STABLE AND TRACK NOTES.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVIII, Issue 48, 26 February 1937, Page 12

STABLE AND TRACK NOTES.

WON ALL THE WAY. Flanimarion marked his reappearance after several months' absence by beating his opponents all the way in the Mangapapa Handicap at Woodville on Monday. He has been troubled by soreness, but he was good enough to beat a moderate lot first up. Flanimarion is brilliant, and if he stands up to his training he should show up again before long. A GOOD RECORD. Gold Rod's success in the Caulfleld Futurity Stakes last Saturday was the ninth to New Zealand-bred horses. The previous winners were Gladsome (1905), Soultline (1908), The Hawk (1922), Father's Voice (1925), Phar Lap (1931), Ammon Ra (1932), Gaine Carrington (1933), and Synagogue, dead-heat for first (1935). HAD LITTLE EXPERIENCE. After several months' spell from racing Baekblock is due to reappear at the Franklin meeting to-morrow week. This novice has been getting through his work in a satisfactory manner at Ellerslie, but may need a few races before he is at his best. Backblock comes from a noted racing family, and, as he is only a four-year-old and has had little experience, there is ample time for him to make good. REPORTED TO BE GOOD. Sailing Lady, winner of the Awarua Handicap at Winton on Saturday, is reported to be a filly a good deal above the average. Trained by A. McKenzie, who prepared The Smuggler to win a Great Autumn Handicap, Sailing Lady c? a by Lord Warden from Set Sail, twice winner of the Invercargill Cup. Set Sail waa bred by Dr. J. E. Rogers, and she was by Solferino, from Strathpeffer, by Birkenhead from Ideal, by Dreadnought. ON THE IMPROVE. The latest track efforts of Te Hai have been good, and clearly indicate that he is returning to form. Yesterday morning he went exceptionally well in a gallop over five furlongs on the No. 1 grass track, cutting out the distance in fast time, and he will only need to reproduce the same speed in public in order to win races. Te Hai figures among the entries for the Pukekohe Handicap at the Franklin meeting, and if he goes to the post he will not lack support. MAY MEET AT TRENTHAM. Francis Drake is reported to be looking better than ever, and his work at Woodville has been pleasing his connections. Mr. Frank Armstrong's colt will be seen out in the North Island Challenge Stakes, to be run at Trentham next month. It is possible that this race will bring together the North Island's best colt and Haughty Winner, who is at present recognised as the best colt in the South Island. Should Francis Drake and Haughty Winner meet their respective weights will be 7.12 and 7.7. ENGAGED NEXT WEEK. Since racing at the Takapuna meeting nothing of a strenuous nature has been required of Knight of Australia, who is thriving on the tasks allotted him. He i« not engaged at Te Aroha, and his next outing will be in the Franklin Cup, of one mile and 3 quarter, to be run tomorrow week, The Windbag gelding put up a good performance when he won the Takapuna Cup, and if the going happens to be easy at Pukekohe next week hie prospects cannot be disregarded. BRED AT RICCARTON. Silver River, who won the County Handicap at Woodville on Saturdav, was bred at Riccarton by Mr. A. Louieson, who disposed of him as a yearling for 95gns to Mr. C. P. Haldane, ctf Hawke's Bav. This winner, who returned the best dividend of the day, is a three-vear-old gelding by Roydon, from Starmist, bv Autumnus, sire of the dam of Wild Chase, from Stardancer, bv Martian — Stepdancer, by Stepniak—Pibroch. Mr. A. Louisson has Daymist, a two-year-old half-sister by Niarhtmarch to Silver River, in training at Riccarton. TWO ST. LEGER CANDIDATES. Martara will probably make his next appearance at the Rangitikei meeting next week in the open sprint, savs a Southern writer. After that he will be prepared for the New Zealand St. Leger at Trentham, where Wild Chase is almost certain to be a runner. The manner in which the Riccarton colt won the Dunedm Cup leaves little doubt that he will be able to travel the St. Leger distance, and appearances point strongly to his being the first Paper Money to win over a mile and three-quarters. GOOD TRIAL BY SHY. The Herries Memorial Cup candidate Shy was responsible for an attractive workout over a round at Ellerslie yesterday morning, and it is evident that the racing he had at Te Rapa did him no harm. The time registered for the circuit was the best recorded for some time, and the gallop will gain Shy additional friends for his engagement* at Te Aroha to-morrow. A« the chestnut gelding has previously shown his ability to run out a mile and a quarter the extra furlong attached to the big race to-morrow should not seriously trouble him. FUTURE LOOKS BRIGHT. Smoke Screen will probably not get so much of the limelight as Courtcraft, but his performance on the second day at Woodville was equally good, if not better (says a Southern writer). He carried 9.5, as against 8.1 on Courtcraft, and the latter had no Geira to catch. Smoke Screen, of course has had more experience, but not a great deal more, and he also had an interrupted period in his preparatio after the turn of the year. Whatever befalls til's pair of Limonds as two-year-olds they certainly give great promise for the future.