CLEAR-CUT VICTORY

Evening Post, Volume CXXIII, Issue 59, 11 March 1937, Page 13

CLEAR-CUT VICTORY

TOSH RETURNS TO FORM

(Special from "Early Bird.") . AUCKLAND, March 10. The hurdlers seen out at the Franklin Meeting last week were, a poor lot and High Quality had no difficulty whatever in winning, while English Night defeated the others just as easily Maunga King revealed.some pace and he may show up over country at Paeroa on Saturday. Valamito was a surprise favourite for the hack seven furlongs at this gathering. Beginning slowly, he never managed to get close enough to the leaders to hold a winning chance, so •that his sixth placing was better than it appeared on the surface. He is to be tried over a middle distance next Saturday at Paeroa. . The clear-cut manner m which Tosh won the open sprint at Pukekohe indicated that he will not be out of his class when he takes on this grade again, even when he has to carry extra weight. He is back to the hack ranks at Paeroa on Saturday, and as he stays rather well he is not out of it with 9.0 for- this track favours the speedsters rather than the stayers. KILONSA UNLUCKY.

Kilonsa was the unlucky runner in the sprint at Pukekohe, for while she might not have beaten the promoted hack Tosh she would probably have been too good for the, others. She received a slight check as the field commenced to move across the top, and then when asked for an effort in the straight she had her route changed two or three times in an effort to get a run so her fifth position at the post was very good under the circumstances. Six furlongs is a bit short for this mare, but her turn may not be far off. , . • ~ One of the best wins scored at the Franklin Meeting was that of Little Artist in the hact sprint, for he was giving the leader, High Star, a good start two furlongs from home and then in the straight he. ran past him easily. Now that he has struck form again, this Little England five-year-old should not be difficult to place, for he has a lot of speed and has raced unluckily. High Star did not arrive by float any too soon, for'he was got oft just in time to be saddled up and do his preliminary. He has a lot, of speed and next season he should be in the open class. This is the hack that paid nearly a double century at Avondale '"two SspeTdy two-year-olds who W appointed in the Tuakau Stakes were Aero King and Land Girl both of whom- are trained at Ellerslie. They had galloped brilliantly ]ust before the race, and while they , were _up handy making the home turn on Saturday neither managed to run on, being able to do no better than just hold their positions. Land Girl is by. Surveyor from-the one-time Taranaki galloper Llanore, and she may shape better at Paeroa, Provided .she settles down. Aero King is another that will be very much. improved by the run. ELANAGE'S FIRST WIN.

Second in the Auckland Welcome Stakes and third in the Wellesley Stakes at Trentham, it was surprising to find the two-year-old Elanage still a maiden prior to the Franklin fixture. However,.he then scored his fiist win in the set-weight Tuakau Stakes contest and his exhibition suggests that next season he may be really good Two furlongs from home on Saturday he was giving Tavern Song some six or seven lengths start, ana. galloping very resolutely over the final stages, lie wore' the older hack down to beat him on the post.. He was a hot favourite, despite, the fact, that : he wanted a race or two, and he will be a fit horse to contest the Champagne Stakes at Ellerslie on Easter Saturday. Two outsiders that got into the money at Pukekohe were Valmmt and School Song, who finished third and rewarded their place supporters with double-figure dividends. Valmmt was always in the picture and he will be all the better for the race, for he was having his first outing for some little time. School Song was running on in the maiden event, the only previous placing to his .credit being: when-he finished third at Meriangle, N.S ; W., nearly eighteen- months ago. He is a five-year-old brother to Marching Song, their dam being a sister to Queen March. „ , , „ , • One owner was unlucky at .Pukekohe. This was the sportsman who races Parquet and Inquisitor. Parquet made a promising reappearance, defeating all except Tosh in the open sprint in which she .finished very strongly indeed. Inquisitor was badly left in the: maiden and'" then .ran ouitea good race, suggesting possibilities later on.. Both these, gallopers are out of Inlaid, Parquet being by Limond and the maiden by the Absurd horse Lysander, and from their showings last week they may be worth following. ■ . ■ ■ . . ■