TROTTING.

Auckland Star, Volume LVII, Issue 251, 22 October 1926, Page 12

TROTTING.

WHEEL AND TRACK NOTES. (By ORION.) FIXTURES. Oct. 23, 25—Greymoutn Trotting Club. Oct. 25—Oamaru Trotting Club. Oct. 30—Timaru Trotting Club. Nov. 0, 11, 12— N.Z. Metropolitan T.C. Dec. 27, 28—Westport Trotting Club. Dec. 28, 30. 31—Auckland T.C. Dec. 30—Win ton Trotting Club. Jan. 1, 3—Canterbury Park T.C. Jan. 3—Westland Trotting Club. Jan. 5, 6—Greymouth Trotting Club. January B—Northland Trotting Club. Jan. B—lnangahuaß —lnangahua Trotting Club. Jan. 22—Te Aroha Trotting Club. Jan. 27, 29—Forbury Park T.C. Jan. 2!)—Hawke'H Bay Trotting Club. Feb. 12— N.Z. Metropolitan T.C. Feb. 19, 23—Otahuhu Trotting Club. Feb. 25 or March 11—Kaikoura T.C. Feb. 26, March 2—Wellington T.C. March 4—Marlborough T.C.

The Christchurch sprinter, Landlord, who ran fourth on Wednesday in his engagement, is not returning South, and will remain at Epsom for the Otahuhu Club's spring meeting. It is not unlikely he will be sold.

The next meeting to engage the attention of Auckland owners of trotters and pacers is that of the Otahuhu Club. With such an attractive programme as is offered to owners it may be taken for granted that when the nominations close on November 5 the list will be a large one.

It was not until the final event of the meeting that A. Cameron brought Jean Darling home in front. During the two days the Wildmoor mare lined up four times, but she did not run one bad race, and, all things considered, the price she returned in the Insulation Handicap was a pretty good one.

A. W. Broughton felt very confident of winning again on the second day with Golden Gate, but the, son of Gold Bell went one of his worst races. Right fram the start he would not settle down, and though Broughton was wise enough to let him have a gallop occasionally on the trip instead of standing in the one place, the gelding never had a chance.

When S. August brought Nelson Fame back to the paddock after winning the Onehunga Handicap, there was a warm round of applause waiting for him. August's horses always look well, but for some time his luck has been right out. Now that he has broken the spell of outs he may go on winning, as in .Nelson.. Fame and Lord Nepean he has .a pair- of useful pacers.

Although Sea Pearl was beaten into second place in the Alexandra Handicap, her owner, Mr. G. McMillan, would be highly pleased with the performance, as her run qualified her for the Auckland Trotting Cup. This race carries a big stake, and though Mr. McMillan has another eligible in Dillon Wilkes, Sea Pearl is a useful mare to be handicapped near the front end.

The; performances of Imprint at the meeting were rather disappointing, as he started three times and not once did he get near the leading division. As a matter of fact Logan Lou, off the same mark, beat him pointless, not only over two miles, but also in the sprint events. Both; these good pacers were handicapped on marks which meant they would have had to register performances better than any ever done under race conditions at Epsom if they were to win, and in the face of this it was surprising: to note how well they were backed. Most people would be prepared to bet against any horse establishing fresh records for a course.

In my riotes on Tuesday evening I mentioned that irrespective of the position dtfawn at the post Billy Sea should be sent to the extreme outside of the course.' The starters know, just ac everybody else knows, which are the erratic horses at the post, but evidently they are loath to exercise the power the position carries. The result was that Billy Sea was allowed to stand near the rails with several horses handicapped behind him, and when the start was effected he slewed round and completely settled the prospects of Dreamalion, Dr. Dillon, and Black Lila. Surely the time has arrived when owners of horses which give no trouble are not to be penalised because of the vagaries of some erratic headed animal, which probably could not win if he behaved himself.

The performance of the Australian mare Luvan cm Wednesday, when she won the Newmarket Handicap, stamped her as a pretty good mare. On the opening day in the Improvers' Handicap she carried just £250, and failed to get near the leaders, though it must be admitted she did not get a good run. On' the second day the money was planked on her, and when she left the tapes £847 ID/, or three times as much as oa the Saturday, went with her on the trip. Again she got a bad run, but getting clear a couple of furlongs from home she came along with a brilliant run just getting up in the last couple of strides to win by a neck, but she was going, away at the end, which suggests she will stay on. She was brought over from Sydney by H. Hendricksen after she had followed Ribbonwood's Last home in the Sydney Thousand, and had not been long in Auckland before she was sold to Dr. Rayner, who probably got oven on her purchase on Wednesday. YALE ADMIRAL WOOD! CHAMPION STALLION PASSES. UNTIMELY END TO BRILLIANT CAREER. Mr. A. G. Hunter, of Northwood Park, .Seymour, and the Australian breeding industry, have suffered an irfeparable loss in the death of the pacing stallion Admiral Wood, which occurred at the end of last week, writes J. S. Walford in the "Australian Trotting Record." The horse was taken to the Melbourne Show, where he was awarded the ribbon for the champion stallion. While in his box at the Showgrounds he took ill, and was placed under the care of a veterinary surgeon. He made good progress, and, having apparently recovered, was taken home to Northwood ■Park. He continued to do well, and ate his meals as usual until Friday evening, when he became suddenly ill again. A veterinary eurgeon was summoned, but though he and Mr. Hunter stayed all night with the horse, Admiral Wood failed to rally, and passed away at eight o'clock in the morning.

Mr. Hunter purchased Admiral Wood while in New Zealand some years ago, and that his judgment in the selection of a stallion was without fault is demonitrated by the success which

marked the career of the son of Wildwood Junior and D.I.C. at Northwood Park. Admiral Wood was one of the greatest racehorses on the trotting tracks of New Zealand, and made a two-mile record of 4.23 2-5 in a race against time at New Brighton. This is claimed to be a world's record over that distance on a grass track. Wildwood Junior, Admiral Wood's sire, won the Kew Zealand Cup twice. He was by Wildwood (imp.) from the wonderful brood mare Thelma (dam of Adonis 2.13, Marie Corelli 2.172, Waverley 2 miles 4.35, Willowwood 2.24, and Authoress, dam of Author Dillon, 2.6 2-5), by Kentucky, a son of Berlin (imp.). D.1.C., dam of Admiral Wood, took a record of 2.25 2-5; she was also dam of Peter Mac 2.13, Monica 2.15, Florrie C. 2.15J, Papanui 2.19, 0.1.C. 2.19 4-5, Sylvie 2.21, Mabel 2.26, and Mabel Wood 2.30. D.I.C. was by Young Irvington by Irvington (imp.), dam Flora by Berlin (imp.).

With such ancestry, particularly on the maternal side, it is little wonder that Admiral Wood .was such a great performer, and when he came to this country, he at once attracted attention on account of his magnificent appearance. With a beautiful brown coat, he was the ideal type df light harness horse, and a rare specimen for the painter's easel.

Adeiral Wood gained the championship at the Melbourne Show in 1925 and 1026. At the stud he has proved an undoubted success. His progeny includes Miralwood 2.18, Direct Wood 2.222, Larima 2.18J, Fleet Admiral 2.31 J, The Admiral 2.33; besides Honest Admiral, Countess Whips, Florrie Wood, Admiral Pointer (N.Z.), Katie Wood, Alto Wood, Speedy Wood, Harry Wood and others. Youngsters by the defunct sire will be in great demand now, and should be very valuable, for in a year or two they will be hard to obtain.

Admiral Wood was foaled in 1911, so was only fifteen years old at the time of hie death, an age at which as a sire he should have been in his piTLiie. It is only a week or so since we delighted to see this aristocrat in the show ring, and it is hard to think we shall never see him again.