AUCKLAND TRACK NOTES

Evening Post, Volume CXIII, Issue 125, 31 May 1927, Page 7

AUCKLAND TRACK NOTES

(By Telegraph.)

(Special to "The Evening Post.")

AUCKLAND, This Day. A considerable amount of rain has fallen in the past few days, and the tracks at Ellerslie are very heavy. The weather is still unsettled and further rain seems probable. It is certain that the going will be heavy for the coming meeting, and the mudlarks should be in their element. The Cornwall Handicap candidate Bennanee recorded a pleasing effort over six furlongs yesterday morning, and got through the heavy going in a manner that suggests that such conditions will not come amiss to him. Degage was another to gallop well, and recorded a sound seven furlongs. There is a doubt about Lomint, owing to a weakness that is developing in her near foreleg. She worked all right yesterday morning and may go on yet. She is in her element, in the heavy going, and it is to be hoped that she will keep sound, for she.has a good Cornwall Handicap chance.

Omahu unseated his rider at the stonewall yesterday morning. It was his only faulty jump in the round, for he had jumped the other fences well. He appeared to slip when taking off, but did not come down.

Comical's exhibition over the steeplechase fences was very disappointing. His trouble is lack of confidence, and this should be overcome with schooling. The two fences on the hill were the ones to bother him, and he stopped at the first of these, but got over at the second attempt. He refused several times at the second, and eventually missed St. All the others he got over safely without jumping them well, and perhaps he may go better next time. It will be necessary for Comical to show marked improvement to have a chance in the Oreat Northern Steeplechase. Kawini continues to do everything well, and his effort over five furlongs this morning wag impressive. His jumping throughout was excellent, and he was galloping strongly all the way. The task of winning the Great. Northern double on consecutive days ia generally recognised as a formidable one,: but it should not be beyond a thoroughly fit horse. Eleven horses claim the double engagement, and the.one most likely to accomplish the feat is 'Kawini, who is in great heart. :It. is evidently, the intention of Mr. J. Patersbn to run Zircon and Royal Form in the': Great Northern Hurdles and the Great .Northern Steeplechase for, in addition; to being schooled over the hurdles yesterday. morning, they were also sent over a,, few steeplechase fences. The hurdles they jumped well, and the others they- got dyer safely, though neither took the water jump well. For a first attempt over the big fences Zircon went very satisfactorily,' and with a., little more schooling' he should become proficient over, country. Royal Form ,«nd Zircon are both in splendidl trim, and their owner, is fortunate in having such a capable, pair to carry hia colours. A failure in his last start cost Day Belt some admirers, but his good schooling effort yesterday morning did much to win back their confidence. His time for going over five 1 hurdleß was less than a second slower than that recorded by Kawini, and he probably covered slightly more ground than the latter. It was a pleasing piece of work, and will no doubt bring Day Bell into favour again. Anchor has favourably impressed the track-watchers with the good work he has I accomplished since arriving here. The Acre gelding is a dashing jumper and has a lot of pace, while he also has winning form to recommend him. Anchor is expected to race prominently, in the minor hurdle evento at the meeting. Nothing among the hack hurdlers has been working more consistently well than Kamehameha, who wag responsible for a good piece 'of work in going round over five hurdles yesterday morning with Day Bell in smart time. Kamehameha has certainly improved and a reproduction of his track form should make him dangerous in minor hurdle events. • A hack that has been working nicely without doing anything special is Judge's Box, whose latest gallops have been accomplished in a pleading fashion. The Nassau mare is very well, and she should perform creditably in the minor flat events at the meeting: She has run good races in her last few starts and on Easter Monday finished second to King Emerald in the second division of the Nelson Handicap. The best exhibition over the steeplechase fences at Ellerslie yesterday morning was that of Tuki, who fenced faultlessly and easily defeated Passin' Through and Fireblight over a round. Tuki is in splendid condition, and he was travelling strongly at the end. The effort will gain him many admirers for the Great Northern Steeplechase, and he may be one of the fancied horses on the day. Last year he finished fourth in the big event with 10.10, so that with 10.3 he must be given a chance this year. Sun Up sprinted attractively with Archeno, and the pair were responsible for the best'five furlongs of the morning. There

was not much between them at the finish, but Sun Up was wide out round the turn, and doing -well at the finish. Xbe Sunny Lake gelding is coming back to form, and he should be i.n the limelight again soon.

When schooled over the steeplechase fences Maunga made no mistake about getting over, and he jumped every fence well. There should be no doubt now about his ability to handle the country here Maunga is in capital fettle, and he is such a solid stayer that he cannot be left out of calculations, even though he has not shone on his pievious visits to Ellerslie in the winter.