Fine Fields For Meeting At Ellerslie

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 303, 23 December 1939, Page 12

Fine Fields For Meeting At Ellerslie

Catalogue Well Fancied For The Cup: Glance At Latest Form

The summer carnival at Ellerslie is the biggest fixture of its kind in the Dominion and the meeting, which opens on Tuesday, promises to be highly successful provided the weather is. fine. Excellent fields have been attracted, and in one instance, the Robinson Handicap, the acceptors are so numerous that the event will have to be divided. Class is well represented and horses from various parts of the North Island and from as far south as Riccarton are engaged. The course and enclosures are at their best, and if the weather holds there should be some fast times recorded. Betting will be on the win and place system.

The Auckland Ctip is the principal event of the day, and the field is a good allround one. Catalogue, the top-weight with 9.3, is not set by any means an impossible task, for Nelson, with 9.8 and 9.12 respectively, and Wairiki and Rapine with 9.8, have all won. Cuddle, the second time she scored, carried the fame impost as Catalogue is allotted. The lattpr won the Melbourne Cup two years ago with 8.4, and was Btated to be very unlucky in the iast Melbourne Cup, in which he had 9.0. He is a very fit horse. Golden has excellent form over middle distances till she injured herself at le Rapa, anil is stated to be an unlikely starter. Flood Tide has performed well U P to a mile and a half and has been working well at Takanini during the last week. King Rey. Sly Fox and Llangollen have all won over twiddle distances, while Royevrus was successful in the last Mitchelson Cup, one mile and a half. Cheval de Volee won the race last year, but his form this term has not been very striking. Dictate looks a very fit horse, and his two thirds in the last Auckland and New Zealand Cups envisage good prospects for him. The Cardinal, who won the Avondale Cup, was finishing on strongly at Te Awamutu in fourth place, and, being bred to stay, he is likely to take a hand in the finish. Of the others Pern, despite the fact that he has no forin this season, galloped so well on Thursday that he is one of the most likely of the lightweights. The chief fancies may be: Catalogue, Dictate. The Cardinal. The Railway Handicap is the chief sprint race of the day, and there are some smart sprinters engaged. Suleiman and Orate both carry weight well, while good reports art to hand from Wanganui regarding Amigo. Disdain scored last year and is. in good condition to make another attempt to win. Our Jean and Bronwen have raced very consistently, while the bracket _ Orelio and Arvakur, after the form displayed this season, and their recent track work, will be in demand. Farland, Blonde Princess and Olympus also have prospects, but most money may go on the Orelio-Arvakur bracket. Disdain and Our Jean. < Run at Speeial Wslthts. The Queen's Plate is a hack event run at special weights, and Proud Fox, who is one of the successful Foxbridge three--1 year-olds, is nicely placed at 8.0, for he has -won three events this season, the last being the Hack Cup, nine furlongs, at Te Awamutu last Saturday. Serenata ran third in that event, and through the allowance to mares meets Proud Fox. on 51b better terms. Meadow and Foxtoon followed Royal Tray home in the Pupuke Plate at Ellerslie last month. The former has raced most consistently this term, while Fo*toon has won up to a mile. Native Chief has started twice this season and was not beaten, the distance being five and six furlongs respectively at Poverty Bay. Great Swoop and Millament were also successful over the distance this season. The favourites may be: Proud Fox, Serenata, Meadow. At Trenthnm last October. Clarion Call won the Rona Hurdles with 12.1, after being narrowly defeated on the opening day of the meeting. He has 12.7 in the Grafton Hurdles on Tuesday, but he should go a good race for he looks well. Ureklaw has won at each of his three starts over hurdles, the last being at Ellerslie, where he won by over four lengths. Mio Lume has only been produced once this season, and that was when he won the Grey Lynn Hurdles at Avondale. Lapidarian has proved himself at Ellerslie, and Hopalong won at Te Awamutu last Saturday. -A trio that may be in request is: Clarion Call, Ureklaw, Mio Lume.

Two-year-old form this season is very mixed, and after her good efforts in the South, where she won the McLean Stakes at Dunedin and the Welcome Stakes at Riccarton, Doria is likely to be well sought after in the Great Northern Foal Stakes. She is a racy-lookingfilly by Iliad from Princess Doreen, a Winter Cup winner; Queen City, who copies from the flame familr a* Limarch, Birthday Boy, Te Kara and many other good ones, won the Welcome Stakes at Ellerslie in October, and in her last start was a close third to Happicoat and Phaleron in the Cambria Handicap. She galloped well on Thursday. Phaleron lias started three times for a win and a second. He was troubled with slight soreness recently, but it is wear ing off, and if he goes to the post he has prospects. Lovaab won the Avondale Stakes, but has since been beaten in her only other start —the Welcome Stakes at Ellerslie. Lou Rosa won well at Te- Rapa, I while Cheddington. despite that he was unplaced' in his only start, has improved a good deal. He will only need to begin smartly to have a first-class chance, as he has a lot of speed. Harmony, Kentucky, Grandora and Ringcraft are possibilities. It is stated Nightbeam is unlikely to run. The best backed may be: Queen City, Doria, Cheddington. Will B« Divided. The Robinson Handicap will be run in divisions. In the first Bronze Moth, Veritable, Cornish, Perillus, Pasture and Spinning Wheel seem to have the best prospects, while Omapo has worked well since his arrival and is a very likely improver. Bronrje Moth and Cornish may have most support. t ln the second division Odtaa and Great Swoop are likely to carry a good deal of money, Penzance, Tea Gong and Royal Message are all winners, and Kilcash, Stnrbriglit_an<l Indian Sun have been in the money. Odtaa and Great Swoop may be the chief fancies.

The Christmas Handicap, the final event of the day, has attracted some good milcrs. H«mily is in great order, and Paddy the Rip is likely to be a better horse after his race at Waipa. ?loorsotis was* a winner at Riccarton over the distance, while Silver Quex, Baran, Full Hand and Sunola appeal most of the others. The public may go for: Moorsotis, Paddy the Rip and Baran. The acceptances are:— PLATE of £500. Hack conditions. Special weights. One mile. Hutana . . . S » Meadow ... 8 0 White Foam S 4 Native Chief 8 0 Buccaneer . 8 0 Proud Fox . 8 0 Foxtoon ..80 Foxsen ... 7 9 Great Swoop 8 C Millainent . 7 9 High Crown 8 0 Serenata ..79 12.30 —GRAFTON HURDLES of £450. Two miles. Clarion Call 12 7 Celtic Lad . 9 10 Ureklaw ... 11 0 Hopalong ..94 Mio Lume .10 7 Lapidarian . U 2 Inness Lad .10 2 Knight of Pyrenees . . 10 0 Australia . 9 2 Mia Acrea . 10 0 I.2O—GREAT NORTHERN FOAL STAKES of £1000. For two-year-olds. Colts and geldings 8.10, fillies 8.5. Six furloags. Ascot Bloom 8 10 Ringcraft . 810 Beau Leon . 8 10 Sir Cameron 8 10 Cheddington 810 Stratford . 810 Cillas .... 8 10 Worton ... 8 10 Grandora . . 8 10 Doria .... 8 5 Kentucky . 810 Harmony ..85 Lou Rosa . 8 10 Lovaals ..85 Nigntbeam . 8 10 Oragon ... 8 5 Phaleron . 810 Queen City 8 5 Rich Blood 8 10 ...Brackets: Cheddington and Worton, Nightbeam and Stratford. 2.IS—AUCKLAND CUP of £2950 and Gold Cup value £50. Two miles. Catalogu'J . 9 3 Balinavar . 7 7 Goldci Dictate ... 7 5 Sheila ... 8 12 Tlie Cardinal 7 1 Flood Tide . 8 3 Beverley ..70 King Hey . 8. 1 Bonstar ..70 Sly H'ox ..81 Fils de Vaals 7 0 Llangollen . 8 1 Pern .... 7 0 Koyevrus . . 7 10 Poland ... 7 0 Cheval de Scotland ..70 Voice ... 7 9 Brackets: Royevrus and Bon Star, Cheval de Volee and Fils de Vaals. 3.S—ROBINSON HANDICAP of £500. Seven furlongs. Flrat Division: Bronte Moth 9 2 Cornish ... f 7 Anion ..... 8 12 Lady Fox ..77 Veritable . . 8 tt Flying Vixen 7 7 Silver Stick 8 7 Paint ... 7 7 Spinning Hackenschtnidt 7 7 Whe jl ... 8 5 British Talent 7 7 Periling ... 8 1 Hot Shot .77 Sir Robin . . 7 8 Wyndora ..77 Pfesture ..77 Omaiio ... 7 7 MUanlon ~77 Second Division: Odtaa .... 9 1 Lady Acushla 7 7 Great Swoop 8 12 Gay Movie . 7 7 Penzance ..88 Kilcash ... 7 7 Tea Cong ..85 Indian Sun . 7 7 Royal Royal Message ..82 Huntress . 7 7 Starbright 711 Philemup ..77 Maloro ... 7 7 Gold Petal .77 Trevace ... 77 Stylist ... 7 7 Brackets: Pasture and Gold Petal, Tellsoni and Milanion, Maioro and Cornish, Trevace and Lady Fox, Lady Acushla and Flying Vixen, Gay Movie and Paint,' Kilcash and Hackenscbmldt, Indian Sun and British Talent, Royal Huntress and Hot Shot, Philemup and Wyndora and Stylist and Omapf>. 3.SS—RAILWAY HANDICAP of £1000. Six furlongs. Suleiman 9 0 Olympus ..74 Orate ... 9 5 Arvnknr ... 7 3 Paper Slipper 9 2 Blond« Amigo ... 833 Princess .71 Farland . . 8 13 Foxmond ..70 Dlsdai'i ... 8 5 Konneta ..70 Our Jean ..82 Miss Te Koura 7 0 Uronwen . . 7 13 Palustre ..70 Orelio .... 7 7 Bracket: Orelio and Arvakur. 4.40— NURSERY HANDICAP of £400. • Two-year-olds. Five furlongs. Calula Boy . 8 2 Worton ... 7 7 Happicoat . 7 12 Mysito ... 7 7 Dinky Dl . . 7 12 Celoaia ... 7 7 Water Hound 7 12 Rue de Palx 7 7 Bournemouth 712 Gay Miss ..77 Horeke ... 7 9 Lady Bloater 7 5 Tavern Gay 7 '8 Belle Femme 7 5 Gold Money Golden Bonnet 7 2 Song ... 7 8 Night Pilot 7 2 Mardiiall Hall 7 7 Auburn Lad 7 0 Royal Descent 7 7 Bure Pay ..70 Red Warden 7 7 Money Spinner 7 0 S.3O—CHRISTMAS HANDICAP o£ £450. One mile. Homily ... 8 7 Spartan ..78 Paddy the Rip 8 7 Land Girl .77 Moorsotis . 8 6 Mlntlaw ..76 Baran ... 8 6 Dark Shadow 7 6 Kathbella 8 6 Armacourt .74 Pirate King 8 5 Sunola ... 7 4 Silver Quex 8 1 Fidelis ... 7 2 Full Hand ..81 Gay Broney 7 0 Philcourt ..80 Mou Acre . 7 0 Beau Repaire 7 9

Cnlula Boy and Happicoat have previously proved successful at Elleralie, and they may claim most attention in the AurseryHandicap, an event for two-year-olds. Lady Bloater, Belle Femme and Money Spinner have been in the money, while Worton and Gold Money Song have shown promise in their work. A preference may be shown for: Happicoat, 1 Calula Boy, Lady Blotter. '