THE NOVICES.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVIII, Issue 201, 25 August 1937, Page 19

THE NOVICES.

MT. EDEN HANDICAP. GOOD FIELD ENGAGED. PROSPECTS OF GUIDE PETER. A feature of the acceptances for the Auckland Trotting Club's meeting, which will be held on Saturday, is the field of twenty-five carded to contest the Mount Eden Handicap, a mile and a quarter novice race. This class can always be relied upon to fill well, and as several of them showed promising form last season a fine race appears certain to be provided. Novice races attract a good deal of attention on all programmes, as it is from these classes that champions in embryo emanate. . Adversity has had a couple of races on the country circuit, but failed to show np in any of his outings. A member of G. T. Mitchell's stable at Claudelands, Adversity is by A 1 Mack from a Nut Ansel mare.

When Bronze Queen finished second to Gloster at Claudelandß last season she displayed fine promise, and this chestnut should be ready to show the benefit of the racing she has had. She is a well-grown novice by_Rey de Oro from Logan Queen, and'she gives the* impression that she will see a much better day, especially now that the tracks are beginning to harden up. At the Auckland summer meeting the southern trainer J. S. Shaw brought Captain Potte to Epsom, and although he failed to rea.eh the money he shaped creditably. Captain Potts, who is by Jack Potts, is out of that very speedy mare Bessie Logan, and when he gains the benefit of a couple of races he should turn out a good proposition.

Last season Eyre showed encouraging speed in her few outings, and 6he is expected to make the grade. She is a reliable sort and can be relied upon to gain a position early in a race. Eyre is by Great Parrish from Great Eyre, the dam of those fine trotters Great Admiral and Golden Eagle, and is also receiving her education at the hands of the astute Mangere trainer, J. T. Paul.

Placed Last Season. Forest Jewel wag placed over the distance last season, and -with age this mare appears to be coming more solid. She lias been working well at Epsom and is not without a chance. On the strength of his fine effort in running Crocus to a neck in the decision of •the Devonport Handicap at the Auckland autumn meeting, Guide Peter will probably be the favourite. He is avmosfeVpromising novice and should be hard to besit. Guide Peter is a relative of those good performers First Flight and King's Guide. Hillcrest attracted attention in his only outing as a two-year-old, and now that he has the benefit of a little age this novice should be ready to show his best. The bay pacer is not very big, but is a typical Hey de Oro, and his future will attract a good deal of attention. Hori Bingen has been a long time losing his maiden status, but he has been responsible for some useful performances, and he should be at least equal to running a sound race. At his last couple of starts he appeared to, be improving in stamina, and he may be found staying on much better in future.

Jewel Crest and John's Last are improving sorts who may be found on the winning list early in the new season. However, they may be all the better for the race, and may be they will be seen to better advantage on the country circuit. Kewpie's Bingen is shaping satisfactorily in his work,- and there is no doubt that the four-year-old has done well as the result of a short spell. The chestnut displayed promise in his few outings last season, and he should not be long in showing to better advantage in this class of race.

Proved Disappointing. Kia Kaha has proved a real disappointment during the past couple of seasons, and it is hard to make any excuses for his failures. There is no doubt that the grey paces. possesses the ability, but he cannot always be relied, upon to reproduce , his best. He has a number of placings to nis credit against much better class pacers than that to which he is opposed on Saturday, but there is no reason to expect him to do any better on this occasion, i Sequoia shaped fairly well in a eouple of races last season, while Silver Bullet is showing a useful -turn of' Speed on the track. However, they do not appeal as prospective winners so early in the season. A couple of weeks ago Top Hand threatened to take a hand in the decision of this event, but he does not appear to be in the same form, and may have gone off a little of late. This four-year-old will be all the better for the experience, and he is a bright prospect for a novice event in the near future. Vanora is making steady progress and has put on a little condition of late, while Wall Street is reported to be a very speedy maiden. However, he did not show to any great advantage when raced at Claudelands in May and he will have to reveal some form before he can be recommended. He i 3 now trained by A. W. Broughton. One thing in Worthy Song's favour is the fact that she is a very speedy beginner, and this will ensure the bay mare gaining a position early. One of her best performances last season was to finish second to Handicapper at the Auckland February meeting, and a repetition of that effort would see the daughter of Frank Worthy going a Teal good race. .

LATEST SCRATCHINGS.

TIMES OF STARTING. Adversity and Gold Meldon have been scratched for the Mount Eden Handicap at the Auckland Trotting Club's meeting on Saturday. The success of the running commentary of the races at the June meeting has encouraged the Auckland Trotting Club to again install this system for Saturday's meeting, while another innovation will be the announcing of progress reports of- the Springboks v. South Canterbury match at Timaru. • Win and place betting will be in operation and the times of starting are:. 12.0, 12.40, 1-20, 2.0, 2.40, 3.20, 4.0 and 4.45.