TROTTING.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 69, 22 March 1928, Page 14

TROTTING.

C L AND TRACK MUTES.

(By ORlON.)

FIXTURES.

Mareh 23, 24.—Oamaru J.C. (at Wingatui), foot events. March 24.—Thames T.C. March 24.—Wellington T.C. March 20, 81.—Wanganul T.C. April 7, 11.— N.Z. Metropolitan T.C.

M. B. Edwards trained four winners at the New Brighton Trotting Club's meeting last week. No other trainer was successful in mora than one race.

Last season Anselm won the President's Handicap at Hawera from 156 yds behind and went 4.31. In the Thames Cup he is on 4.33, but even so he does not appeal as a likely winner. His form since he won twelve months ago has not been good.

Reremai is engaged in the Thames Cup and also the Kopu Handicap, If the daughter of Our Thorpe and Grattan Maid misses the Cup, she should be in the picture in the Kopu Handicap, in which the distance, one mile and a quarter, will suit her nicely^

Sent out favourite at Hamilton in the Progressive Handicap, Cornelian did not shape well enough to get any of the stake. The daughter of Author Dillon might do considerably better on Saturday next, when she is down for two engagements at the Thames.

Nella Dillon has been doing nicely in her work at Epsom, and as she has already one race to her credit she must be entitled to consideration in the first division of the Hikutaia Handicap on Saturday. The field is about as weak as it would be possible to get together.

If Gold Circle could be relied upon to go right on Saturday he would take'aH sorts of beating in the Turua Handicap.' He has plenty of speed, but is unreliable at the post, although he might go off better at the Thames where there will* 1 not be a crowd of spectators gathered at the start. ' '

Coal Light, after being off the scene for a long time, apprised by running second to Signor in the second division of the Progressive Handicap at Hamilton. Driven right out and on a good track, the King Cole mare could only go 3.35 1-5, and off a 3.33 mark on Saturday she does not seem to have anything in her favour.

A, Bryee has his- time taken np with a team of four. Bryce started training a couple of months ago with Kohara and Money Spider, who were left with him after the Christmas meeting. Now Kohara has been turned out for a spell and Money Spider has returned South. However, Bryce has Lord;Minto> Nut Hinton, and a Gold Bell maiden to occupy his attention. They do not read a strong team, and if he can get a stake or two with them he should have no difficulty in getting other horses to train.

H. Kinnamont will have Van Rich and Roma Bingen battling for him on Saturday at Thames. The pair are at the top of their form, and Van Rich looks particularly -well, and though last season he did not stay out a two-miles trip well, he Is a better horse now than he was then, and may be hard to beat in the Cup.

When Grattan Thorpe won the Raglan Handicap at Hamilton three weeks ago, he went 4.33 '2-5, but had to be driven right out to do it. As more than one of those engaged in the Thames Cup should knock something off their handicap GrMtan Thorpe will have to go seconds better than he did at Claudelands to get the money on Saturday.

Tho Auckland all round champion Jewel Pointer is to be taken to Christchurch to compete at the Easter meeting of the Metropolitan Club at Addington., As Nelson Fame is also booked to make the trip this province will be strongly represented. Both horses are brilliant sprinters, but all round Jewel Pointer would be awarded the honours by most people.

The black gelding Harris has put in another appearance on the Epsom track, and he is evidently to be given another chanoe to make attends for past, disappointments. Harris was one of a team O. E. Hooper brought to Auckland'two or three seasons ago, and was backed for good money by the stable. However, Harris failed to do anything right and Hooper was so disgusted that he gave the gelding away to H. Kinnamont. Kinnamont put him in the sale ring- a week later and got a few pounds for him.

Haerenga Pai, who is on the front end of the Kefepeehi Handicap at the Thames on Saturday, won a small race at the Jubilee meeting of the Inangahua Trotting Club. On that occasion Haerenga Pai was backed down to ridiculously short price after being defeated in her previous start, but on the Becond occasion the four-year-old daughter of Happy Voyage and Enid, won easily. She is now one of J. T. Paul's team, and because the opposition is so Weak on Saturday is bound to bo strongly supported. She is said to have been suffering with a cold lately.

There was a field of nineteen for the Eclipse Handicap for three and four-year-olds at New Brighton, and the Auckland-owned Free Advice wan made favourite, with Writer second choice • and Danny Boy third fancy. The favourite was quickest away, followed by Prince Audo. At the end of two furlongs, however, Baron Bingen went to the front, and led till just a mile bad been-covered, when Free Advice again took .the lead. The Auckland three-year-old came up the straight the last time with plenty of dash, and won comfortably by three lengths. Baron Bingen saw out the journey well, but, being eased in the final stages, only beat 10s Lordship by about a length, with Writer in fourth place. With the exception of the > first two horses, there was not much interest in the race over the last half * number in the field must have disappointed their connections. '■ V

Acceptances for the Wanganuf Trotting Club's meeting fall due to-morrow.

Nominations for the New Zealand Metropolitan Trotting Club*s Easter meeting closed yesterday. Handicaps are due on Tuesday next.

Western King, who only had one run in public since he was brought across from Sydney about nine months ago, and who unfortunately m*6 with an accident which put him out of commission, has been doing a lot of steady work. It is Mr. Moodabe's intention to give the fine-looking, pacer a run at either Te Aroha or Cambridge, and tnough the horse will not be thoroughly tuned up, his presence at aither gathering would add considerable interest.

King Pointer's effort In the New Brighton Handicap on Saturday draws! very pointed attention to the fact that he is something above the average, although some of his efforts of late would not lead to that opinion. When the betting opened on the race, says a Christchurch writer, Colene Pointer looked like being made a very warm favourite, but it seemed that just before the machine closed that several big commissions were 'aunched on King Pointer. But for a bad start, he would probably have won. Mr. T. H. Davey, the stipendiaty steward in attendance, made some inquiries concerning the improved form shown by the gelding, but was satisfied that everything was in order.

Tamerlane, who promises to be one of the fancies for the Thames Cup, commenced the season by taking the major portion of the stake for the Improvers' Handicap on the second day of the Metropolitan Club's meeting in August, hia time being 3.28 4-5. He competed at Wellington in December, but made a poor showing. Later in the month, however, he proved equal to securing third place behind Nourmahal and Wild Hebe at New Brighton. After racing without success at the recent Otahuhu meeting, he journeyed to the Waikato, i where he won a double, registering 4.43 1-5 at two miles, and 2.50 2-5 at one mile and a quarter. His latest effort was an unplaced one in the Manawatu Cup.

Baron Bingen, who was awarded the Eclipse Stakes at New Brighton on Saturday, is by Nelson Bingen from Bertha Bell, and his victory adds to a very fine record already established by his dam as a producer of winners. The first of her progeny was the bay filly, Bellringer, by Bingen, sired jn Amcrica, but foaled in New Zealand in 1913. She did not race in 1016. Bertha Bell proauced twin foals to Nelson Bingen, but in 1017 left Worthy Bingen, a very fine trotter. Then came Great Bingen, Peter Bingen, Bertha Bingen, Great Peter and Baron Bingen, all winners of races. Bertha Bell was imported to New Zealand by the Akaro* sportsman, Mr. E. X. Lelievre, and is a beautifujllybred mare by Peter the Great from Corona Mac, by Wilke Boy (a son of George, Wilkes) from Carrie Mac, by Champ Ferguson—Lady Thorne, by Marabrino.

It is doubtful if 0. Robertson has ever had Horizon , going *o well aa at present. The HuiA Dillon gelding won a race at Te Aroha last season, but afterwards had a long string of failures recorded against him. The stable hap been right out of luck for a long lime, and should Robertson win with any of his t e &m on Saturday no one will begrudge him his success.

The Eclipse Handicap at New Brighton on Saturday involved J. Bryce in a lot of _ trouble. After winning with Free Advice he was relegated to second place, as a result of an inquiry by the stewards into & charge of interfering with Baron Bingen, who finished Becond. The interference being considered wilful, Bryce was fined £25. Prior to the start Bryce was fined £1 for failing to notify the colours to be carried by Free Advice.

Dundas Boy, who won a small race at New Brighton last Saturday, is expected to be on hand to take his place in the field for the Thames Trotting Cup. From accounts given of the race he won Dundas Boy disposed of his opponents in fine style and he must therefore be entitled to consideration when he is harnessed up again next Saturday. The son of Brent Locanda is owned by Mr. Geo. McMillan, one of the most popular 'of Auuckland's sportsmen, and if the gelding can land the stake and gold cup at the Thames, Mr. McMillan will have to undergo a deal of handshaking.