SPRING RACING

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21289, 16 September 1932, Page 9

SPRING RACING

AVONDALE CLASSIC THE GUINEAS CONTEST good field expected CANDIDATES DOING WELL BY ARCHER .For many years past the Wanganui duinoas has been the first three-year-old classic of the racing season in the North Island, but this year th 0 raco lias been abandoned and the distinction now falls upon the Avondalo Guineas, which is to he run on [he second day of the Avondale Jockey Club's Spring Meeting on October 17. As has been the case in previous years there are many entered who will not go to tho post, but a good idea of tho probnblo runners should bo obtained when the forfeits are declared on general entry day for the meeting next Friday. It. may be thought that in tho absence t»{ some of'our best three-year-olds in Sydney the field will bo below standard, but such is not the case, for in spite of ihc fact that G.iino Carrincton, Inflation and Silver Ring were not nominuted there arc plenty of others who will not bo out of place in a classic. Notable among those engaged arc Midinette, Tea Trader, Pillow Fight, La Moderne, Lack and Greek Gold mid tho presence of these six alono will ho sufficient to invest the contest with considerable interest. Midinetta and Tea Trader There aro a number of other entrants ;with at least useful form to recommend them and the possibility of some improvers . from this lot, which includes Gigantic, Gold 3Vail, Linoleum, Dakar, Ida Merling, Holly Lu, Master Brierly, Jonathan, Prolyxo and Sea Ruler, is not remote. No doubt the candidature of many will depend upon tho way they progress in the next few weeks, but present indications aro that there will be no dearth of runTiers and that the field will be well up to the average. Taking a line through two-year-old form last season Midinette appears to have bright prospects, because her form in the autumn was really good and she succeeded in winning two of her last three starts, lie.r final appearance being to win the Manawatu Sires' Produce Stakes at .Awapuni. On that occasion she ran seven furlongs in 1.28 and iu view of that performance there is no reason why she should not run a good mile this season. However, her form docs not give her any particular superiority over the speedy Tea Trader, who ran her to a neck when conceding her 51b. at Awapuni. If Midinette and Tea Trader both go to the post, it will be good to see them again vying with one another for supremacy. Good Reports of Lack M : dine,tte and Tea Trader have wintered well and the dasli they are showing on the training tracks leaves no doubt that they are progressing favourably. Whether they will have a race before the Guineas is not yet known, but such is almost certain to be the ease with Midinette, who has a first day engagement in; the Champion Hack Plate, irr which-Pil-low Fight is also engaged. At the moment there is a doubt about Pillow Fight owing to his leg injury, but he is expected to be working again next week. The stoppage in bis preparation at this stage would not be in his favour, but he • was well forward and it may not be greatly to his disadvantage, as he will have another four weeks' training beforo meeting. There are good reports to hand from Woodville concerning the progress of Lack, who has rested for a considerable portion of last season. He has grown into a big three-year-old and it is hoped that he will again reproduce thP brilliancy that enabled him to do so well in his early engagements last spring. Greek Gold and La Moderne are also training on nicely and some of the others are progressing well en'ough to indicate that they may also prove worthy candidates. Altogether, the prospects for the race appear very bright and tho doings of the various candidates in the next few weeks will be watched with great interest. TAKANINI TRACK NEWS SEVERAL USEFUL SPRINTS ADDITION TO H. GRAY'S TEAM Steady rain falling throughout the looming made matters unpleasant during training operations at Takanini yesterday. The outside grass was in fairly good order early, but it was getting heavy when the Work was finished. Most of the horses did pace-work, with a final sprint up the straight. Imperial Prince (Taylor) n/nd fcxasseration (GilmerJ were going strongly at the end of fivo furlongs in 1.5 2-5. Both handled the softer conditions in good etyle. Greek' Gold (Taylor) decisively defeated Holly Lu (Jones) over five furlongs in 1.0 1-5. Greek Gold acted splendidly on the ground and could have done better. Chief Joy (Gilmer) and Prolyxo (Moore) weie on terms at the end of five furlongs in 1.6 1-5, with Prolyxo going slightly tho better. This filly is now making good head-"" v. ay and invariably holds her own With Chief Joy, who is always a good track galloper. _ , ... UiEchof! (Gray) and a Potoa coldmg (Clifford) ran three furlongs in 3D 2-ss. The Potoa gelding is the latest addition to H. Cray's team. He is owned by Mr. W. C. Ring, of Hinucra. and has not been in work long. . . Speedmint (Edwards) was showing a desire to increase the pace while running halt a mile in 58 2-ss. She appeared to relish the easy conditions. . , Bugle Call and Helium finished their work with a faster run home from the thrise furlongs. but neither was after time. H'Rh Comedy, Eldora. Great Emblem, Royal Artist. Miss Rewa and Tea Trader wero others to sprint from tho turn homo after doing easier pace-work. After doing plenty of work and some "useful sprinting while the tracks were firm. Alignment and the Wentnervane Sennight colt are to have an easy time fur a week, during which they will bo allowed to run out in the paddock in tho daytime. GOLD MAG'S HAT-TRICK A DESCENDANT OF OUIDA For a horse to go to Australia as a maiden and win at each of his first three starts there is no mean achievement and by completing this feat in the Welter J!.a - die it p at Handwick last Monday the Hawko s Buy gelding Gold Mag clearly showed that he is "one out of the box." He had pieviously won the Maiden Three-year-old Handicap, seven furlongs, at Roselul ° July 30, and the Rogarah Stakes, 11 roues, at Moorefield on August 1. Gold Mug did not race at two yeais and was unplaced in his four ®J al B . 1 New Zealand last season. When the Australian spring weights came out there wa Rome suggestion that lie had been harshly treated, but the handicappers concerned, vho probably took his pedigree into account. will now be thankful that 'h9 y Hot give him any less. He lias 7.2 in the Epsom Handicap, 7.0 in the Metropolitan, 7.!) in the Caul field Cup, 7.0 in the Cantula Stakes, and 7.3 in the Melbourne Cup. tlie minimum in each caso being 0.7. Gold Mag's dam. Kaahumanu, is a pister to Gasbag, by Demosthenes from hady Cilia, by Gold Hoof from Lady Cecilia, by Ciiirasxier from Ouida, a attention mare *ho founded a great family of stayers. Rnahumanu was sent to Australia an ttiained there after being mated with MagI>ie. - tlie progeny being Gold Mag, who was. Jenl back to the Dominion as a yearling.-* Ho is owned by Mr. J. A. Heniiah, of Hastings.