ELLERSLIE FORM
GOOD TWO-YEAR-OLDS ROYAL CHIEF DOES WELL DEFEAT OF FRANCIS DRAKE BY ARCHER Marked success attended tho Auckland Racing Club's Summer Mooting in spito of tho fact that tho weather was wet on the third day and tho track was very heavy. Tho rain on tho NewYear holiday affected the attendance considerably, and only for this the figures would have been better all round. The attendances aggregated 86,000 and tho totalisator turnover was £266,134, the highest sinco the 1929-30 meeting, when tho investments amounted to £352,436. Tho record turnover for a summer carnival at Ellerslie was established in the 1920-21 season, when £511,455 10s passed through the machine. Some lino two-year-olds were seen out at the meeting and the best were Francis Drake and Royal Chief. In tho Great Northern Foal Stakes Royal Chief defeated Francis Drake by a neck at even weights and in the Royal Stakes the latter turned the tables when conceding 31b., scoring by half-a-longth. On the form they revealed there is evidently little to choose between them and another meeting between them would create a lot of interest. Royal Chief's form in tho Great Northern Foal Stakes appeared really good. Besides drawing the outsido at the barrier and being last early ho was considerably hampered by Francis Drake boring out on him in the straight, and tho win was certainly meritorious. As a result ho was expected to beat Francis Drake again in the Royal Stakes, but was not equal to the occasion, although he ran a fine race for second. Possibly the altered state of the going might have made a difference to Royal Chief, who might not have been as well suited by tho soft going as Francis Drake. Brother to Admiral Drake The form of Francis Drake was good and would probably have been even better only for the fact that he hung out badly, coming right away from tho fence in his two races. Of his brilliance there is not tho slightest doubt and it will bo a pity if he develops tho bad habit of boring in his race;*. Francis Drake is a full-brother to the Auckland Cup winner, Admiral Drake, and it will be interesting to see whether he will sta\- as well as his relative, who is one of the few stayers sired by Chief Ruler. Although defeated in both her races Brunhilde deepened the good impression she created in winning twice at lticcarton in November. She was narrowly beaten by Royal Chief and Frajicis Drake after attempting to lead throughout the Groat Northern Foal Stakes and just failed to concede 231b. to the improving Triiliarch in the Sylvia Handicap. On the second occasion she made a gallant showing with 9.5 on a soft track and her form was very encouraging. Brunhilde possesses plenty of speed and her breeding suggests that she is likely to prove a fine performer as sho matures.
Another speedy fill}- is Greenwich, by Chief Ruler from Summer Time. She showed a bold front for over five furlongs in the Great Northern Foal Stakes and in a weaker field she outclassed tho opposition in the Criterion Handicap, six furlongs. Trained by A. E. Nealo at Bulls, Greenwich has a brilliant burst of speed, and she is likely to add to her laurels before the close of the season. She cost Mr. M. Millar 325gns. at the yearling sales at Trentham last January. A Successful Debut
Showing ability to handle heavy going well, Dragon Moth mado a successful debut by finishing brilliantly to win the Mid-summer Handicap. Sho was well back when the field had settled down, but she made a splendid run on the rails and was going away at the finish. Deacon Moth is a shapely bay filly by Vaals from Midget, hence a half-sister to Haviland, Gipsy Moth and Puss Moth. Like her relatives she is evidently good in bad ground. The consistent Bachelor King ran his usual honest races without success. He found tho class slightly above him in the Great Northern Foal Stakes and the Royal Stakes, and with 9.5 had to be content with second behind Greenwich in the Criterion Handicap. Bachelor King is a solid colt and one of the best sired by Lapidary, who has produced some very useful horses.
The close contest between the first five horses in the Great Northern Derby indicated that the three-year-olds were an even lot. The leading honours were taken by Essex, who followed up his win in the Queen's Plate by also scoring in the Derby. A factor that assisted Essex in tue classic was the riding of C. G. Goulsbro, who saved every inch of ground and brought him through on the fence to head Trench Fight in the straight. Essex is a fine, upstanding colt, who is making steady improvement, and he shapes like a stayer. He is the first classic winner sired by Siegfried, whose stock are doing better this season than formerly. Trench Fight Beaten Trench Fight's second in the Great Northern Derby was bis best efvrt in three starts at tho meeting and he fought on very gamely at the finish after attempting to lead all the way. In his other two starts, both at six furlongs, he became awkwardly placed early and was never dangerous. The best was probably not seen of Trench Fight, who was troubled with soreness before the meeting, and may not. have been quite as fit as lie was at Riccarton in November, when ho ran second to his stablemate, Wild Chase, in the New Zealand Derby and won two other races. Trench Fight is a good, game colt and is likely to pay bis way handsomely if he remains sound. One of the features of the Great Northern Derby was tho forward running of Quadroon, who finished third. He was beaten in his two previous outings at the meeting and probably benefited by the racing, as he ran a fine race. Quadroon is a big three-year-old who has not done a great ileal of racing, and he is an improver who should be worth keeping in mind in the next month or two. ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS "Inquirer," Auckland. —H. Gray won the Gisborne Hurdles on Hyrax at the Gisborne Racing Club's meeting on July 26, 1021. "Wager," Gisborne. —The races won by Flood Tide since he finished second to Greek Shepherd in the Great Northern Derby are the President's Handicap, the Mitchelson Cup and tho Auckland Racing Club Handicap, all at Ellerslie. "Inquirer," Takapuna.—The Taumarunui Racing Club's meeting is held at Paeroa. The meeting this season was held on October 3 and 5.
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New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22618, 5 January 1937, Page 7
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1,105ELLERSLIE FORM New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22618, 5 January 1937, Page 7
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