ORELIO FANCIED

Evening Post, Volume CXXIX, Issue 21, 25 January 1940, Page 15

ORELIO FANCIED

(From "Early Bird.")

ERLICK'S IMPROVED FORM

AUCKLAND, January .24.

By their success at Thames last weekend. Bronze Emerald and Phil Vaals are now ineligible for the Trial Stakes at Ellerslie on Saturday.

Royal Abb ran one of his most generous races in the hurdle race on the opening day at Thames, and a repetition of this performance will give him an excellent opportunity of winning the Orewa Hurdles on Saturday.

Selwyn has run several fine races against good hacks at Ellerslie, his best effort being in the Waitemata Handicap a month ago. That day he finished a .fine third to Saccone and Melvanui with 8.4 on his back, a splendid effort for a maiden. Although topweight in the Trial Stakes on Saturday, he must be hard to beat.

The Wvnysrd Plate promises to furnish a snlendid contest snd there seems "■>.tle reason to doubt that Orelio will st»rt a -warm favourite, although he w'll have to run up to his best to head off Meadow, whose latest form has been sood.even if his Trentham showi infs were- a shade disappointing.

A feature of the racing at Thames was the much-improved form of Erlick. who does not now. look out of place in open company. Last S^turdav he followed Mon Acre and Tosh home over seven fur longs, snd on Monday he defeated all but Namara and Te Wai in the middle distance handicap He cannot be overlooked in view of his continued improvement, for he has be^n ffniship* on in all his races.

Hunter's Rose has always shown plenty of speed, but has not stayed very well. Consequently it was pleasing t" see the game manner in which =he fought on asainst Sir Robin at Thames and despite the fact that the latter bored out on her. she finally <*ot her hep^ in front. It wa« a hard race and she may prove, difficult to a of in the hack sprints at EHerslie. . Dauber gave a splendid exhibition fencing in his jumping debut it Thames, for even though he was a trifle uncertain at some of the brush hurdles he never let so of the lead once he went to the front after the first obstacle. pnrt.Yx* finally won easily. A rise of 121b found him out on the second day, when another novice in Eastern Heir beat him. and it w'll be interesting to see how he handT°<! himself over the stiver hurdlel? at Ellerslie.

Brazen Bold and Foxmond. two three-year-nlds of considora'ble ability. <?ave very displays in the <=r>rrnt on the opening day at Thamp". +he latter commencing to fade out of the contest two furlong! from home, and she nlso failed ii the handifati on Monday. Brazen Bold appear<*d to become a trifle unbalanced on the turn, but finisher! on the heels of the placed horses, and he made amends by "coring very convincingly \>n Monday He must be accorded a eood chance against the sprinters at ElTevslie.