THE ELLERSLIE MEETING.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 18910, 7 January 1925, Page 6

THE ELLERSLIE MEETING.

NOTES ON THE FORM. BY ABC HER. THE TWO-Yil .IR-OLDS. Tho two-year-old m.f'M at the Auckland summer meeting very -.fcwtbly disclosed tho fact that we havo a lcr;well-bred moderates racing. Out o£ tho number wo breed and thoso wo buy from Aust/'alLi there were only four at (ho meeting who wore of good class, and they were Mimetic, Runnymedo. King's Speech, and Merry Daiuon. Mimetic won tho Great Northern Foal Stakes in a convincing manner, but bis subsequent effort in the Royal Stakes was not ao good. His rider asserted that ho was hampered by the tactics of another jockey in tho latter event, hut I think Mimetic, may bo moody. Like a number ot tho progeny ol Comedy King, and f nday was ono of his off days. '.t hat he is a good colt when at his best. 1 havo no doubt. Kunnyrnede is also ono of our best. His win in the. .Royal Stakes and his race against Merry Damon, when ho just, Jailed to concedo the latter 14ib in th« Criterion Handicap, *«ro storling efforts, .rung a Speech is also a good colt, and had J. . wors t of tho luck in both tho Poal Stakes acid the Royal Stakes. Ho was badly disappointed whoa his rider tried to take him through on tho rails in tho former event, otherwise Mimetic would have had h harder task to diiiposo of him. In tho Royal Stake 3 ho did not jump off tho markas quickly as his opponents, njid this, coupled with the fact that his rider hurriedly urged him to the front, contributed largely to his defeat. Morry Damon had four runs at the meeting, winning thrice and finishing second in tho other. All were under handicap conditions, and his beaten performance was his best, na ho had the steadier of 9.7 and way. only beaten by Gold Acre, to whom he war. conceding 301b. IT all go well between now and Raster with this quartette, they, with tho unbeaten Automne. if the latter recovers thoroughly, should provide an interesting contest in tho Great Northern Champaeno Stakes. The form of Gold Acre wan proof that he is improving, and, though there was not sufficient merit in his win to mako us rato him highly, he may develop into quite a useful horse, an he should go on progressing. Ripon Abbey created a good impression with the pace he displayed in the GreatNorthern Poal Stakes, where he was in tho first three for the first half-mile, and eventuand finished fourth. He was no) nearly so well seasoned as many of tho other runners, and. all going well, should , make his presence felt in juvenile handicaps round those parts later on in tho season. THE THREE-YEAR-OLDS. Count Cavour won tho Great Northern Derby very easily. The opposition was the best that could be produced in the Dominion with the exception of Nigger Minstrel, who is not in commission, and no one could claim for any of the three-year-olds that they represented more than useful class. That it is not. a vintage year in this division is positive and rlea.r, as Count Cavour, Sand star. Master Doon, and Footfall all took part in handicap events at the meeting, and, thoush Master Doon won tho. Raiiwav Handicap and Hands tar the Christmas Handicap, none of then?, showed other than useful form among th-> older brigade. Very likelv some of t.hem may improve ere the autumn rolls round, but I shall bo surprised if any develop into first-class racehorses. OTHER CLASSES. Bullford stood out as a hurdler of class, and, if all toes well wiih him, he will be heard of again in this branch of tho game. A horse of commanding size, who looks up to any weight, a clean jumper and the possessor of undeniable speed, he has all the requirements for a top-notch hurdler. Munga is a useful hurdler, and ho should turn out well if put to steenlechasiug. lie has the size and is a true stayer. Royal Divorce was considered hv a lot, of good judges to on excellent chance in tho Auckland lup. wherein ho ran well for a mile and three furlongs. At that, point he was near the front, but after that he went slowly to the rear, and was weli back at the finish. This follow may make good over two miles, but at present. J think a mile and a half and under will suit him best. . . Degage. Muscari, Merit, John D ,x > Siaost. Tactician, and Princes# Ronnie will in future have to do their riseing in open company as a result of their victories at the meetinc. Merit and Siaosi showed us that they should bo capable of winning anions better than hack class, ns both ran preminentlv in open sprint events subsequent to their hack successes. Tho two easy victories obtained by Lady Ridicule showed us that, she is at the top of her form and that she has become sol'd. Tho daughter of Absurd has a groat burst, of sneed when under way.. and, as sho ran a mile out reallv well, may be placed to still further advantage. Her successes must, have lieen very gratifying to her trainer, N. Cunningham, whoso careful attention has met with good results from a marc that was formerly disappointing. , In f >.' shins third in tho (roodwood Handicap I'retty Man demonstrated that he is returning to form. He raced well ana consistently at this period of last season and may be back to that form tho next time, he fams the starter. R. E. Brown did not have a great deal of lu'k with his team. but with Gala Day and Broadwood he hud two candidates that raced consistently at, the_ meeting. Both horses started ea<4i day, Gala Day notehins two seconds, p. third, and a fourth, while Broadwood obtained a dead-heat, for a R€K?.oncl and a third. Gala Uov is a folkl. improving young horse, and his. running indicate* that a good handicap will be hi:, before the season clones. Though beaten in the Auckland Cup. o:u vey b«st mare Gold Licht- ran n great race, and had her rider waited with his run. instead of rushinf to the front ."t the nome turn", shf ma' have accounted for thi'd money Gold Lieht won tho Ki""'s PMe and .Auckland I'lnto very easily, and further emphasised what a good mare she is.