WHEEL AND TRACK NOTES.

Auckland Star, Volume LXI, Issue 221, 18 September 1930, Page 15

WHEEL AND TRACK NOTES.

(By ORION.)

Benefice (3.24.3-5), wno was brought in after a spell thie week, is very big in condition, and it will take some time to get her back to her best form.

Warspite is doing regular work for J. T. Paul at Mangere. The son of Jian-o'-war i= a better horse in a race than on the training track, and as he stays rather ■well a country cup is within his possible wins this season.

In addition to Windshield J. McKendrick is keeping Student Prince goings and if the chestnut remains sound he should get a stake shortly. He ran two good races at the relief meeting without getting any money, and it may be that the soft track suited him.

Realty, who won so impressively at the winter meeting of the Auckland Trotting Club, is in work again under S. Groat's supervision. The son of Real Guy should be a good winner this season, as there was that about his winning performance which stamped him as a bit better than the usual 3.36 class.

S. Groat is busy at Mangere getting a team ready for spring racing. Kohara is being sent along, no doubt with the object of taking on the chief events at the Auckland spring meeting. The son of Cathedral Chimes has 4.27" 3-5 against him, but he raced off a 4.24 mark when he finished third in the first division of the New Zealand Cup. His time then was 4.28 3-5. At his best Kohara is a fine pacer over any distance.

F. Gilchrist had Direct Action on the track on Tuesday, and the bay gelding presented a striking contrast in condition to what he was before his present trainer got him. At one time he was a lightframed, mean-looking customer, but now he is as big as a house, as the saying goes. While he may never the best company, his form at the June and August meetings made it clear that he is a possibility when the classes suit his handicap. . .

Windshield has not been required to do much since she raced at Alexandra Park last month. The sister to Free Advice is the most promising of the maidens at Epsom, and as she has only recently been seriously trained there is certain to be considerable improvement worked in her as the season -wears on. Her first efforts with the colours up were distinctly encouraging and she will keep the novices busy next time she is stepped out.

W. Thomas, at Xgaruawahia. has a filly, a straightout trotter, by The Triumph —Miss~ Murphy. The latter is by Mandarine and i≤ the only winner that horse sired. Mandarene was a fine pacer himself and in his day one of the best in the land. On one occasion, in the New Zealand Cup, he lost his driver at the start, and set off with the field. Driverless. he worked his way through those in front of him, till he took the lead, and carried on in front till the straight was reached, when he faded out and finished behind the placed horses.

W. Willetts has had Brutus placed in his team to prepare for approaching events. His last placed performance was in June, when, from a 2.49| mark, he finished third in the Liverpool Handicap at Alexandra Park. The track was very heavr and Brutus recorded 3.7 1-5. His

best effort last season was in winning the Te Aroha Cup.

Xella Dillon (2.13 1-5) is looking at her best, and the Author Dillon mare will always have to be considered in shortdistance races. At the relief meeting last month She won off a 2.51 mark on a heavy track and only registered 2.59. It may be that her owner will concentrate on tryring to win with her at two miles this season, as she is not going to have any easy races over sprint courses, although she will always have a chance.

The Don Pronto horse Metal has been granted registration and, after doing a light season at the stnd, will no doubt be put into work. Metal came across from Sydney a couple of years ago, but the authorities here refused to register him and he could not be raced. He was later taken back to Sydney, where he raced and won an event, afterwards returning to Auckland, but still he could not be registered here. However, the ban has been lifted and Metal, who is in the possession of T. Malloy at Whatawhata, is certain to be placed in training.

WAIKA.TO MEETING.

NOMINATIONS ON TUESDAY.

Almost -without exception trotting clubs hare made it a practice to make the day of closing of entries for a meeta Friday, and because of this it is important that owners should take notice that the Waikato Trotting Clnb has departed, from the old custom aad for the meeting next month will receive entries on Tuesday next. The Etake money to be distributed totals £1450 and the events are mostly cast with such limits as to cater particularly for the moderate performer. There will be further opportunity to review the programme, but in the meantime owners should bear in mind that on this occasion nomination day falls on a Tuesday.

NOMINATION AND ACCEPTANCE

More than one owner has lately had published in these columns letters in xhich the contention has been put forth that in comparison with the charges made for nominations and acceptances at racing clubs' meetings those which owners of trotters and pacers have to pay are too high. Compared with the fees levied at Ellerslie it must be admitted that the trotting owner is charged the limit, and at some of the country meetings the odds an owner gets to his money are not very big, because Lα addition to the nomination and acceptance fees, there are the expenses incurred, in taking a horse to the meeting, and often these run into a tidy amount. Owners contend that the charges made in the trotting sport should be on a par with those in galloping, but while this may be asking a little too much, perhaps the committees responsible for drawing up the programmes will give the matter consideration and see their way to make a reduction.