Notes On The Form At Ellerslie Meeting.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18959, 4 January 1930, Page 12

Notes On The Form At Ellerslie Meeting.

AUCKLAND RACING CLUB’S CARNIVAL PROVIDES SOME INTERESTING CONTESTS

(Special to the,“Star.”) AUCKLAND, January 4. Richfield thoroughly deserved his, success at Ellerslie on Thursday, for he had run two sterling races on the! tirst and second days of the f meetings finishing second on each occasion. He is a fine-looking sort and though he, will have to do his future racing in open company he should his presence felt. Hunting Cry was probably the best performer at the Auckland summer meeting and easily the best of the

three-year-olds seen out at the fixture He won the Railway Handicap very handily, and on the second day scored in the King's Plate, while on the third day he galloped over everything else in the final furlong of the Derby, winning very comfortably at the finish. On Thursday he was saddled up for the Royal Stakes, but he was beaten into third place. He got in between Greenaway and Cylinder over the final bit and the three were practically locked together. Gray, in consequence, could not use his whip, otherwise matters might have been different. Any how, he is a great three-year-old, and J. Cameron should win many more good races with the half-brother to White Fang. Concentrate, after winning the Auckland Cup, was not started again till the Clifford Plate, on the concluding day of the meeting. In that event he was second to Pegaway all the way and eventually was only beaten by a [head. Concentrate is right back to his »best form and he should score again before long. Cylinder has yet to win a race, but he is a good two-year-old. He has plenty of size and gallops attractively. The son of Limond and Cymene finished second in the Great Northern Foal Stakes and was beaten by Sight Draft in the Midsummer Handicap, but the going was against him. He looked all the better for his racing when he was produced for the Royal Stakes and he ran well, being only a neck behind Greenaway at the finish. Cylinder should win a good classic event before the season is much further advanced, and he looks as though he wil] furnish into a Derby colt next season. He should stay on his breeding, for his granddam is by Spearmint, by Carbine. Greenaway, who won the Royal Stakes, is a three-year-old by Sutala from Greenstreet, and she was bred by her owner, Mr G. D. Greenwood. She had only had one race prior to competing at the Auckland summer meeting, and that was in the Apprentices’ Plate at Riccarton, in which she finished third. She was second in the first division of the Robinson Handicap at Ellerslie on Boxing Day and third to Imperial Prince and Richfield in the Fergusson Handicap. That was not very encouraging form for the Royal Stakes, but she stayed on better than anything else at the finish. This made the fourth successive win for T. Green in this event, for he previ-. ously scored on Agriyn, Prince Humphrey and Honour. Historic failed badly in the Auck-

land Cup and finished last in a field of three in the King’s Plate, on the second day. However, he looked a much improved horse when he went out to contest the Grandstand Handicap on Thursday, and after being handy at the turn he got his head in front about a couple of hundred yards from home, but he had to be vigorously ridden to retain his position. Historic was at a double-figure price. Now that he has again struck the form he showed in the spring, he should be hard to dispose of in his -next outing. Seatown won the Manawatu Cup and was brought north for the Auckland summer meeting. However, he failed to get into the money in his two efforts and is evidently feeling the effects of his racing, for he has been going since the autumn. Flying Juliet finished well in fourth place in the Goodwood Handicap at Ellerslie on Thursday, and she looks as though she may be in the money again before long. Last season she won the Takapuna Cup. Jaleux rather surprised by the manner in which he stayed out the Great Northern Derby. The going was heavy and he beat all but Hunting Cry. This three-year-okl is a brother to Wayward and Pride and he should be kept in mind for coming engagements. Count Palatine was thought to have a chance in the Great Northern Derby, after his second to Honour in the New Zealand Derby at Riccarton. He ran a good race till well into the straight but failed to run on. The going was probably too heavy for him and he may do better on a firmer track. Lucy Rose ran a good race in the Grandstand Handicap, finishing second to Historic. She was prominent throughout and on that showing will have to be reckoned with in the next ten furlong event she contests. She has won up to a mile and when at her best is a smart filly. She looks as though she is nearly at the top of her form again. • Mervette is a good mare when right and she won the Glasgow Handicap in good style on Wednesday. She was well back as they turned for home but put in a great run on the outside and

won nicely. The going was heavy but she just revelled in it. Mervette is cap able of going a longer distance. Cimabue finished on well in the Bowen Handicap at Ellerslie on Thursday to get third. He looks none the worse for his efforts during the meeting and he can be expected to show to advantage again shortly. Amor was started on each day of the Auckland meeting. lie ran most promisingly and he should collect a stake before long. He was third in the Christmas Handicap, third in the Summer Cup, fourth in the Racing Club Handicap, and unplaced in the Grandstand Handicap, in which he was one of the leaders for a good way. He seemed to meet with a bit of trouble as they crossed the top and lost his position. Amor has won over eleven furlongs at Trentham and if taken there for the summer meeting this month he should be hard to beat in his engagements. Antique, who won the Ellerslie Handicap on New Year's Day, is a promising sort. He deadheated with Te Iloia at the Waikato Spring Meeting and ran a good race in the Waitemata Handicap at Elleflslie on Boxing Day, when he finished third to Duellona and Nassau Lady. King's Guard was easily the best of the jumpers seen out at the Auckland summer meeting. He commenced by winning the Grafton Hurdles on the first day with 9.12 and with Olbs more annexed the Ponsonby Hurdles in very easy fashion. He carried 11.7 on the third day and again won comfortably in the New Year Hurdles, while on Thursday, with 12.7, he was beaten by Elysianar. A couple of seasons ago, R. Hannon won three hurdle events at the same meeting. Lord Star scored in the Grafton Hurdles, King’s Guard in the Ponsonby Hurdles, and Wedding March in the Auckland Hurdles. Master Roley was a starter in the hurdle events on the two last days of the Auckland Racing Club’s summer meeting. He was going well when he came to grief in his first effort, while on the second day he did not get too good a run and was well back at the finish.