MARKED SUCCESS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23504, 15 November 1939, Page 9

MARKED SUCCESS

AYONDALE MEETING TOTALISATOR RETURNS UP SOME SOUND PERFORMANCES

BY ABAYDOS

Tho second spring meeting of the Avondale Jockey Club was marked with, success in every respect and a prominent feature was the substantial increase of £14,323 in the. totalisator investments from last season. It was the more remarkable, owing to tho fields in some of tho races being only large enough for two place dividends, and tho fact that several win prices reached double figures. The failure of favourites usually has an adverse effect on totalisator revenue, but, although only two first fancies won in the 16 races, speculation was spirited throughout.

The course was in splendid order, and fast times were recorded in the majority of the races. Orate's 1.12 <l-5 to win the Electric Handicap with O.S. was a meritorious effort, while in winning the Telegraph Handicap, Royal Bachelor put up the fine time of 1.12 3-5. Ridden by the Australian apprentice L. Ramsay, he carried 7.5. Sebrof, with a stone more, displayed rare speed to win tho Waitemata Handicap in the same time. The fields in the two chief races, the King George Handicap and the Bledisloe Handicap, wero not strong numerically, but this did not detract from the interest, and both events were responsible for very fine finishes. The consistent form of Birthday Boy, in his few previous starts, was rewarded when he narrowly defeated Balinavar in the King Georgo Handicap. The race was run at a muddling pace, resolving itself into a sprint home, and Birthday Boy was a little superior at the end. Birthday ' Boy is from Queen March, who produced the good performers Limarch, King March and Gay Marigold, ..and gives the impression he will develop even better form. Effort of Balinavar

For one who has dono very littlo racing ! this season Balinavar performed creditably. 1 Making his first appearance at Paeroa on September 30, Balinavar, with 9.0, was a good second to Brazen Bold in the Ngatea Handii cap, and ho was unlucky In the Spring | Handicap at Ellerslie, suffering in a bad I start and taking no part in the race. The Acre gelding should benefit from his race at Avondale, and his prospects appear bright. After a lapse of form for some considerable time, Ivy Willonyx ran encouragingly at Whangarei, improving to have the honour of being the only horse to win two races at Avondale. Her strong finishing run in the Members' Handicap, one mile, drew attention to her staying possibilities, which wero proved by the fine effort which gave her a clear-cut victory in the Bledisloe Handicap In 2.7. The six-year-old daughter of King Willonyx and Ivydale is in such splendid form that her winning record may be soon extended. Having only his second race of the current season, the Auckland Cup winner, Cheval do Volee, ran a sound race in the Bledisloe Handicap. He made a gallant attempt to | win from end to end, and just failed to stall off the final run of Ivy Willonyx. Cheval de | Volee may not be long in returning to the ; winning list. Phaleron Victorious V. Following' on his unplaced effort in the Welcome Stakes at Ellerslie, Phaleron quicklymade amends by scoring most decisively in the Juvenile Handicap. His meeting with Nightbeam on the second day was expected to provide one of the highlights, but Phaleron was withdrawn. He is the first of the progeny of Phaleron Bay to win in Auckland, and he should not experience much difficulty in adding to the success. Phaleron Bay. who is by Phalaris from Brodick Bay, by Swynford, is related to Miracle, Fairway, Pharos, Fair Isle and Galliard. giants of the English tnrf. Nightbeam, winner of the Hopeful Stakes, recorded his second success in only two starts, having won the Musket Stakes at Ellerslie. Although his margin was small, .there was -a wealth of merit in the performance, as ho came from well buck and fought out the issue very courageously with the pacemaker, Money Spinner. Nightbeam, like Phar-Lap, Nightmarch, and Nightly, is by Night Raid, and gives the impression that he will develop into a good galloper. Gradual improvement is being . shown in the efforts of Money, Spinner, a daughter of Diaiomous "and Gainful. She is a well-behaved filly, whose ability to gather up speed early is an asset. Money Spinner was responsible for the fast pace'in the Hopeful Stakes and was beaten onl.v : in the final pinch. She should soon reach the winning list. Kentucky- registered his fifth placing in five starts, when he followed Phaleron and Queen City home in the Juvenile Handicap. The Vermeer colt is honest and deserves to meet with success. Good Finish by Queen City

Queen City, who won the Welcome Stakes at Ellerslie was a good way from the leaders in the early stages of the Juvenile Handicap, but she finished with great dash for second. She would have been nioro troublesome to the winner had she made a smarter beginning. Queen City is a half-sister, by Iliad, to Birthday Boy. Grandora. whoso second in the Welcome Stakes indicated early success, had every chance, but failed to finish on as expected. The best he could do was to secure third in the Hopeful Stakes on the second day. Llangollen was unlucky in her two starts, and her splendid finishing effort into third in tho Telegraph Handicap, left the impression that with a littlo more luck in running, she might have defeated Royal Bachelor and Maxam, who were first and. second respectively. . Racing should be beneficial to Llangollen, whoso iurn may not be much longer delayed. Two sound performances were registered by tho three-year-old Meadow, who displayed determination iu goiii2 after and defeating the leader. Bronze Moth, in the Three Kings Ilack Handicap. He was far from discredited when beaten by Sebrof in tho Waitemata Handicap, in time equal to that of tho open sprint race. Moreover, he was conceding his much older victor, Sebrof, *tlb. One of tho most brilliant finishing displays of the meeting was that of Land Girl, who camo from well back, and wido out, to win the Stewards' Handicap, going away from Silver Qucx and Requiem, who were fighting a hard duel for supremacy, until the Surveyor maro flashed past. Silver Qucx fought on well for second. RIDERS FOR LEVIN LIST OF ENGAGEMENTS [BY TELEGIIAPIT —OWN COUIIESPONDENT] PALMERSTON NORTH, Tuesday Riding engagements for (lie Levin Racing Club's Spring Meeting on Saturday aro as follows: B. 11. Morris. —Royal Sign, The Bigot, The Smilor. W. E. Pine—Golden Ridge. ,T. Chaplin.—Onahau, Uigh Peer, Flammarion, Myarion. G. R. Tattcrsall.—Vascones, Guiding Light, Screen Star. \ W. .Tonkins —Caution, Deflation. Corroboree. E. Temperton.—Cuisinier.

PLANS FOR BEAU VITE NEXT OUTING AT AUCKLAND Prior to tiio Now Zealand three-year-old Beau Vitc's departure rrom Melbourne, Ilia owner, Mr. R. Stewart, stated that the tolt would have his next start in (he Great Northern Derby at the Auckland. Racing Club's Bummer Meeting. Beau Vito was not disgraced in the Melbourne Cup, after being one of the leaders a furlong from home, and lie may prove tlie most formidable opponent for the champion Beaulivre in future three-year-old events in New Zealand.

TURF JOTTINGS TRACK AND STABLE GOSSIP Before' the Now Zealand Cup meeting one of the best judges of form in the South Island mid also a keen watcher of track work at Iticcarton predicted that Great Swoop would win three races during Ihe week. Ho did not win one, but he should have done so. and is worth watching, says a southern writer. Dark Flight lias made a rapid rise to distinction among the sprinters, as ho was competing in hacks before the New Zealand Cup Meeting at Iticcarton. . Conditions were very favourable to fast limes on both days he won, but the winning double, combined wilh his good showing in the Stewards' Handicap, stamps him as well above the ordinary. Beaupartlr hardly fulfilled the expectations of bis supporters at. Riccarton, but it could hardly be expected. He was given a good rest during the winter and had only two races before tackling Royal Chief in (lie Canterbury Cup and a big field in the Metropolitan Handicap. To win over a mile and a-half in the. spring generally takes well seasoned condition, and Bcuupurlir should be a better horse about Christmas time.