AVONDALE GUINEAS

Evening Post, Volume CXL, Issue 56, 4 September 1945, Page 10

AVONDALE GUINEAS

MASTER ROBiN ON HAND

(Special to "The Post.") AUCKLAND, This Day. Early : for next Saturday's Avondale ?up are Chung Chong and La Fillette, with the Jellicoe Handicap winner Hippodrome also in demand. All three can handle hf;avy ground, and the prospects are that -the course will be at least on the soft side. It, is a very big field and.^ horses able to get a position early -wV;' have an advantage. Their winter activities shot.ld bring Nawab, Regal March, and Thoophilus into the market for the Avondi le Flying Handicap, for they are in ei^ellent order. Other possibilities at thiU stage appear to be Tiger Tan and Black Beret; the latter revealed good;formin the Members' Handicap on the final day at Trentham in July. Peter Gregor, winner of the event; failed at the Pakuranga Meeting. Master Robin arrived at Ellerslie last week, and as this is his first appearance here his trainer displayed wisdom in bringing him up early and thus giving him every chance to get used to the right-handed way round. He will be well tried out in the Avondale Guineas on Saturday by King's Pride, Balmacara, and Black Ace. Seven of the fourteen left in this classic are eligible for maiden races, and there may be only a field of ten or so on the day. General Lytup was not paid up for in the Avondale Trial, which suggests that he will start in the Guineas, although he is also in the Henderson Handicap. However, there are several smart three-year-olds left in the three very full divisions of Saturday's maiden race, and they should be able to hold their own with the older division. Balgowan and Bronya had the advantage of a race at the Pakuranga Meeting, and Bhopal is forward enough to make a bold showing. Other improving juveniles engaged are Skymaster, Mallee, Kathshara, Dougal, Bycroft, and Stable Boy. It is almost certain that Shepherd's Mate will be a firm favourite for the Kingsland Hurdles at Ellerslie on Saturday, for after finishing third at the Great Northern Meeting he went on to win at Trentham, his form on that occasion being very impressive. The opposition is not by any means first class, and the Trentham winner should add to his laurels. A notable defection from this race was Ballyneety, who is apparently being kept for something better over a longer journey. MAY BE DANGEROUS. Aero King went so well when he defeated Ballyneety at the Pakuranga Meeting that he is sure to find backing against Shepherd's Mate on Saturday, and he is expected to go a fine race, for he is in receipt of half a stone from the latter. Trainer R. H. Martin also has Winning Tray engaged, and it is probable that he may enter calculations • also, for he is speedy. He disappointed on his recent journey to Awapuni and Hastings, but that is not to say that he has no chance here, for he has had racing to bring him along. The fact that Tweedsmuir has been paid up for in the Avondale Cup suggests that this one-time promising handicap horse is getting along all right in his preparation. Two years ago he looked like being an Auckland Cup prospect, but he failed to stand up to his work and had to be given a spell. He was reproduced without result in the Mitchelson Cup eleven months ago, and that was his last appearance. If he is sound again Tweedsmuir will lend interest to.future handicap contests. ~ , ,r i• i i The manner in which Yorkish has been galloping at Takanini since he had his race at the Pakuranga Hunt gathering suggests that he is all the better for that run, and he is expected to play a prominent part in the sewn furlongs Henderson Handicap at Ellerslie'on Saturday. Some trouble has b^en experienced in keeping this big fellow going, but there is > no doubtabout his pace, so it is anticipated that if he goes on the right way he will yet have time to develop into a handicap performer. A horse remarkably well placed m the Avondale sprint is Sweet Biscuit, one of the best in this class in the northern district. She has a fine record in big sprints, having won the Auckland Railway Handicap m the 1943-44 term. Last Boxn.g Day she ran Neenah to a head in the. same event, and was third in the sprint on the third day. With a race into her it would not be .surprising to find Sweet Biscuit winning a couple on end. and she may be a first-class proposition for speculators to have on side.