TURF NEWS AND NOTES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 9 December 1939, Page 9

TURF NEWS AND NOTES

CURRENT TOPICS FROM STABLE AND COURSE Two Early Favourites for Auckland Cup GOLDEN SHEILA AND LLANGOLLEN (BY ‘-CARBINE.") Golden Sheila’s performances during the past few weeks have brought her into prominence fo- the Auckland Cup. Until she won the H. 0. Nolan Handicap, of cne and a half miles, at the Auckland meeting last April, Golden Sheila was regarded purely as a sprinter —and a pretty smart one too. “The Escort” writes: On the first day of that meeting Golden Sheila started in the Easter Handicap, one mile, in which, with 7.7, she ran unplaced, the race being won by Beaupartir in race record time of 1.36, from Llangollen and Laughing Lass. In the Nolan Handicap on the second day she carried 7.12, winning by a length and a quarter from De Friend, with the favourite, Valamito, a neck further back. Her only other starts for the season were in mile and a quarters events, the Foley Memorial at Avondale, in which, with 8.12, she was third to Round Up and Gold Vaals, and the Autumn Handicap on the second day, in which, with 9.0, she she finished second to Jayola.

This season Golden Sheila recorded unplaced performances in the President's Handicap, of six furlongs, at Avondale, the President's Handicap, of nine furlongs, at Ohinemuri, and the Mitchelson Cup, of a mile and a half. She opened her winning account on the second day of the Auckland meeting by defeating Royevrus and Sly Fox in the Spring Handicap. At her next attempt she was third to Taurangi and Balinavar in the Waikato Cup, of 11 furlongs, while on the following day she scored in the Hamilton Handicap, one mile and a quarter, from Sly Fox and Homilj’. In her last start, the Alison Cup, one and a quarter miles, she put up a sterling performance. With 9.6 in the saddle, she was forced to cover a good deal of extra ground, but came through to win impressively from Royevrus and Balinavar. Golden Sheila has risen rapidly in the weights, and with 8.12 over the two-mile journey of the Auckland Cup she is set the most formidable task of her career. It will be noticed that all her best performances have been registered in mile and a quarter races and that,, apart from her Nolan Handicap vic-1 tory, she has failed in all events which j she has contested beyond that distance. Andthej; mare that is rapidly coming into favour for the Auckland Cup is Llangollen, who also was regarded as a sprinter until her success in the Kerries Memorial Cup, of one mile and three furlongs, at' Te Aroha last February, showed her up as a potential stayer. Golden Sheila ran second to her. Llangollen’s record this season has not been so consistent as in previous years, for in seven starts, all of which have been over sprint distances, she has failed to notch a win and has been placed ohly twice. She was third to Royal Bachelor and Maxam in the Telegraph Handicap at Avondale, and at her last start was second to Our Jean in the Kirikiriroa Handicap at Waikato. In all her races she has carried solid imposts, and although the distance of the Cup is two miles she will appreciate the drop in the weight to 8.1. By The Ace, who sired that good staying mare Fast Passage, winner of the New Zealand and Auckland Cups. Llangollen must be taken into calculations. In the Herries Memorial, Llangollen was conceding Golden Sheila 151bs, and now Golden Sheila is set to give Llangollen lllbs. a difference of 261bs. It is difficult to see her turning the tables on Llangollen in

this race. Llangollen is the only horse handicapped for both the Auckland Cup and Railway’ Handicap, states a Napier writer, which recalls that it is on record that in the early eighties Welcome Jack won both races in the one day and then went on to win the A.R.C. Handicap at the same meeting—a record that will possible stand for all time. Back in Work. Ajax, who has not raced since early September, has reappeared on the training track at Caulfield. It is hoped to have him tuned up for the rich Futurity Stakes in February. This seven furlongs event might be a great draw if Ajax, Manrico, High Caste, Reading, and Beaulivre were all to run —and that is a possibility. Horses Named. The three-year-old chestnut gelding by’ Full Feather from Insolence has been named In Flight, while the two-year-old chestnut filly by Nigger Minstrel from Brightmark will race as Renmark. The latter is a half sister to | Beam. Cintilla, Verdure and Kippen. ; Pasture Changes Hands. The Ellerslie owner-trainer J. C. Edmunds. who has done so well with Orate, has purchased the eight-year-old mare Pasture, by Acre from Clover Leaf. Pasture, who finished third in the Melrose Handicap at Ellerslie, is very speedy, and in her present form should not be long in repaying some of her purchase money oh the country circuit. An Incongruous Pair. Hitched alongside a galloper, the American champion trotter. Greyhound, covered a mile in two minutes, the last half-mile in 56“ secs., and it is stated that this incongruous paid were not driven out. Greyhound holds records of a mile in lmin. 55jsecs., mile and a-half in 3min. 2secs., and two miles in 4min. Gsecs. Death of Former Jockey. The death occurred in Auckland on Tuesday of the former jockey W. (Jerry) 'Wilson, who won the Great Northern Steeplechase on Sol in 1906 and Kiatere (12.13) in 1907. In his day the deceased was an accomplished jumping rider and scored many’ important successes. He served with the New Zealand Expeditionary Force in the war of 1914-18.