ELLERSLIE ITEMS.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Issue 1599, 16 December 1920, Page 14

ELLERSLIE ITEMS.

SATURDAY. Saturday was ushered in with showery weather, but a fair amount of fast work was indulged in. First Salute, with Arch Salute as pacemaker, put up far the best showing of the morning, running round the No. 1 grass circuit, in Imin. 52sec., beating his companion home from the four furlong post, traversing the half-mile in 51 l-ssec.

Slowcoach, who was in one of his bad moods, refused to gallop, and stopped for a rest at the seven furlong post. After changing jockeys he galloped a circuit under protest. The new arrival, Johnny Walker, cantered round and looks very jolly. Sussex easily disposed of Bonny Doreen and Thurnline at the finish of five furlongs. Miss Ellice, alone, dashed over half a-mile in 49 4-ssec. Escaped beat Alies over the same ground in 51sec. Golden Petal flew a round of the big hurdles, clearing the battens full tilt,' without mishap. Actrice, alone, sprinted four furlongs in 50 3-ssecs. Flowing Bowl beat a couple of stable companions over a sprinting course. Canzonet beat a companion over a short course. Miss Melva ran the last five of six furlongs in Imin. lOsec. Canowindra was in front of Bute Sound at the end of six furlongs in Imin. 19 ,4-ssec. Aircraft started with Marble Slab, but lost his rider, who was unhurt. Oak Abbey easily settled the chances of Dead Sweet over a sprinting course. Geoffrey took Imin. 37 2-ssec. to negotiate seven furlongs alone. Pine Arch slipped over five of six furlongs in Imin. 7sec. The big bay is freshening up again.

Oranga, alone, spurted four furlongs on the bit in 53 l-ssecs. Crowhurst finished under a pull, easily defeating Blushet. in half a mile .in 5 4 sec.

After breakfast interval, the frequent showers necessitated the closing of the grass, and the remainder of the work was finished on the sand rink. Maunu, after trotting in the centre of the course for half an hour was sprinted three furlongs in 36sec. in company. Dante and Marat put in useful toil in company, and are rounding up nicely into shape.

A. Julian has an addition to his team in No Bother, which has joined the active division.

Isingarch was brought home from the half-mile post by Lyddite. The former registered Imin. 34 2-ssecs. from the seven furlong post disc. Ruatara led Gazique and Dribble home from the six furlongs distance in Imin 19secs. It was a good fight till the first-named put in his claim and shot past his companions on the post. K. Heatson’s brace of two-year-olds, Sunny River and Silver Rain, were sprinted on the two-year-old rink. Sunny River has quite recovered from his recent operation. Prince Carl downed his companion, Commission, in a six furlongs sprint. The Prince came at the right end, registering Imin. 19sec. Treso, the big Australian gelding, headed a companion over four furlongs in 51 sec.

Prince Rufus, alone, was sprinting attractively, and should not be long off the winning list.

Sam (the brother to Mullingar) and a companion fluttered over half a mile in 63sec.

Thrace carried too many guns for Oakleigh over six furlongs, run in Imin. 22sec. Oakleigh would probably reverse this order if the steeplechase fences were included in the task.

Cantabile was indulged in some sprinting in patches. Soot accomplished useful work on the two-year-old track. Scrap o’ Paper, looking as bright as a new dollar, was anxious to clap on the pace while working alone. Deviation and Lombardy ran a' sand circuit in the fair time of 2min. 2sec. The latter was beaten off.

Formalin and Pepin worked separately. . ' It is a. pleasing. matter to chronicle a change for the better in the Auckland Cup candidate, Prince Willonyx. The imported horse was sandwiched between Hyrax and Cymer on Saturday morning - . The trio kept level till the last furlong was reached, and. then the Prince shot out, and left his two companions, registering Imin.. 32 2-ssec. for the seven furlongs.

Those who saw. First Salute work on the grass on Saturday in company with his stable mate, Arch Salute, are inclined to enthuse over the performance. To get round the No. 1 grass in Imin. 52sec. requires a lot of pace .and stamina. TUESDAY. Things were on the quiet side this morning at headquarters . . Several of the Ellerslie teams and trainers are away at the Taumarunui and Waipa meetings. The principal feature was the interest taken in the local favourite, for the Auckland Cup, First Salute, who had Prince Carl as a companion over a grass mile on No. 1 track. The boy on the pacemaker carried out his instructions to the letter, forcing the pace till the straight was reached. The* Cup horse then took charge, registering Imin. 43 4-ssee. The track must have been in good order, judging by the times the sprinters were making. Miss Ellice and Geoffrey. sprinted four furlongs in 49sec. and -50 sec. respectively. Namutere gave a better display at the end of three furlongs than his track mate, Loyal Arch. The time was 38 l-ssec., a useful gallop. Lightning, Pine Arch and Golden Dream were on the easy list. Tenacious and Commission galloped a'mile at top, being in touch at the finish.

Dovelet led Arch Salute and Tressor over seven furlongs, taking a shade over Imin. 30sec., finishing in the above order.

Glen Canny and Johnny Walker were content with a tan circuit. The former led at the finish, the mile taking Imin. 4 9sec. Pagoda, in E. Stewart’s stable, surprised the onlookers by giving the wellseasoned Monocrat a good trouncing at. the end of half a mile, ridden by the stable apprentice, D. Bien, who looks like making a useful rider with more practice.

Emerall Hill left six furlongs behind in Imin. 19 3-ssec.

Blue Cross was content with good three-quarter pace work, alone. Oranga easily held Thurnley over four furlongs in 51sec. The latter could not pace it with his well-condi-tioned stable companion.

Crowhurst and Blushet did their usual short sprinting- together. The pair look bright and healthy. North Loburn, alone, ran six furlongs, the last five taking Imin, 7sec.

Woori and Bute Sound were not on a time-making mission. Rathlin worked alone, doing easy pace, as also did Pepin and Prince Charleroi. Dead Sweet easily accounted for Battle Plane, running the half mile in 50 sec.

The after-breakfast interval was mostly of the sprinting order. Guerre a Mort, alone, ran out seven furlongs in Imin. 29 3-ssec. Manu, Unahi, and one of P. Bolton’s charges ran home in this order from the half-mile disc in 48 3-ssec. The experts in the centre made the time 48 l-ssec. Cantabile sprinted four furlongs in 49 4-ssec.

Preston schooled Mary Bruce over four of the big hurdles. The mare looks a bit above herself, but is as hard as nails. Soulterina and Soot were companions in a rough up over four furlongs, finishing together. Cymer and Hyrax battled out five furlongs in Imin. 9 l-ssec. K. Heaton’s two two-year-olds ran three furlongs in 40 l-ssec. The gelding had the margin in his favour.

Thrace beat another over about seven furlongs. Marble Crag finished up the morning’s work with a moderately-run four furlongs from a standing start, in 58sec.

Argent has joined P. Conway’s team. The son of Jewellery will be put into active work at once.

W. Hawthorn’s charges, Trespass, Hymestra, Missgold, Weldone, Raceful, and Dunedin, did light work. The Canterbury horses should reach Auckland on Friday or Saturday. The three yearlings purchased in Canterbury by Mr. D. Brophy are now located at P. Conway’s stables.

The New Zealand Trotting Stud Book (Volume VI.) is now published, and as only a limited number of copies are printed of this invaluable publication early application should be made to Mr. J. B. Norris, secretary N.Z. Trotting Association, P.O. Box 459 Christchurch.

Maioha failed to show up prominently in the Kiwitea Welter Handicap on the opening day at Feilding, but macle amends for his failure on the concluding day of the Woodville meeting, when he scored a comfortable victory in the Gothard Memorial Handicap (one mile and a distance), returning his supporters an excellent dividend.

Mr., G. L. Stead’s racehorses, seven in number, have arrived at their new quarters at Te Awamutu, where new stables of rough-cast, concrete have recently been erected to accommodate the, members of R. O’Donnell's string. The team comprises the three-year-old filly, Wanigan (Nassau —Shebeen IL); the Auckland Cup candidate, Starland (Nassau —Stardancer); the Great Northern Derby candidate, Right and Left (Merry Moment —Tin Parole), Proposer (Boniform —Tremulous), and the two-year-olds Royal Box (Nassau —Brayton); Leithfield (Nassau —Garston) and Mixture (Nassau —Culross).

The Victorian-bred five-year-old gelding Lord Usk (Blankney 11. (imp.) — Lady Uska) made his first appearance in the Dominion in the Trial Plate on the opening day at Woodville. He was ridden by A. J. MeFlinn, and managed to secure fourth place, and it would appear that it will not be long before he does Mr. G'. Hume a good turn.