STRETTO'S RETURN

Evening Post, Volume CXXIV, Issue 57, 4 September 1937, Page 22

STRETTO'S RETURN

EARLY AVONDALE FANCIES

(Special from "Early Bird."}

AUCKLAND, September 3,

Fleetwind, who is to do her future racing in open company, is engaged on the second day of the Avondale fixture, her mission being the short race. She has not appeared in public for some time and may be all the better for a race or two, although she promises to be well forward a fortnight hence. On her showings to date she will probably be more at home over a middle distance, and, with improvement, the handicaps round the province may be within her compass.

One of the most interesting runners j at the Avondale fixture will be Stretto, who was a smart two-year-old. She has been up for some time and should be ready for serious, business, and as she appears to be regaining her speed it is possible that she will be one of the possibilities in coming sprint races. With so many sprinters available the events for this class are going to be difficult to win; the Avondale race is very open indeed and the handicaps may not furnish the necessary enlightenment. MAL DE MER'S PROSPECTS. The faqt that the maiden contest at Ayondale is to be run over seven furlongs should ensure a better chance for the middle-distance performers, and in this category Mai de Mer immediately comes to mind. In addition, the suburban track is a very big one, with a straight run in of over two furlongs, and this provides the genuine stayers with a great chance. Mai de Mer has been placed in his last two outings, and with his condition he is going to be advantageously placed over some i more brilliant candidates.

Now that the winning hack limit has been raised to its old mark the Takanini gelding Anidn is back in this class and, fudging b;y- the way he has been working, he may not be out of the money in his next couple of starts. He was one of the best track gallopers at his centre last season, but always failed when the colours were up. However, he has improved a lot of late and, dropped out of the open sprint class, he may make amends. Anion was a good two-year-old, but unfortunately in,his few attempts he indicated that he had not gone on the right way. Among the hacks at Avondale he should make his presence felt. Gay Rebel's owner is leaving no Istone unturned to have him thoroughly attuned for his Avondale Cup engagement. The gelding, after racing at New Plymouth, will probably go on to Wanganui, and as he was fairly forward when he left Avondale, he is a winning possibility on the trip if he can only get back to the form he dis-

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played in midwinter. It will be remembered that in his last start Gay Rebel dead-heated in the handicap event at Te Awamutu,. and. with, a stronger rider he would have won outright, and probably comfortably at that.

•A couple of good gallopers engaged in the hack mile, the final race on the first day at Avondale, are Huntingmore and valamito, both." of whomshowed up in their outing in the sprint at the Pakuranga . Meetma recently. The three-year-old bowled along in front in his usual free style, and as he sweated freely prior to the event, it was not surprising that he should weaken in the straight : Valamito was an unlucky runner in that contest, and as he will be better, suited over a mile, he looks like being an early winner if not set to carry too much weight.

After a serious lapse of form for quite a long time, it was not until last autumn thai Kelly began to get into real racing shape, and some of his efforts at the back end of the season were very good indeed, so that he looks like being the winner of a rich handicap this term. It is probable that his mission will be the Mitchelson Cup at Ellerslie five weeks hence, for this is a stayers' race, being run over a mile and a half. • In the meantime, the sprint on the second day at Ayondale will serve to introduce the Kilbroney gelding to the new year' 3 racing.

I, Probably Young Paddon was racing a bit out of his distance, at present, at any rate, when he took on the hack mile at Ellerslie a fortnight ago,.for he had had enough at the end of six furlongs. Probably recognising this, his connections have nominated him for the hack sprint the first day. at Avondale, and after the fine burst of speed he displayed recently, he' should be a good proposition in that event. There is a galaxy of promising minor j sprinting talent likely to be ranged : against the Trentham winner, including some speedy three-year-olds, but Young ißaddon will have at least one decided advantage over them, and that will be in the matter of condition.