TURF-TOPICS

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 1, Issue 23, 12 June 1939, Page 2

TURF-TOPICS

THE AUCKLAND MEETING On Saturday June 3. Ellerslie was resplendent in all its glory, and p&L rons of racing assembled in numbers. The racing brought forth several genuine among which were the victories of Royal Appellant in the Cornwall Handicap and Gay Seton in the Members' Handicap. Although trained on the Ellers lie course Royal Appellant's track work recently could not have been of an outstanding nature, for the resultant dividend was nearly a third of a century. The owner 1 . Dr Pezaro, probably threw in for a good win, while the Buchanan stable were ua., turally in high glee after the event, In the opening event, the Green., lane Steeples, John Charles upheld his recent Manawatu form and won in good style. Benefited materially by his race at Te Rapa the Little England gelding, London, ran a creditable second, and may do better before the winter has much further advanced. The division winners in the Jervois Handicap, Vaalso and Veritable, were the means of their backers receiving very remunerative dividends. Veritable wa s coupled with Erlick and the runner-up Ivaspian j with Midland, .so there was rather a wide distribution of money over this race. The Penrose Hurdles went to the very consistent performer Loombina. tion owned and raced by Mrs Loomb of Te Awamutu. The win was a de_ eidedly popular one. A field of fifteen good hurdlers lined out for the Great Northern Hurdles, the second favourite, Agog, rid. den by Foster, toppled over at the first hurdle and daring the running. Royal Dance, the third favourite, an seated his rider R. Smith, who how. ' ever, In athletic style regained his ; seat, and the horse finished in seventh 1 position. But for this mishap he may i have taken a mere prominent place < in the settlement of the race. In the i last mile most of the running was carried on by Charade and Innes Lad s the former securing the verdict by J over a length, with the topweight, s Erination. in third place. The winner 1 who was victorious in the Grafton c Hurdles at Ellerslie on Boxing Day, I is by that sire of Cup horses, Lord v Quex from the Auckland bred mare, I Charlady, by Absurd. a

The favourite division in the Cornwall Handicap comprised Rovevrus, is Gheval de Voice Valmint and 'lay t- Rose quite a number of good middle c ,r; distance performers being at long h prices and therefore not expected to g be the favourite trio at the finish, d The main feature of the contest was p the prominent position occupied by King Rey, the eighth favourite, who "s cut out the running a,t a, fast clip k from the first furlong to half way i'i down the home run; where Royal Ap- ?- pellant, Valmint and Jack Tar start, d c-d the fight for victory, the first . named prevailing by a short neck i. from Valmint, who registered his >•, third second placing in this parti. • cular event. Credit was given R. E. i- Home for hi.s vigorous riding on, the J winner. 11 The public experienced another thrill in the running of the Members' Handicap six furlongs. There were 21 contestants including high rank 1 sprinters in Black Thread, Maori ' Song, Royal Bachelor, Aero King, Marie's Acre, Orwere and Prince s Acre. Orvvene set a strong pace right ' into the straight where the thirteenth favourite Gay Seton, unwound a sensational burst of speed and won 1 in gallant style. He was ridclen by 1 R. Horne and it would appear that the Gay Shield representative, on this? special occasion, became as it were, ' imbued with the confidence and en- ' thusiasm of the rider (who'earlier in the day had ridden the winner of the Cornwall Handicap) and when asked to go out and win responded in a manner fully worthy of a high grade thoroughbred contestant. SECOND DAY THRILLS Racing patrons again, experienced thrills on the King's Birthday, for in a big field of hacks the Cambridge entrant Eka Pai, won very convincingly, the resultant dividend being over one hundred for a win, well over a score for a place v The third horse Vaalso, returned a similar amount. Then in the Pan. mure Hurdles, the Te Aroha Ellanui scored an unexpected his fanciers receiving about a third of * century, while in the King Georgo Handicap Farland backers received well over a score. It would thus appear that even at Ellerslie winners are not always easy to pick.