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Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 304, 26 December 1939, Page 10

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RED FLUSH, UENUKU.

BILL B.'S SLIGHT MISHAP.

| EPSOM TRACK OPERATIONS. Two of the Auckland Centennial Gold Ti'ottini Cup favourites, Red Flush and Uenuku, arrived at Alexandra Park yesterday morning and attracted considerable attention. Both horses bear a well-trained appearance. Uenuku, having lost a little superfluous flesh in tlie interim, is in better racing trim now than he was at Claudelands on December y. The American-bred stallion Bill 8., another popular fancy tor I'lle big event, gave himseif a slight knock while workon Saturday, and yetteuday lie was tender in a knee joint. After treatment he was worked the reverse way round on both the dirt and grass tracks and pulled up all right. The poles were 50fr out on the grass, and Bill 8., after going very leisurely over a mile, covered another half-mile on the bit in 1.9. Actually, none of the Cup horses were given a serious task, but Marlene gained many friends by the manner in which she covered the Cup distance with Token. She ran two miles in 4.17 4-5. when she finished second fo Cheat Jewel on the fast Addington dirt track in November, and -Mr. U. J. Barton, wiio saw her race there, is of the opinion that she will be hard to beat. Mr. Barton expected to be represented in the Cup by Hoieepower, but the nomination went astray. However, the bi<i chestnut is here and will compete on the second and third days of the meeting.

Mr. <J. S. Donald, owner -trainer erf Marlene, Mr. Freeman ("Free") Holmes, who it is reported will drive Milestone in liis engagements, and a number of trotting cnthuiasts from the South Island are expected to arrive by 'plane to-morrow morning to augment the already strong representation. There was an exceptionally large gathering 01 spectators at t/he Pank before 6 a.m. yesterday, and within an hour of that time so many more men aDd women arrived that a stranger could have been pardoned for flunking that a regular race meeting was in program. The Australian champion Lawn Derby gave a peat exhibition of pacing under restraint, hie last half-mile taking 1.6 3-3, but from the point of view of selecting probable winners, as a result of yesterday's track effort's, the palm might well be given to Cavalryman, Double Peter, Peter Smith, Molly Direct and Air Pilot. Cavalryman, after covering the last halfmile of his work last week in 1.7, improved to record 1.6, soing in gveat style over the concluding stapes. Peter Smith, looking nil the better for his successful racing at Claudclands earlier in the month, had no difficulty in defeating Xawton Parris'n over a mile in 2.18, the last half taking 1.6 3-3, while Double Peter was much too good for Radio Queen at the end of a mile and a half run in 3.30, the final half-mile in 1.7. Double Peter raced below expectations at Waikato, but should do better here. Molly Direct, a veiy fit pacer, went easily ovr a few furlongs, and then recorded 1.6 3-5 for a half-mile, while Air Pilot trotted a mile and a quarter in great style, lecording 3.5 and 1 13.