PACING AND TROTTING.

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 258, 31 October 1929, Page 17

PACING AND TROTTING.

FILLED A PLACE. HORSES BEATEN AT EPSOM. WBACKEEN WORTH WATCHING ETTA COLE NOT QUITE GOOD ENOUGH. In reviewing the Auckland Trotting Club's meeting yesterday only winners W ere dealt with, and the next to claim consideration are those horses who succeeded in finishing either second or third. As placed horses are invariably called upon , to do their best, and are driven r jirht out/ it would seem that their performances can be estimated at their true value. But against this there is always that element of bad luck in running to be considered. One performance which struck the writer as being worth while remembering was that of Wrackeen in the Improvers' Handicap on Saturday. It was lier only start at the meeting, and though she was well back in third place at the end it was not her fault she did not finish closer up. She was on 3Gyds, and at the start more than one of those handicapped in front of her tangled, with the result ' that M. Holmes could not get a run with ■ Wrackeen till she looked to be too far out of the contest to have a chance. Eventually she paced her way into third place, but next time, with ordinary luck, the daughter of Wrack should move up two and finish first. Another who was placed on the first day, but who was a good thing beaten on the Monday, was Sunshower. In the concluding event, one mile and a quarter, she did not leave the mark right and was hopelessly out of the race when she settled : down, being lengths behind the field,.the leader (Florent)" being the best part of a furlong in front. To finish fifth, without being knocked about, because there were no prospects of winning, was a good performance, and the first time the daughter of Sungod 'is noticed in a mile and a quarter event she is worth a trifle. Went TJnhoppled. One of the finest performances seen in Auckland for many a day was that of Native Prince when he finished third in the Spring Handicap. Under ordinary circumstances it would be regarded as merely a useful effort, but on this occasion Native Prince raced without hopples, and to go 4.31 3-5 freelegged is something that few horses could accomplish. In racing pacers without hopples there is always the risk of them not leaving the mark right, and this was the case on the second day, when Native Prince would not settle down. Consistent But Unlucky. The ponified Jean McElwyn filled second berth in the Spring Handicap to Wrackler, but had no''chance : with the winner.. The little mare is a bonny pacer, but a two miles journey in good "company finds her wanting over the last furlong. She is always a possibility in a race, but on her present handicap she iaVriot'a betting proposition.. • ... " '•Sunfish carried a heap of money each day, and though the brown son of Sungod finished second in the October Handicap won by Joy Bird, and also second to Vendome in the Electric Handicap, there was nothing impressive about the run, and on the second day Sunfish failed to get in the money. He was on a 2.14 .:.~mark, and will have to improve to win ■races." •• Many other pacers filled places at the meeting, but they did not strike one as likely to win many races, at least in the near future, unless it was My Thorpe, who is racing with the third-raters and can be ticked off as one bound to, win soon. . The Trotters. \ - A fourth, followed, by .a second place, were entered up against Etta Cole, and she had every chance, particularly on the second day. It would seem that the chestnut mare is not quite so good as we thought, although she is smarL She is certain to improve, and with ordinary luck will get a win in her turn. Raima ran a good race on tlm opening day, finishing very strongly in third position (he was afterwards , placed second because Gold Sovereign bored out in the straight), but was well beaten on Monday. Still he is a solid customer, and liable to win at any time. Gold ■ Sovereign found one or two just a shads too good for him at the handicaps. Old Tradesman, although beaten out of a place, went a good race on Saturday, and on Monday was in the firing line all through the piece and finished third. But for going away breaking he_ may have been second. He seems to be just a little short of good enough to win a race. Paradigm was second in the trot the first day, and Peterson occupied a like position on the second day. Paradigh does not appear likely to win agam off his present mark, and the handicapper has been a little severe on him consideiing there was little merit in his wins at Hamilton and Whangarei. ROI L'OR IN, FORM. HIS WIN AT OAMARU. Details of the race won by the New Zealand Cup candidate Roi l'Or at Oamaru show that he was responsible for a fine performance. Touching tne race a Southern writer says: '"Roi l'Or looked much better class than hie opponents in the Weston Handicap and he was. supported to the tune of £1358, but' there was such heavy support for Great Logan that the Lauriston gelding finished up over £100 in better request than, the- Trotting Cup candidate. A good many of the horses to begin right, "among them being Exclusive, Lingfield, Mate o' Mine, Golden Bubbles, and St. Maura. Brentloc hopped off with his usual celerity and was in a flash half a dozen lengths clear of Great Logan and Talent, with Augustc Dillon and Roi l'Or next. Turning into the back, Brentloc was a dozen lengths clear of Creat Logan and Talent, and as neither of the drivers of this pair was willing to go after the non-stayer, Brentwood increased his lead to twenty lengths and then at the far turn to fully thirty lengths. The breather taken by the second division allowed Roi l'Or to join them, and the backmarker was the first to give chase to the now tiring leader. By the time the home turn was reached Roi l'Or had the measure of Brentloc, and inking charge half way along the straight the Wa'iniate' crack won comfortably by a couple of lengths from Jolly Pet, who had assumed third at the home turn and caught \ Blsqtloc in time to beat him for second mw{% by a length and a half. Glenelg ; distance away, with Great • Logan at .the-head of\the others." •

GOVERNMENT TAXATION. AUCKLAND TROTTING CLUB. The sum paid to the Government in the form of taxation in connection with the Auckland Trotting Club's spring meeting amounted to £6021 14/3, made up as follows: —• Totalisator tax £1969 14 3 Dividend tax 3545 17 0 Stakes tax 305 0 0 Amusement tax 201 3 0 Total £6021 14 3 LINDBERGH'S DEFEAT. Backers went strongly for the Lind-bergh-Quality bracket in the Oamaru Handicap, Donald's pair being weighted -with more than twice the capital invested on Travis Axworthy, with Author Jinks a good way back in the figures. Huon Denver, Quality, Author Jinks and Lindbergh all began more or less badly. Lingfield took up the running from Glenelg, Dalmeny, Travis Axworthy, Orphan, Jolly Pet and Pluto. As they raced past the stp»nd the order from the front was Lingfield, Glenelg, Dalmeny, Travis Axworthy, Orphan, Trampfast, Pluto and Lindbergh, and they ran to the mile in 2.16 4-5 without material change. . When the back stretch was ieached Trampfast moved up and took charge from Lingfield and Travis Axworthy. Rounding the far turn Trampfast and- Travis Axworthy drew away from Lingfield an 4 Jolly Pet, and turning for home the two leaders had the race to themselves, with Jolly Pet leading the others. Trotting home without a semblance of a breaks Trampfast was always clear of Travis Axworthy, and won easing up by half a length from the imported pacer. Jolly Pet was ten or a dozen lengths away, two lengths in front of Terence Dillon, who just beat Lindbergh for fourth place. Trampfast was one of the outsiders of the field and the unhoppled performer from Hinds

paid a handsome double figure dividend Travis Axworthy also went a fine race, registering 4.29 for the trip, and .was a. bit unlucky in striking. Trampfast' at his best. Terence Dillon made the best showing-of the Trotting Cup-candi-dates.