AVONDALE SPRING MEETING

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19753, 28 September 1927, Page 17

AVONDALE SPRING MEETING

NOTES ON THE FORM, BY ARCHER. Because of her promising form in notching two seconds in three starts last season. Royal Doulton was solidly backed in the Maiden Plate and she realised the anticipations of her admirers by winning in very easy fashion. The Borneo mare was again in demand for the Mount Albert Handicap on the second day, but she failed to run to form and was never dangerous. Royal Doulton is a smart galloper and with ordinary luck will win her way out of the hack class this season. On the strength of good track form Whaka King was sent out favourite for the Maiden Plate and he flattered the hopes of his supporters by leading until the last furlong, when he weakened, and eventually finished third. Six furlongs is a distance that evidently suits him better than seven at present, for in a slightly better class in the Mount Albert Handicap on the second day Le . was narrowly beaten by Waltzer, who had run well in open company earlier at the meeting. Whaka King haß been trying to win a maiden for some time now without success, but his turn may come shortly. He might be a better horse when the ground becomes firmer. There were a few promising novices among the runners in the Maiden Plate that should be worth keeping in mind for minor events ahead. These were Restaurant, La Roma, and Good Boy. Restaurant was badly placed in the early stages of the second division, but she made a fine run over the last couple of furlongs and rhould not be long in winning. For one that was making his first public appearance. Good Boy attracted some attention by leading in the middle stages of the second division, and La Roma also gave evidence of future possibilities by running up close behind the placed horses. Although he had to bo hard-ridden to win the first division of the Maiden Plate, Levenside recorded a promising performance and seems likely to attain more success in the hack ranks. One of the last to leave the mark, he was net prominent until the straight was reached and was still a few lengths behind the leaders at the distance, but under the whip he responded gamely and got up to win Dy nearly a length. The three-year-old Brampton displayed plenty of pace in the second division of the Maiden Plate and was up second to the turn, where he weakened and faded out. The outing should do him a lot of good and when he is a little more forward in condition he should be very troublesome in similar class. Brampton should be capable of making a creditable record among the hacks this season. It has been a fairly general opinion for some time that Kavamu is not partial to heavy going, but his display in winning the Grey Lynn Hurdles dispelled that idea. The tactics of his rider in going out and establishing a good lead when the pace was plack entering the last mile and then making the best of his advantage worked successfully. Karamu has never done quite as well as he promised to do, and, though he has a few successes to his credit, is only fair. One of the pleasing incidents of. the meeting was to see C. Regan associated with a winner at his first appearance in the saddle since his bad accident last autumn. It will be remembered that this jockey was one of the riders injured in the smash in the hurdle event at Whangarei last April when another horseman. E. C'opestake, lostnis life. For some weeks Regan lay in hospital in a serious condition, but he pulled through, although his recovery was very slow. It was therefore a pleasing fact that his first mount since should be a winning one on Karamu, the horse off whom he was hurt at Whangarei. The two failures of York Abbey in the hurdle events were costly to backers, as he started favourite each day. As yet he is rather new to the jumping business and with more experience he should win races, although shorter distances than two miles may suit him best. His fencing showed an improvement and it was unfortunate that a dog on the course should distract his attention and cause him to fall at the last fence on the opening dav. It is unlikely that he would have won. although he was closing up at the time and would riot have been far away.

It is not often that a horse falls in a flat event one clay and wins at liis next appearance, but there were two instances of this at the meeting. On the opening day Gala Day and Alonsoa fe'.l in their respective engagements and both proved successful on the second day. Gala Day was going so well when he fe'.l in the Members' Handicap that he appeared likeN to have won and backers did not overlook this .fact. as they sent him ou,t favourite in the Nihotapu ITandican and he answered all demands, although he only got home by a head. Notwithstanding that he had not won a race for two years, Te Kara was a good second favourite for the A vondaie Cup and the Bupport was probably due to the fact that he had finished fourth in each of his three pteviona outings Those who supported him were correct ir their judgment as after getting away on the move he vue always prominent and at the finish he stayed on and scored narrowly. Stnr.e, including myself, were inclined (o think that his powers were on the wane, but he proved that he is still capable of winning in the best handicap company and must be given full credit for his victory. Cohesion attempted to win the A vondaie Cup fiosn end *o end and he nearly succeeded. only going under by a neck. The Polydsmon ge'ding run another good race in the Plumpton Handicap, wherein he was vvoi! placed foi most of the journey and eventually finished fourth. As a three-year-old Cohesion was trained at Ellerslie and was then only a moderate, but. he has made considerable improvement in the past twelve months and will be unlucky if no fails to win *n important handicap during the sarins campaign. Some excuse may be offered for Royal Mint's failure to reach a place in the Avondale Cup on the grounds that he was badly ridden. Why his rider allowed h:.m to get no far out of it. when he could easily have been closer is difficult to understand. Four furlongs from home Royal Mint was a long w*? back last, and it was only wit-n a fine finishing effort that he got fourth. Different tactics were cdopted .in the Plumpton Handicap and. after being handy throughout., Royat Mint won with ease. There C nn be no doubt that if be had been better ridden. th» Catmint gelding would have semusly troubled Te Kara in the Avondale Cup.

For a horse that was sent ont favourite Master Doon made a poor showing in the Avondale Cup and eventunllv finished !«st. He. was in a prominent position until nearing lh« straight and then compounder!. On the second day he was again we!! beaten and his form was cprta>nlv disappointm'' It was thought that the heavy going would be in his favour, as he is very partial to it. and many no doubt supported him on this account. Master Ocon has done a lot of strenuous racing in the past twelve month? and may be going off. although he looked verv fit. U would be unwise to condemn Mask for his two failures, as he was never jeauy dangerous either day. In the Avondale Clip he received a bump early that sent him b»<-k to the rear division and. though he moved up quickly, nearing the stnuHßt he was never near the leaders. Mask looked >n great heart and, although he _ won here twelve months ago in heavy going, it may have been the extremely bad going that beat him. Another who failed to race up to expectations in the Avondale Cup was Te Monanni. For about six furlongs he was up mth ot sixth, but then commenced to Icm. ground and was second to last at the nrustL ie Monanui should take no harm from the r»cti and witb the work he will receive in the meantime may be capable of so improved display in the Mitcbelson Lao. When the tape* were released in the Avon d» ; e Cup Eden Hall dwelt slightly, bnt he sjon ran up fourth and was going so well in second position a tew furlongs from home that he looked likely to win. However, he weakened in the last furlong but finished a very creditable third. On the strength of this t&ort he was sent out a g-ood second farrivnte m the Plump,on Handicap but he got away bad<y and was eariy in the rear division. In the middle stages he made a run that took him up fourth at the turn, but the effort left him lacking and he was eighth at tfce finish. Prc-dice won the Avondale Stake* in good sfsle and thoroughsv deserved her victory, aa she was not well drawn at the barrier and" was back in ninth position in ibe ; middle st-agea She finished on w*'l and w*s i r-rcbablv more at home in the eome than ; »orre of the others. Tt was whispered about that she could wllop well »»d At was ■ fourth in demand on the totalizator. Pro- i dice is a full-sister to Phaola. who won the j event in 1925. The progeny of Absurd are not as » rtile ] partial to heavy gome, but it .is r-robar-e that the conditions did not suit Fret-nw.d, ultbongh he finished second in lb* Avonds«? Stakes. <>n top of the ground tins fellow should excellent prospects of turning the t*W«w on Prodice and it trill surprise me if he fails to do a lot better before the close of t.he season. It did not help Prince Tfnmph rev's chance to be draws on the extreme outside at tb» barrier in 'he Avonda:* Stakes, as thoe* in the outside positions have a Rood deal the wo rat of it at the eld five-fuHn-.r post. Nevertheless be ran *_ fine race and was running on in third position at the end. Prince Humphrey is a nice colt and should win ia hii turn among the juveniles. <