TROTTING.

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 287, 4 December 1929, Page 14

TROTTING.

WHEEL AND TRACK NOTES.

(By ORION.)

Mr. C. Goosmau has been appointed handicapper to Taranaki Trotting Club.

It is understood that 750 gs was the price placed oil Lily Harold after die won on the first day of the Forbury Park

.meeting.

Guy Parrisli goes back to training after the present season at the stud. He should help to lend interest to tha square-gaited races during the latter half of the season.

The American mare Loretta Napoleon was an acceptor for the Advance Handicap at Fortmry, and F. G. Holmes had the colours on to drive her, when it was found she was unable to start, having injured herself. v

Waikaha, who has annexed two Rowc Trotting Cups, has a line chance of gathering in the third if the son of Gold Bell. stands up to a solid preparation. He had one run at the Otahuhu meeting, but while he did not get in the mone> lie trotted well, and is as solid as ever.

Just at the moment there is really nothing doing at the Epsom track, but now that the handicaps have appeared for the first day of the Auckland meeting, trainers will no doubt be setting themselves to put the final touches to their horses. As a matter of fact, there are not a great many horses training at Epsom for the Cup meeting, but the visitors will begin to arrive during the next week and from then on there should be at least a livening up in the track work. The local horses are all well forward, and will not require much fast work to put them right.

The Wrack filly Lydia started with a reputation in the Advance Handicap on Saturday at Forbury Park that made her favourite, and she justified the confidence by winning after being patiently handled. Lydia was held behind Captain Wrack and Kate Logan until the last quarter, and was then sent out to win. She <lid so under pressure, but 'on ,1. better track seems sure to race up to her breeding. Lydia was got by Wrack from Gianclla, a: well-performed mare by Quiucey (son of Vanclcve) from Queen V. by Kentucky, from Harold's Rest, by King Harold. Lydia is engaged in the Great Northern Derbv.

Ever since lie came -from Australia, Concliff has been in the boom, but while he has Avon a race or two there has been nothing wonderful about his performances. Tie will, no doubt, be one of the early fancies for the Auckland Trotting Cup, but on nothing he has done could he be preferred to Machine Gun. The latter has not only gone faster for two miles than Concliff, but has been a better stayer, and at the present time is as well as ever he was. Anything may happen between now and Cup day, but on times, form, everything, Machine Gun should be one of the popular picks.

Lady Cello, who was second to Neersoi in the .Recovery Handicap at Forbnr\ Park, is a half-sister, by Cello Sydney Wilkes, to Author Jinks and John Jink: both of whom had won earlier in tin. ckiy. She is a quality-looking youm pacer, with some useful performances n tier credit, and she should show furthe. improvement, especially over a distance It is worth mentioning that Autho. Jinks.-John Jinks and Lady Cello arc al. by horses who claim the defunct Harok. Dillon as their sire.

On November 19 a number of the delegates to the Australian NewspaperConference in Perth were shown over the new racecourse by Mr. James Brennan and his colleagues. They expressed themselves as greatly surprised and pleased with the magnitude of the place and the elaborateness of the appointments. Their views were expressed by Mr. H. B. Jackson, chairman of directors of We?t Australian Newspapers, Ltd., who warmly congratulated Mr. Brennan and his executive upon their achievements in the creation of a place which helped towards the beautifying of the capital city. It was, he said, a work which was as "complete and satisfying as any community could desire. Mr. Brennan briefly reviewed the operations of the association, and claimed that, when fully equipped, the new racecourse would not only be the most modern and beautiful in Australia, but would bear comparison with any in the world. He announced that though the place would be used for racing earlier, the grand opening would .be held early in March, when Australasian championships would be held and other events conducted that would carry such high stakes that not only the greatest horses in the Southern Hemisphere would be attracted, but also enthusiasts in the light harness sport would come in their hundreds from all parts of Australia and New Zealand.

Sydneysidcrs were surprised when tlie handicaps for the Perth Christmas Carnival made their appearance in the Press, says the "Trotting Record," Without going into the leniency shown to horses with fast records such as Bingen Lad 2.11 3-o, Taurekareka 2.11J, Taraire 2.11 and Golden Devon 2.10 3-5, they made their comparisons by Sheik, who was better known in Sydney, and the horses that have gone across rSfcentlv from Sydney. The coliseums of opinion was that if Shoik is a shadow of his former self the title of the meeting should be altered to the "Sheik Benefit Christmas Carnival." As pacing stallions go, Sheik is not an old horse at 10 years. Most of our champions — Realm, Denver Huon, Minton Derby— have put up their best performances around that age, and -unless Sheik has gone off completely what chance can the horses recently taken to Perth from Sydney have with him ofV their respective marks? The floOO event, the Centenary Cup, one and a half miles, is advertised as a 3,28J race. Sheik, in place off 60yds, should be on 120 yds, ho having winning records of 2 miles, 4.24, and 1 mile, 2.10:'. In the 2 miles Metropolitan Handicap, Sheik is even more liberally" treated, for it is his pet distance. It is advertised a 4.44 handicap, and Sheik, a horse with a winning record of 4.24. is asked to do 4.32, a let up of 8 seconds, or 90yds.