FROM TRACK AND STABLE

Taranaki Daily News, 22 September 1931, Page 4

FROM TRACK AND STABLE

LOCAL HORSES FOR AVONDALE. THE NORTHERN TWO-YEAR-OLDS. E. George with Gibraltar, Lady Quex, Merry Way, Little Doubt and Royal Finance proceeded to Auckland after the Wanganui meeting. J. O’Neill with Orapai and Glowlight, and R. Barlow with Cornerman and March Alone, returned by float during the week-end. All except Cornerman go on to Avondale to-day. Mr. A. 0. Casey has. leased the disappointing Little Doubt to his trainer, E. George, and he will probably race in George’s colours at Avondale. When Tea Trader shaped so nicely in the parade at Pakuranga he was immediately selected as an Avondale Stakes possibility. Since that time he has done all his work well without being sent seriously against the watch. In the meantime Bell Topper has settled down and done some solid work in attractive style.. Indeed, so well has he been going that opinions are now divided about the respective merits of him and Tea Trader. These youngsters came in early and had their first fast work in April, so that they can be expected to run out the Stakes distance as well as any of their opponents, With the Te Rapa trained Rippling Waters, the Auckland province has three good youngsters, who will test out the best of the visiting brigade at Avondale and Ellerslie. Tea Trader, who carries the colours of the Hamilton sportsman Mr. R. T. Reid, is by Tea Tray from that speedy filly Epitaph, who was at the top of the two-year-old winners in 1021-22. Bell Topper is an Australianbred youngster, being by Canusa from Marriage Bell. He is owned by Dr. W. C. Ring. Rippling Waters is by Chief Ruler from Boynette, by Kilbroney from The Boyne, the dam of Rewi Poto. She will race in the interests of Messrs H. D. and C. Matthews. Pomp’s Surprise at Wanganui. Pomp, who led the field home in the Trial Handicap at Wanganui on Saturday, and incidentally paid a dividend of nearly a third of a century, is a four-year-old gelding by Absurd from the English-bred mare Pomyris, by. Pommern. As a two-year-old he showed great promise and was taken over to Sydney with Ceremony. He was started in the Breeders’ Plate and with M. McCarten in the saddle was sent out an odds-on favourite. He was almost knocked down at the start and then finished second to Delwood. Among those who finished behind him were Balloon King, Legislator and Roscendo. 1 This performance made him appear a first-class juvenile and his prospects looked bright in some of the classics in the Dominion. However, unfortunately he met with an accident and was not able to start again as a two-year; old. He next faced the starter in the Durie Handicap in Wanganui last year and with an unfashionable rider aboard went quite a good race. On the second day he had the services of H, Gray in the Spring Hack and was served up a better favourite than Autopay. However, after having every chance he failed and was not in the first six at the finish, Autopay winning from Zarene and Huntingdon. Pomp was then taken to Ellerslie, and with R. W. McTavish in the saddle ran third to Karapoti and Cylinder in the Great Northern Guineas. He. failed to continue this promise, and four unplaced performances went down against him after that. Pomp had his first outing- as a four-year-bld last Thursday, and was expected to go well in the Maiden, but was chopped back at the start and was never dangerous. On Saturday, however, when he was neglected in the betting, he was away well and, displaying brilliance, soon hit the front and stayed there to the finish. Though challenged by Gay Court in the straight, he stayed on well, and over the last fifty yards was going as well as any of his pursuers, except perhaps Gibraltar. Now that he has found his form he will be watched with interest, and if Saturday’s display is a reliable criterion he should not be long in running out of hack company.