TROTTING.

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 232, 1 October 1929, Page 13

TROTTING.

COMING EVENTS.

WAIKATO IN SIGHT.

HANDICAPS DUE TO-MOBROW.

TRAINERS GETTING BUSY. With the Waikato Trotting Club's meeting set down for Saturday week the trotting season will soon be in full swing in Auckland, as oti tTio two subsequent Saturdays \ne Northland and then the Auckland Trotting Club will hold meetings. The nominations for both.the Waikato and Northland fixtures closed on Friday, and though a little below what was expected in a couple of instances, there should be plenty of starters and good racing. Trainers at Otahuhu and Epson: are now beginning to send their horses along with the speed on, but there are so few really good horses in training locally that only occasionally are fast trials* registered. During the past fortnight the track at Epsom has been in excellent order almost daily, and horses trained at headquarters should be at concert pitch when called upon to race on Saturday week at Claudelands. Tu the past V. Gilehrist lias not been very severe on Etta Cole, and invariably in "her training tasks she lias been allowed to stride along at little more than half pace. But Gilehrist, now that the mare is old enough to know what is required of her, has changed his methods and is asking the daughter of Peterwah to show her speed. On two occasions during the. past week when speeded up Etta Cole has gone to a break, but even with this she has shown useful trials. Yesterday morning Gil,christ eent her two miles. After putting in a break early she ran the first mile in 2.25, mile and a half 3.3 C, and two miles 4.46, coming home the last half in 1.10. Except for the one skip she trotted well, and though the time was not startling it was a useful workout seeing that she was alone. "A. Bryce is now established at Epsom and he has a rare chance to get a solid footing. He has Evelyn Locanda, Choysa and Student Prince to prepare, while he will also drive those smart pacers, Gold Jacket and Mountain Dell, in their engagements. Yesterday he worked Evelyn Locanda without hopples and she had no trouble in pacing halves in 1.13. H. Mitchell has hie fine mare Mountain Dell going along nicely. If anything she looks a trifle lighter than usual, but she is both fast and a stayer and will get good backing if started in the Mark Memorial at the Waikato Meeting. Stoney and Warplane were the only members of J. Shaw's team to go fast yesterday, and then it was really only over the last half-mile of a mile and a half. Before the pair reached the starting post —they worked left-handed —Shaw, driving " Warplane, allowed Stoney (Fairman) to get right away, and when Stoney jumped off • he. had 6 l-5s start. Stoney was not bustled and reached the half-mile peg in 1.18, Warplane going 1.15. Stoney reached the mile in 2.33, Warplane being handy. Shaw then shook Warplane up and a furlong from the finish he ran past Stoney and drew away to beat the grey easily. Warplane's time for the mile and a half was 3.35 4-f>. He came home the last quarter in 325, which is good going. Stoney was not out after time and his effort was merely useful work. A. Julian strapped Explosion and Eolfe Audubon up yesterday. Driving Explosion, he jumped away to go two miles, Roife Audubon joining in at the end of the first half (1.14). Explosion was always in front and -without being bustled, paced leisurely to the mile in 2.29, mile and a half 3.42, and two miles 4.52 1-5, the last half in 1.10 l-i>. Rolfe Audubon was always pacing two lengths behind Explosion. Pulling hard and right on the outside of the track, Arachne paced a mile in 2.24. This mare has a good turn of speed and is looking well. F. Smith has not been stirring First .Flight up. She is a nice filly with plenty of speed, but is never keen and is inclined to loaf when working. .If this is a fault it is a good one, because she probably make a good stayer. Yesterday the * Blue Mountain King filly worked a mile and a half, the first half in 1.12 4-5, mile 2.22 2-5, and mile and a half in 3.35 2-5. She could comfortably have reduced the time. Smith also strapped Dillon Huon up and allowed the chestnut to jog two miles in 4.5G 1 -5. He stretched out a bit over the last halfmile in 1.10. Tradesman has been trotting very solidly in training. It was no trouble to him to do a mile in 2.25 yesterday. L. McMahon allowed his team to have an easy time yesterday. All are very fit, particularly Hohora. Mr. Geo. McMillan's pacer Nell dc Beau will arrive from Christchurch this week and join F. Smith's team at Epsom. Paradigm should have been included in the nominations for the President's Handicap at the Northland meeting.

At the New Zealand Metropolitan Trotting Club track on November 13 Messrs. H. Matson and Co. will offer on behalf of Mr. H. F. Nicoll, Ashburton, fourteen two-year-olds by Wrack, besides a number of brood mares. The owner of Aleron, being dissatisfied with the handicaps, has scratched his horse for all engagements at Methven. He lias also written to the Methven Trotting Club asking it to approach the handicapper for an explanation of his handicapping of Aleron. S. J. Thomas has a more than useful sort in the tlrree-year-old Royal Silk, who Avon the Orari Trot at Geraldine. From start to finish the young pacer got to his work like a tradesman, and he may have to be considered for the New Zealand Derby, to be run in November. He is by Silk Thread, a good racehorse imported from America by Mr. J. R. McKenzie. Mrs. M. A. Duncan has decided to dispose of her property, Coldstreain Lodge, and, as a result, a number of well-bred young horses and brood mares are in the private sale list. These include a three-year-old bay filly by Key de Oro —Sister Maude; a two-year-old filly by Peter Chenault—Sister Maude; br f, two-year-old, by First Fashion-— Theda Bara; b f, two" years, by Drusus —Sally Brass; b c. two years, by Ballin —Ma Belle; br c, two years, by Ballin —Belle o' Brass; b c, one year, by Nelson Derby—Harold Dillon mare; and b f, two years, by Worthy Bingen— Priscilla Dean. The :stallion .Ballin is also for private sale.