TROTTING.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 289, 6 December 1928, Page 12

TROTTING.

WHEEL AND TRACK NOTES

SEASON'S FIXTURES.

(By ORION.)

December B—Waikato T.C. December B—Cheviot T.C. December 15, 17—New Brighton TC December 26—Ashburton T.C. December 26, 27—South Wairarapa T C December 26, 27—Westport T C. December 27. 29, Si—Auckland Trotting January I, 2—Canterbury T.C. January B—Westland T.C. January 4. s—Grey mouth T.C. January 19—Wellington T.C. January 24, 26—Forburv Park T C February 1, 2—Nelson T.C. February O—N.Z. Metropolitan TC February 16—Wellington T C February 23—Kaikoura 'X.C.

The handicappers are not taking any chances with Dick Dillon in mile and aquarter races, and he is consistently put on a 2.49 mark, although he has never done the time.

About this time last year there was a lot of talk about a maiden trotter called Akenehi. He is in at Hamilton on Saturday and if he is any good at all he would not have much difficulty in beating all but one. The question is whether Akenehi is even a moderate.

Hal Chimes is a horse with a rare turn of speed, but like many more he is erratic on the mark and invariably stops there till the others are well under way. Until he raced at the recent Otahuhu meeting Hal Chimes had been off the scene for a long period.

When Peter McKinney raced at the Otahuhu meeting last month he displayed plenty of pace, but intermittent breaking settled his prospects. He has the pace to win races from his present 4.42 handicap, but has failed too often to be trusted.

Wimmera King has been pottering about on the track for two or three weeks but has not been noticed doir.f any fast work. If the pelding can win a race at the age of 21 then it does not say much for the class of straightout trotters now racing in Auckland.

Pitaroa, who is out on the front of a 2.18 mile at Hamilton on Saturday, is getting on in years, but he is also getting out in the handicaps. He showed at meeting when he ran second to Medusa that he had not lost all his dash and if he has improved at all since, he may lead from end to end on Saturday. When J. Johnson raced him last season he ran one or two good races without getting the money.

Billy Carbine is not engaged at Hamilton on' Saturday, but his trainer, G. Robertson, is not allowing the son of El Carbine to be idle and occasionally he is worked out fast. Hie effort over two miles in company with Gold Jacket on Tuesday was impressive as he trotted solidly all the way and he is a better horse now than when he raced into a place each day at the, Otahuhu meeting. A win or two for the stable is due, because Robertson always has hia horses ready to race, but unfortunately they seem to lack just that bit of dash that wins races.

Although Anseline has not been registering fast times in he* work the bay mare has been trotting very solidly for J. Gee. Twice this week she has been worked out over two miles and each time her display of trotting was impressive. Yesterday she made one slight skip, but was soon into her stride again, and lost little or nothing by the mistake. Her trainer is one of the most popular of local sportsmen, and any time he wins a race, he has to undergo a deal of handshaking.

It is doubtful if, up till yesterday, anyone would have felt inclined to riskeven a trifle on Mountain Dell in th<» Frankton Handicap at Hamilton on Saturday, but after the workout she registered over a mile and a-half, there may be several seriously thinking of investing a stray note on her chance. For a maiden the daughter of Blue Mountain King not only paced attractively, but sha made rather good time, and if she could be depended upon to repeat the run on Saturday anything to win would have to knock something off the handicap. She is out of Whispering Dell, a mare who had speed but was rattle-headed, but Mountain Dell seems to go quietly enough in her work. She may want some racing experience, but she has pace.

No horse at Epsom is better conditioned than Colonel Thorpe, and the time and attention G. L. Lee gives to the son of Our Thorpe is deserving of a much better reward than the gelding has given up to the present. During the last few days the gelding has done a lot of solid work and it is doubtful if he has ever trotted so solid as in his recent workouts. He has not been registering fast times, but it is at least encouraging to his trainer that he is working right. However, when racing for money Colonel Thorpe appears to be a totally different proposition and he has invariably gone badly, although at. times showing pace. If he could win a race such would be well received, as both his owner and trainer have hopes of him doing so one of these days.

TROTTING TRIALS. PUBLISHING OF TIMES. Readers of the trotting news in these columns on Tuesday would notice that in the report of the training work at Epsom that morning the times registered by the horses were published. The reason this was done was in the hope that the reports of the trials would be more interesting, but it would seem that the majority of trainers do not appreciate this, and feel that it is not in their interests that times should be published. Trainers at Epsom are as fine a set of men as one would wish to meet, and without exception they are ever ready to assist the writer by giving any item of news. P 5^ ei>o v, rt ! °i the track work the 7 apprecontend it is hardly fair to pubhsh the times. They hold, and «£? i S ro g t ?? d reason for their conteAtfon; be, based uno n f diCapS are ' ° r shoul< * honeatlv «T r *' and that ' <l uite horse, he would probablv «lt par *? cular tention of letting thC er hl3 in "

THE ROWE CUP. SISTER BEATRICE READS WELL IN. Of the many fine races on the summer programme of the Auckland Trotting Club, one which creates considerable interest is the Rowe Cup, a race carrying £1000, and a gold cup valued at 100 guineas. For straight-out trotters only it draws together the best in the land, and owners are keen to win such a race. The limit is 4.35, and it is interesting to delve into Mr. Paul's handicap. Of the half dozen placed on the limit, only two, Napland and Kenipton, have gone better than 4.35. Napland, some seasons back, went two miles when W. Tomkinson had him in 4.32 2-5, winning, but his form has been so bad for a couple of seasons that he is, perhaps, entitled to the limit now. Kempton has a record last season of 4.34 2-5 winning, but since then his form has not been good, and although a young horse, getting the benefit of three-fifths of a second is not very much. Of the others on the front, Tradesman, an old horse, has only gone 4.37 2-5 to a place, and he cannot have much chance, as not only is he giving away time to be in the race, but others have been let up on their records, which means that Tradesman is doubly penalised. The others on the front are Tiger Salve, 4.35 2-5, Rose Bingen 4.35 1-5, and Ngatira, 4.35 4-5. All three should run their handicap, and are solid, and therefore are likely to be in the money. Tiger Salve, if C. G. Lee can land him at the post sound and well, will take some heading off, as he gathers up speed quickly, and though perhaps not the best of stayers, he will do his part right and not be going in the air. Rose Bingen is also a good mare when right, and she and Tiger Salve should set the southerners something to do. On 12yds (4.34) are Betty Moko and Maxegin. Betty Moko'e best time is 4.37 4-5, and she doea not appeal, not only because of her mark, but she does not appear to be right just at present. Maxegin, on the other hand, has gone 4.35 2-5 winning, and it will be seen that he has been placed just about right, because it is likely he will still improve. No horses are on either 24yds or 36yds, and the only one on 48yds (4.31) is Sister Beatrice. If there is anything in times this mare is thrown into the race. In the first place it must be remembered that others in the race are handicapped faster than they have gone, othrs have given away time to get in' and one or two have been given the' benefit of an odd fifth or so. But Sister Beatrice, with a place record of Ho \~\ *? now on 4 - 31 - Certainly her if t° Only a P laced Performance, but Mr. Paul has not allowed Money bpider or Elzear any concession, in fact he has taken the opposite view in regard to Money Spider. This horse has a record of 4.27 1-5 into third place and i S o a n T- ? n 127'I 27 ' Si9ter Beatrice has 4.28 4-o to third place, and is now on «.ai. iier owner has certainly nothing to complain of if time counts. Elzear's best time is 4.28 into second place, and she is handicapped on 4.28, and she, too has none the best of it, taking a line through Sister Beatrice. One who appears to be rather harshly treated is Native Star. This mare'l best time is 4.30 2-5 winning, but she has been beaten thia season. She is now handicapped on 4.29 (72yds), while 4 ' 28 *? third ' an d Trlmp! last 4.28 1-5 second, are on 4.30. Peter IWI4V1 WI 4V' 3O A 5 into third p ]ace is »w on 4.29, and Escapade 4.27 1-5 winning, IS , out . on 4 : 29 ' but ifc is time since she showed good form. Peterwah is not given very much encouragement, as hia best time is 4.23 3-5, a performance he will probably never equal again, and he is given the benefit of two-fifths of a second and handicapped on 4 24 «sic^ nde ß *! - the P , ost in her be st form, Sister Beatrice should have a rova chance of getting that 100 guineas cJp, and incidentally a cheque for £650 the winner'B end, for her owner, Mr j R Comgan. ' •