NOTES FROM ELLERSLIE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19748, 22 September 1927, Page 16

NOTES FROM ELLERSLIE.

GOSSIP OF THE TRACKS. by archer. It was an off morning at Ellerslie yesterday and there was little of interest in the work, as most of the horses were restricts to steady pacing on the sand. The Avondale Stakes candidate Knightlike was allowed to stride along over three furlongs on the sand with Joy King, and they ran the distance in 41 S-ss. Up to the present Joy King has not been rn'led uoon to race thiß season, as he has not been feeding too well. The Comedy King gelding is now doing better ana- he mav be given a run shortly. Joj' King proved himself a good galloper at distances up to a mile last season and there should be some success awaiting him this term. Since he arrived here he has been doing his work nicely and should come to hand quickly. Unless the weather keeps fine, Star Stranger may not run in the Avondale Cup. as he is not partial to soft going, and his trainer, J. H. Jefferd, does not fancy running him in it. Star Stranger has benefited by his recent racing, although he does not appear to be quite ready yet, and should be all the better for another race or two. He will probably gallop this morning and trackwatchers will be interested to see how he goes. There has be«n nothing out of the ordinary about the latest track doings of Kamehameha, but he has done a lot of solid work and ia in good shape for his coming engagements. The other morning he pleased better than Rahepoto in a gallop over a round and Beems likely to require boating in the hurdle events at the coming meetings. Kamehameha showed fair form over hurdles at the winter meetings and Bhould be able to reproduce it now. The Avondale Stakes candidate Knightlike has created a very favourable impression among the trackwatchers, as he is a beautiful mover and also carries an attractive appearance. A more sedate youngster it would 'be hard to find and he accomplishes his tasks like a tradesman. My impression of Knightlike is that he will stay on better than most juveniles, and the manner in which he won the Debutante Stakes suggests that it will take a good on© to beat Him. One of the youngsters considered likely to take a lot of beating in the Avondale Stakes is Freehold, and he certainly looks a speedy customer. Although unlike in colour—he is a chestnut—;he is similar m conformation to his brilliant full-brother, Tamatete, but not so big. Freehold was one of the last to leave the mark in the Debutante Stakes at Wanganui and with a decent run would have finished much closer than sixth. He appears to have done well in the meantime and will race more prominently here. There is a strong disposition to favour the chance of Covent Garden in the Flying Stakes Handicap on Saturday. This is as a result of hie. forward running at Wanganui, where hti finished well after beginning slowly and was a good second to Town Bird. Covent Garden has seemingly done well in the meantime, and, with ®bght improvement on his latest effort., he should make a bold showing in his coming engagement. Laughing Prince has taken fio harm from his recent racing and is in great heart to undertake his immediate engagements. The Quantock colt has grown during the winter without thickening to any extent, but he has retained his galloping ability, as he proved by his decisive victory m the Eclipse Stakes at "Wanganui. A number of keen judges fancy hiß chance in the Flying Stakes Handicap, but he is not a brilliant beginner and in a big field this will be against him, although he will no doubt be making an impression at the finish. I like his Avondale Guineas chance much better than his prospects m the handicap event. No fault can be found with the condition of Mask and he look 9 a fitter horse than when he won the Harangai Handicap at Wanganui recently. It will not come amiss to Mark's chance in the Avondale Cup to have to race on a heavy track, as he won the King Edward Memorial Handicap at Ellerslie last spring in heavy going. Mask promises to be a fitter horse this season than at any previous stage of his career and he should give a good account of himself on Saturday.

One of the strongest teams of visiting horses is that of W. Rayner, whose charges. Mask. Lysander, Thaw, Covent Garden, and Damavis, all appear to have benefited by their recent Lysander has fined down a good deal and it should not be long before he is showing his best form again. The other member of the nartv is the two-year-old filly Episode, who has "not yet raced, and is not so forward as a number of the youngsters she will have to meet in the Avondale Stakes. With a little luck Rayner. should attain a fair share of success with his charges a> the Avondale and Auckland meetings.

The three-year-old filly Royal March will probably have her first race in the second division of the Maiden Plate on Saturday. She has improved a good deal in condition lately, but has not yet attracted much attention by her track doings. Royal March is a full-sister to those smart gallopers, Queen March and Lucius, and is trained by J. Buchanan, whose other maiden candidate, Brampton, may be more fancied.

Two local sprinters in Town Guard and Bnllymqy 11. have been doing their work well, and it is expected that they will put up a good fight against tho visitors in the Flying Stakes Handicap on Saturday, and each will have a good following. Town Guard has had a sound preparation and should strip very fit. Ballymoy 11. also looks very well, although she has not been extended in her latest gallops.

One of the fittest horses at headquarters is Modest Boy. and he promises to race prominently iu his coming engagements. Without making fast, time, he_ has been accomplishing: his tasks in pleasing fashion and' was going very strongly at the conclusion of # his seven-furlong frallop the other morning. It is against Modest Roy that he lacks eize, but he ran a number of good races in hack events last season and some improvement in his form is not unlikely this season.

There are good reports from the country concerning Te Kara, and _at present he is one of the principal fancies for the Avondale Cup. It is nearly two years since Te Kara won a race, but he-has not done » great dejil of racing in the last two seasons and has shaped creditably _ in bis latest engagements without getting into the money. Te Kara is now nine years old and is not improving,_ but he stays so well that he must be given a chance, even though he may be losing a little of his brilliancy. The three-year-old Tea Set figures as an acceptor for the Flying Stakes Handicap on Saturday and ho looks out of p\ace m such company. A couple of moderate hacks beat him easily over seven furlongs the other morning, 'so that his prospects in open company must be very remote indeed. Festina Lente beat a bis, field of hacks in good style last month and she has since made satisfactory progress in her training. She is to compete with the open class in the Henderson Handicap on Saturday, and with only a couple of pounds above the minimum might make a decent showing, although the class may be too good for her to win. She has been working with plenty of dasli and. has splendid condition. Hector Gray is at F.llerslie with Mr. W. C. Fine's two-year-olds. Moehau 'bv Potoa —Fraisette) and Orewa (by Yalkyrian— HmerewaV and rides the yo-.mesters in their work. Moehau is engaged in the Avondale Stakes, but is probably not so j forward as some of her opponents and is not likely to be fancied. The Paper Money filly Chit ran a Very creditable second in the Debutante Stakes at Wanganui, and, ae she appears to have done well in the meantime, she should have a chare* of filling one of the places in the Avondale Stakes. It would bo necessary for her to show a lot_ of improvement to tv.rn the tables on Knightlike. as_ that colt bent her comfortably at Wanganm. but she should beat more than will beat her. The latest arrivals Bensora and Sovena. who arrived from New Plymouth by the Rarawa yesterday. THE A,SHBURTON MEETING. [BY TELEGRAPH.—PRESS ASSOCIATION.] TIMARU, "Wednesday. J In the Longbeach Handicap at the Ash- ) burton race meeting Note's official weight \ is 10.10, r.ot 10.0 as telegraphed. TURF IX AUSTRALIA. ! A. ar.d N.Z. SYDNEY. Sept. 21. Rionscup has bees scratched for the ! Epsom Tiie Keffibla. Grange racecourse was offered | for sale at auction to-day, but was passed is at £4900.