COMMANDING’S GOOD TRIAL FOR GUINEAS

Press, Volume C, Issue 29635, 4 October 1961, Page 4

COMMANDING’S GOOD TRIAL FOR GUINEAS

■ ■.<*; f ’V , "The Prese" Special, Service

AUCKLAND, October 3. The three-year-old Commanding, on hand for the Great Northern Guineas on Saturday, moved easily over five furlongs in Imin Bsec on the outside of the course proper at Ellerslie this morning. He arrived from Otaki yesterday afternoon. Commanding was brought north by hft owner, Mr G. S. Walton, who also owns Castlebrae, Commanding’* only three-year-old rival so far. Both are colts by Knight's Romance. From eight starts in New Zealand, Commanding has had seven firsts, and a fourth. Last season he had a short campaign as well in Australia, where he did not quite come up to ex]>ectations. The furthest Commanding has been asked to go ft six

and- a half furlongs, which he. ran for an easy win at Wanganui on September 9. Nevertheless he should be the hottest of favourites for Saturday’s three-year-old event.

Kandavu satisfied the stipendiary steward, Mr J. .A. Poulsen, and the secretary of the Auckland Racing Club, Mr W. N. Mackie, in a barrier trial at Avondale this morning, so he will be able to start in the Great Northern Guineas on Saturday. Last week, Kandavu reared and lost his chance at the start of the Electric Handicap at Te Aroha. Consequently, his acceptance for the guineas was taken on condition that he behaved in a barrier trial. Usually Kandavu is ridden by N. B. Holland, but in hft trial to-day he was managed by the hurdles jockey, G. O. Mudgway. He was'also, for a change, tried in blinkers. Mudgway will be on Kandavu again on Saturday and the colt will again be tried in blinkers.