TROTTING.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19485, 15 November 1926, Page 10

TROTTING.

NOTES FROM CANTERBURY. FORM AT ADDINGTON. ; [BY TELEGRAPH.—OWN CORRESPONDENT. 3 CHRISTCHURCH, Saturday. The New Zealand Metropolitan Trotting Club was favoured with fine weather for the first and second days of its spring meeting but the conditions on Friday were as bad as I ever recollect at Addington. It was an unfortunate experience, as this is usually the club's biggest day of the year. Rain fell most of the day, and the track was a quagmire. The totalisator figures slumped heavily, as was to be expected with a decreased attendance and many of those ' who were there hurrying away when the weather got really bad. The New Zealand Trotting Cup did not provide the interesting contest that was hoped for. Several of the competitors failed to begin right. The remainder of the field raced in two divisions most of the way, and the back lot never gave any indication of catching up to the early leaders. Ahuriri was always within striking distance of the front. ' Only twice was he asked to show his best speed. The first occasion was about half a mile from home, when he dashed up from fifth position. He was going comfortably when he followed Prince Pointer round the home turn, but when given his head at the entrance to the straight he placed the issue beyond doubt in a few strides. It was a brilliant and impressive performance and he only has to retain his form to win more big two-mile races from a much tighter mark. Prince Pointer paced a fine race to get second, but after him the field was strung out, headed by Taiaro, who went well for a mile and threequarters. Great Bmgen paced off in great style, but soon dropped back. He was pulled up and auite obviously something was amiss. A veterinary examination failed ,to disclose exactly what was wrong but it was feared it nught be serious. That this was an exaggerated view was shown when he won the Free-for-all two days later. The performance of Peterwah in winning the Dominion Handicap showed the American stallion to be the best unhoppled trotter ever seen here. He and Money Spider were "locked together for the last three fuilongs but Peterwah always had a. bit in hand. There was a great struggle between Shadowland and Rey Logan over the last two furlongs in the Trotting Derby, Shadowland winning by a neck. Both youngsters showed the greatest gameness Shadowland, who is the first of Realm's progeny I have seen, is a solidly built gelding, likely to make a great itayer Rey Logan (by Rey de Oro) may not stay so well, but he should be a fine sprinter. Shadowland was broken in and handled by his owner. Until a nttle over a week ago, when he went into v/. J. Tornkinson's care, his preparation was briefer than .that of his, chief and his superiority is likely to be maintained. Shadowland's dam. Grey Owl (by Nabocklish) was gored to death by a bull when the foal was five days old, and the youngster was bottle reared Great Bingen's Victory. The Free-for-AU attracted nine starters, a much bigger field than usual. The barrier start was unfortunate as Waitaki Girl and Acron failed to begin right, while Native Chief went off slowly. Logan Chief showed a glimpse of his old brilliancy, and he was responsible for the pace most of the way till his condition gave out a furlong from home, after which Great Bingen won decisively. Native Chief came with a wonderfully fast run over the last half-mile, and it looked as if his failure to begin smartly cost him the race. Great Bingen had recovered from the ailment which caused him to be pulled up in the New Zealand Cup on Tuesday, but he did not appear to he at his best. He won, but the time was slow for this event, especially when the favourable conditions were taken into account. Taureknreka, who was a winner at Addington this week, was the best three-year-nld of his season. After that, however, he lost form, and he had not won a race again until this Week He went so solidly, however, that further successes may be looked for later in the season. Kola Boy won two .trotting events at Addinston this week, and on each occasion he put up a good performance. Hia second day effort was a particularly brilliant one. his time for a mile and five ing equivalent to 2.15 for a mile. Kola Boy, who is a half brother to King Cole, at one time the champion pacer of the Dominion, has long been known to possess great speed, but unfortunately he could not control it. going to a break without any provocation. He has steadied down with age, however, and his successes _ this week was fitting reward for the patience ■which N. L. Price has shown with his disappointing trotter. He will now have to race from a very tight mark, _ but thi3 will not prevent him from winning more races, provided he can be induced to do his best. . Young Blake, after disappointing early m the meeting, won two stakes at Addington. He is an exceptionally brilliant trotter but he has disappointed so often that his immediate connections have grown tired of backing him. As a result they did not benefit to any great extent beyond the stake by his two wins at the recent meeing. He is an aggravating customer, for the reason that he has a torrent of speed if ho would onlv settle to trot kindly. "Wharepiana showed good form at the recent meeting winning two short distance races. Early in her career she had a great reputation, but though she can go fast it is extremely doubtful if she will ever race over two miles up to her early promise. When Jack Potts met with an accident a few months ago, damaging one of his knees rather severely, it looked extremely doubtful if he could be nroduced in decent form at this meeting. He came on well in his training during the last few weeks however, and though obviously not at his best, ho rmced a sound race in the New Zealand Cup. On the second day ho was produced in a mile and a-quarter race, and after a bad start he put ud a brilliant last half-mile to get second. Provided, he keeps sound the Amorican pacer _ will win a big stake before the season is much older. Prince Pointer came through the recent meeting with a vastly improved reputation. His nreparation for the New Zealand Cup was interrupted on account of lameness but he was , able to get through a lot of solid work just prior to the meeting opening. He showed a fine burst of speed in th» Cup, and' probably only required one or two more fast work outs to have enabled him to capture the big stake. Instead he had to put ur> with second place, but it was a fine performance. On the second day he started in the mile and a-quarter race, and made a useful field look very common by the manner in which he le f l his opponents about three furlongs from home. With a repetition of this speed no race will be beyond him later in the season. Acron had his reputation tarnished this week. He got off well in the New Zealand Cup, but though he was prominent most of the way he did not seem to put any real heart into his work, and he collapsed in disappointing fashion at the finish. He started in the Free-for-all on the second day, but refused to leave the mark, while he repeated his bad conduct in the Christchurch Handicap on Friday. The brilliant little pacer appeals to have grown very sour. Man o' War's Good Form, Man-o'-War seems to be aa good now a» ever he was. He paced a solid race in the New Zealand Cup and again in the Courtenay Handicap on Thursday. Both of these race 3 were run on a hard track, but his real chance came on the third day when the mud was in evidence. He revelled in the heavy going, and from the time a mile had been covered he never looked in serious danger of being beaten. Since he was purchased bv Ijis present owner, Man-o'-War has done [a couple of seasons at the stud, but this has not prevented him from doing a lot of racing, and with a considerable amount of success. Sheik raced on the first and second days of the recent meeting, but his form was a long way below his best. Nelson Derby and Great Hope, two horsen who were unsound before the meeting opened, were both got to the post for shortdistance races, but their infirm condition prevented them showing anything like their true form. Waitaki Girl paced a very solid race when she ran second to Man-o'-War in the Christchurch Handicap and this brilliant mare mar soor be on the winning list again. Becky Logan added to her reputation as a very consistent and solid pacer. She is equally good on hard or soft ground, and over aEy distance, and though now on a tight mark she is likely to win a lot more races during this season. After Silk Thread won the Victoria Handicap on Tuesday he disaualified for excessive galloping. It was a decision that caused little surprise, as it was a bad case. The American free-legged pacer has an unsavoury reputation for breaking. Two drivers were fined at Addimrton on Tuesday. N. L. Price, after winning the opening event with Kola Boy, had to pay £25 for crossing Lady 'Fan about three furlongs from the finish. _ About the same point, J. Bryce on Ahuriri. was considered •to have interfered with Taiaro in the Trottine Cup, and it cost him .£ls. The experiences of this week suggest that mile saddle races may soon disappear from Metropolitan Trotting Club's programmes. There were" two of these racea at the meeting, and neither of them attracted a good field. There was a fine contest on Tuesday between three horses, but the third day's event was not an inspiring spectacle These races have been going out of favour for a long time and their disappearance from the programme of the big club will cause no great heartburnings. M. B. Edwards experienced a good meeting at Addington, this week, winnine: two racea with Dalmeny and two with Wharepiana. His successes were well received, the public being pleased to see him having a bit of good hick following on his unfortunate experience on the eve of the meeting when hia stables were burnt down.