AWAPUNI NOTES

Evening Post, Volume CX, Issue 86, 8 October 1930, Page 8

AWAPUNI NOTES

MERRY DAMON'S GOOD TRIAL PREPARATIONS FOR OTAEI (By Telegraph.) (Special to "The Evening Post.") . ,PALMERSTON N., 7th. October. Although there was a strong -wind in evidence, conditions were otherwise excellent at Awapuni this morning, when the majority of the horses claiming engagements ,at Otaki were sent along against the watch. Thetcourse proper was open, but the flags were wide out and the candidates!., thus traversed considerably more than the correct distance. Rule Britannia (L., Boyd) and tho Acre gelding from W. Bailey's stable, with R. Boyd in the saddle, were the first to speed up, the pair cunning home from the three furlong post in 39 l-sse& Rule Britannia, who will not come in till' the second day at Otaki, was going the better at' the finish', despite having over 4 stone the worse of the weights. i ; Coon Song (C. Robinson), who is again being_ speeded up after an. interruption as the result of a bruised heel, behaved very soberly as he went out to execute I his task, the Hunting Song gelding running, five furlongs in lmiu 7sec. From practically a standing start ho slipped

■=" ■■'. " over the first furlong in 13sec, and two in 26sec. While he has done much better, the_ gelding is evidently coming to hand again. . Braggart (Faulkner) jumped away .on terms with Gran Chaco (M'Dowell), but the latter 'drew clear in the run across the top to turn for .home ahead of the Lord Quex gelding, and stay there to the close, the five furlongs being covered in the good time of lmin 6sec, after running the.first furlong in 12 4-ssee and the first two furlongs in 23see. . . ' Keddar (M'Dowell) and Great Lady (Sharp) were partnered over sis furlongs, the pair racing on terms for half a mile. However, with heads straightened out Keddar ; dr,ew clear to complete his task in lmin 20 2-sse_c, after leaving the initial furlong behind in 13 3-ssec, and three in 38 I-osec., Great Lady steered an erratic course, over the' last furlong as ,the result of her..1 rider losing an iron. Terra Firma (Annersley) and Trojan Melody, (W. Broughton) were practically on terms at the close of a. six-furloug gallop run-in lmin 20 3-ssec, but the former appeared to be - travelling within himself, although they were both slowing up at the post. The pace was on in the early ; stages,-the first furlong being loft behind inl3 2-ssec and two in 2osec. • Democratic (Mellis) was a shade in front of Aeredity (France) at the end of seven furlongs run in ltnin 35 2-ssec, the first furlong being negotiated in 13V2see, while the final furlong was left behind in the same time. Acredity is not being asked to race at Otaki. Spearopa (Alister M'Donald) and Lady Spear (M'Laughlin) executed a good working gallop by getting to the end of six : furlongs in lmin 23 2-ssec without being ; required to do their best. Mrs. M'Donald .will not be represented at Otaki, but Spearopa will come in at Wellington. Callamart (W. Broughton), Lady Alophen (M'Dowell), and Robbie's Mistake (France), finished in that order at the end of a mile task. From a standing start they got to the end of the first two furlongs in 26sec, half a mile in 55 4-5 sec, and the full distance,in lmin 52sec. Lady Alophen allowed the other pair to make the pace, but joined in two furlongs from home to beat Robbie's Mistake by a couple o£-lengths, although Callamart held her off by half a length. Magic Land (Alister M'Donald) was going very comfortably, at the close of a live, furlong working gallop, which was accomplished in lmin . llsec, Acred (M'Laughlin) having been pushed along over the final pinch .to keep on terms. ' Brilliant Light (M'Dowell) made the pace for G-lenrossie (W. Broughton) in the early, stages of their six ■ furlongs task, : but'the.latter was going the stronger.at. the'finish. They ran the first furlong in 13 2-ssec, two in 26sec," three in 39scc, and the full distance in Jmin 20 2-osec. Pythia (AnDersley) and Star of Gold (Sharp! were on terms at the end of six furlongs, run in lmin 23sec. The former is due to- come in on the second day at Otaki, but Star of Gold does not figure : at ■ ttie fixture. Brown Abbey (M'Dowell) jumped away a shade quicker than Miss Hastings (W. Broughton), and although the latter challenged in the straight the Quin Abbey, gelding was still in front at the post after ' running the five furlongs in lmin Ssec.■■.'-. , ■'■'" *~ . '. NEW ZEALAND CUP CANDIDATES. In preparation for their outing at Otaki, the two. Xew Zealand Cup candidates, Merry Damon (W. .Broughton) and Pahu .(M'Dowell) were associated in a good try-out over a mile, Merry Damon having the outside running throughout. The first two furlongs were left behind in 25 4-5 sec, three in 38 4-seec, four in 51 3-osec, and five: in lmin 5 4-ssec, the pair turning for home together. Pahu was under the whip' at the distance, but he could not hold Merry Damou, who drew away to pass the post holding a two lengths advantage. The full distance was run in lmin 48sec—a very satisfactory effort. Whereas there was but a few pounds between, them in the weights this morning, there- will be a difference of -291b on Friday. GENERAL. Wanderlust struck himself1 the other morning, and he will decline his hurdle engagement at Otaki in consequence. Mountain ..Signal, one of Mr. C. T. Keeble's brood mare's, has produced a filly foal;to Hunting Song. . Hunting Boy fulfilled a useful task on the plough, this morning. While he won races' as a two-year-old, the 9.0 allotted him in' the Paiko Hack Handicap at Otaki appears1; to,be somewhat harsh, for he has '■ boon a disappointment since. Sporting Chance will forego his engagements at Otaki, his connections not viewing the ; handicaps very favourably. W. Bailey will, however, have Rule Britannia, Gran Chaco, aud Great Lady coining in on the second day. Fiery Comet, who stayed over after the Hastings fixture for the Napier Park Meeting, did not do ■well away from home, and he disappointed his-connections last Saturday. He will now be absent from Otaki, while Dobbin, who was to have come in on the second day, will likewise ; be an absentee. *• The injury sustained by T. Metcalf at Jfew Plymouth some, six weeks ago isi ' .proving more troublesome than was antici- i pated. The horseman has his leg still in a splint, but the scat of the trouble apparently lies in the ligament in the knee. ' Although he is attending the local hospital daily for treatment, it is anticipated ' that it will be" some few weeks .before he is able to attempt work at the tracks, i The younger full-brother' to' Princess i Betty (who registered a success across the ' Tasman last week) i? still on the easy ; list. It appears that he got his leg over ! a fence nnd sustained a nasty cut which, ' while dp.ep, does -not promisn to be soil- ! ous. Mrs. M'Donald has both Blacksmith >

and Locarno pottering about, but whether the latter will ever get over his fall com- [ pletely remains to be seen. I The Palmerston North sportsman, Mr. L 11. Collinson, effected the purchase of Rangi-Kokiri (Day Comet—Bundny) and Town Day (Arehiestown— Bunday) at the Te Rapa bloodstock sale last week. A lover o£ the juniper, it is apparent that the new purchases are destined for that branch of the game. J. T. Morris, the Marton mentor, supervises the training operations of Mr. Collinson's horses. RIDING ENGAGEMENTS. The following riding engagements have beep, announced for Otaki where Palmerston North horsemen and horses arc concerned: H. Gordon, SUyrider; H. N. wiggins, Palm; B. H. Morris, Glenrossie, Robbie's. Mistake; C. W. France, bunstead, Gran Chaco (second day); \\. Broughton, Wallaruh, Trojan Melody, Equitant, Balloon,- Hone Whero, Callsimart. Prior to T. Green proceeding to the Auckland Meeting it was that horseman's intention to go south for the Dunedin fixture, but as he has accepted the ride 01V Merry Damon at Otaki it would now appear as though he has amended his ..programme.