HARLECH'S SETBACK

Evening Post, Volume CXXII, Issue 74, 24 September 1936, Page 13

HARLECH'S SETBACK

MAZSR GAINS ADMIRERS

(Special from "Early Bird.') AUCKLAND, September 23. Haiiech, a very promising two-year-old half-brother to Kiltowyn, was badly kicked at the post prior to the Avondale Stakes and the wound is such that a quick recovery does no. seem probable. His owner (Mr. A. D. Potter) hopes to have the coU ready for Christmas racing, but tin. setback received on Saturday, does not make that appear likely. . Master Bricrly was very big when he went out to contest the Avondale ] Cup, and he was carrying so much ! surplus condition that it does not appear as if he will be forward enough to make a showing in the Mitchelson Cup However, his outing would be better than many gallops and he may now begin to come to hand. He is also in the New Zealand Cup.and he will have to be hurried if he is to be fit for that race. . . A hundred yards from home in the Avondale Cup it looked as if Mazir would win, for he had finished well and at that point he was within a neck of Velocipede. 'HowCTer, he lacked that little bit extra that would have brought him on terms with the Australian horse and he went under by a long neck. Mazir looked on the big side, but that race was just what he wanted and he has only to go on the right way to monopolise the Mitchelson Cup market. There are occasions, by no means limited, when the totalisator beats the layers of the odds. The latest instance was in connection with me Avondale first-day double, when Velocipede was at a long price and Triune a bit short of double figures. One pound invested on Velocipede m> the Cup and' the return, minus the odd shillings, placed on the machine on Triune would have netted £207, which from all accounts was a much larger quotation than the pencillers were laying at any stage of the discussions, at least according to those who should know. , , Golden Sheila, although she had been withdrawn from her one engagement at Avondale, was on the course on the afternoon of the opening day and there was nothing much the matter with her on appearance. Perhaps it was thought that she was-not forward enough to take on such a stiff event as the open sprint was likely to prove. Now it remains to be seen if this filly will make sufficient progress to be at her best if produced in the Great Northern Guineas, her next outing, two and a half weeks One of the best efforts in the hack grade at Avondale on Saturday was the splendid run put in by Johnny Walls after, being hopelessly placed in the early stages. He never seemed to have a chance of getting in the money, but. it was only that he had taken so much out of himself in making up his ground that prevented him bridging that narrow margin to the winner, Lady Diana. Johnny "Walls will be . racing on his home track at Paeroa next week and he is going to be hard to keep out of the winning end. Strathire failed badly in the maiden class at Avondale, but the Delightment gelding was riot disgraced, for he was badly placed in the big field. At' the end of the first, quarter-mile he was. a long way from the leaders and while he improved- to get within striking distance at the home turn it meant that he was always six or seven horses out round the bend and that made his task impossible. . His] turn may come at Paeroa, although there he will be faced with several promising non-winners and this type of race at that centre is not usually easy to win. Not much has been seen of Adsum as a racehorse, although he shaped' creditably in one or two steeplechase contests. He was seen last Saturday in a new role,- when he took on the maidens on the flat. He was always in a bad position, but over the lasv furlong he fairly flew, to be level with the fourth horse passing the post. It was something of a revelation and suggests that he may be able to win on the flat. However, he is an aged gelding, so it'is probable that he will always find some of the younger horses too smart for him with the fences out of the way. His next race may be over the hurdles at Ellerslie.