COURTCRAFT TRIED

Evening Post, Volume CXXIII, Issue 40, 17 February 1937, Page 15

COURTCRAFT TRIED

GALLOPING AT WOODVILLE

(Special to the "Evening Post.")

PALMERSTON N., This Day. There was a fair amount of fast work at Woodville yesterday but the horses- were restricted to fairly short sprints. The morning was fine but the wind was approaching gale force and this made a big difference to the ' times, for the horses were ' on the wind" for most of the way. The course was in perfect order and the I going was. easy. . . '" Among the visiting trainers present were P. McGrath, of Riccarton. with Convivial. W. Corlett, of Hastings, with Sansfoy, and D. Lane, of Avondale, with Colleen Gain. . _ . Sansfoy, Convivial, and Colleen Uam look none the worse for their racing at Hawera, and they were given-use-ful pace work on inside tracks. Aiwai1 (Cosford) was galloped half a mile on the course proper and she was going strongly at the post after taking 53sec for the distance. The1 trestles were some 35ft out from the rails and the time was quite . good against the gale. Francis Drake, who looks a picture, was given a good working gallop by M Gilmore. The next outing under silk for Mr. Frank Armstrong's' brilliant colt will be the North Island Challenge Stakes at Wellington. •Blue Tiger and Cenotaph were given pace work. Blue Tiger appears to be still suffering from the effects of his sensational "buster" at Ashhurst, and his trainer, B. Goodman, does not intend to remove him from the easy list for at least another fortnight. King's Lancer (Gilmore) had Appendage (N. Cavaney) as a companion over five furlongs. He received the better of the start but was .not hurried/and the pair were together at the home turn. In the run to the post 'Appendage ;' hung .■■ to ", Lancer for a bit.V but was about a length astern at the finish.' 1 hey were clocked to break lmin 9sec, tne wind; making a difference of about four seconds.- .. ■}■'.■ -^ ■•;'': V';./-; Another interesting gallop was .that in. which Haut Monde (Gilmore) and Mandamus (Cavaney) were associated. It was over: six furlongs and.. there was little between them at any stage. Haut Monde, however, was under a strong hold over the .final bit, and he could have done better. The time for the full distance was lmin 20isec, with lmin 6 3-ssec for the concluding five. Mandamus has been accepted for the Woodville and Ruahine Handicaps on Saturday and it was not known yesterday which race he would contest. Haut Monde ;and. Aiwai have been nominated fOr Te Aroha but there is no' certainty that they will make the trip. ■v.'-1" ..'■■ ;;. V" -.■;•■,■•:• \*: \ - '■-:' ■ '■' Jack Sullivan's pair, 'Spri and; Heir and Full* .Throttle, :.were restricted : to useful-pace, work;,: No riders have been announced for them. ; Both look well. •■:■.■ ■-■ ■- "-i..'>V -v. ■•/•• -. :'" Brown Oak, who seems to have grown ia good" deal during the last' three. months, was another, restricted to easy- pace work; ;' He, is': not ..racing at Woodville. „,. ■-V'v :. "vVr.-- . H. E. Russell--'reports that :Mala is thoroughly enjoying his' let up, and that the colt is not to rejoin the active brigade until the end of March. He goes back to Australia for next spring racing. The yearling Pink Coat —Jarretiere colt purchased by Russell at the January sales has been broken' in and has settled down in his new quarters. Golden Flame, the yearling full-sistery to ■-. Golden Wings, will be coming in, next month, also Golden Treasure. < All going well in the meantime Russell willr be tailing a strong team with him when next he heads across the Tasmani ".'"■ ■'■', \

Colleen Gain looks particularly well and during her pace work she fought hard for her head.

The final gallop of the morning was that in which Courtcraft, (Atkins) and Bumble (M. Gilmore) took part. It was over half a mile and Courtcraft secured a two-length' advantage when they hopped away. Bumble had closed the gap before ,-.., they were turned into the home stretch, but Courtcraft, galloping - very greenly, still retained a slight advantage to the finish. The time was 51 4-ssec. which was not bad under the conditions.