WHEEL AND TRACK NOTES.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 208, 3 September 1935, Page 14

WHEEL AND TRACK NOTES.

MUTE SORE. Although intsalled second favourite for the Royal Oak Handicap on Saturday, Mute ruined whatever chance he had by failing to trot solidly, and he never looked a possibility. He was very sore and could not trot with his usual freedom. It was bad luck for his connections, as Mute appeared to be the only horse likely to trouble the favourite, Great Adimral. WORTH REMEMBERING. Without ever looking a possibility, Kenworthy went a fair race in the Mount Eden Handicap, and he is likely to improve on this effort in the near future. He was haying his first run since winning at the Waikato meeting in May and was also set a hard task in being asked to concede 38yds to the limit horses. Kenworthy is one of the most promising young pacers in Auckland, and as he is only three years old there should be a big future in front of the son of Frank Worthy: A BRILLIANT TROTTER. It is a long-time since we have had such a promising trotter of the class of Great Admiral. He simply played with the opposition in" the Royal Oak Handicap and at no etage of the mile and a half did he look like getting beaten. Great Admiral only commenced racing last season and he ran up a list of four firsts an< i wo unplaced performances. He is a five-year-old gelding by Kelson Bingen'from Great Eyre, and, judging by the effortlesa manner in which he disposed of the field on Saturday it should not be long before he credits his owner-trainer, J. T. Paul, with another success.

SHOULD IMPROVE WITH RACE. When he paraded for the Mount Eden Handicap on Saturday Proletarian appeared as if he would be all the better for a race. He did not go away too well, but soon made up the lost ground and was handy ■ in fourth place as the field passed the stands with a round to go. He held . his ■ position until the straight entrance, where he began to tire, and he was in fifth place at the post. His effort was a trifle disappointing. and the novice is not living "up to the promise he'showed in his races last season. However, he has not been over-raced, and this was his first appearance in a race since last February, so it is reasonable to expect him to do better-next time out. SILVER WATCH UNLUCKY. ; One' of the-Unluckiest horses at.Epsom on Saturday was Silver Watch, who deadheated with Kewpie's Bond for second place in theOrakei Handicap; The grey began well enough and at the end of six furlongs was running in fourth place. Whakahihi began to tire with three furlongs to go, but soon after Peter Junior broke and seriously interfered with Silver Watch, the gelding losing about three lengths. He struck his ?ait in quick time., but he tired a little over- the last twenty yards and had to be content with second place.' It was a very impressive performance, and the son of Florizel is sure to carry plenty of support on the second day. A LIKELY IMPROVER. Nothing had been working better than Spessiva at Epsom prior to the Auckland meeting ,and it was not surprising to note the novice installed joint favourite with Proletarian in the Mount Eden Handicap on Saturday. The bay filly did not hit her straps smartly at the start, and when the field settled down she was running in about sixth place. She improved her position a little two furlongs from home, but was still a fair way back in fourth place at the entrance to the straight. Shjg stuck to her work solidly in the run home, but | the leeway was too much end she had to i be content > with fourth place. Spessiva i struck a little trouble in the early stages, otherwise she may have been still closer. Spessiva was only having her second race, and she ie one of the most likely improvers on Saturday's running. CREATED A SURPRISE. Guide was responsible for a big surprise. when he won the Mount Eden Handicap, the chestnut returning a dividend of over two-thirds of a century. In the race- King's Guide . began very smartly and early established a handy lead, and he turned for home a couple of lengths clear of Parochial and Ariel Bell. He finished full of running over the concluding stages and finally won comfortably | by a couple of lengths. Last season the chestnut raced on eleven occasions for a sequence of unplaced performances. At his last start King's Guide fell in the. Improvers' Handicap at Claudelands and previously had been erratic at the barrier. However, the gelding won very comfortably on Saturday, and he would only have to begin correctly "in the future to soon add another success. A POPULAR VICTORY. One of the most popular victories registered at Epsom for some time was that of Auto Machine in the August Handicap. The Australian-bred pacer had not won a race for. over a year, but had competed' practically all the time at local meetings without gaming any success. On Saturday he:went away smartly, but his driver did not unduly press the,black pacer over the early etagee, with the result that he still had a lot -of ground to make up at the bottom of the straight. . Once A. Brown asked him a question the pacer finished at a great rate, but looked like having difficulty' in getting through, but Kewpie's Triumph ran wide under pressure, leaving an opening, and Auto Machine went, on to win iiieely by a length. Auto Machine displayed fine stamina over the last quarter, and there is little doubt. that he is back to his best form. Prior to the meeting he had been showing definite signs of soreness in his work, but this evidently did not affect him. '

RACED WITH STRAPS. After having done all hie racing in the past as a trotter, Meadow King competed in the Mount Eden Handicap on Saturday with the straps on, but he failed to go steadily over the iirst furlong, and his chance was then hopeless. When he did eventually pace the ,grey pacer showed a fair turn of speed, and with racing he is likely to prove a success in the pacing ranks. HER FIRST APPEARANCE. Considering she was having her first start, Brown Betty was responsible for a pleasing performance in being up with the leaders for over a mile in the Mount Eden Handicap on Saturday. She began to tire with two furlongs to go and was well back in ninth place at the finish. Brown Betty will derive a good deal of benefit from the experience, and when she has had, a little more racing in public she should pay her way. SHOULD HAVE WON. Nimbus undoubtedly t-hould have won the Massey Memorial Handicap on Saturday, his driver asking him tor too big an effort in the straight, with the consequence that he suffered defeat by a head. Nimbus was four lengths away from Smooger at the home turn, but put in great work over the last furlong and was in front a couple of strides past the post. He came home his Inst half mile in 1.2 2-5, a really good effort. Nimbus will probably contest the principal two miles race next Saturday, and ho would only have to strike a firm track to take some beating. WOULD HAVE BEEN CLOSER. Worthy Nor was installed a strong favourite for the Introductory Handicap on Saturday, and there is little doubt that the bay trotter was unlucky. She began brilliantly from 00yds behind, and at the end of a furlong and a half was in a handy position behind the leaders, Native Princess and Nelson's Glory. About half a mile from home Audo Patch ranged up on the outside of Worthy Nor, and a few yards further on Native Princess broke badly and completely stopped the favourite, the latter losing considerable ground and all chance of success. She trotted in great style over the last furlong and got up to beat Nelson's Glory for third money. Backers of the favourite were decidedly unlucky, Lmt they should not have to wait long before they break even.