TURF NEWS AND NOTES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 21 December 1939, Page 11

TURF NEWS AND NOTES

CURRENT TOPICS FROM STABLE AND COURSE A Try-out for Auckland Horses SOME WAIPA FAILURES MAY DO BETTER (BY “CARBINE.”) There were ten Auckland Cup candidates engaged in the Te Awarnutu Cup but the race went to the improving three-year-old, Gladynev, who does not figure in the big Ellerslie event. Until September of this year Gladynev was a maiden performer. He opened his winning account at the Avondale meeting that month, when he won the first division of the Trial Stakes, following this up by a win in the Normanby Handicap at Ellerslie, in October. At his last start, prior to Saturday, he ran second to his stable mate Full Hand, in the Claudelands Handicap, of one mile, at the Waikato meeting. Last season five unplaced efforts were recorded against him, while this term he has earned £7OO in prize money. Balinavar and King Rey, who finished second and third to Gladynev, deserve medals for consistency. With the exception of the Spring Handicap, at Ellerslie, when he was left at the post and took no part in the race, Balinavar has never finished further back than third in all his starts, while King Rey has raced both on the flat and over hurdles, his fourth to Padishah, Aussie Ra and Charade in the Grand National Hurdles, being the only occasion on which he has finished out of the money.

Balinavar and King Rey are engaged in the Auckland Cup and it is interesting io note that Cheval de Volee, who finished second last year to Balinavar in the Te Awamutu Cup, went on to win the Auckland Cup. The Avondale Cup winner, The Cardinal, having his first race since he failed ingloriously in the Mitchelson Cup, rehabilitated himself somewhat in this event, writes “The Escort.’’ It was with a fast finishing run that he came from well back to secure fourth placing. Regarded as a real stayer, the extra distance of the Auckland Cup will be to his liking, and as he has only 7.1 to carry in that event he is now sure to advance in favour. Never in the history of the race has there been

so many Auckland Cup horses engaged in the Te Awamutu Cup as on Saturday, and it is just possible that some of those who finished out of a place at Waipa may perform better in the big event at Ellerslie. Form in the race at Waipa has not always proved a reliable guide for the Auckland Cup. Only one horse has succeeded in winning both races, that being in 1916 when the Campfire horse. .Depredation. took both events. An Unlikely Starter. Passaform is an unlikely starter in the Otago Handicap on Saturday. He prefers more yielding going than is available at present.