TRIALS AT AWAPUNI

Dominion, Volume 31, Issue 127, 23 February 1938, Page 17

TRIALS AT AWAPUNI

Surmount And Conveyor Impress

Dominion Special Service. Palmerston North, February 22. Some illuminating trials of loeal horses engaged at Wanganui were performed in the final gallops at Awapuni this morning and, although the Manawatu contingent is not a large one, it is very strong. Both the course proper, where the flags were out 45 feet, and the plough were in splendid order for galloping. Surmount was responsible for one of the best sprints of the morning with The Crooner, and Conveyor and Old Surrey ran a fast mile on the course proper also. Laughing Lass impressed o.n the plough, where The Bigot and The Buzzer separately ran well over seven furlongs, and Royal Choice ran a smart six. On the course proper Segra (Pine) ran in from the two furlongs, iu completing an easy half-mile, in 27 2-5. Dunmanway (Little) just shaded Selkirk (Johnston) over three furlongs in 37 4-5. Dunmanway is very fit just now, but Selkirk has sharpened up in the past few weeks. . He may be given a race at the Manawatu fixture. ■

Brazil (Little) finished just too well for Sudan (Johnston) over a smart halfmile in 52 2-5, the first two in 25 4-5. Brazil is improving all the time and shows definite stamina.

Ardsallagh (Brown) ran her half-mile alone in 53 2-5. This was quite a fair effort, as she was carrying more weight than the other' two youngsters. Surmount (Johnson) began more smartly than The Crooner (Little), but was steadied in the first fifty_yards and the pair reached the three in 25 1-5. Both came home full of running and on the bit in 1.4 for the full distance, the last three in 38 4-5. Both could have done better in the concluding stages, and Surmount is in excellent fettle for his engagement at Wanganui, where he will be ridden by C. G. Goulsbro. The Crooner is coming along nicely in view of his New Zealand St. Leger engagement. Conveyor Beats Old Surrey. Conveyor (Johnston) and Old Surrey (Little) jumped off together from the mile, but Old Surrey, who is a free goer, was soon under a good hold and the pair reached the first three furlongs in 40. The first five were run in 1.6 3-5, and the first six in J. 20, while they both did well in the straight, where Conveyo,r just beat his companion in running the full distance in 1.48 2-5. Conveyor has done well with his recent racing and will have a big following at Wanganui. On the plough The Buzzer (Howe) ran smoothly over seven furlongs in 1.34. The Wanganui Cup candidate was going well within himself all the way to cover the first half-mile in 52 1-5, and the five in 1:5 2-5, and he appears to be in great frittle for his Wanganui engagement. Laughing Lass (Pratt) was smartly away from the five furlongs to run her first furlong in 12 4-5, and the two in 26. She was hitting out in good style in the straight to cover the full journey in 1.3 4-5, and no faiyt cah be found with her condition.

The Bigot (Howe) began smartly from the seven furlpngs to run down to the three in 52 and get to the end of his first five in 1.6, while he was putting in some verj 7 solid work in the straight and was going well past the post in running the distance in 1.33 3-5. The gallop was done well all the way and, on the turning course, he. may-be the. better _of L. G_. Morris’s pair in the Wanganui Cup. Royal Choice (Pratt) 'surprised by running his six furlongs in 1.17 4-5. the first half-mile in 51. He did not have much in the saddle, but it was a good gallop, nevertheless, and it indicated that he has freshened up nicely since the Wellington meeting, Cletrac (Thomson) worked over six furlongs under a good hold in 1.23 2-5, the last two in 26 1-5. This Tractor gelding did not eat on the trip to Taranaki, where he raced below expectations, but he is doing well again now. Thomson will be riding Kentucky Song at Wanganui on Thursday. Royal Limolid Well Forward. Royal Limond (Johnston) put plenty of dash into his sprint home from the half mile at the end of a round of pacework to beat Tiger Bill (B. Kowhai), with Lactose (Little) a couple of lengths further back in 54 1-5. Royal Limond promises to be fairly well forward for his engagement at Bulls next week. Skyful (McDowell) was quicker at each jump over three hurdles than the big Cape Horn gelding Cape Fair (Parkes), but both gave a safe exhibition, and Cape Fair is sure to improve with experience. Riotous (Parkes) outjumped Herangi (McDowell) over three hurdles, but both went well, and Herangi looks a likely sort. f«r the winter meetings. McDowell will ride Riotous on Thursday, and this gelding appears to have done well since winning so attractively at Hawera. On the course proper Catalogue (McDonald) shaped very satisfactorily over a mile iu 1.49. He ran the first three in 40, the half in 53 2-5, and the first six in 1.22, while ho was doing well at the finish. No rider has yet been engaged for him in the Wanganui Cup, in which event he has a big local following.

Mrs. A. W. McDonald had the misfortune yesterday to lose her Defoe—Princess Lobelia yearling filly as the result of the youngster kicking at a wire fence and breaking a leg. This yearling, for which Airs. McDonald refused an offer of 300 guineas.- was a relation to Wiltshire and Dark Shadow, and she was considered to be one of the best-looking Defoes in the district. It was found impossible to save the filly for stud purposes, and she had to be destroyed. It is not generally realised at sports meetings in this district that at such gatherings where trotting races are approved by the New Zealand Trotting Association riders and drivers who do not hold licences must secure emergency licences for the day. Owners wishing to drive their own horses at sports meetings in the Manawatu should not overlook this necessary formality.