NEWS FROM AUCKLAND

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 74, Issue 244, 15 October 1931, Page 4

NEWS FROM AUCKLAND

RACING AT AVONDALE COMMENT ON RECENT FORM (Special to "Chronicle”) AUCKLAND, Oct. 13. A respite from tho stress and strain of owning and training a racehorse being desired by S. Malone, be sold Claremore last week for 400 guineas, so that it could not be said that he was a dear horse. His purchaser was Mr. T. A. 'Davison, who also races Maori Boy. It kept for steeplechasing next winter Claremore should be a gilt-edged proposition, despite the drop in stakes. Little Doubt followed up his Avondale Cup success by running two good races at Ellerslie in the big handicaps. On the second day he was right up with the placed horses in a hot finish. Little Doubt, who has been located at Avondale since the Auckland meeting, is

engaged in the Dargaville Cup and he should go a fine race in that event if caught in the right mood. The opposi tion is not overstrong.

After he contests the Dargaville Cup on Saturday Little Doubt may be sent south to the Marton meeting, but if he is kept for the second day at Avondale the southern engagement will be cancelled, for it is asking a lot of a horse to race in Auckland on Saturday and Monday and then at Marton on the following Wednesday. On paper the field engaged in the two-year-old race at the opening of the Dargaville meeting at Avondale on Saturday is a very poor one. But who knows that those paid up for do. not include at least one near-champion? Several will be having their first race, and not one of the nine engaged has as yet succeeded in getting in the money. The best performance to date was that of Closing Time, who finished fourth the second day at Avondale, behind Tankard, Broken Rule, and Merry Way. Closing Time is an Australian-bred youngster by Tippler from Aliss Myra, and carries J. T. Jamieson’s colours. This trainer is now getting a big team together to curry his own colours. King Colossus. That promising three-year-old King Colossus, who was running on at the end of the Great Northern Guineas, just behind the third horse, is an interesting entrant for the Marton Handicap, to be run at the Marton meeting on Wednesday next. There are plenty of sportsmen ticking off King Collossus to stay at least the Derby distance, and with 7.13 at Marton he has a chance to prove himself before being sent to Riccarton for the classic next month. In the Maiden race at the Avondale meeting the speedy Lady Musk drew the rails. This ensured her defeat, for she is not a smart beginning, and she received a rough spin throughout the contest, going to near the rear. The filly put in a fine finishing run. Lady Musk is engaged in a similar event at Avondale next Saturday, and there will be another big field even if divisions should be unnecessary. If she draws about the middle of the field it is probable that she will do better, for there is no doubt about her pace once she gets warmed up. Perhaps the outing she had and subsequent sprinting efforts at home have sharpened her up. Sir Mond sprinted smartly at Ellerslie on Saturday morning, and this draws pointed attention to his prospects in the Dargaville Cup next Saturday, in which it is probable that he will be again ridden by 11. Gray. When he dead-heated with Purirj. Park the final day at the Auckland meeting the big Seremond gelding was always going well in front, showing unexpected brilliancy from the barrier. Sir Mond seems certain to start favourite next Saturday. Many backers like following certain jockeys, particularly a leading horseman like H. Gray, and he will be on more than one favourite. His mounts next Saturday at Avondale are Sir Mond, Heremia, Huntingdon, High Comedy, Royal Artist and Tea Trader, and probably four out of this halfdozen will be pretty warm first favourites. It will be noticed that Gray is taking up the riding for Mr. R. T. Reid’s team since the disqualification of H. Goldfinch. For Auckland Cup. It is interesting to note that the first four horses to pass the post in the last Auckland Cup have again been entered for this two-mil© event, to b© run at Ellerslie next Boxing Day. The quartet comprises Motere, Gay Crest, Concentrate and Paquito. It will be remembered that Gay Crest finished a neck in front of Motere, but the southerner lost the decision in the committee-room as tho result of crossing. The South Island holds a strong hand in the big Auckland summer meeting double, the Auckland Cup and Railway Handicap. In the former event they have Jaloux, Great Star, Black Duke, Riri, Charmaine, Mount Boa, Conipris, Admiral 'Drake, Gay Crest, Adelphi, Gustavo, Paquito, Dunraven and Minerva!—or a third of tho total number of entrants, 43. Horses from the South Island engaged in the big sprint are Great Star (second last year), Lord Argosy, Royal Baby, Gustavo, Solvent, Waiwene, Croupier, Kozan, Al Jolson, and Gallant Fox, or 10 out of 46. Hunting Cry, winner of the two last Railway Handi caps at Ellerslie, is in again, and so are ( Silvermine and Karapoti, respectively fourth and fifth last Boxing Lay.