Turf Notes

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 628, 3 April 1929, Page 12

Turf Notes

CONDUCTED BY

"EARLY BIRD"

The Next The autumn meeting of the Avondale Jockey Club is. to be held on Saturday and Wednesday next. The titbit for the opening day is the All Aged Stakes, in which Aussie is to take on the crack two-year-olds over six furlongs. At Te Rapa The Waikato Racing Club races at Te Rapa on April 27 and 29. Entries close at 5 p.m. on Friday next with the secretary, or with Messrs. Blomfield and Co., High Street, Auckland. A Change The well-known light-weight rider, K. Gill, has joined forces with trainer S. Hodge’s stable at Takanini. Gone to Te Awamutu Until recently trained at Awapuni by G. New, the maiden performer Vaucleuse is now in H. L. Russell's stable at Te Awamutu. Riding at Avondale After steering four winners at Feilding last week-end, C. Goulsbro immediately came on to Auckland. Tie will be riding at the Avondale meeting on Saturday and Monday next. Among his mounts will be trainer E. George’s team, probably Lady Quex, Hipo and Melissa.

Cleared Out Everyone wanted Vallar in the Easter Handicap, but the chestnut, after making play to the home turn, petered out in the soft going, and was not in the first half-dozen at the finish. But it -was a case of “Vallar first, the rest nowhere’’ in the sprint on Monday. McTavish, the stable jockey, was on top, and in order to secure this rider 21b overweight was put up, making Vallar’s impost 7.9. The Valkyrian gelding drew the ace and was content to stay two lengths clear of the field until the straight was reached, where he simply cleared out. Vallar has not yet reached his zenith, and will be capable of better efforts later on. Had the going on Saturday been firm Vallar might have won the Easter Handicap.

Unlucky in Easter If ever a horse was unlucky in the Easter Handicap it certainly -was Mervette. Although she got away well she failed to keep her place, and drifted back, standing the leading division up a great advantage a little over half a mile from home. However, she commenced to work her way forward at the three furlongs, and though at the home turn her chance looked negligible, she burst on the scene with a powerful run sufficient to place her half a length away from Bright Glow and a neck in front of Kingfield. Better placed early, Mervette would very likely have been the winner. Went Good Races

Fourth in the President’s Handicap on Saturday, and a fine fourth at that, Corinax was little better than an even money chance in the Autumn Handicap on Monday. He was in the middle of the field for most of the way, but failed in the run home to concede weight to Desert Glow, Hyde Park and company. Corinax looked in good order and should be improved with the racing. He is sure to be a popular pick for the Foley Memorial at Avondale on Saturday.

First Acquaintance Solely on his winning effort (and it was impressive) at Paeroa a fortnight ago, Komak was favourite when the totalisator closed on the St. Heliers Hurdles at Ellerslie on Monday, and that he failed to go far is generally one of the things which happen to favourites in jumping races. Komak came down very hard at the second fence and his rider, N. Syme, was badly bruised and shaken, thus preventing him from taking the winning ride on Mangani later in the day. Made Amends That enthusiast of jumpers, Mr. R. Hannon, relied on King’s Guard to win the Brighton Hurdles on the first dar at Ellerslie. but that horse was never in the picture and was a long way back at the end. However, the race would do King’s Guard a lot of good, for it was his first appearance for some time. Owner-trainer Hannon made no mistake on Monday, and the way Roman Abbey cleared out from his field suggests better things to come. He lpoked well, jumped well, and finished with plenty of dash at the end of a mile and three-quarters. Better Next Year

Ellerslie is certainly not a lucky course for Toxeuma, for on the four occasions he has been stepped out here seconds have been his portion. He got two minor berths at Christmas and again over the last week-end. Trainer W. McKinnon was confident regarding the chances of Toxeuma In the Great Northern St. Leger, but there is no doubting that the best horse (Concentrate) won. Toxeuma hung out a bit in the straight in Monday’s classic and though he finished well did not have the staying powers of Concentrate. Still, he should make a fine proposition for big handicaps next season. Not Done With Yet

Kingfield looked as well as anything when paraded fpr the Easter Handicap, and he went a fine race. Mclnally bounced him out well and lay in behind Vallar until the home turn, where he edged the King Lupin gelding up to the favourite, and they swung round the bend together. It was only in the last 100 yards th%t Kingfield failed, and only the judge could separate him and Mervette. He ran among the sprinters on Monday, but could not go with the speed merchants, eventually finishing well in fourth place. Under winter conditions Kingfield is always a, possibility.

Northern Possibility? There was no easier win than Mangani’s in the Autumn Steeplechase at Ellerslie on Monday, and it will indeed be surprising if trainer C. L. Lowe does not derive great benefits from the doings of Da.y Comet’s son this winter. Mangani is not much to look at, but he is a splendid lepper, and the manner in which he led from start to finish leaves no doubts as to his staying powers. In beating such proved performers as Beau Cavalier, Kawini and Star of the East he has pretensions to class, and it would not be surprising were he to go on and win this year's Great Northern Steeplechase, a race last season in which he ran quite well until his untimely departure.

Showed Up The fact that he drew the ace in the Islington Handicap at Ellerslie on Monday did not assist Le Choucas, for he was last in the shuffle in the early part. But he was putting in some good ones at the end and was right up fourth. Le Choucas falls a bit below good handicap class, btu he will not need to show much improvement on Monday’s form to be shortly counted a winner. However, he lias proved himself a bad horse to follow. Won Well Gemlight failed to make any showing at all in the G.N. Champagne Stakes, and this was unaccountable, for just prior to the meeting he had sprinted half a mile in a tick under 50. It looked as if the heavy track did not suit him, and most backers took this view, as instance the heavy support for him in the two-year-old race on Monday. Gemlight was well placed early, and he and Eaglet had the finish to themselves, the latter just failing under her big weight. Gemlight ran a very solid race and will do better later on. Benefited by Operation Respirator sprang a big surprise when he finished with so much determination to beat Black Maire in the Victoria Handicap at Ellerslie on Monday. It was his first race since his operation for respiratory troubles, and the result in itself would be very pleasing to J. Buchanan, for his luck in training has not been of the best, l o secure the services of W. Goldfinch, G£lb. overweight was declared. Still Improving Two solid efforts went down to Hyde Park at Ellerslie, and hife first and second respectively clearly indicates that he is right at the top of his form. The yielding track on Saturday suited him to a nicety, and ridden confidently by H. Gilmer, the Marble Arch gelding had no difficulty in fending off Toxeuma. On Monday Hyde Park’s effort was in keeping with his first day’s running, and with the winter coming on N. Cunningham can be expected to have a good innings with this inmate of his stable. A Cornwall Handicap would perhaps suit Hyde Park. Gives Out Promise Taurua is a promising sort of twoI year-old, and one who will get on the | winning list next season; not this i racing term —at least it is unlikely—for- there are very few races left for | the juveniles. Taurua was making > his first appearance under silk in the | Onslow Stakes on Saturday, and in i this race he carried the colours of the well-known Hinuera sportsman, Mr. W. C. Ring. Taurua raced very green and got into all sorts of trouble during the running; but still he was finishing on just behind the placed trio at the end. He was never near the firing line on Monday, and might have felt the effects of his previous race. Failed to Go With Them

Conditions underfoot were not expected to suit Branson in the Easter Handicap, and he was withdrawn, but with an improvement in the track on Monday the Greyspear gelding was asked to foot it with the sprinters. That he failed to do, and it was not surprising with such speedy sorts as Vallar, Lady Quex, The Begum and Subdivision engaged. Branson is noted for his fine finishing run, but he was never near enough to be dangerous, being in the ruck all the way. Seven furlongs or further would appeal more to P. Scally’s representative. Failed in the Going Never in the picture in the President’s Handicap—he was whipper-in for most of the journey—Desert Glow’s form on Monday was just the reverse, and his lion-hearted supporters received a very acceptable return. The Day Comet gelding was right up with them all the way, and was one of the first to turn for home, and, a proved stayer with a light impost, it was quite in order that he should have too much in reserve at the end for the others. Desert Glow is not partial to heavy going, and that might have affected j him on Monday.