AUCKLAND TROTS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 22960, 11 February 1938, Page 9

AUCKLAND TROTS

OTAHUHU HANDICAP AUSTRALIAN SUCCESSES F. J. SMITH'S FIVE WINS BY ABAYDOS With the prospect of a good track, some excellent contests should be provided at Epsom to-morrow, when the Auckland Trotting Club opeijs its February meeting. The fields are largo and well balanced and speculation in every event should be widely distributed. The win and place system of betting will be operated and there are prospects of three place dividends in each race.

The Otahuhu Handicap, which, prior to 1930, was the Otahuhu Trotting Cup, has been a triumph for Australian horses, or, progeny of Australian , sires, and they have won 12 of the last 16 contests. Machine Brick, who won in 1926, was represented by two winners, Machine Gun, 1930, and Auto Machine, 1932. ?

Blue Mountain King, who was three times beaten into second place by horses from Australia, sired three winners, Mountain Dell, Kewpie's Guy and King's Warrior. P. Riddle's record in winning in three successive years with Sheik, Delavan Quest and Orion, was superseded by F. J. Smith, who in tour consecutive contests won with Kewpie's Guy, Wrecker, Worthy Light and King's Warrior. Having previously driven Mountain Dell to victory, Smith has won the race five times in seven attempts.

Three Australian-bred horses. Star Pronto, last year's winner, ' Nervie's Last and Auto Machine, are engaged in to-morrow's race. Smith has Crocus in as well as Nervie's -Last, and ho will drive the former, while A. W. Broughton will be behind Nervie's Last. The only other reinsman to score more than once is T. Richards, who,won in 1914 with Reuben and in 1916 with Beli Gray. The time record for the race, 4.25, was registered in 1928 by Terence Dillon.

SMART SPRINTING

HORSE POWER PLEASES TWO-YEAR-OLDS IMPRESS FAST HALF BY PETITE JEWEL BY ABAYDOS Features of the Epsom trials yester- "■ day were the efforts of. the great Northern Derby horses, Horse Power and Refund, ai.d the Trotting Stakes candidates, Taiki and Worthy Empress, who were worked, on the outside of the course proper. Horse Power, who ran his last half in 1.8, did better than Refund; while the two-year-olds impressed by finishing together in 1.11. On the dirt, which was in good order, Petite Jewel, 1.4 3-5, took the honours, closely followed by Gay Sister, Noble Prince, Star Pronto and Aee Pot, 1.5. Lucky Lore and Frank Best ran 1.6, and Bedford, Fisher and Kewpie's Crest, 1.6 '6-5. Refund (A. Brvce) and Horse Power (R. B. Berry) went away well from the mile and a-quarter. running to the six furlongs in 1.53. Refund stumbled and broke in the straight, leaving Horse Power to win in 3.1. The Jack Potts pacer is in good heart. Refund, who was going well until he faulted, finished on in 3.2. f -• . ,

Worthy Empress (R: B. Berry) and Taiki (A. Holmes) went smoothly from the mile, going very easily to the half in 1.20, and increasing the pace, finished on terms in 2.31. Both youngsters showed determination and their good condition attracted attention.

Gay Sister (E. E. Cressy), Petite Jewel (W. H. Andrews.) and Frank Best (J. Funnel!) ran the first mile of a mile and a-half in thq order named, in 2.28, where the leader set a warm pace. Petite Jewel made a fine dash, just failing to reach Gay Sister, who ran 3.33. Petite Jewel,who went slightly faster, ran his half in 1.4 3-5. Frank Best was not far back in ] .6. Argolis (S. M. August) led Jewel Crest (W. Willetts) to the mile in,2,22. after going away a. second in front. Argolis, who was unhopnled, left his feet at the turn, Jewel Crest finishing; on well in 3.31, tho last half in 'l.lO. Ace Pot's Fine Effort Vanora ; (L. J. Mahoney) went away' from the mile and a-quarter one second before Worthy Quest (G. Hv Stubbs), who was followed a second later by Sunny Parish -(Li Laver). with Ape Pot (A. Holmes), going live behind tne leader. Vanora iriade the pace solid to the six furlongs in 1.46, Ace.'Pot running the section in .1.43. : r Under pressure Ace - Pot' ran past Sunny Parrish arid Worthy Quest, but could not' reach Vanora, who went 2,52 . and,- fin? ished on. well. ,* I ■.. ,»'.! . in 1 going 2.48, Ace Pot was responsible for a very fine effort.': sprinted the final section m 1.0. and did not lose anj r admirers for his Papakura. Handicap engagement. Worthy Quest, for one of her class, showed good form in going 2.52 the last half in 1.7. Although beaten at the end Sunny Parrish indicated that he is improving. ,-v t _ Star Pronto (B. Dyer) took 2.28. to reach the first of two miles,/ Hut improved to 1.10 for the next half, and sprinting; home in great style" com? pleted the journey in 4.43. v dash into his finish and is fastVreg&u&v>. ing form. , Bingen Sun <G. A. Williams) /trotted to-the mile in 2.32, and-set off-to run a .merry half, but broke in .the straight, the mile and a-half showing 3.42. Had ho not made the bad mistake it wou)d have been a splendid half. Bingen Sun is very bright. After making two early lapses, which allowed Pink Lady (B. Dyer) to seciire a good lead, Pirate's -Last (L. J. Mahoney) settled down to reach the front and trot six furlongs "in 1.50, going on to the mile comfortably in

Given n second task Pink Ladv went a mile with the unhoppled SLargnm (G. A. Williams), but on reaching the half in 1.14, the latter drew clear, and Pink Lady breaking in the straight, Stargum won easily in '2.23. He has put on some condition and worked very freely. Pink Lady took 2.28 in reach the post; Noble Prince Showß Speed

Noble Prince (A. Brycc) went from the two miles, and as he approached the mile and a-half Kewpie s Queen (J. Gee) and Fisher (A. Paton) jumped away and were well clear of Noble Prince as he passed the mile and a-half in 3.38. With a brilliant two furlongs' sprint in 31 3-ss, Noble Prince was with the other, two at the turn, but went to a break. Recovering he made another grent dash, just failing to reach Fisher, and run the distance in 4.43. Noble Prince displayed rare speed and is in splendid heart. :.r Fisher ran 3.32 3-5, coming 'home the last half well in 1,6 .3-5. Itewpie's G^eett'gave her usual solid and smooth oisplny, 1 sticking on well in 3.33, the last half in 1.7. ,

Forest .Jewel (L. Mitchell) and Great' Chtim (S.' M. August), who. was unhoppled, went away from the mile and a-half to be together, .at the mile in 2.27. Great Chum left his feet at the turn, Forest Jewel going on to finish the task comfortably in 3.38. She ran the last mile in 2.23. Lucky Love (D. Cook), in saddle,' ran a mile in 2.25. He went lazily to the half in 1.19. but ridden vigorously showed fine dhsb to sprint home in 1.6. Lucky Love, who does most of his work freelpgged. was hoppled. ■ Mandalay (D. O. Jones) was nevejr at full pressure while working a mile in 2.20, improving to 1.8 for the laufc , Handicapper : (J. Peters) for a mile, but warming M'MSLXXSn.' completed a mile and a-haJf m <>. •