King, Flying Juliet, Black Maire and Queen Arch. They should all race prominently in their engagements.

AVendap hopped away well in the Titirangi Handicap, but at the end of three furlongs she had drifted back to last. Once heads were turned for home, however, young Brady kicked her along with some effect, for at the half distance she was through on the rails, on terms with the leaders, but she weakened then and third was her portion, a length and a-half behind the winner. Her turn does not appear to be far off.

Cut-throat tactics were adopted by Glenstar and Master O’Rorke in the Titirangi Handicap, and for seven out of the eight furlongs they were both going for the lick of their lives. Then they compounded, as well they might, and there was still little between the pair as they passed the post sixth and seventh respectively. Glenstar was favourite, and more judiciously handled might have got in ,£he money. Master O'Rorke’s showing was good enough to j suggest that he still has a race or two left in him. Having his first public outing for a long time, Welkne gave a very promising display in the Chevalier Handicap. He was always nicely placed, and i eventually finished a good fifth, so i that if he is none the worse for this; race he can be expected to do better in the near future. As a three-year- | old the Australian-bred gelding could muster up a great turn of speed, and i now that he has had time to mature he j should run on better than he did a couple of seasons back.