ROUND THE BIRDCAGE.

Auckland Star, Volume LVIII, Issue 143, 20 June 1927, Page 14

ROUND THE BIRDCAGE.

RUNNING QUESTIONED

UNCLE BERT'S FORM IN FIRST AND

FOURTH RACES.

The stipendary stewards were not at all satisfied with the performance of Uncle Bert in the Mangere Handicap, as compared to his second to Great Earl later in the afternoon in the Hobson Handicap. In his first start Uncle Bert, who had £92 invested on h)s chance, never showed up at any part of the race, but in the Hobson Handicap, in which the field was much smaller, Uncle Bert carried £420 10/, and ran second practically all the way. After the race, the owner, Mr. J. Lynch, was before the judicial committee, and after hearing the explanation, the committee decided that while not altogether satisfied, no action would be taken. A VETERAN TRAINER. W. ORANGE WINS WITH BETTY MOKO. When W. ("Billy") Orange landed Betty Moko, a winner of the Stewards' Trot on Saturday, after a very close finish with The Tartar, he was accorded a fine reception. Orange is one of the veterans of the trotting sport and has been 45 years associated with the sport. It is 22 years ago sinee he came to Auckland to reside and he quickly made it clear that few knew more about trotters and pacers than be. He landed his first winner when he was 14 years of age but since then has won many, many races. He is still going strong to-day. GREAT EARL. CANTERBURY PARK FORM REPRODUCED. One of the easiest wins recorded on Saturday was that registered by Great Earl in the Hobson Handicap, for which he started a strong favourite. Recently he won a race at the Canterbury Park meeting, at Addington, and it was upon that performance he was so solidly supported today. He began well, and was never headed once the field had settled down, and at the finish was going away from j his opponents. He is only a four-year old, and is one of W. Warren's team at Christchureh. He was driven by M Holmes.

A GREAT RECORD.

SIX DKIVES—FIVE WINNERS AND A SECOND. To have six drives this season ami u> l)c first home Jive times and second on the other occasion its a rather tittractivirecord. This is the perfoiinanaie down to the credit of the Mangere trainer, C. V. Jones, who was second in the Mangere Handicap with Mars, and later in the afternoon won the Marconi Handicap with the same horse. Besides Mars, Jones has a good sort in Tony Victor to drive, and so far the pair have not been defeated when Jones has occupied the sulky. Not fortunate enough to win, the *poe<ly Peter BitiKcn w.-nt two sterling r;u-i-> on Saturday. Mr. G. 8. Sinip*onV line pacer, who is a brother to the champion Great Kingen. from b'Oyds behind, finished fourth in the Campbell Handicap and earned £50, and in the ' ornwaH Handicap, in which he was the backmarker on 48yds with Nelson Fame, he went a jjreat race to pet third, and credit his Christchimh owner with another £50. CARDINAL LOGAN. THE UNLUCKY HOHSK IN THE BIG RACE. Those who saw the Campbell Handicap would that the unlucky horse in the race was Cardinal Logan. He was running along nicely and had made up a little of his 48ycU handicap when the field ran out of the straight the first time. Then Silk Thread fell, and brought down Machine Gun and Billy Sea, while Dick Dillon had to be pulled up. Others had their prospects affected, and one of them was Cardinal Logan who had to pull out and go round the horses, thereby losing a lot of ground. Under the "circumstances he did well to beat all but Terence Dillon at the finish. DAYTIME. WELL BACKED FANCY GOES UNDER Dne of the veil-backed fancies to go under was Daytime, in the Mangere Handicap. The chestnut son of Nelson Bingen and Olive Wood, wee well enough placed in the running had he teen good enough, but over the last quarter of a mile he conld make no impression oa the , leaders, and was beaten out of a place.