NOTES AND COMMENT

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXV, Issue 232, 17 September 1935, Page 2

NOTES AND COMMENT

On Current Doings

(By “The Barb. ')

Maine’s special mission to Avondale is tho Champion Hack Plate run oh the first day. Before leaving Hastings the Arausio mare had been galloping well enough to suggest her being a decided possibility, despite the class engaged in this seven-furlong hack race.

Gay 8011, w'ho also went north from here, is set to contest the two-year-old Avondale Stakes and will be ridden in that race by P. Atkins. A few seasons back Hawke’s Bay sent up an exceptionally brilliant filly in Epitaph (Absurd —Eulogy) for this event only for her to be defeated by an outsider. Gay Doll can hardly be classed as an Epitaph, nevertheless the Hunting Song filly possesses speed above the average youngster seen out at this time of tho season.

The following Hawke’s Bay horses claim engagements at Foxton on the 28th inst.: Grand Vizier, Karangapai, Curie, Lady Spy, Slippery and Royal Bengal.

The Te Aute owned Hunting Jay, who after Wellington was given a letup, may make his reappearance at Foxton.

The half-brother to Kiltowyn has been named Harlech. He is owned by Mr A. D. Potter, who is reported to have Kiltown in great fighting trim for the Avondale Cup next Saturday.

A two-year-old "parade’’ over two furlongs was held at the recent Otago Hunt meeting, resulting as follows: Riddle (Baralong—Wilhefmena) 1, the unnamed Rosenor —Bonny Lake gelding 2, and the Pink Coat—Artistic filly 3. Down south a very high opinion is held of tho winner.

Donegal, a five-year-old gelding by Nigger Minstrel—Riot Act, is spoken of as a maiden most likely to get out of this class in the very near future. He was supported by his party recently at Marton but ran very "green.”

Of the same class, Valspear in the Auckland district is galloping impressively in his trials. He will contest the maiden event at Avondale ou Saturday.

Since winning the Jellicoe Handicap at the Pakuranga Hunt meeting last month Enge has gone on tho right way in his preparation for the Avondale Gup. On his last winning form the Lapidary gelding adds interest to next Saturday’s race,

Another up North that is pleasing the critics is the hurdle mare Vai Watch. Her special mission at the Avondale meeting is the open hurdle race run on the second day.

Jewelled Girdle has quite a few placings to his credit, but has yet to win a race. At the meeting held at Ellerslie last month he was second tc Silver Brier over a mile, so that the seven-furlong maiden next . Saturday should see him among the favourite division.

Last season the now three-year-old Tidal—Sicilian gelding Flood Tide showed decided promise. Of late in his private work he has been fulfilling that promise. He is down to contest the Maiden the first day at Avondale and the Guineas the second.

The winner of the last Cornwall Handicap, Lord Vai, has taken very kindly to hurdling, giving of late some brilliant exhibitions. The Valkyrian gelding makes his first appearance in this department at Avondale on Saturday.

Prior to the Memsie Stakes, run on September 7 at Caulfield, Victorian sporting writers pointed out that this race had not been won by a threc-year-old since Artilleryman triumphed in 1919 so that there appeared to be a hoodoo on that age for this particular event. However, after Young Idea’s brilliant win in tho Underwood Stakes, when he beat Hall Mark, it was thought the ban would be lifted by the Constant Sun colt. However, in the result it still held strong, as Young Idea, finished last.

The Gisborne owned Hunting Song colt Sporting Blood was not long in winning a race in Australia, doing the trick in the Tattersail’s Spring Handicap at Randwick on Saturday. He started at liberal odds, so that nis party had opportunity to lift a fair parcel of betting money at moderate risk.

Gay Blonde’s reported mishap could not have been as serious as the cableman suggested, as she was started nt Randwick on Saturday with 8.6 to run third to Lough Neagh, a first-class performer carrying 21b. less, and King’s Head, 7.7.

Wotan (Siegfried—Left) was not started at Randwick on Saturday as had been expected. Maybe he will have his first run at Rosehill next Saturday. As nothing to the contrary has been heard, it may bo assumed that all is well with New Zealand’s hope in the A.J.C. Derby.