ELLERSLIE MEETING

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXVI, Issue 144, 3 June 1936, Page 2

ELLERSLIE MEETING

First-Day Running ” Archer,” of the Auckland ‘‘Lieraid,” has the following among other notes on lirst-dav events at Ellerslie:— •» * * I'lie conditions for racing were more in keeping with summer than winter, although the air became chilly wncn the bun was sinking toward the end of the day The course has never nee.') faster for a winter meeting ami this partly accounts for Prince of Orange reducing the record for the Great Nori hern Hurdles from 4-49 Io 4.11. * » What promised to he a very ing finish in I he Penrose II indies was spuilt'd v'. licn Sultsprny fell a I t)io lasi fence, eiuiblir.o Curlew to win easily :t.f a long price. At the time Saltsprny racing on terms with the winner ami he might have won with a stand-up, as tliei'o :tppen red iifth l between

them. Curlew displayed distinct improvement and was assisted by quick, clean jumpiug. * * • The favourite Allegretto scored his second successive win when he prevailed in the Green Laue Steeplechase. Once the field had settled down Allegretto was never further back than second and won nicely at the end, although he was under the whip after crossing the last fence, when he was being hotly challenged by Diamond. On the whole the winner’s fencing was good and he is a most promising steeplechaser, who will require only to keep sound to win higher nonuurs during the winter.

The favourite One Whetu finished attractively on the rails to win the Cornwall Handicap from Pakanui, who made a fine attempt to win all the way. It seemed as if Pakanui would prove victorious when he still led inside the distance, but One Whetu outstayed him near the end. Con Fuoeo put in a remarkable run to get third after tieing in a seemingly hopeless position most, of the way. Mungatoon also finished on, being closer at the post than at any other stage. Scotland, Toeley Street, Knight of Australia, Gay Hose, and Sea Pox all run good races, although the weakened in the last furlong.

What the result of the Great Northern Hurdles would have been without the series of falls is merely a matter of conjecture, although there does not appear to be any doubt that Clarion Call and Jolly Beggar would have beaten the others easily. Clarion Call was always going attractively in front until he unseated his rider at the last fence, where the race was at his mercy, barring accidents. The chances are that he would have recorded at least several seconds’ faster time than the eventual winner, Prince of Orange. Jolly Beggar was going great guns in pursuit or Clarion Call when he crashed at the second to last fence, but whether ne would have overtaken the latter if both had stood up is very doubtful.

The chances are that Jolly Beggat would not have been as far back as he was a mile from home only for the mishap to Scotch Nation. From the seven furlongs until he fell he moved up in the style of a really good horse, but he would have had an extremely difficult task to concede Clarion Call at least ten lengths in just over three furlongs. Scotch Nation was in front with Clarion Call when the former dislocated the fetlock of his near foreleg just before taking off at the sixth fence, and there was a general mix-up when he fifil, "Benighted and Master Musk being brought down also, flven though he was up in the lead, it is doubtful whether Scotch Nation would have won, as Clarion Call was outjumping him at every fence and apparently going much the easier.