STEPPING ALONG.

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 223, 20 September 1929, Page 14

STEPPING ALONG.

WORK-OUTS AT EPSOM. GETTING READY FOR WAIKATO MEETING. (By ORION.) October s—Wellington Trotting Club October a—Methven Trotting club. fwM }n~\Y alkato . Trotting Club. October 19—Aew Brighton Trottin" Club October 10—-Northland Trotting Club, fwnh" £ —Auckland Trotting Club. October -B—Oainaru Trotting Club. November 23, 27—Otahuhu Trotting Club. J*ov. *,7, 30.—iorbury Park T.C. Dec. 14.—New Brighton T.C. Dec. 2G, 2S.—South Walrarapa T.C. G. Webb is not asking very much of Vanity Boy these times. The brown son of Normintson is very well, and is just getting sufficient work to keep him so. Still, he is not a good one. E. L. McDonald has jumped out of the barrier with a big lead for the first month of the season in Sydney. Finishing with Richmond on August .30, he had scored 12 firsts, 5 seconds and 1 third. L. McMalion put the hopples on Hohoi o and worked him about a mile and a-half without speed on, halves in 1.15 his task. This horse is in great conditon, and may secure a stake shortly.

The American-bred colt Llewellyn was nominated for.the Asliburton meeting, but was not accepted for. Big things are predicted for this colt in the South and it will be interesting to see how he gets on when he does step out.

S. Selkirk is slipping work into the trotter Reynard, but although the gelding seems to be going fast, he lias a very short stride, and the watch does not show him to be travelling. Yesterday he did a lot of medium pace work on the sand.

. Gene Seva is a novice trotter with an attractive action, but so far has not displayed any pace. He has been suffering with a complaint for some time, but now appears to have got over it, and W. Beresford is • keeping the son of Peter Moko—Miss Vola up to his work.

Arachne is getting through a lot of useful work without being asked to make fast - time. - The Logan Pointer mare was 'allowed to run two miles yesterday at a comfortable pace. Her time was 5.5, but she was pulling hard all the way, and could have sprinted at any part.

After doing a few rounds jogging ■without the straps Dillon Huon was geared up by F. Smith and sent a mile and a-half. He went the first half in 1.15 1-5, mile in 2.29, and mile and a-half in 3.36 4-5, the last half in 1.7 4-5.' He was not driven out even over the last half.

Since she cut'up badly at the start of the Murchison Handicap at the relief fund meeting at Alexandra Park, the Blue Mountain King filly First Flight has been having a very easy time, and no fast sprinting has been asked of her. Most of her jogging is being done without the hopples.

B. Dyer's three-year-old by Eey de Oro —Bequest has speed, and he lias improved considerably during the past few weeks. Yesterday he chipped in with Warplane and others who were working out, and went with them for about seven furlongs, pacing resolutely and well. He ~is a distinctly promising novice. '

In the races for trotters and pacers at Ashburton to-morrow are two Derby candidates in Purser and Lord Matchlight. Purser has raced and is known to be smart, but Lord Matchlight, who is trained by D. Withers, while reputed to bo possessed of speed', has yet to race in public. He is a brother to Lady Matchlight.

Tony Victor and Polly's Picture were to work unlioppled in company yesterday morning, but Polly's Picture would not settle down to pace without the straps, and Tony Victor was given only the lightest of jogging. Both these pacers are right i:a condition and will be ready to play their part at Hamilton next month.

Etta Cole, who looks really well, was worked fast by F. Gilchrist, and she did her part without making a mistake. She went nine furlongs by herself, and afterwards joined Mountain' Dell to sprint a-half. Mountain Dell, however, was unhoppled and broke up badly, but •when she was pacing over a-quarter she showed plenty of speed.

Three of L. McMahon's team, Torpedo Huon, Gold Jacket (both without straps) and Gold Seam (hoppled) were companions over a mile and a-half, but the work-out was spoiled by Torpedo Huon. He broke into a gallop after going a little over a furlong and continued to gallop all the way afterwards. Gold Jacket and Gold Seam paced along at an easy gait, running about 18 to the furlong all through.

J. Shaw is very busy these times. He has a team of nine in work, including two young ones who have yet to race. The older members of the team are Native Prince, Carm el, Stoney,' Warplane, Warspite, Arachne and Florent. There should' be some stakes picked up during the season. • Already Native Prince and Carmel have earned their keep this season, as Native Prince ha? notched a win and a third, while Carmel has won twice.

Real Huon, who is in the Eakaia Trot at Ashburton to-morrow, will not be without support. He lias only* raced once, and this was when he finished second to Jolm Jinks in the SaplingStakes. On that occasion Real Huon went 3.28 2-5, and to-morrow is on a 2.57 mark m a mile and a-cjuarter, which works out at 3.33 for a mile and a-half. If his owner-trainer, 0. E. Hooper, fancies the three-year-old's chance he will be thereabouts at the end.

A. Julian is putting in most of liis time with Explosion arid Rolfe Audu-1 bon.' He had the pair strapped up yesterday and worked them a mile and a-half. Driving Explosion himself, ne got a couple of lengths break at the ntart on Rolfe Audubon (Cockle). They were not after time, and paced along at an easy gait, tlie first half in 1.15 4-5, mile 2.30, and mile and a-half in 3.30 4-5. They could have done conjidcralily better had they been allowed to run along.

Florent, Native Prince (unlioppled), and Warplane were responsible for a nice piece of work over 12 furlongs. Shaw kept Warplane well back as they approached the starting peg, and when Florent and Native Prince jumped awa). they were exactly five seconds in front. The two leaders jogged the first half in 1.15, Warplane going 1.13 1-5, but in the second half Shaw allowed Warplane to step along, and when the mile was reached he was within a couple of lengths of them. They entered upon the last half-mile almost on terms, but two furlongs from the finish Florent began to weary of the pace, and Native Prince and Warplane came on together, both finishing well a couple of lengths ahead of Florent. Native Prince took 3.35 4-5 for the full journey, Warplane's time being 3.30 4-5, and his last mile 2.17 3-5.

The best performance given by Stoney in training since he arrived from Svaney some time back was registered by the gelding yesterday morning, when J. Shaw hoppled him up and sent him a mile and a-half with Carmel. After a warming up the pair approached the mile and a-half peg, where Carmel (Fairman) jumped away within a tick of five seconds in front of Stoney. Carmel went leisurely over the first halfmile (1.15) Stoney going 1.14 4-5. Then Stoney began to make up ground, and over the next half he had almost reached Carmel, the mile being covered by Carmel in 2.28 3-5, and Stoney 2.23 4-5. Over the last half they paced together, and at the finish Carmel, going comfortably, was half a length in front, his time for the mile and a-half being 3.35 1-5, and St.oney 3.30 2-5. The time was nothing wonderful, but Stoney went smoothly all the way and paced well. Carmel, as would be expected with so much start, was never asked to show his real speed.