Durf Notes

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 334, 20 April 1928, Page 6

Durf Notes

Motor Transport Obviously the carriage of racehorses to and from the convincing grounds by motor transport has come to stay. No fewer than four of these vehicles were noticed at Avondale. Trying the Judge Exciting finishes were the order of the day at Avondale on Wednesday, particularly in the two principal events. Reversal of Form On Saturday, at Avondale, the first three horses passed the post in the hurdle race were numbered 2,3, 4. On Wednesday the order was reversed, 4,3, 2 being the figures shown above the judge’s box at the conclusion of the obstacle race. Improved by the Race After finishing down the course at Avondale on Saturday, Kingfield did a brilliant gallop at Ellerslie on Tuesday, and consequently was fairly well supported for the Mount Eden Handicap. He ran a fine race, too, being prominent all the way, to finally be bracketed with Flying Juliet in third place. Kingfield likes the ground a bit easy, so that he should come into his own during the winter racing. One Double Winner Le Choucas was the only double winner at the Avondale meeting, and he won his race each day in similar fashion, waiting on the leaders to the turn and then pushing up on the inside. The Magpie gelding is up to weight, and over a mile he will take a lot of heading off, while later on he may go a bit further than eight furlongs. With this gelding and In the Shade, trainer Jamieson added three more wins to I his score. In His Best Form In the Shade ran a great race in the Autumn Handicap on Wednesday. He lost some ground at the start, and inside three furlongs had run into a handy position in the centre of the field, being fourth into the straight. He was well clear half a furlong from home, but had to be ridden right out to keep off Valkon. In the Shade, who is now at the top of his form, has won £1.900 in the last few days for his politician owner, Mr. W. S. Glenn, M.P. The three-year-old will probably make his next appearance in the principal event at the Waikato meeting, to be held on April 28 and 30. Due for a Win

Valkon is just about due for a win. He finished very strongly to run In the Shade to a head in the Autumn Handicap on Wednesday, and like the winner, he did not leave the mark too well. Coming into the home stretch tie was lying second to last, and from here put in a great dash that had him bothering the winner. The Valkyrian is a good sort, but at present all the luck appears to be against him. He will probably be given another chance at Te Rapa next week. Not Quite Good Enough After showing up in the big handicap the first day at Avondale, Hipo was confidently expected to perform well in the Autumn Handicap, and he did, although he was finally beaten into third place. .. Right up with him was Branson, who did not seem able to go the pace set in the early part. The mile was cut out in 3.35, the first five furlongs being covered smartly in 1.1 3-5. No wonder some of them were scratching. Preparing for Winter

Tinokoa ran his best race for some time when he finished fifth with Papatu in the Autumn Handicap at Avondale on Wednesday. He was always in a handy position, and finished on better than he has done for some time. He should pi’ove to be a good stake earner during the winter. To Be Caught Right

After being so prominent the first day, it was expected that Day Guard would be in the picture at the finish of the Autumn Handicap at Avondale on Wednesday, but after making the running to the home turn he failed to go on with it, and was a long way back at the end. The Day Comet gelding has to be caught just right if one is desirous of collecting off him. and Wednesday was apparently not his day. Queen Arch Unlucky

One of tlio most unlucky horses ra< ing at Avondale was Queen ArcAfter going a fairly good race in tl principal handicap on opening day si took on the Morningside Handicap c Wednesday, and, losing sever lengths at the start, she finish*

strongly in third place. It was a ver creditable performance, and showe that but for losing so much ground = the start she would have been diflicu' to head off in the straight. Will He Come Back?

In the past Master Doon has brougl: off his share of surprises, but at Avon dalo\he raced disappointingly. Sine coming in from an enforced spell a the result of a mishap on the tra.cl the Master has been schooled nve sticks, and this seems to have im paired his speed. Either that or h has taken a dislike to the game sine his accident.. For Easier Tracks

When True Blood pressed Lysander so hotly in the Great Northern Guineas, some IS months ago, it was fancied that the Archery. gelding would do good service for his owner, Mr. Wenzl Scholium, but since then lie has not performed up to expectations, a win at Kandwick last spring being his last success. He was produced at Avondale on Wednesday, and the firm ground appeared to jar him, for he ran in the rear the whole way. Probably True Blood will not come back to form until the tracks get easier. Rahepoto’s Programme

The Maniapoto gelding, Rahepoto, continues to pi-ogress along the right lines in his preparation for forthcoming hurdle events, and, in addition to showing plenty of pace in an essay during the week, jumped well when schooled over a couple of the big hurdles yesterday morning. Rahepoto has been entered for the obstacle races at the approaching Te Rapa meeting, and it is probable that, when the above fixture concludes, his next mission will be the Century Hurdles at Wanganui.

Avondale’s Tax Pay-out The Avondale Jockey Club will have to pay £6,717 17s lOd to the Treasury as taxation on its recent meeting. This sum is made up as follows: Totalisator tax, £2,266 9s 9d; dividend, £4,080 2s; stakes, £275; and amusement tax, £96 6s Id. Better Under Light Weight In the hack sprint at Avondale last Saturday Ladies’ . Boy led into the straight and then petered out in the run home. With a pound above the minimum on Wednesday in the open sprint the Some Boy 11. gelding ran a very different race, for he hit the front after a couple of furlongs, and although headed a furlong from home, he came again, only to succumb to Royal Tea. On the showing. Ladies’ Boy is a possibility for a good sprint race, for he is improving all the time. Archeno’s Fine Return After running fourth on opening day. it was rather surprising to find Arelieno neglected in the betting on tho Morningside on Wednesday, and when she finished second she returned a rare price. Her rider appeared to cover a lot of ground crossing the top, being outside of four horses when he rushed the mare to the

van, and she was actually in front when the field turney for home. This effort took some of the steam out of her, and she failed to survive Le Choucas’s run. Archeno now appears to be coming’ right again, and it will be remembered that it was at this period of the season last year that she was at her best. Could She Have Done Better? It did not appear as if the rider of Flying Juliet each day at Avondale got the most out of her in the open sprints. Up the straight on each occasion she was a possibility, particularly on Wednesday, and with a stronger jockey aboard she might have won. Flying Juliet was heavily supported on each occasion, and her defeats were costly. She may be given a chance to make amends at Te Rapa next week, where she figures in the sprints and the open mile the second day. A Good Handicapper There was a bit of money to support Mervette in the Morningside Handicap on Wednesday at Avondale. She was heavily bandaged in all four legs, but went a good race, finally winding up in fourth place at the end. She lias pace, and if she can be kept right should win some good races, for she is able to stay a middle distance at least. Mervette is related to such good performers as JBonetter, Royal Box, Tarleton, Judge’s Box and Historic, so that she has the breeding. Her sire is Lucullus. Royal Tea's Quick Return It was expected that Royal Tea would want another race or two before he was ready to be backed in real earnest, as they say, but it was recognised that the sprint field to oppose him on Wednesday was very weak. So it proved, although in Royal Tea”s case he demonstrated his superiority in no uncertain manner. The chestnut looked a bit burly still, but jumping out first, lie was steadied and then came at the finish with a rattle to take the honours. Now that Royal % Tea has come to hand so soon further good Avins should go his way. Smart Sprinter From Home Imported Lorient 11., by Lomond from Annie Laurie, ran a great race in tlie sprint at Avondale on Wednesday, and with this run into him he promises to do Avell in short races. He was always in a handy position, and indeed, half-way up the running he Avas actually being called as the likely winner. He faded out over the last bit, but was close up fifth at the end. As a two-year-old in England and Ireland, Lorient If. won several races over sprint courses, and when lie becomes thoroughly acclimatised lie should do Avell before being retired to the stud. Jamieson started three horses in this sprint on Wednesday, the other pair. High Finance and The Immigrant, being behind the imported horse. NEW BLOOD THOROUGHBREDS FOR DOMINION { AN INTERESTING SHIPMENT Messrs. Wright, Stephenson andjCo., Ltd., bloodstock salesmen, purchased for clients at the Sydney Easter sales several yearlings Avhich will be shipped immediately to the Dominion. Among these is a bay gelding by Sun Cure, a close relative to the leading English sire Buchan, both being by Sunstar, A\*hile Sun Cure is from a daughter and Buchan from a granddaughter of the famous Sceptre. Curia, 1 the dam of Sun Cure, is by Cicero. The , Sun Cure yearling, a gelding, is a ; half-brother to Dal Eaton and Uralla. j He is, therefore, a close relative to j Ladoga, a Thompson Handicap Avin- j ner, Bloodshot and Reflector, both j Great Northern Foal Stakes Avinners, j the New Zealand Cup Avinner, Fusi- ! lade, etc. Another yearling purchased is a colt i by Biplane from Comedia, a half-sister to that good horse, Radnor, who* won the A.J.C. Sires Produce Stakes, V.R.C. Leger, the Champion Race (in record ! time), and seA*eral other good races, j Comedia is by St. Alwyne, sire of the ! dams of Sunart, Valwyne, Valdoona, j Valorem, etc. Comedia claims as her j dam that good mare, Burlet.ta, Avho is i by Wallace from La Tosca, the sister to the dam of the famous mare, Wake- j Xul.