TROTTING.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 4, 6 January 1937, Page 14

TROTTING.

FORM AT EPSOM. %'1 f | KEWPIE'S KING SCORES. — * 1 GREAT ADMIRAL FOR SOUTH. The effortless manner in which Great Admiral disposed of . the opposition in the Rowe Memorial on the first day of the Auckland .meeting drew attention to the prospects of the JSelson Bingen gelding in the later trotting events at the meeting, but the next day he was sold to the Dunedin sportsman Mr. G. J. Barton and he has gone south to join F. C. Dunlevey's stable. Great Admiral is one of the best unhoppled horses that have raced in Auck-1 land u>r some time and it is hard to assess just how good he really is. He should have no trouble in holding his own in the South Island. BELOW EXPECTATIONS. _ The form of the bay filly Mountain Flight at the Auckland meeting fell much below expectations and although strongly supported on the three days she never flattered her admirers. Her second in the Christmas Handicap on the opening day pointed to her being hard to beat in subsequent races, but she did not reproduce her earlier form. Mountain Flight is a better filly than her races at Epsom 'would suggest and it may be unwise to discard the daughter of Blue Mountain King and Manna. MAY MAKE AMENDS. Although Kewpie's Crest (lie? not earn any money at the meeting at Epsom, he was noticed putting in some great work over the concluding stages of his races on the second and third days, and occupied fourth place on each occasion. He was set hard tasks in being asked to concede starts and a beating to some very promising sorts on the front of the handicap. Kewpie's Crest is down to make his next appearance at the Cambridge meeting, where he figures in two races. Off 24yds in the Pukerimii Handicap he is likely to beat more than will beat him. and if he fails will have a further opportunity in the Te Aroha Handicap later in the day. WON EASILY. King's Play was started only once at the Auckland meeting and he completely outclassed the opposition in the Ranfurly Handicap, one mile and a quarter, on the second day. .There'frag a degree-of confiJence alfcut the way - the gelding was backed ana • he was finally installed a strong' favourite on the win 'machine'. Beginning smartly, G. Mitchell wag content to lay in third place with, the bay pacer and it was not until the top stretch was reached 'that he asked him to sprint to the front. Once he was in the lead the issue was never in doubt and over the last furlong there was only one horse in it. King's Play was having his first race since disappointing at the Auckland spring meeting, but he was produced in rare fettle. King's Play is a really good horse and there are a number of successes in store for him in the future. A GOOD PERFORMANCE. When in F. J. Smith's stable at Takanini Kewpie's King was recognised as-one of the most promising improvers about, but he then developed unsoundness and was given a good spell. About five months ago he was taken in hand by C. H. Goodall and was given the lightest of tasks. Xo risks were taken with him, however, and prior to the Auckland meeting he was given most of his training on the gand track, which is more suitable to unsound horses. He was not produced until the second day of the meeting, when the going was particularly heavy and made to order for the chestnut stallion. He left the mark smartly apd. held a position among the leaders until- the top was reached, where his driver took -shim through to the front. When challenged by Argoliß-iJKr the- etraight he : on very solidly and at the pest was half a lensrth to the gi>o<l. Harnessed up for the L.edisloe Handicap on the final day of the fixture, he was again responsible for a splendid performance, Our MeKinney being the only one to; beat him. Considering his light preparation, Kewpie's King's , form w«s; excellent and should he train on is sure to gain more; successes before the season concludes. .His trainer, C. Goodall, deserves a lot of 'credit for the manner in which he has got the Blue Mountain King horse to stand a preparation. IMPROVED EACH START. Although he failed to leave the mark on the first day, Musketeer showed up very promisingly when he contested the Great Northern Trotting Derby. He was the only one to make anything like a race of it with the southerner, Parisienne, who had gone to the front at barrier rise. He attended the filly throughout, but had no chance with her in the straight. However, it was a good effort for him, and on the strength of the form he was made favourite, with Frank Best, for the Park Handicap on the concluding day of the fixture. He again began smartly, and was in a handy position behind the leading division when the final round was entered upon. ,the last furlong was reached, his driver, S. Matthews, asked him to sprint,' and he responded in fine style to win going away. Musketeer knocked himself just prior to the meeting, and it says much for his courage that he started on three occasions, and gained a first and second placing. Musketeer has taken a fair time to reach his best, but he i looks like carrying on with the good work at Cambridge next .Saturday, where he figures among the accepton.

SHOULD BE HARD TO BEAT. A likely sort of novice that impressed as a quick improver at the Waikato meeting last month was Our Peggy, who in two starts gained a third and fourth placing. In her first contest she was one of the leaders all the way and it was not until the last furlong that she weakened and went under to Xawton Parrish and Kia Kalia. She covered a lot of ground in each race, but for which she may have been much closer at the finish. These were her first appearances for some time and if she has made the improvement that can reasonably be expected she is likely to be in the firing line at the finish. PLACED TWICE. Prior to the meeting at Epsom nothing had been going more pleasingly in his training than Baron Grand and he was expected to take a prominent part in the decision of some of the middle class pacing races. On the first day he was a competitor in the Akarana Handicap and was solidly supported. He held a handy -position in the initial stages of the race and when Great Jewel ran through to the front at the home turn was the only one to seriously challenge that horse, but Great Jewel had a little too much in reserve and beat him by half a length. On the second day Baron Grand was started off 00yds in the Tramway Handicap. In this event he was a long way back in the middle parts of the race, but came home in great style over the last couple of furlongs and was in third place at the judge. On these efforts he was expected to go well in the »nslow Handicap. on the final day, but evidently hi« earlier outings had got to the bottom of him. as he failed to show anything like the same dash and did not gain a place. Baron Grand is a very robust pacer and, given a few days to freshen up, may take a lot of beating in his engagements at the Cambridge meeting 011 Saturday, where he figures off the front of both of the principal events. MAY HAVE WON LAST DAY. One of the most disappointing performers at the Auckland meeting was the .southern pacer Bingen Palm. He worked in great style prior to the fixture and ■fie was confidently expected to win at least one race. He had every chance in the Auckland Trotting Cup. as he was never further back than fourth, but when the pressure was applied over the last couple of fnrlongs he failed to hold his position and was among the rear horses at the post. On the second day he paced a good race into third place in the Champion Handicap and may have been a trifle closer but for having to cover a little c-xtra ground at the home turn. He was only a neck and a head away from the «vinner. Red Shadow. He failed to show anything like his best form in the President's Handicap, but came in for vers solid support in the last race of the meeting, the Premier Handicap. He jumped into his gait quickly at the start and commencing the last round lie wi« handy in fourth place. Going along the back his driver. J. Simpson, pulled him to the outside ancl was going past the leaders at a great pace crossing the top when he left his feet and .ruined his chance. The speed at which Bingen Palm was travelling at the time made it appear as if he would have taken a lot of beating had he kept down. However, the son of Kelson Bingen is a really good pacer and it should not be long before he makes amends for the failures.