MASTER FRANCIS WILL RACE AT ELLERSLIE

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 90, Issue 166, 19 July 1946, Page 6

MASTER FRANCIS WILL RACE AT ELLERSLIE

MT. ALBERT STEEPLECHASE ENGAGEMENT Master Francis claims two engagements to-morrow. He is an acceptor for the Mt. Albert Steeplechase at the Avondale Jockey Club’s meeting at Ellerslie, and algo for the Manawatu Hunt Cup Steeplechase, to be run at Awapuni the same afternoon. His mission will be the cross-country event at Ellerslie and his pilot G. Ivil, who was successful on the Francis Drake gelding in the Hack and Hunters’ Steeplechase on the opening day of the Wanganui winter meeting. Master Francis left for Ellerslie early yesterday morning, being accompanied by his owner and the jockey. Master Francis is a four-year-old gelding by the Chief Ruler horse Francis Drake from No Humbug, by Humbug from Sunniva, by San Fran. He was bred bv Mr. E. Nixon, who raced him earlier in his career, but he was later acquired by Mr. T. D. Baker with steep’eehasc events in view. Trained bv Miss Rita Jackson at Wanganui, Master Francis has carried his new owner’s colours on three occasions. In his first essay he was narrowly beaten by Gay Rouen in a steeplechase at the Waverley May meeting, and then came on to Wanganui to beat Penwilt and Gav Rouen at the June meeting. Last Saturday week he was third in the Ladies’ Necklace at the combined hunt clubs’ meeting at New Plymouth, the winner being his stablemate Lambro, with Balintore second. Young as ’chasers go. Master Francis is well placed at. the Avondale meeting to add to his record, for he is on the minimum in a field that is far from strong, whereas at Awapuni he i', set to carry 10.2, conceding ’■. eight to Ellerton Hall, a winner last month in the Akitio Hack and Huntms’ Steeplechase at the Manawatu winter meeting. The distance in each case is two and a-half miles, half a mile further than was the case at Wanganui. The winner’s share of the stake at the Avondale meeting is £5OO and at the Manawatu Hunt Club’s meet ng it is £355. so under the circumstances it is not surprising that Ihe connections of Maste” Francis j hoi»ld decide to take on the Ellerslie