RACING NEWS.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 214, 10 September 1928, Page 11

RACING NEWS.

THE AVONDALE MEETING, j DECLARATION OF HANDICAPS. j 1 THE FIELDS REVIEWED. 1 The handicaps have been declared by 1 Mr. F. McManemin for the first day of ' the Avondale spring meeting, and most • attention will be centred in the AvondaleCup and the Flying Stakes. On the . whole the adjustments are equitable and should produce some fine racing. The Avondale Cup. Star Stranger has been awarded 10.0 in the Avondale Cup and is giving away from 51b to 421b to the others engaged. Last season he proved himself a good horse up to two miles. He did not start in the last Avondale Cup, and with 9.5 and 9.4, respectively, was unplaced in the Plumpton Handicap at Avondale and the Mitchelson Cup at Ellerslie. On the second day of the latter meeting, with 9.4, he dead-heated with Mask (8.12) in the King Edward Handicap, one mile and a-quarter. He was second in the Wellington Racing Club Handicap with 9.8, while Mask (9.2) was unplaced. Star Stranger was also second in the New Zealand Cup with 9.4. He was unplaced in the Auckland Cup with 9.6, but won the Auckland Racing Club Handicap, one mile and a-half, with 9.4. Going on to Wellington, he annexed the Cup, one mile and a-half, with 9.8, running the distance in 2.31, which equalled the time record for the ©vent. Mask (8.4) was unplaced in that event. At the Wellington autumn meeting he won the Trentham Gold Cup, two miles, with 9.4, in record time for Australasia. He was second in the Foley Memorial Handicap, one mile and a-quarter, at Avondale with 10.1, and annexed the Awapuni Gold Cup of similar distance with 9.2. Taking all these performances into account, he could not be let off with much leas than 10.0. Te Monanui has been given 9.9. He did not race much last season, and his best performances were in winning the Mitchelson Cup with 9.4, beating Mask (8.8), Te Kara (9.7) and Star Stranger (9.4), and the Metropolitan Handicap, one mile and a-half, at Ricarton, with 9.5. He has not raced since last Boxing Day, when he ran in the Auckland Cup. It is stat'ed it is doubtful whether he will stand a preparation. Mask won the Marangi Handicap at Wanganui in his first start last season with 8.8, and, coming on to Auckland, failed in the Avondale Cup, but later finished second in the Mitchelson Cup with 8.8 and dead-heated with Star Stranger in the A.R.C. King Edward Handicap. At the A.R.C. summer meeting he won the Grandstand Handicap, a mile and a-quarter, but it was not till the autumn that he again got on the winning list, capturing the President's Handicap of similar distance at the Auckland meeting and winning the Autumn Handicap, one mile and a-half, in which he carried 9.4. Among the unplaced division was Star Stranger, with 10.3. Mask would only need to be right to have a great say in the Avondale Cup. Beacon Light won the event two years ago, but later in the season went amiss. Last season his best performance was in running second to Te Monanui in the Metropolitan Handicap at the New Zealand Cup meeting and there were some good ones behind him. He had 8.8 on that occasion. He has not raced since last November. The Hawk, who is getting on in years, has been given 8.6, and though brilliant up to a mile, he has yet to prove his ability over a mile and a half. Te Kara won the event last year with 8.12 and has now 8.5. He is very nicely treated, but unlike last year he has not had the previous racing he had then, being prominent in events at the Auckland winter meeting and also in the Jellicoe Handicap at the Pakuranga Hunt meeting. One would like to see him have a race previous to such an important event. In The Shade (8.2) will be a fancied candidate if he is brought back from Australia. He performed well during the autumn and looked as though he would stay on all right. Black Mint won over a mile and a half at Dunedin with 8.1 J and* now has 8.2, while since then he scored over a mile at Trentham. Nukumai failed at Marton, but all the same he has to bo given a chance with 8.2 after his performances on the flat at the Wellington winter meeting during the last two years and his fine effort over a mile and a half at the Grand National meeting with 12.13 in the saddle. King Lu is not overburdened with 8.2. He showed at the summer meeting at Ellerslie that he could go a mile and a half when he finished second to Rapier in the Clifford Plate. Valkon has proved himself up to a mile and a-quarter, and with 7.13 is not at all badly treated. He is a game finisher, and should see out the distance all right 'judging by his previous efforts. Tresham is a likely proposition with 7.11. fie has had a couple of races this season, finishing second in a six-furlong event at Havvke's Bay. He won the Hawke's Bay Cup, one mile and a half, last season with 8.2, and ran the distance in 2.33 1-5. Paitonu showed good form up to a mile and a-quarter, but a better idea of his chances will be gauged after the Wanganui meeting. Corinax is looking well, and on his performances last season he has to be considered.- Goshawk won the Napier Cup, one mile and a-quarter, and the Summer Handicap, one mile, at Trentham last season, and performed well in the majority of his other starts, being second on three occasions and third once out of nine starts. Bisox has won up to a mile and a-quarter, while of those lower down, Desert Glow, who has shown ability up to two miles, 'Queen Arch, Royal Mint, Sir Archie, and Beau Cavalier may have most friends. Just now those that may appeal most are: Tresham, Black Mint, King Lu, Mask, Te Kara and Valkon.

THE FLYING STAKES,

Aussie has pride of place in the Flying Stakes with 9.13, and if that great sprinter is at his best he will take some beating with that impost after his performances last season. In the All-aged Stakes at the last Avondale meeting, which is probably the best race for reference just now, as it was decided at Avondale, he carried 9.10 and ran the distance in 1.13 1-5. He will be in demand if started. The Hawk has 9.2. At the Wellington summer meeting he beat a good field over the distance, carrying 8.11. Aussie (9.5) was second to him. He is engaged at Wanganui on Thursday. Awarere won the Railway Handicap at Ellerslie last season and later captured the Railway Handicap, six furlongs, at Avondale. He carried 9.0 and ma tt» diatom* in 1.13 --5, car.,

two-fifths of a second outside Aussie's time in the All-aged Stakes on the same day. He is one that will have to be reckoned with, seeing he is on the same mark (9.0) in the Flying Stakes. Paganelli is very fast and is not badly treated with 8.9. Bright Glow has shown good sprinting ability. At the Wellington autumn meeting she won the Suburban Handicap, six furlongs, in good style, beating Cimabue by a length, wEle Money Order, Shirley and others were unplaced. She ran the distance in 1.11, carrying 8.5, and will Lave friends if started. Benzora was a good sprinter last season, and among other races won the Shorts Handicap at Trentham with 8.9. Kingfield beat a good field in the Members' Handicap at the Auckland winter meeting. King Lu is engaged in the Cup as well as this event, and with the racing he will have had should be one of the fittest horses at Avondale. He has only to jump away as promptly as the others to have a chance. Nancy Lee was most consistent last season and had considerably more weight than the 8.3 she is called upon to carry at Avondale. She is very nicely placed and if started should run a great race. White Fang is very smart over a short course, while Silvermine is not overburdened with 8.3 after his performances last season and should go well. Lysander disappointed last season, but Staghunter was a good two-year-old, to whose prospects a better idea will be gained after the Wanganui meeting. Tea Time can also go fast, while of the others The Fox, Prodice, Lady's Boy, Prince Otto, Te Atiawa and White Wings may have most to commend them. The most fancied at present may be Aussie, Awarere, Nancy Lee, Lady's Boy, Paganelli, Silvermine and Bright Glow. ACCEPTANCES ON FRIDAY. Owners and trainers are reminded that acceptances for the Maiden Plate and all handicap events to be decided on first day of the Avondale Jockey Clubs spring meeting close at 5 p.m. next Friday with the secretary, Mr. A. J. Farquhar. SCRATCHINGS. Bahama was withdrawn from all engagements on the first day of the Avand&le meeting at 10.30 a.m. to-day.