ELLERSLIE ITEMS

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Issue 1482, 19 September 1918, Page 14

ELLERSLIE ITEMS

Wartime jumped a couple of hurdles on Wednesday and then tried the steeplechase fences, but would not face them. On being pulled off he went on with the hurdles again. On Thursday the three-year-old, The Broke, had his initial schooling lesson over the little sticks, making a fair attempt. When tried on Saturday, however, he refused four times and was not persevered with.

Loyal Arch, who is one of the most promising novices among the maiden hurdlers, was schooled on Thursday in company with Reparation. Jacaranda left for the Egmont spring meeting on Thursday. The big Captain Webb gelding should give a good account of himself over the steeplechase country there. The Finland —Finery colt was on the tracks on Saturday morning. This slashing big colt probably throws back to his sire. He does not favour his dam in conformation.

The inner grass was open on Saturday morning, most of the fast work being accomplished on this track.

Pukeatua was sent round the grass at three-quarter pace. The little bit of schooling has sharpened the son of Spalpeen up a lot . Two of Mr. Twohill’s horses, General Stephen and Escape, galloped six furlongs. The bout was all in favour of the former. Escape struck himself. Billie Burke seemed to have Auldana in sad trouble at the end of a six furlong dash. The filly is much on the improve.

The tw.o-year-olds Gold Plane and Moneta, had a rough up over a few furlongs, the pair finishing up together. The former is one of the youngest two-year-olds at headquarters, but shows promise.

Radium, the dam of Gold Plane, will foal shortly to the imported sire Mountain King. Colonel Soult, with a feather weight in the saddle, led Whitford Belle and Koiwi over six furlongs, the last-named being beaten off. Spanner and his stable mate, Hineamaru, had a soundly run half mile spin. They finished on even terms. The filly is not a good track worker.

Northland showed the way to Reparation over four of the big battens in good time, Penniless bringing up the rear. The trio flew the fences well.

Shining Light and Arch Lassie galloped six furlongs in good style, finishing with heads together. A. J. McFlinn will be riding at the Otaki meeting on Monday next. Larry and the three-year-old, Windorah, put in a couple of circuits in company, but were not asked any serious questions.

Mr. Thompson, the owner of Miss Leslie, was present to see the filly work in company with Blue Cross. The Leolantis gelding, Army, formerly hunted by Mr. Ben. Myers, was put over the sod wall, the double fences find stone wall, and did not attempt to shirk his responsibilities. Messrs. Roulston’s two Avondale Guineas candidates, Flowing Bowl and War Tank, were on the easy list. The pair look in fine health and are coming on nicely. Frank Weston is keeping Billie Burke well up to the collar, and if plenty of sound work can win the Avondale Guineas the filly will have a chance. Last week, with the medium pace work and fast sprints, she covered 7% miles, and is thriving on the work. On Monday, J. Williamson worked his horses, Larry and Windorah, before breakfast, and shipped tlie pair to New Plymouth in the afternoon. The same trainer has taken up the two two-year-olds, Melting and Monanle, after a couple of weeks’ spell. His other two-year-old, Jeweller, is furnishing into a nice colt. C. Coleman has started working the Multifid — Necktie gelding, Mountain Gold, who has had a rather long spell. Asprey, rather than break the journey and stay over night at Wanganui and re-entrain for Egmont (Hawera), brought his two charges. Duchess Eudorus and Hessian, straight home again. While at Dannevirke, Asprey priced Maioha, the half brother to the defunct Gold Fran, but the price (1000 guineas) asked for the son of Hallowmas—Fairy Gold seemed prohibitive. C. Coleman has started working the Spalpeen—Battleship gelding Bombardo again. The new arrival is a full brother to Vestal. Trainer M. Gardner, formerly of Waverley, is now located at the Harp of Erin stables, Ellerslie, with the King Rufus two-year-old Ariti, and Calais. On Tuesday morning trainers had the choice of the sand, tan, inner grass and two-year-old rinks. The grass was well patronised. A. Julian worked War Tank, Flowing Bowl and All Talk, and after breakfast took his team of trotters and pacers to Epsom. Auldana. alone, sprinted a grass six furlongs in Imin IS 4-ssec, but tired at tiie finish.

Colonel Soult, with weight in the saddle, put in two solid sand circuits fast, and was anxious to go faster. George Irwin, who lately left the hospital after a severe illness, was present to see Independence work. Comedy Prince, who is on the improve, coached Mademoiselle over a. short sprinting course. Army negotiated the steeplechase fences in the centre in confident style. J. Preston’s mare, Ohaupo, jumped three of the little sticks. The daughter of Spalpeen—Waimangu only requires practice to become proficient at the game. Tenacious a-nd Bingham put a lot of vim into a tan circuit. The latter had all the pull in the weights and moved attractively. Gwenette and a stable mate sprinted on the two-year-old rink. The former is on the small side, but seems to have the gift. The Broke and a mate sprinted half a mile in 51 3-ssec. The big chestnut is much more at home on the flat than over tile battens.