ELLERSLIE ITEMS

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Issue 1481, 12 September 1918, Page 13

ELLERSLIE ITEMS

One of the most forward three-year-olds at Ellerslie is the Monoline filly, Billie Burke. She is very much on the small side, but for shape and make is hard to beat. She possesses plenty of propelling power at the back of the saddle.

Ohaupo (Spalpeen — Waimangu), the full sister to the defunct Glendalough and Fionnuala, was tried over the little sticks, but fencing alone she made several mistakes. These may not be repeated with more practice. Mr. Robert Walker recently had the old Spalpeen hurdler, The Celt, destroyed. The gelding was foundered in the feet. Mr. Walker kept the horse nearly six years, during which period he had a win at Takapuna and Hamilton respectively, and a few place earnings. Last week Mr. Chas. Walker, of Mt. Albert, brought his gelding, Signature (St. Amans—Legs), home from the Thames, where he had been wintering, preparatory to being put into work for the new season. A returned expert from the Marton fixture told the writer that Colonel Soult could not have captured the Marton Handicap with a stone less in the saddle.

The Australian-bred mare, Duchess Eudorus, made her first appearance in the livery of her new owner at the Marton meeting. The little chestnut daughter of Eudorus ran a clinking good race till the ’latter stages of the contest, eventually finishing fourth. The ground was all against the smallfooted, light-fleshed little mare. She lias been used to hearing her feet rattle on tracks like macadam. Miss Jack, dam of Jack Delaval and Lady Jack, the latter of whom went to the bottom in the mined Wimmera, has foaled a filly to Robert the Bruce. Cadence, by Cyrenian from Lute, has foaled a colt to Royal Soult, and visits Thurnham.

Mr. Ben. Bourke, connected with racing for the last 25 years and a man whose services were valued by the clubs, died on Friday last. The late Mr. Bourke had been in bad health for the past 12 months. Jacaranda jumped seven of the big schooling battens proficiently, and will be given a run at the Egmont Racing Club’s spring fixture. The Thames owner-trainer, C. Winder, is removing his team to Ellerslie, where he can have the pick of half a dozen tracks.

All the work on Tuesday morning

was done on the sand track, the only grass rink open being the two-year-old circuit. Most of the work was of a medium pace character.

Tlie Avondale Guineas candidates, Flowing Bowl and War Tank, are rounding up into form, and are a compact pair. The other Avondale Guineas candidate, Spanner, and the diminutive Billie Burke, are very forward. The former left three furlongs behind in very decisive fashion, going alone. Platoon is back again, apparently quite recovered from his recent indisposition. His stable mate, Vandubhe, looks none the worse for the Marton journey. She put three furlongs past in fast time. Colonel Soult has not yet lost his punch. He downed the filly Koiwi at the end of a short spriting match. Bombardo, one of C. Coleman’s charges, is back again in work. E. Pope has brought Falstone back. He went wrong and did not start at the Marton meeting. E. J. Rae has returned from his trip south, but left the horses behind for the Dannevirke, and, probably, the Egmont fixtures. The friends of G. Irwin will be glad to learn that he has left the hospital. His maire, Independence, was workingon the tracks this morning. L. Coleman schooled Welshman over four of the big hurdles. The gelding gave a good display ..over the timber. Comedy Prince is on the improve.

Pierrot and Kilbeggan put in easy pace work. The former has not been up long. Hautere and Larry put in easy pace work, while their stable mate, Windorah, sprinted alone on the sand. This three-year-old has engagements at the Egmont spring meeting. Hopye is progressing nicely under the care of the returned soldier, Chas. Hodder, having started to build up. Tenacious, Bingham and another of Rae’s charges were worked on the tan by Bert Rae and an assistant. The trio look bright and healthy. Thrace and Hineamaru put in easy tasks, while their stable companion, Spanner, slipped along at top over three furlongs, probably the best of the morning from a time point of view. The colt looks a bit above himself."

Whitford Belle put up a nice sprint over a few furlongs. The filly has improved. Pukeatua and Loyal Arch jumped two of the small battens, the former cutting out the first. They then went over four big hurdles, the mare finishing well, while Pukeatua cut out the last of the big timber. The hurdle gelding, Ma Copper, is in work again, and is being trained by his owner.

The five-year-old mare Lady Eunice (Multifid —Couchacoucha) was sprinted three furlongs. The mare has not been up more than six weeks, and satisfied her owner that she warranted proceeding with her preparation.