TROTTING.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 173, 23 July 1936, Page 22

TROTTING.

HORSES AT TAKANINI.

F. J. SMITH'S TEAM. SOME PROMISING MATERIAL. King's Guide, who is to race at the Cambridge meeting next monfh, is looking in splendid order and has got through a solid preparation with a view to competing in the Jubilee Handicap, the principal two-mile event to be decided at that meeting. This gelding has not raced since competing at the Auckland meeting last February, where in his two engagements he gained a second and a first placing in successive starts, registering 3.18 2-5 on the latter occasion. He Jias filled out appreciably, and a good season should be in store for the son of Blue Mountain King.

Although she is rising five-year-old, Lizzie Bond, a half-sister to Bonny Azure, has yet to race. However, she is getting through plenty of solid work, and it should not be long before she sports silk. The reason for her not racing is that she is owned by her trainer. F. J. Smith, and this mentor invariably has a candidate belonging to one of his patrons in novice trotting events which he has preferred to start. I'nlike her brilliant relative. Lizzie Bond favours the trotting gait and shows a lot of promise.

Vain Lad. who was imported from Australia. about six months ago, has been troubled a good deal with soreness, and his trainer has found.it difficult- to give him the required amount of work. However, the ailment seems to have been overcome and he is now standing up to his preparation. He is a very plain-looking sort by Win Alto from Vain Lass, and in his training essays trots solidly all the way. When required to race this gelding should make his presence felt.

High-priced Colt. The rising two-year-old chestnut colt by .Tack Potts from Bessie Logan is getting through the initial stages ot his preparation satisfactorily, and although lie has not been required to go fast has a nice style of pacing. The youngster is still growing, but when he tills out he should lie a most attractive individual, lie claims engagements in all the principal classic events, and it will occasion surprise if he does not hold his own later on.

Pegaway, who lias boon at Epsom for some time, is again back at Takanini under E. J. Smith, aiul present intentions are to retire the gelding. I'egaway proved himself a very useful sort, and among his best efforts was his third to Indianapolis and Sir Guy in the Auckland Trotting Cup in 1933. In this event lie was just behind Indianapolis as the field turned for home, but met with serious interference, otherwise he would have been closer.

When purchased at Epsom some two years ago, Television gave promise of turning out a really good performer, but after joining E. J. Smith's stable lie received a knock to one of his legs and developed soreness, from which he has never since been free. He is still out in the paddock, but it is his trainer's intention to try him again shortly. Trotter of Promise. It is doubtful if there is a better conditioned trotter at Takanini than the American colt Swordsman, who at his first start at Cambridge in .May annexed the Hautapu Handicap, one mile and a half, on a particularly heavy track, in 3.50 3-5. He failed at his next appearance at the- Waikato meeting, two breaks in the first mile completely spoiling his chances. He is still a triHe on the green side, but he will get over this with a little more racing, and should do well during next season. Quite Sure, who is being imported from America to take up stud duties in the Southland district, traces back to Harvest Girl, who is the grandam of Swordsman, while both Quite Sure and Swordsman are by Peter Yolo, as is that fine trotting mare .Nell Yolo.

Frank Best, who eliowed a good deal of promise in his few starts as a three-year-old under F. C. Walker's charge, is now trained by F. .1. Smith, and the chestnut is doing plenty of jogging work, preparatory to being sent along for coming novice races. Frank Best is in very nice order and appears to have tilled out a good deal as the result of a long spell, and maybe when he is next required to race lie will make amends for some of his past failures.

Mr. E. H. Cucksey, who had the misfortune to lose that highly promising gelding Ly 11 worthy a little while back, has placed Spessiva ill the care of F. J. Smith, and the bay mare is looking really well. She was raced in the early part of the piesent season, and showed any amount of speed, but did not finish on in her races, and her owner decided to give her a long spell. In her few short sprints to date Spessiva has shown all her pace, and the daughter of Travis Axworthy and Evelyn Loeamla may recompense Mr. Cucksey for his loss of Lynworthy.

May Go to Addington. After competing at the recent Auckland "meeting King's \v arrior was given a. short let-up, but ttie black paOer is again back doing his paces under the guidance of F. J. Smith, and if anything appears to have put on a little condition. .However, this should soon be worked off, and although nothing definite has been arranged there is every cliance of his making the trip to the New Zealand Metropolitan Trotting Clubs meeting at Addington next month. Kings Warrior is at present 011 a 4.28 mark, and it was confidently predicted that lie would qualify lor tlie .Sew Zealand Trotting Cup at Epsom last month, but his two second placings did not entail a penalty. Mowever, there are still two meetings for him to enter this company, and there is every chance of him competing at Addington in November.

A novice in Smith's stable that catches the eye as a likely sort to develop into a good proposition with experience is a three-year-old by Frank Worthy ti'om ;in Our Thorpe mare. His dam died just after the gelding was born and he had to be hand fed. He is a rich bay in colour and is a typical son of Frank Worthy; in fact, he resembles liis sire more than most of the progeny of the American horse. He is a very robust gelding, with powerful hindquarters and is well grown for one of his age. Two seconds at the Auckland meeting last month drew attention to the immediate prospects of the bay pacer Tollgate, and the Takauini trainer had a hard task restraining the gelding in his training essays, as he is very he. Tollgate has an abundance of speed for a pacer in his class, but he pulls very hard in the early part of a race, and this naturally causes him to stop over the final stages. He will probably be taken to Cambridge next nibntli, and at this early stage he appeals as a likely sort to collect some of the prize money. If he is ever started in a saddle race lie will take some catching, as there are few faster horses over a mile in the Auckland province.

The grey gelding Betterwin, who has not raced for some time, is at present being used on the farm owned by the Takanim trainer, and his racing days are over. Betterwin was a useful performer, but did not live up to the promise he showed in the early part of his career.