STAYERS AT ELLERSLIE

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 90, Issue 7, 9 January 1946, Page 6

STAYERS AT ELLERSLIE

GOLDEN SOUVENIR UNLUCKY TO BE BEATEN ANOTHER CLASH WITH EXPANSE AT TRENTHAM (Special) Auckland, Jan. 7 Had the Auckland Cup been run on the Riccarton course, or at Trentham, Golden Souvenir would have added £3500 to his stake-winning record, instead of the £lOOO that came his way v. hen Expanse finished a long neck in front of him in the big two-mile event a'.. Ellerslie. That has to be borne in mind when summing up the chances of these two grand stayers when nexi they meet, a clash that appears likely to take place in the Wellington Cup on Saturday of next week.

Aided by the easier going, for the ci ust of lhe hard surface was broken with frequent drizzling showers before the Cup was run, Expanse won at aouble-figure odds. His dividend was not surprising considering that he gave form followers no guide since he ieappeared in the spring, save his finishing run in the Te Awamutu Cup. When he won the Great Northern Derby he was recognised as a stayer, and it would not have been surprising if he had won the Cup twelve months ago, following on a phenomenal finishing effort at Avondale a few weeks earlier. Fate stepped in at this stage, and it was a long time before racegoers saw Expanse again. That he has come back better than ever his Auckland Cup success indicated.

Seldom have the winner and the innner-up in the Auckland Cup come from so far as did Expanse and Golden Souvenir. They tailed lhe field half a mile from home. It was actually on the bend into the home stretch that Expanse commenced his move, while Ellis on Golden Souvenir was still waiting. Thus the New Zealand Cup winner had to concede Expanse several lengths start in less than a furlong and a-half. At the distance Expanse ranged alongside Longsword and soon had his measure. An easy victory appeared likely, but Golden Souvenir was mowing down the field, and with Expanse beginning to weaken and Miss Medley going well, an exciting finish resulted in Expanse winning by a long neck from Golden Souvenir, with Miss Medley a short head away. A check or two must have affected Golden Souvenir, but first impressions still remain: that his rider, willy-nilly, delayed his run a fraction too long. Over a longer straight, as at. Riccarton or Trentham, these tactics would have succeeded. As it was the post was reached too soon.

It is to be hoped that these two fine stayers will meet again in the Wellington Cup next week. If they do, and both are fit and well, the majority- of northerners will certainly plump for the half-brother to Kindergarten. He was a trifle tender prior to the Auckland Cup. but on the final day he moved all right.

The manner in which Golden Souvenir stretched out to win the Clifford Plate last Wednesday aroused enthusiasm. He was giving the leading pair, Landveyor and Exeter, three lengths start with two furlongs to go, but he had already begun his run. Landveyor and Exeter were having a hot duel and the former was holding his opponent, but a hundred yards from the post Golden Souvenir joined them and soon left the pair behind. It was a grand race and a grand performance to down the hot favourite, Exeter, who just scrambled home from Landveyor. With a little farther to go the Derby winner, Lady Foxbridge, would have been second. The filly's fine showing suggested that she would have be?n unlucky to lose the Great Northern Derby, which she had won so narrowly twenty-four hours earlier. Lady Foxbridge is going to be a first-class handicap proposition. Landveyor ran a good race in the Auckland Cup, although he failed to improve on his good position at the home turn. By his showing when he won the A.R.C. Handicap on New Years Day he again indicated that he is a fine galloper up to a mile and a-half. At the distance in the Auckland Cup Miss Medley appeared a winner until Expanse passed her, and she improved to run Landveyor close on Tuesday last.

; Twelve months ago Hormuz displayed a partiality for the Ellerslie course, and his two showings this time were also very good ones. In the Summer Cup he lost a little ground at the start and then at the end he was overhauling the winner, Broiedame, with every stride. He failed only by a nose to get the decision. In the A.R.C. Handicap Hormuz drew the outside position, which meant that he ‘had eventually to come across the track to get near the rails. Once again he was in a hectic finish, being beaten two necks by Landveyor and Miss Medley, with the Cup winner, Expan.-e, only a short head behind him.

Longsword ran good races al Ellerslie without appearing likely to win. Glenfalloch, too, revealed improvement as the meeting progressed, for fie~ian a good second to Exeter in the King's Plate and was right uo in the following our ch when Landveyor won. Foxwyn seemed to have every chance in his races, without, appreciable result Ramicourt showed up in two races and Palfrey was conspicuous in his engagements until lhe home turn and I hen faded. Over the shorter handicap journeys Broiedame, Coronaire, the three-year-old Balgowan and Gav Lally were at their best. Some of those mentioned will he racing al Trentham, apart, from those who had begun to feel the hard ground.