NOTES FROM ELLERSLIE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19740, 13 September 1927, Page 15

NOTES FROM ELLERSLIE.

GOSSIP OF ,THE TRACKS. t BY ARCHER. The two-yen.r-old Red Lion (by Solferina— Rose Bed), recently trained by J. T. JamieBon, will in future be prepared by W. Ryan at Ellerslio. As a yearling Red Lion was pufchased by Messrs. J. C. and P. S. Gleeson for lOOOgns, and for this reason alone his doings will be closely followed by local tratikwatchers. For his aire be is an attractive gelding and in appearance he will bear favourable comparison with most of the juveniles about.

The Waneanui trainer W. Rayner leaves for EUersfve next Monday with Mask, Lysander, Episode, Co vent Garden, lnaw, and Damaris. It is his intention to race his charges at both the A von dale and Auckland meetings and he will stay at headquarters until after the latter niteting before returning home. With the selec* team he baa it will be surprising it n® fails to win his share of races at the spring meetings.

Those who noticed Episode m the two-year-old parade at Wana&nui were • left with the impression -that she has plenty of speed for at least a couple of furlongs, as she was right up with the leaders in her division and wan under a very strong pull. Whether she will be quite ready to go five furlongs thi* month has yet to be learnt, but at present she may be regarded as a possibility for the Avondale Stakes. Episode was not a runner in the Debutante Stakes at Wanganui. and will_ be having her first race here. She is a nice chestnut filly by Limond Erom the Absurd niare Homage.

Unless present intentions are alterod, J. H. Jeflerd will brine a team of four, comprising Star Stranger, Cione, Star God, and Knightlike, to Elleralie for the AvondaJa and Auckland spring meetings, which will be held within a fortnight of one another. The Hawke's Bay trainer usually does well when he comes here, and, although his team may not be as -strong. as on some previous occasions, he looks to have excellent prospects in the Avopdale Stakes and Welcome Stakes with Knightlike. For one that was making his first public appearance Star God made c very ci'ditable showing to finish seventh lh the Moutoa Hack Handicap at Wanganui. In appearance Star God is very like his fullbrother, Star Stranger, although he is not quite so big as his relative. _ As be, is only a three-year-old, there is yet time for him to develop a lot, and be should mould into a very nice horse. It should not be long before Star God opens iris winning account, as he can be expected to improve with every race. When she had her first race at Marton Cione was very green and was slow to begin, but a little racing experience has worked improvement and she was prominent until meeting with interference, in the Spring Hack Handicap at Wanganui. Her snowing was good <enough to suggest tl at she may shortly account for a ' stake m minor company. Cione is a hree-ycar-old filly by Catmint from Hyades. hence a fillBister to Phaola. Catkin won the Moutoa Hack Handicap at Wanganui in a style that presages more success for him in hack company in the near future. It would appear that he is likely to develop into a useful horse over middle distances, as he was going on strongly at the end of the eight and a-half furlongs. Catkin is engaged in the Avondale Guineas and he might make a creditable showing, although at present re does not seem to be classy enougn to win. With a little tuck K.omak might have won a hack event at Wangmui lost week, as he finished close up in each of hie starts after meeting with a bad run each day. Komak is not good, but he is very well at present and he might win a hack event soon when the class ia not strong. Two failures were recorded against Reremoana at Wanganui last week, yet he showed sufficient dash to indicate that fce is likely to be back to form early. In the New Zealand Eclipse Stakes he was within half a length of the leader, Lyaander. until reaching the straight, where he faded out. The big fellow is very bright and healthy and all he needed was a little racing to bring him forward. One of the biggest of the youngsters tl-at contested the Debutante Stakes at Wanganui was Shot Silk, who finished third. He was out in front until reaching the straight, and on his showing must be considered to have possibilities, as he will probably make a good deal of improvement. Shot Silk ia a bay gelding by Leighton from Blended and is owned by Mr. E. L. Riddiford, who purchased him as a yearling for SOOgns. it waa noticeable when Star Stranger stripped to contest the New Zealand Eclipse Stakes on Saturday that he had mad® some improvement in condition from th® previous week, when he bad a run at Marton Another couple of weeks will do a lot for him, but he does not look like being at hia best for the Avondale Cup, although be may possibly come on quickly in the meantime. With the racing and travelling he will get Star Stranger should be a very fit horse for the New Zealand i Cup in November and should take a lot of beating in that event. As i two-year-old last reason Reckless displayed .winning form in minor company, and, iudging by her running at Wanganui, where she finished close up in hack sprint events, she seems likely to pay her way among the hack sprinters this term. Reckless looks a little delicate and may always do better in her first attempt at a meeting than on the later days. The Te Aroha trainer G. Reid did fairly well on his trip to Marton md VVnganui, as he won two hurdle races with Hangawera and a sprint event with Town Bird. The other members of his team, Kumak and Te Kawana, were beaten in their engagements, although Komak notched a third. Reid is bringing a team of six horßes to Ellerslie for the Avondale Rtd Auckland spring meetings. The New Plymouth trainer, E. George, has commenced the new season well, At Marton he won with Royal Mint, while Nas tori f thrice) and Hipo represented his stabl® successfully at Wanganui. With only a few meeting* over and five winners to his credit h® has certainly had s good share of luck in the past couple of weeks. Maidoa is a useful fen cor, and h® is proving a profitable proposition among the hunter*, as he hae won twice in th® lasj few weeks. His latest was to annex the Egmont-Wanganui Hunt Cup. and he experienced little difficulty in beating the opposition. Maidos has an engagement in tae Dannevirke Hunt Club Steeplechase on Thursday and should be favourably placed to achieve another victory. THAMES JOCKEY CITJB. OFFER FROM OHINEMURI. [BY TELEGRAPH. OWN CORRESPONDENT. ] PAEROA, Monday. It ia stated that the committee of the Ohineinuri Jockey Club has offered the Thames Jockey Club the use of the Paeroa racecourse, practically free of cost, on which to hold the annual race about the end of October. It is considered the track will be in first-clasi order early in October, judging by its present condition. TURF IN AUSTRALIA. SCRATCHING OF RUNNYMEDE. (Received September 12. 11.13 p.m.) A. and N.Z. SYDNEY, Sept. 12. Runnymede has been scratched for the Ep«om and Metropolitan, and tor the Caulfield arid Melbourne Cups. VICTORIAN TURF CLUB. (Received September 12, 11.13 p.m.) A. and N.Z. MELBOURNE. Sept. 12. The annual report of the Victorian i,mateur Turf Club spates that last year's distribution of stajce money amounted to £79,406, which was £7 381 more than in the previous year. . The disbursement on stakes since the club was formed amounts to £1,433,818.