TROTTING.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 157, 5 July 1935, Page 12

TROTTING.

GREAT ADMIRAL'S WIN. SHOULD REACH TCP CLASS. KTJINI FAILS TO REPEAT FORM After her good effort in finishing second to Te Kahu in the Stewards' Handicap on the opening clay of the Auckland meeting, Kuini came in for plenty of support when paraded for the Members' Handicap on the second day, but she failed to race up to the form and finished out of a place. She marred her chances by breaking at the end of a mile, losing a few lengths. She quickly made up a lot of Iceway, but just when she appeared likely to take part in the finish she be'gan to tire. Her effort was a trifle disappointing, but she had not raced for a long time prior to the meeting, and her first day's effort got to the bottom of her. Kuini is a solid trotter, who should not be long in regaining the winning list in the new season. UNPLACED EACH DAY. Willie Derby was started on" both days of the Auckland meeting, but the bay gelding failed to shoAV up on either occasion. Willie Derby has now got on a mark from which he finds it a difficult task to concede a start to some of. the improvers he meets, and although he is a particularly good stayer his successes have to be gained through sheer merit. AN EASY WIN. One of the easiest wins registered at the Auckland meeting was that of Great Admiral in the Members' Handicap on the second day, and the bay gelding was never doing his best over the last bit to win by over two lengths. Great Admiral has only been beaten twice since he first began racing in the early part of the season, and he promises to reach the highest class this season. BEST FOR SOME TIME. Auto Machine went his two best races for some time when he finished just behind the leaders in the chief- two-inile events at the Auckland meeting. Previously Auto Machine had not shown to advantage in heavy going, but on this occasion he handled it better than most of the field. Auto Machine has always been recognised as one of the most speedy pacers in Auckland, but his racing activities have been restricted owing to soreness. FAILED TO STAY. The southern trotter Ann Parrish had two starts at the Auckland meeting, but a third placing in the Stewards' Handicap was her only return. On the first day she was always one of the leaders, but tired over the last two furlongs and was headed by To Kahu and Kuini over the last bit. In her second start Ann Parrish broke badly at the start and lost a few lengths, but once she settled down she trotted very fast and ran to the front at the end of half a mile. Two furlongs from home she began to tire, to finally finish up in fourth place. She showed a great turn of speed for one in her class, and she should not be long in returning to the winning list. RACED BELOW EXPECTATIONS. After evidence of his partiality in the past for heavy going, it was surprising to note Jackie Thorpe giving such a bad display as he did in the Prince of Wales Handicap on the second day at Epsom, He did not go away too well, but soon settled down in a handy position, but he did not last long, as he failed to act at all in the heavy going and was pulled up with nearly six furlongs to go. Jackie Thfii'pe was "suffering* from lameness just before the second day's racing, and this may have affected hjm more than was considered. He has been a most consistent pacer during the season, and there are more races in store for the son of Our Thorpe. WENT A GOOD RACE. Nelson Pirate went his best race for some time to finish second to Great Admiral in the Members' Handicap on the second day of the Auckland meeting. He went away smartly and took up a handy position behind the leaders, but broke going out of the straight the last time. He then settled down to trot in line style, and although he had no chance of overtaking the winner. Great Admiral, he boat the rest of the field just as comfortably. Nelson Pirate has always been recognised as a very speedy trotter, but lie has invariably spoilt his chances by leaving his feet. If he could be induced to trot steadily throughout a race he would have a> good record. LIKED THE GOING. Lady Coronado was responsible for one of her best performances in finishing third to Manoeuvre and Chancellor in the C. F. Mark Memorial Handicap on the second day of the Auckland meeting. She was raiing in fifth place practically all the v*', to be sixth into the straight, but once straightened up for home she stayed on in great style to get third, only a., little over half a length from the winner at the post. She was produced again in the Prince of Wales Handicap iater in the day, but on this occasion had to bo content with fourth place. Lady Coronado has always been recognised as "partial to heavy going, and she fairly revelled in the soft going on Saturday. THREE TIMES ON END. During the past twelve years the Dunedin sportsman, Mr. G. J. Barton, has won £55,211 in stakes. Despite the heavy decrease in prize money this season as compared with the 1925-26 period, when the New Zealand Trotting Cup was worth £3000, Mr. Barton's winnings for the season about to end are the largest during his association with the tport. This year Mr. Barton's trotters and pacers have w.on 25 races and £7354. In 1925-20 Mr. Barton's stable earned £7318, but Mr. J. R. McKenzie headed the list for that period with £7530, which still remains a record. The honour of being at the top of the list of winning owners has been enjoyed by Mr. Barton on six occasions. He has performed the hat trick by being first past the post for the last throe seasons. Mr. Barton usually has from eight to twelve horses in regular training, and he is a game buyer and a liberal patron. He prefers to purchase horses that have proved themselves in races, and to pay the price accordingly. Ho has eleven horses in preparation for the new season. They are Indianapolis, Tempest, Rongomai, Teviot Downs, Grand Mogul, Black Jester, Compass, Chenwood, Bracken, Huon Voyage and Carl. REMAINED AT EPSOM.

Mountain Dell did not return to Addington, lief lessee, Mr. G. J. Barton, having decided to leave her with her owner, Mr. H. Mitchell. Mountain Dell is a strong, healthy mare, with legs like steel, and she is eligible to compete in the best class. She is partial to heavy going, and from the fast mark she occupies her best prospect of winning is under adverse conditions. Whether her owner will keep her in training has not been decided. She is well bred, being by Blue Mountain King, who was a son of the famous Kibbonwood (2.9). Blue Mountain King was bred in Australia and was imported to the Dominion by Messrs. McKendrick Bros, in 1921. During his racing career in New Zealand Blue Mountain King won many races, his most important achievement being the Auckland Trotting Cup in 1923. The dam of Mountain Dell is Whispering Dell, who was by Brown Pearl from "Murmur's Daughter. Whispering Dell was bred by the popular North Island enthusiast, Mr. J. D. Piper, who won the Auckland Trotting Cup with Jewel Chimes in 1913. Mountain Dell is to be turned out for a spell, after which she will be brought in again and given a special preparation for the Auckland Trotting Cup, to be run at Christmas time.

ROLLO RETIRED. / Rollo has been retired (states the "Christchurch Star-Sun"). He was born in 1925, and with the exception of the 1929-30 period he raced fairly extensively each year from 1928 to 1935. He is a brown gelding by Jingle, who was an idol of Mr. H. W. Kitchingham's establishment at Russley. Under H. Gaskill, Jingle was prominent for several seasons, winning many important races. Rollo possessed many of his characteristics. The dam of Rollo was Madam Templeton, whose sire was Copra de Oro (1.59). Rollo was bred by Mr. W. Rowe at Weedons and entered R. Berry's stable when he was a tliree-year-old, and he remained in that jstablishmcnt, during the whole of his racing career. In 1928 Berry showed the writer a good type of gelding, and indicated that this then unnamed horse was above the average. And so he proved to be, for during his career Rollo won £3441 in stakes, being first past the post on twelve occasions, and he occupied minor places in 22 contests. His best year was 1930-31, when his earnings totalled £1233. In 1931-32 his stake money amounted to £1110. He holds one championship honour, that of two miles in 4.20, which is the track record at Forbury. Rollo was a brilliant pacer; he could handle any kind of track and was a genuine stayer, but he had one fault, and it was a bad one. He was unreliable at the starting barrier, although his temperament was good. When the starter would say "Go" Rollo invariably made a break, a mistake! that cost him many races. Despite the patience and good treatment accorded him during his career, he was not a bit better at the start of his last race than ho was in his initial contest—perhaps worse.