EPSOM ACTIVITIES.

Auckland Star, Volume LXII, Issue 88, 15 April 1931, Page 14

EPSOM ACTIVITIES.

PREPARING FOR CAMBRIDGE. FIRST FLIGHT'S PROSPECTS. LIKELY CUP FAVOURITE. VETERAN RETURNS. Woodvale, who must be one of the veteran pacers now racing, is back in work after a spell. The big chestnut would have taken a high place in the sport had he not been unreliable at the barrier, and for a long time he consistently settled his prospects by refusing to go away righfT. However, during the last season or so he has mended his ways in this respect and now gives no trouble, with the result that, though getting well on in years, he is capable of putting up a good race, particularly over sprint journeys when the sting is out of the track.

OMITTED FROM ENTRIES. In connection with the Cambridge meeting, Betty Guy should have been included among the entries for the Introductory Handicap. Betty Guy went a fair race in similar company at the Thames and will not be forgotten in her Cambridge engagement. FAILED AT ADDINGTON. Terence Dillon started in the fast mile and a quarter race on each day of the Easter meeting at Addington, but the Oamaru pacer raced very poorly. He was well backed on the first day. When in his best form Terence Dillon is equally at home over short or long journeys. TRAVELLED BADLY. Although Explosion managed to run second in a mile and a quarter race at Hawera, the big chestnut travelled badly on the trip down and was not at his best at the meeting. W. Clifton has decided not to bother with the Cambridge meeting with the son of Nelson Bingen and he has turned him out for a short spell, after which he will get him ready to race at Te Aroha. FIRST FLIGHT AT CAMBRIDGE. After her good showing in the Thames Cup, in which she lost perhaps 00 yards at the start before she settled down to pace, the Blue Mountain King mare First Flight will be the early favourite for the Cambridge Cup. As she will be on the limit she is wjill placed to win and early backers are not likely to fancy anything to beat her. CANNOT BREAK IT. It, is not for want of opportunities that Dad's Hope has failed to win a race. Ever since he was brought across from Sydney \V. Clifton has persevered with the chestnut and placed him in just the right classes to 6Uit him, but though he occasionally put up a good showing it has never been sufficiently good to win. The son of Bibbonwood never looked better than at present, and if condition play 6 a part then he should at least get in the money shortly. The race to suit him is the 2.20 saddle at Cambridge, where he will be on the front, and, being a good beginner, he will have every chance.

A CONSISTENT MARE. There is no more consistent pacer seen out at Auckland meetings than Nella Dillon. She may not win out of her turn, but she rarely goes a poor race, and though her best efforts in the past have been over sprint journeys she went well enough in the Thames Cup, in which she did not get a good run over the final stages, to suggest she may be hard to beat in one of the country cups. At Hawera she was too far back in the sprint races to give her much chance of winning, but she nevertheless went good races. She is a likely sort to win at two miles in a 4.40 class. IN AT CAMBRIDGE. The smart trotter Parrisli Belle is again pottering about the track, and as she is entered for the Cambridge meeting the daughter of Guy Parrisli will no doubt bo produced there at the beginning of next month. She won a double at the February meeting at Epsom, but her subsequent effort at the Thames meeting was rather disappointing. Certainly she lost a lot of ground at the start, but even so she did not display either the speed or stamina expected when she had to go after the field. There is no doubt she can trot fast, but whether she will ever be really good at two miles is questionable, and if tackled in a tight finish she may not hang on. HANDICAPS NEXT TUESDAY. Handicaps for the Cambridge meeting will be declared on Tuesday next, and with only a dozen in the Cup.Mr. Goos-. man should not have any difficulty in making his adjustment for the big race. All the horses have been racing recently, and with one or two exceptions have been in the money in oile or other of their engagements. Gold Treasure is the best proved stayer in the race, but as he was second in the Thames Cup when giving the limit horses 72yds, lie will again be set a solid task. He is doing satisfactory work under A. Julian's supervision and paced very freely and was anxious to increase the speed when given threequarter pace work yesterday. As the big race at each of the Cambridge, Te Aroha and Waikato meetings is a 4.40 class it means that Gold Treasure will have to be a good one to win from his present mark. IN WEST AUSTRALIA. In regard to the alleged suspension of Mr. James Brennan, as reported in the West-Australian Press, neither side will make comment, says the "Australian Trotting Record." It is an open secret that Mr. Brennan and the present committee arc decidedly at variance, and the breach has evidently been Avidened as a result of Mr. Brcnlian taking his seat as a guarantor. For the sake of the sport it is to be hoped that all differences will bo adjusted, as these continual wranglings arc no advertisement. Mr. Brennan in the past has undoubtedly done a wonderful lot for trotting in West Australia, and it seems a pity after so many yeare of progress that such happenings are possible. Mr. Brennan took his seat at the last executive meeting. Those members who had been responsible for the carrying of the motion of suspension had meantime discovered that they had no power to act as they did, and it was agreed to expunge the motion from the minutes. Under the constitution of the association, Mr. Brennan, as a guarantor, has full right to occupy a seat at executive meetings, and this right he is exercising.

A FAST BEGINNER. The Our Thorpe gelding Gaza is being given useful work in view of the Cambridge meeting, where there is a 2.20 mile, which should suit, him. Gaza is a great beginner in saddle, but he is also a poor stayer, and invariably begins to tie up when he has gone seven furlongs. He is very well just now, and yesterday morning in harness stepped a mile on the track in 2.16. TWO CHESTNUTS. J. O'Kanc is paying a lot of attention to liis pair of chestnuts, Tlielma Mack and Richore. The former is a promising novice who was expected to show up at the Thames, but she had the bad luck to break her hopples just after the start. On the same day, in a faster class, she was in the lead for over a mile. Richore is a moody customer. He has pace and occasionally shows lie can stay, but it depends upon the mood he is in whether he races well or not. CHANCE FOR ANDOVER. A few seasons ago Andover showed form which suggested he was the makings of a good horse, but he then lost all form and was off the scene for a fair period. The son of Hova—Agnes McKinney appears to have once again struck form, and at the Thames meeting he went a good race to finish second in the mile saddle, in which he registered 2.17. As he will be on the front of a 2.20 class at Cambridge he must have a chance of rewarding his owner, Mr. W. Thompson, with at least a portion of the stake. Andover is trained by J. Edwards at Te Awamutu. PREPARING FOR WINTER. A. Brown, who came across from Australia a few weeks back with Auto Machine, is working the eon of Machine Brick steadily. As he has gone a tick better than 4.30, though not handicapped eo tightly, there is nothing for him till the winter meeting of the Auckland Trotting Club comes along. Auto Machine is no stranger to Auckland and was over this way a few seasons back, when A. Sheehan also brought over other good horses in Machine Gun and Machine Brick. For years A. Brown was located at Epsom, and among the horses he trained were two good ones in Harold Junior and Shanghai.

LITTLE DEMAND,

Although Wrack has sired some highclass performers there seemed to be a lack of demand for some of his stock that went under the hammer last week in Christchurch. The following were the principal sales: —Three-year-olds: Brown filly by Wrack—Pansy, 51gs; brown filly by Wrack—Dusky Locanda, 46gs. Two-year-olds: Chestnut gelding Lorelli, by Wrack—Gianella, 23Jgs; chestnut filly by Wrack—St. Swithin mare, 17Jgs; roan gelding by Wrack—Dusky Locanda, I2gs; bay filly by Wrack—Paul Huou mare. Ggs; bay gelding by Peal Guy—Wrack mare, 6gs; black gelding by WrackBrent Locanda mare, (>gs; bay gelding by Wrack—Polly Anna, 10g3; bay filly by Wrack, IGgs. Brood marcs: Black mare Noiseless (imp.) IGgs. bay mare Latona 15gs, grey mare Dusky Locanda sgs.