RACING NEWS.

Auckland Star, Volume LVIII, Issue 235, 5 October 1927, Page 13

RACING NEWS.

STABLE AND TRACK NOTES. . .3/' * (By WHALEBONE.) Piuthair, Royal Lineage, Clarinda, Goshawk, The Hawk, White Fang, Penman, and Merry Mint have been nominated for events at the V.R.C. spring meeting. T Rafferty and Glenlight, pleased the track-watchers by their good display over the big fences yesterday morning at headquarters. They are both engaged in the Hunter's Steeplechase to be run next Saturday and should perform well. Master Doon sprinted up to his best form over four furlongs on the outside of the course proper at Ellerslie yesterday. The brown gelding is in great heart and will be hard to beat in any event that he is started in on Saturday next at Ellerslie. Odin wan tried over a couple of hurdles yesterday morning at Ellerslie and jumped boldly, shaping as though he had been quite used to the game. He is from that good" jumper, Konra, and that possibly accounts for his appitude for the game. Glenlight, fenced really well at headquarters yesterday morning in a schooling task over the big fences, including the hill. He has improved in condition •ince he last raced and appears to be jumping with a. lot more confidence than he previously displayed. Glenotus gave a clever jumping exhibition over the big fences at Ellerslie yesterday. He took every fence alike And never made a mistake, and promises to have a lot of friends when he is saddled up to contest the Onehunga Steeples at Ellerslie on Monday next. Laughing Prince beat Ruanui very comfortably at Ellerslie yesterday morning over six furlongs, running the distance in 1.21 1-5. He won the Avondale Guineas in good style, and is sure to 'be tin demand for the Great Northern Guineas on Saturday. Edifice, gave a much improved display over the big fences during a schooling bout at headquarters yesterday morning. His jumping still leaves room for improvement, while he does not appear likely to attain the same distinction as Wharncliffe, who is a full brother to him. Karamu has not been schooled since lie scored in the hurdle race on the first day at the Avondale meeting. However, h« is working in good style on the Hat and looks an improved horse. He will contest the Manukau Hurdles on the concluding day of the Auckland spring meeting. Lord Guy has improved in condition ?«siyrjnach during the last few weeks ana. is now getting quite solid looking. He was given a run over a few furlongs on the outside of the course proper at EUttslie yesterday morning, and although not ridden out he impressed by his bold style of galloping. Te Monanui has been working very pleasingly during the last week, and gailoped a strong round outside the trestles on the course proper at Ellerslie yesterday. He carried more weight than 15es6rt Glow, who was associated with hira during the gallop, and gained a lot of friends by the way in which he completed his task. Te Monanui looks greatly improved with the race he had at the Avondale meeting, and will strip ih much better condition for the Mitchelson Cup next Saturday. .What promised to be a good performance over the steeplechase fences yesterday morning was spoilt, when Mangani swerved around to the mile pofct after he had cleared the old water jump, owing to the bit breaking. He had been fencing in rare style until the mishap -occurred and would have given his companions something to do to head him off, besides which the run over the hill would have been something in his favour in view of his race in the Hunters Steeplechase on Saturday next. .0" Saturday morning at Wanaranui, Civility, who has arrived to fulfil her engagements at the Auckland spring meeting. wa9 sent over five furlongs on 1 grass track, the reverse way round. Yt ith Jv Head in the saddle she got away well to run to the end of the first crMrter in 255. The next furlong took 12 2-os, making 37 2-5s for the three nnd she covered the half mile in 49 2-ss, running to the end of her journey in 1.2 2-ss. As she finished full of running *hc should be well up in her engagements here if the going is firm. Nippy, Le Choucas and Prince Humphrey claim engagements at the Wellington spring meeting; in fact, they are the only three Aucklanders entered. Th<> shifting of the dates forward of the Auckland Racing Chtb this year has reflected itself in the WelDington nominations, for usually there are quite a few northerners anxious to test out their horses prior to the Auckland spring meeting. Now the position is reversed, the Auckland meeting coming before the Wellington fixture. One is inclined to believe that, despite the fact that the move was made to assist the Canterbury Jockey Club, quite a number of prominent North Island horses will have had nearly enough racing for a time before the New Zealand Cup meeting rolls round and in consequence the entries may not be up to expectations for Riocarton events. Several youngsters shaped well in the trials at Victoria Park, Sydney, on September 25. However, easily the best performance was registered by the New Zealnnder. Ridgcmount. Owned by his Ju'ccdcr,, Mr. W. G. Stead, Ridgemount u a well-built colt, by imported Leighton from Lalla Rookh. and, therefore, a la If-brother to Poetaster. He contested i lie eighth heat, which was restricted to eo,ts, and led his four opponents throughout to win by five lengths. He van the half-mile in 48Js, and he could have reduced the time had he been hard pressed. Mr. Stead's colours were also curried to victory in the fourth heat, by Pari, a nicely shaped colt by Leighton from The Cassock. This youngster is a half-brother to The Monk, Almoner, and a number of other useful gallopers. He also scored rather 'axily, and ran the distance in 50|?. E.;e'.i bora* wp.s •: •!y J. Barry,

Grand Knight, who has arrived at Ellerslie, is looking exceptionally well, and did steady pace work on the sand this morning. Grand Knight, Wild Pigeon, Shot Silk, Tresham, Civility, Paleta, Kiosk, Romantic, Manly and Anchor have arrived at Ellerslie to fulfil engagements at the A.R.C. spring meeting. Suggestion has been entered for forthcoming spring events, including the Wellington and Carterton meeting. He has not raced since he won the Wairarapa Cup in January of last year. Lysander continues to go along the right way at Ellerslie, and he should be hard to dispose of the first time he is seen out. He ran four furlongs very nicely at Ellerslie yesterday morning. J. Cammick will ride Delightment, Envoy, Respirator, Sleepy Sol, Nassock, and Serang at the Auckland spring meeting, and H. Lee will pilot Desert Glo\f, Finelli, Value and Prodice. Gala Day seems to thrive on racing, and since lie won at the Avondale meeting he has been getting through serviceable work at Ellerslie. He should give a good account of himself at the forthcoming spring meeting. Damaris won the Wanganui Guineas, and since then was raced in the Henderson Handicap at the Avondale meeting. The conditions were not in her favour, but she promises to strip very fit when the Great Northern Guineas field is paraded. Yesterday she ran a good sis furlongs at Ellerslie. —— » It was stated in Sydney last week that an offer of 6000 guineas was made for Winalot, who subsequently ran second in the A.J.C. Derby. The offer was refused, but probably the exceptional circumstances of the ownership of the colt, rather than an opinion that he was worth more, was the cause. Winalot was raced by the late Mr. Harry Chisholm, who left his horses as part of the estate to be "divided" in the terms of his will. Thus Winalot is raced by "the executors of the late Mr. H. Chisholm." Avant Courier, for whom Mr. E. M. Pearce paid 5300 guineas as a yearling (a record for Australasia), won his first race at Moonee Valley on September 24, when he annexed the first division ot the Merrie Handicap. If Avant Courier can emulate Epilogue, who won a division of this race last season, he will prove a paying proposition to his owner. Epilogue won the V.R.C. St. Leger. Star d'Or, who won the other division last year, performed well in later spring events. Avant Courier is a full brother of Valicare, and his victory must have pleased his owner, who spares no expense at yearling sales. On Saturday last Avant Courier ran third in the V.R.C. October Handicap. AVONDALE JOCKEY CLUB. At a meeting of the committee of tlio Atdndale Jockejf Club yesterday the following transfers were approved:— Duniblane from H. Friedlander to C. H. Shiel '(Dunedin), br c by The Vederer— Sarah Allgood from John Donald to F. Bristol (Wanganui). Ten new members fleeted.

SCRATCHINGS.

The following scratching liavc boon announced for th© Auckland spring meeting:—Singleton for the Great Northern Guineas at 10.25 a.m., and Tea Miss and Teri for all engagements at 10.50 a.m. to-day.

WAIKATO HUNT CLUB.

In the list of nominations for 1 lie Waikato Hunt Club meeting. Captain Cobham and Kinsr's Guard were wrongly included in the Bardowie Handicap, and they should be among the entries for the Bruntwood Handicap.

. DEATH OF VALAIS.

MOST PROMINENT SIRE IN AUSTRALIA. SYDNEY, this day. The thoroughbred sire, Valais, is dead. Although heavily insured, his death means the loss of many thousands of nounds to his owners.

MERRY MINT S DEFEAI.

HAWKESBURY SPRING HANDICAP. Merry Mint, one of the favourites for the A.J.C. Derby, disappointed his admirers in the Hawkesbury Spring Handicap on September 24 (says the Sydney "Sun"). He tired after reaching the straight, but his failure does not seriously discount his chance in the covetcd Blue Riband. Merry Mint's trainer, J. M. Cameron, had visited Hawkesbury racecourse on Friday to see whether the state of the track was suitable for a horse which had just recovered from leg trouble. His report to the gelding's owner, Mr. L. G. Clare, was favourable, and it was decided to allow Merry Mint to take his place in the field. His favouritism was assured, but as he had suffered a break in his preparation it was not surprising that the plunge which had characterised both his wins in Sydney was missing on this occasion. Both the gelding's forelegs were bandaged. Bartle took up a nice position with Merry Mint early in the race, and at the six furlongs he was behind only Drawbridge, Kalloni, and Night Heron. Kalloni headed a bunch comprising Drawbridge, Merry Mint, and Rosso at the half-mile, but when Merry Mint ran up second to Kalloni nearing the home-turn his admirers were confident of success. Just as quickly their hopes were dashed to the ground. The Derby candidate could not come on, and his rideiv obviously did not knock him about in the run home. • Taken on its face value, Merry Mint's performance was not too impressive, but it had its redeeming points. His tiring in the straight may be attributed to the fact that as his trainer had been forced to give him an easy week on the track he was in need of the run, not forgetting that the course was dry and hard. Further, he was burdened with 121b above weight-for-age, and recognised good judges expressed the opinion before the race that had he been successful he would have been a good thing for the Derby.