NOTES FROM ELLERSLE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18333, 24 February 1923, Page 12

NOTES FROM ELLERSLE.

GOSSIP OF THE TRACK.

BY ARCHER. Matters have been ..fairly quiet at Ellerslie of late, but there was * a little schooling on Thursday morning. Toddy gave Peter Maxwell a lead over four ' pony hurdles, which the latter negotiated in- fine style for a be«{inner,:KGamboola;';*l'on<s, also shaped pleas-, ingly for a novice in a schooling task over the same fences. Fencer jumped four of the .■ brush, hurdles safely, and Lady"- Bruce and j Sylvia Scarlet, accomplished ■ a similar task, but their fencing was not impressive.

Sunny Spec and Koodoo were both double winners at the Tolaga Bay , meeting on Thursday. • The ■ former is ; a, four-year-old chestnut gelding by Sunny Lake : out of Kiixaale.' and >: has - previously shown smart form over short courses, while -Koodoo _ is a four-year-old full brother to Eleus, being by Elysian from Kowerewere. Koodoo has done very little and was trained at Elleralie by J. Williamson as a two-year-old. - 5..,• ' ■■

!' The Marble Arch-mare Sans Gene, who figured as a winner at the Hamilton meeting in the spring, was made favourite for both of her engagements at the Thames, and- finished third on each - occasion, and was perhaps a trifle unlucky not to have done better. Sans Gene was going on strongly at the right-end of her races, and looks likely to get on the winning- list before the country circuit is completed. Although only a little fellow. Killaahandra has previously demonstrated his ability to compass < six furlongs uncommonly well, and after his good form in the Telegraph Handicap at Wellington it did not come as any surprise to see him among the well fancied division for the Flying Handicap at Wanganui on Thursday, in which he pulled his backers through by a narrow, margin from the hardy and consistent Rational. Last year's Great Northern Hurdle Race winner, Poanui, who has : been indulging in a spell since competing at..the. A.R.C. Summer : Meeting, is . being - ridden about again preparatory to rejoining' the active brigade. Poanui's 1 most recent form has not been in keeping with his best performances, but he has done well during his respite. , and, should bloom again later \on . in; the season.* . s v - ■ Everybody would'be pleased to see such a good sportsman as Mr. R. A. McKenzie winning a big race like the Wanganui Cup with his gelding Sunart. who has nt various stages of his career been troubled with unsoundness. The success of the Sunny Lake gelding would be very pleading to his trainer, T. Lloyd, who has nad an unenviable task in Keeping him sound. The promising young Auckland hurdler Peter Amans was expected to give a good account of himself in the Woetmere Hurdle Race at Wanganui an Thursday, and found enough support to send him out favourite.. but the best he oonld do was to finish third. However, he evidently made & fair showing, and may do hotter to-day. v ■ Surveyor was treated to an easy time for a few days after his return from New Plymouth, but has reoommenced work again. He -is , reported to have received a very bad run m the Paul Memorial Handicap, but for which he may have won, as ho finished within a lengvv of the winner in fourth position. v ' v That smart sprinter Pavo, who has b<en resting uince - the Auckland, Racing Club's Summer Meeting, has rejoined ociivo briesde again at Ellerslie. The Welkin gelding has freshened up nicely during ais respite. ... 'V^i-%" Some little time ago Voluble broke down and his owner presented him to a sporting farmer, who did not have possession, of him for any length' of time, as the Mystification gelding received a kick from another home and had to be destroyed. • J. Andorton, who was formerly located up-, country with his team, has removed to Ellerslie, where he now -occupies D. Moragh&n's old stables. , The horses under his charge include Pithiraki. Smoke ' Concert. Turn, and the hurdler Penniless. The chestnut filly by Rock Flint out of Galloping Girl, who - formed : one, of the. batch of thoroughbreds recently imported from England by Br. Ring, is progressing nicely in her preparation under J. Lambess guidance. ■ ' .

The Masterpiece mare Amendment ended her career in the Cheviot Cup at Riccarton on Saturday »<ist. When .. entering the straight she faltered, and it ww discovered that one of her legs had snapped and she had -to be destroyed. Bright Light was struck out of his To Aroha engagements immediately on the appearance of the weights,; his owner's opinion of his capabilities. and that of the handicapper not being in accord. v . > When a post-mortem was hold on Solfa after his sudden death it was found that his kidneys were in a badly-diseased condition, writes Sir Modred. . ■ This fact probably accounted for his erratic performances on occasions. ' ' ■ .

The New Zealand 1 horseman. E. Manson. steered his first winner in Australia : when he won the second division of the Granville Stakes at the recent Roeehill meeting on the Auckland-bred mare Rosewater. The South Island-owned chaser, Dick, has ' returned from Sydney. ■ The Gluten gelding raced fairly well in the . Commonwealth, and it was announced that he had been sold, but ouch was evidently not the case. A. Cummings, private, trainer to Mr. E. A- Price.- has not- been enjoying,the best of health of .late, and was recently an inmate of a private hospital. . The Husbandman gelding Just Quietly, formerly trained at Ellerslie by J. juambeas, has been purchased by Mr. B. E. Hart, and is now included in C. Hodder's team., ; A number of Auckland horsemen were riding at Wanganui on Thursday, but H. Wiggins, who rode Taipairu, who the only one to steer a winner.

■ The Napier Park Racing Club has appointed Mr. J. D. Donovan as starter for its forthcoming autumn meeting. -