ELLERSLIE TRACK.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIX, Issue 4, 6 January 1938, Page 18

ELLERSLIE TRACK.

A QUIET MORNING. FEW GALLOPS RECORDED. As the majority of the ho.reeß at Ellens lie are having an ea«§y time after their racing at the Auckland meeting there was very little fast work done this morning. Xo. 2 grace track was open, and the tan and sand tracks were also available. No- 2 Grass. Bronze Ora and Aero Queen reeled off half a mile in 31 4-.x, and Bronze Wing ami Master Appellant did a similar task in .>3 4--w. Olembroney got to the end of five furlongs in 1.5. while Bronze Lady strode over a round, taking 40 4-aa for her last three furlongs. White Foam went freely over half a mile in 30 3-.V. the first furlong taking j 12 2-js. Over the same distance United took 52 1-ds. He went frotu a standing start. On the tan track Rereatu finished a useful task by running his last half-mile in 545. This gelding is working quite soundly again. MAY RACE AT TRENTHAM. The maiden three-year-old Play On came through his two races at the Auckland meeting in good style, and he will be all the better for the experience. He was up against strong opposition; nevertheless, his displays were encouraging for a novice. Play On has been entered for minor events at the Wellington meeting and will probably leave for Trentham at the beginning 1 of next week. VICTORY WAS OVERDUE. The win registered by Star Artist in the Plunket Handicap at Ellerslie was overdue, as the daughter of Leighton has not won a race for just on twelve months. A feature of her victory was the solid style in which she finished over the final stages of the race, which was run in fast time. She was produced in rare fettle by. A. J. Julian, and now that she has struck form further successes are Mkeljrto come her way. RAN UP TO FORM. Although she failed to win a race. Kilonsa ran right up to her best in the Christmas and Goodwood Handicaps, finishing a close third in both events. This mare seldom runs a bad race, and as she is very fit she should not be long off the winning list. Sow that the country meetings are approaching there will be plenty of races to suit Kilonsa, and if she fails to pay her way no excuses can be made for her. . „ • PERFORMED CONSISTENTLY. It is a great pity" that Trench Fight is not a sound horse, or he would have a great deal better record than he has. He was always in the picture in the Christmas Handicap and. went on to win well. His next effort was in the King's Plate on the second day, and he was right up with the leaders at the turn, C'ourtcraft being the only one to finish in frout of him. Trench Fight is a fine-looking horse, and if taken to Trentham he allots id'again prove hard to beat. ) . I NEARING HIS BEST. Francis Drake was a good two-year-old last season, and in the spring he was taken to Australia with P. Davis' team, but he failed to reproduce his form. Since his return he has only had a couple of races, and he has performed wefl in each of them. His first start was at Woodviile last month, where he won the'; open sprint on the | second day, and he was then brought to Ellerslie for the Auckland summer meet-! ing. He was saddled up for the Royal Stakes on the lasit day and was just beaten fox second place. Francis. Drake will do better if taken to Trentham. HAS GOOD PROSPECTS. When Cheval de. Voice acted aa runnerup to Aw liiowhio in the Waitemata Handicap he was having his first test over a mile and a quarter, au»i came through it well. He finished better than anything else in the race over the last furlong, and would have won tn a few more strides. At his next appearance Chevai de Yolee scored decisively over a mile and later ran a solid race in the Grey Handicap, run over the same distance. Summed up on his Ellerslie form Cheval de Volee looks a good prospect on the country circuit, where the class may not be so formidable. SECOND IN RAILWAV. Ben Braggie was only entered for one race at the Auckland summer meeting, and that was the Railway Handicap, in which be ran second to Strecto. He was always handy, and once in line made an effort to catch Stretto. but the latter beat him comfortably at the finish. However, she was in receipt of 17541b, ami he did well. Ben Braggie is a fine sprinter, but apparently he does not stand too much racing. He will probably be next seen out at the Wellington summer meeting, and as he has previously won on that course he will not be neglected if started. WILL DO BETTER. Pirate King only had one race at the Auckland summer meeting, and that was when be finished third to Haerepo and Te Monowai in the County Handicap, seven furlongs, on the third day. This was only | his second start this season, his previous I effort being at the Waipa summer meeting ; at Te Awamutu last month, when he was fourth to Te Monowai. Miss Te Koura and . Strathire in the Kihikihi Handicap, »ix furlongs. Last season Pirate King proved himself a good galloper, winning two events j out of half a dozen, starts, and he should be worth keeping in mind for forthcoming events. | " A PROSPECTIVE HURDLER. | When Padishah finished third in the Grandstand Handicap on the final day at Ellerslie the effort was a good one. as he was a long way back in the middle staget of the race. In each/of his outings at the meeting Padishah drifted badly during the first halt of the journey, which handicapped him considerably;- as it left hint with a lot of ground to make up. Present intentions to start Padishah in the Wellington Cup next Tuesday week, and later he will be given an opportunity to make'good" as a hurdler. He is the ideal type for a j-jmper and should have a bright future in that department. - - — _

IN NEW QUARTERS. The Gieborne-owned gelding Quilp, who came over from Git borne with W. Goeoomb'e team, is now attached to R. S. Bagby'a stable at E Herts He. AN IMPROVED HACK. Although beaten into second place in the Ellerslie Handicap, Ohmaha ran a fine race. It was his first real test over a mile, and. judged by the manner ip. which he ran out the distance, he is not lacking in stamina. Ohmaha only commenced racing this spring, and as he has been improving all the time more money looks assured for him, for there is no doubt about his speed. HAD EVERY CHANCE. Orate had every chance in the Bowen Handicap on the final day at Ellerslie. but was not good enough. He began with bis usual brilliancy and looked like winning at the home but third was the best he could do. Although not in the first flight. Orate is a smart sprinter, who should be better suited at the country meetings, particularly on a turning track. HER TURH WILL COME. Melvanui was responsible for a creditable performance in the Grey Handicap on Monday, when she beat all but Land Girl, and aa early win looks assured for her. The daughter of Te Monanui has plenty of pace, and now that she is staying on better her prospects look much brighter. She is a solid-looking filly, who is unlikely to be troubled with a bit of weight, and ae she is in great heart her owner should be able to place her to advantage during the next tew months. GOING FAVOURED HIM. With the going a shade easier on the final day of the Auckland meeting Royal Appellant ran a great race in the Grandstand Handicap. He had a bit of ground to make up over the last five furlongs and finished very resolutely to beat all but Round Up. Royal Appellant has been a bit unlucky this season, but no fault can be found with his condition. It would be pleasing to see his trainer, J. M. Buchanan, rewarded with a win. for he has been very patient with the gelding. DAUGHTER OF BEAU PERE. Peerless, who won -the Welcome Stakes and the Pioneer Handicap at Riccarton in November, was given two races at the Auckland summer fixture. She was well supported in the Great Northern Foal Stakes and began quickly, but then dropped back. However, she stayed on to get third position. In the Royal Stakes she was standing up Te Hero a good start at the home turn, and though she had no chance with him she beat the rest, though only narrowly. Peerless, who is by Beau Pere. is a nice-looking tilly. who should do good service for Mr. R. j. Murphy before her racing career is over. FROM A GOOD FAMILY. Marie's Ac-re's form" at the Auckland summer meeting was the best he has so far shown. He was started in the Railway Handicap and ran an exceptionally good race to get third. His next appearance was in the Newmarket Handicap on the third day, when he occupied a similar position. On both occasions he failed to l jump away quickly, but he finished on in [ great style. This c-olt comes from a great ; family, for his half-sister, Gay Blonde, won the Railway Handicap anil the Great Northern Derby. Gay Sheila and Gay Sbeik were also good performers in the Dominion. Marie's A*tre should go on to win good class races this season. AUSTRALIAN-BRED. Calorie, an Australian-bred tilly by Caledon from Lady Rawson. who was purchased by hec owner, Mr. Norman Wade, iat the last Easter sales in Sydney, has shown consistently good form during the | last few weeks, and she looks as though she will turn out well above the average. At the recent Takapuna meeting she ran ! third to Te Hero and Avakur. while her next efforts were at the Auckland summer meeting, where she started twice. In the Midsummer Handicap on the third dayshe was only beaten by half a length by Hot Box. while in the Sylvia Handicap on the last day she was third to Hot Box and Bright Wings. FAILED TO RUN ON. Grateful won so well at Te Awamutu last month that he was expected to reproduce that form at Ellerslie during the summer meeting. In the Summer Cup he led all the way to the straight, but tailed to go on with it. his stable companion. Round l"p. then taking charge to score decisively from Dark Shadow, who was second to Grateful at Te Awamutu. On the last day in the Grandstand Handicap he and Day 1 Wind were in the van till the home turn. : but again Round Up came through to go on and win. while the other pair were J unplaced. The fast times registered by , Round l"p tor a mile and a quarter were due to Grateful, who should be on the ; winning list again shortly, for he is a good : galloper. :