WHEEL AND TRACK NOTES.

Auckland Star, Volume LXII, Issue 4, 6 January 1931, Page 11

WHEEL AND TRACK NOTES.

OUT FOR A SPELL.

The good pacer Logan's Pride has been taken back to Wellington and is to be given a long spell. The son of Logan Pointer failed to get any of the money at the Cup meeting, but bis defeats came as no surprise, because his final work-outs before the meeting were not encouraging and, being an unsound horse, the hard tracks were against him. s Even should he not race again this season he has done well, as his earnings since August run into the good sum of £1025.

RACED WELL.

Although Mountain Dell's best effort at the meeting was third place in the fast mile on the concluding day, the Blue Mountain King mare raced well, considering her preparation for the Cup was interrupted. She will have an easy time for the next week or two and then be got ready for the February meeting at Alexandra Park. In stake money this season she has earned £1355, and with ordinary luck should add to this.

ON A HARD MARK.

Native Star is a fine trotter, but unless the liandicappers let her up a bit she is going to have difficulty in getting any money. She does not win often, and as her mark last pieeting was 4.32 it will be recognised that with horses out on the limit with seconds to spare 011 their best times the chestnut daughter of Native King—Muriel Starr will have to be right at the top of her form and then have a bit of luck to win.

TO RACE IN EUROPE.

Jessamine (2-6J j, one of the year's leading three-year-old trotting fillies in America, will race in Europe next year, as she was recently purchased from Henry H, Knight, of Columbus, Ohio, for £2000. W. J. Rosemive, Pastime Stable trainer, acted for an unnamed European sportsman. Despite the fact that she was hardly up to the task of winning many times over the high-class lot of two-year-olds in 1929 and three-year-olds j in 1930, Jessamine proved to be far better than an ordinaiy juvenile, performer. Her best effort was .in the £2800 Kentucky Futurity at Lexington, Ky., in which she raced second to Hanover's Bertha in 2.1£ in the second heat.

THE NORTHLAND MEETING.

The next item of interest to owners of pacers and trotters in Auckland is the annual fixture of'the Northland Trotting Club, which will be held on January 29. There is the usual eight-event programme, the chief event being the Northland Handicap of 225sovs, including a case of cutlery valued at £25- v The class is 4.42 and will suit many local horses. The other races on the bill of fare are: Dargaville Handicap of 100 sovs, class 3.43, one mile and a half; Whangarei Handicap (for trotters) of lOOsovs, class 3.50, one mile and a half; Kawakawa Handicap of 125sovs, class 3.4, one mile and a quarter; Waipu Handicap of 125sovs, class 4.50, two miles; President's Handicap (for trotters) of loOsovs, class 4.58, two miles; Hikurangi Handicap Ofc 150sovs. class 2.54, one. mile and a quarter; Kaikohe Handicap (saddle) of lOOsovs, class 2.24, one mile.

Nominations close on Friday next at 5 p.m. with the secretary, Mr. A. F. Thomson, Whangarei, or with Messrs. Blomfield and Co-, Auckland.

WHAT PRICE THIS ONE?

About a month ago.the board of the New Zealand Trotting Association recommended that in all cases where a maiden performer finished third in a race the performance should be treated as though it was recorded in the .slowest class. This is going to give rise to an interesting position at the approaching Northland meeting if the recommendation is carried into effect. It will be remembered that at the Auckland November meeting Kewpie's Triumph finished third —and many thought should have won—in a 3.34 class mile and a half. He started again on the second day, when, after being badly interfered with through horses falling in the race, he finished just behind the placed horses. His next start was in the Dei'by, in which he finished third, going 3.20. Now, as the extreme penalty for third place in a maiden class is '24yds, Kewpie's Triumph should be handicapped on 3.41 at Northland if J. Gee enters his colt. Perhaps the liandicapper will not carry out the Trotting Association's recommendation. Tf he does and puts Kewpie's Triumph on 3.41 those who patronise the "five bob" tote should not expect more than five and sixpence back.