NOTES FROM ELLERSLIE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19718, 18 August 1927, Page 14

NOTES FROM ELLERSLIE.

GOSSIP OF THE TRACKS, BY ARCHER. It was an off morning at Elleralio yesterday and there was little o£ interest in the work, the majority of the horsos being restricted to useful pacing on the sand. The work should be more interesting this morning, when the final gallops for the Pakuranga Hunt meeting will bo recorded. The three-year-old filly Royal March, v-ho has not yet raced, is among the regular attendants at Ellerslie, where she has been working usefully. She has not been noticed doing much fast work, but sho moved along satisfactorily in a gallop over four furlongs with Serang on Tuesday. Royal March comes from a family that las given us some good performers, but she has yet to show whether sho will prove in the same class as her relatives.

The Valkyrian filly Valour has improved a good deal in appearance lately. Liiko most of the juveniles- at Ellerslie, she has done very little sprinting and it is too early yet to form any idea of her capabilities.

The hunter Stonewall has not visited the tracks very much lately, but he was brought to headquarters for a schooling task oil Tuesday. Unfortunately he slipped when landing over the stonewall and fell, otherwise he gave a satisfactory display. Stonewall is a proficient jumper that has previously shown his ability to handle the country at. headquarters and he should be as safe ill his jumping as most the runners in the Pakuranga Hunt Cup on Saturdav. It is against him that he has had no recent racing and he would probably be all the better for an outing or two in public.

On the tracks Kiliute is never likely to attract much notice, as he is a sluggish worker and has to be kept up to his work. Kiliute has remained too long m hack company to be considered anything better than a moderate, but he is in excellent order and should bo capable of a good allowing in the moderate class engaged m the Sylvia Park Handicap on Saturday.

Nothing very strenuous has been exacted from Rahenoto lately and ho has freshened up nicclv. The Maniapoto gelding should be in good shape for the spring meetings, and, although he did not race well at Trentham, he should pay his way if kept to hurdling this season. For a novice he shaped rather well in winning among the hack hurdlers at Ellerslie in June.

The Tea Tray filly Ash Tray seems to be making a little improvement, but she will require to make a good deal more progress before she is likely to attract notice. She is nicely bred, but is on the small side and lack of size may be against her.

There has been nothing out of the ordinary about the latest track doings of Harbour View, but- he has trained on nicely since winning in hack company at Ellerslie in June The Heather Mixture gelding is fit enough to run a good race in the .Tellicoe Handicap on Saturday, but the class is open and better than any he has yet met. Harbour View has also yet to prove his ability to run a middle distance, and there are a few engaged that may make the task too difficult for him.

The hunter Simplicitaß haa had a sound preparation and that should be helpful to him. but he has not shown any particular brilliance or stamina in his work, although he jumps well. He is little more than a pony, and, although he seems very genuine, liis lack of size will not be in his favour

The Catmint mare Double Mint has improved considerably in condition and has been working soundly without doing anything special. There has been nothing about her latest track efforts to suggest any immediate prospects, but her condition mav be a factor in her favour. She will probably be among the runners in the Auckland Handicap on Saturday.