NOTES FROM ELLERSLIE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 20070, 6 October 1928, Page 18

NOTES FROM ELLERSLIE.

GOSSIP OF THE TRACKS. BY MENTOR. A. Tinker has been engaged to ride Toxeuma in tho Great Northern Guineas. His other mounts to-day are Star Stranger, Aussie, Hunting Day and Awavere. Paganelli is a possible favourite for tho Shorts Handicap to-day. He was expected from Te Rapa yesterday afternoon and his appearance will bo tho subject of a good deal of attention when he reaches the course. R. McTavisli stated yesterday that he had not been engaged to ride the son of Lord Quex, so that in tho absence of any definite information it is assumed that the stable apprentice. O. Mclnally. may take the ride. In his only start at Avondale Kawini was kept so fur out of his ground as to make his chance practically hopeless in the run home, and then ho wa3 only just beaten. His rider may profit by his experience there and ride this good jumper nearer to his field to-day. In that caso ho promises to take a strong hand in tho decision of the Trial Hurdles. There was a fair amount of sprinting at Ellcrslio yesterday, but littlo of it was illuminating. Cashier, who recorded 50 4-5s for half a mile, set a main that I did not see beaten. This three-year-old has great speed and will have a big following in the Great Northern Guineas to-day. W. Stono satisfied the curiosity of trackwatchers by allowing Supremacy to strido over tlu-eo furlongs yesterday. Under a good hold all tho way he recorded 39 3-5s and moved like a pieco of machinery. If there was evor any doubt about what, would start favourite in the Welcome Stakes today. nono now remains. T. Metcalf and A. Ellis, who rodo so successfully at Avondale, will bo at Ellerslie to-day. but. so far as is known. Metcalf has only one mount, viz., Supremacy. Ellis will ride Prodico and Benzora. Tho southern lightweight R. Beale, formerly with the Trentham trainer A. Goodman, has decided to make Ellerslie hi 3 headquarters in future. Ho has won numerous races, and, being a handy weight, should get plenty of chances in the North. Nucleus, with A. McDonald in the saddle, gave a very good display over four hurdles yesterday. She got in a little too close to tho fourth hurdle, but recovered cleverly. Tho brown mare looks very fit and she will find sonio favour for her hurdles engagement 011 Monday. Among thoso allotted a gallop over a couple of furlongs yesterday were tho Mitchelson Cup top-weights, Star Stranger and Mask. They both put plenty of ginger into their work, and it can bo said that they have come through their preparations as well as their best admirers could wish. Tho Morris brothers will be engaged at Ellerslie to-day. L. G. Morris will ride Laughing Prince, Commendation and Cashier, and B. H. Morris will be 011 Mask, Ceremony. Eoisode and Storm Fiend. Lato arrivals that sprinted at lillerslie yesterday were High Pitch and Te Koroke. High Pitch has a slightly enlarged knee as a result of stumbling on tho road.' but he hit out freely enough in his work and it is evidently nothing to worry about. J. M. Cameron is still located at Avondale with The Hawk and Goshawk, and so they have been away from tho public scrutiny since tho Avondale meeting. Both aro brilliant horses and they may raco well to-day. although The Hawk is attempting a distance at which few will like him. Goshawk has only to return to last season's form to be soon in the money. Queen Arch had not reached Ellerslie yesterday morning and no rider has been made known for her up to tho present. Outside of her. tho probablo runners for the Mitchelson Cup, with their riders, are:—Star Stranger, A. Tinker: Mask, B. H. Morris: Te Kara, A. E. Ellis; Laughing Prince, L. Gl Morris: The Hawk, J. Barry: Valkon, L. Manson: Catkin, H. Wiggins; Royal Mint, T. Green; Mint Leaf, C. Goulsboro: Desert Glow, J. Cammiek; Papatu, J. Day: Transformer. S. Tremain; Tidal, O. Mclnally; Sir Archie, J. S. Potter. Toxeuma was galloped five furlongs yesterday without any serioii3 attempt to make lime. The, Hawke's Bay Guineas winner recorded Im' 6 2-5s for five furlongs and moved with plenty 0? freedom. lie is a nice goer, but his work was not in the least illuminating with regard to his Guineas engagement, unless it revealed the basest information that all is well with him. In some quarters Freehold is in very strong favour for tho Shorts Handicap to day. He is certainly a bold galloper, but there is an impression that he is not as stout-hearted as could bo desired. He was a much-boomed youngster in his early two-year-old days, but ho never quite fulfilled the expectations of bis admirers and wound tip the season by leaving a doubt about his rucohorse-like qualities, n doubt that will not bo dispelled until he proves himself in a thoroughly hard test. Thero is no question of liia speed. Tho imported horse Tidal has so far failed to show form in any company, but it is hoped that ho is going to provo a stayer, and probably for that reason 110 is to be tested in the Mitchelson Cup to-day. It is hardly likely that ho will win in such company at first time of asking, but his effort will bo awaited with some curiosity, as he is n horse of outstanding physique and .0110 that will bclio his looks if he fails to prove a good one. A season ago Modest Boy was expected to quickly emerge from the hack ranks, but up to date he has failed to do so despite tho fact that he has shown fairly good form. In the middle stages of last season his form fell away somewhat, but this spring he seems to be coming on again. His Intest work has been very satisfactory and-his accession to tho open ranks may not be much longer delayed. From the few descendants of Psychology that have been raced in Auckland, tho conclusion is formed that tho imported horse is going to endow his progeny with plenty of size Perception and Pure Gold were exceptionally big ones that raced hero last ■season and this term 110 is represented by a finely-grown youngslor in Clever. This filly will make un impression on racegoers today. She has a good turn of speed and is expected to show up in the Welcome Stakes, but it may be a general opinion that she will not reach her zenith till much later in her career. Lysander is not likely to find much favcur ill the Shorts Handicap to-day, us he in showing no signs of a return to form in his track work. Ho is still tho splendid-looking horso ho always was, but there is strong reason to believe that some of tho gruelling races exacted from him as a three-year-old have left him with a dislike for racing. ■ Tho three-year-old Metellus was ridden with poor judgment at tho Pakuronga meeting and 110 appears to be an improved horso as a result of his raco at that meet ing. His subsequent track work has been ol an improved nature, and, although easily held by Cashier in a fast half-milo yesterday, his time was quite good for a hack who is handicapped at the minimum. M. Conway, who suffered a fall last lliursday, when First Prince blundered in a schooling lesson, it is pleasing, to learn, has made a rapid recovery, and lie will he able to take the mounts on First Prince and Master Arch in their respective engagements at Ellcrsjie to-day.