TRACK WORK AT ELLERSLIE

Press, Volume LXXXVII, Issue 26513, 30 August 1951, Page 4

TRACK WORK AT ELLERSLIE

SOLID GALLOP BY AKBAR “The Press" Special Sendee AUCKLAND, August 28. Several very interesting gallops were performed at Ellerslie this morning in preparation for the Avondale Jockey Club’s spring meeting, which will open on September 5. The Avondale Cup candidate. Akbar, showed that he is not far from form by covering a round very solidly. Gay Revel, Lady Ruthex, Admirable, Soft Berth and L« Estrella did good five furlong gallops, and Counterpart ran six furlongs freely. The No. 3 grass, where most of the fast work took place, was very heavy. Akbar (Bagby) went very strongly over a round in Imin 46sec. He was joined near the five furlongs by Sierra (Hughes) and was just ahead after running the last seven furlongs in Imin 37 l-ssec and the half-mile in 54 4-ssec. Akbar has not raced since March 27, when he won the Oliver Nicholson Handicap of one mile and three furlongs, at Ellerslie under Ost 101 b, so he will be having his first race for about five months when he contests the Avondale Cup.

Last year Akbar was fifth under 7-111 in the Avondale Cup. A week later he won the Coronation Handicap, vf one mile and three furlongs, with 7-10|. Five Important successes in the meantime have caused Akbar to reach a difficult position in the handicaps, and in the Avondale Cup this year he is top-weight with 9-8. Ridden by the light-weight apprentice. P. L. Ogara, Picardy ran very well for a hack to cover a round in imln 47sec, the last six furlongs in Imin S 3 2-ssec and the half-mile in SSaec. She slowed up towards the finish after going very freely in the early stages. Picardy Is a good track galloper. Her best form last season was at Avondale, where she gained a second and a fourth in July. Apart from that, she raced disrppointlngly. Her last start was in the first division of the First Sylvia Park Handicap at Ellerslie on August 18, when she finished sixth.

Cup Prospect Peter Boy (Hughes) was well clear of Ballet (Senior) after covering a round in Imin 52 2-ssec. Peter Boy, after being restrained for most of the distance, drew right away in the end to run the last six furlongs in Imin Msec and the three in <3 3-teee.

Peter Boy was galloping well within himself and finished full of running. Ho looks fit and may have a good chance with 8-1 in the Avondale Cup. La Estrella (Bennett) and Soft Berth (Williamson) quickly went clear of Nice Time (Almond) and finished well in front after running five furlongs in Imin 7 2-ssec, the last three in 40 l-ssec. Soft Berth is promising. She is a three-year-old bay filly by Admiral’s Luck from Medieval Rose and is trained by J. Williamson for Dr. C. Ring Last season Soft Berth had four starts for one fourth. She has had one race this season, having finished fifth in the first division of the First Sylvia Park Handicap at Ellerslie on August 18. She is In Ute Henderson Handicap on September S. 6

Smart Sprint There was not much between Gay Revel (Hughes) and Lady Ruthex (Bagby) while running five furlongs in Imin Bsec. the best time of the morning.' They went very fast over the first two furlongs In 25 2-Bsec and slowed up over the last bit. Lady Ruthex goes very keenly on the track. She will be having her first race after a respite when she contests the Sheriff Handicap on September 5 It will be her first start since March 17. when she finished unplaced in the Bledisloe Handicap, of six furlongs, at Ellerslie. Gay Revel, which is in the Henderson Handicap, will also be resuming racing after a rest.

Admirable (H. H. Wiggins) galloped five furlongs attractively in Imin Beec, being allowed to slow up after running the first two freely In Msec. Admirable has gone on the right way since running first and fourth in the hack class at Avondale on July 14 and July >l. She will be having her first attempt in open company in the Sheriff Handicap.