TROTTING.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVIII, Issue 255, 27 October 1937, Page 23

TROTTING.

EPSOM FORM.

HOW GOOD IS CROCUS ?

SHOULD HAVE WON DOUBLE

PROMISE OF BEXLEY GIRL.

As usual, the feature of the Auckland Trotting Club's spring meeting was the domination of the Takanini trainer, F. J. Smith, whose representatives started in fourteen races at the meeting, recording six victories. Only one of the winners ilid not start favourite, this being Bexley Girlj when she scored in the second division of thu Improvers' Handicap on the first day and also in the Campbell Handicap on Monday. The meeting provided some sylendid racing, and had. it not been lor the unfavourable conditions on Saturday there is little doubt that investments would have been much higher than was the case.

In winning the Labour Day Handicap on Monday Jfeivie's Last aeored his first success over two miles since the corresponding fixture laet year. On the liret day hw driver appeared to delay his run a shade too late, with the result that he had to bo content with fourth place, although only the narrowest of margins separated him from the placed horses. Smith made no mistake on Monday, as, with a mile to go, he raced the Auatralian-bred pacer into ■second place on the rails, and was content to trail the leader until well into the straight. Once in line he brought the gelding through in the centre and gained enough let-way to stall off Gold Dredge. It was a fine effort, and the failures of the gelding over two miles on other occasions are hard to understand. He ia one of the best middle distance performers in the North Island, but he appears to be troubled to get the last furlong of two miles. In all probability Smith will take Nervie's Last to Addington nest month, where he should not be without good prospects. » Gold Dredge was a shade unlucky not to score in at least one race at Epsom. Her first start was in the Jellicoe Handicap, in which she was making a great run on the outeide when she left her feet juet ae victory appeared to be within her grasp. Produced in the mile and a quarter event, she was the leader until half a furlong from the judge, when she began to weaken, and both King's. Warrior and Ironside junt cot up to beat her. Again in the Labour Day Handicap she paced a great race to tro under by a narrow margin after looking like getting up hnlf-way down the running. 'I he inure was produced in great order by W. Clifton, and now that she appears to be back to her best again the daughter of Hey de Oro should not be long in crediting her owner. Mrs. C. E. McGregor, with another stake. Not His Best Form. One of the most disappointing pacers to compete in the chief events was Kewpie's King. He was nicely placed ill the Jellicoe Handicap at the home turn had he been good enough, but on the second day was never pacing evenly, with the result that ho finished latst. lt was not the chestnut's best toini, and he should not be discarded (in those, periormancee. In this class nothing showed more speed than Noble Prince, Imt he did not appear to be quite light ;uhl failed over the last furlong. 1 he lining is wine, to do him a lot ot good, and lie .should be worth remembering in future, especially over sprint distances.

Among the improvers it is doubtful if Aiickliinil lias produced for some time a Hpccdicr customer than Corcua. Jslie easily outpaced the opposition ou tlie first day in tin , l'aruell Handicap, but her effort in the Insulation Handicap on Mondaywas one ot the best performances registered at Kpsoiii for some years. When the hat tier was released the mare left her feet and failed to strike a gait until a couple of fin limns had been covered, with the result that with halt' a mile to go she was standing the leader, Munga Tangi, anything up to one hudndred yards start. She then commenced to move up, and a furlong from lioiiu! was in second place whi'ii *he stunk herself and left her feet. It was a phenomenal mn, and there is no doubt that had she left the mark reasonably welf the thick end of the prize would have been credited to her owner. Crocus was bleeding profusely when she pulled up. and in all probability will have to be given a spell. However, few are likely to forget the ellort, and at her next appearance she is likely to be at a very short price. After failures at his previous two starts, Munga. Tangi made amends by scoring nicely in the Insulation Handicap on Monday.. He soon ran to the front and led all the way. He paced a little more freely than on the first day, and won well, but he may have been lucky in that Crocus lust a lot of ground at the start, while Compass got a bad inn on the rails over the last couple of furlongs. Present intentions are not to take Munga Tiiugi to Thames next Saturday, and ho may make his next appearance at the Waikato meeting in December

A Good Pacer. In Bexley Girl the Takanini trainer, F. •I. Smith, appears to have pot hold of a really good pacer. She had only had one race in the south prior to competing in the second division of the Improvers' Handicap on the first day, and the manner in which she disposed of the opposition was impressive. A trifle slow to begin, she was giving the leaders a fairly good start half a mile from home, but once she settled down to her work she mowed them down in jrreat style, and nothing had a chance with her over the final stages. On the strength of that effort Bexley Girl was made favourite for the Newmarket Handicap on Monday, in which she was 48yds behind, but tlie. tasjt proved a shade beyond her, although she displayed fine speed over the last three furlongs. Later in the day she was produced in the Campbell Handicap, but Chili Bean was preferred to her in the betting. However, she easilyaccounted for the field, to win in very convincing style. The manner in which Bexley Girl stayed on suggested that she is not likely to be troubled by a longer distance. and she should develop into a good twomile performer later on. Bexley Girl is byJack Potts from Raven's Girl, who produced Hope Dillon (3.33), Mac Dillon (2.45 1-SJ, Dark Girl (2.54 1-5), and Eureka Boy (2.42>. Chili Bean showed'signs of soon being a winner when he was successful at the matinee meeting recently, and it was not surprising to note the gelding being one of the favourites for the first division of the Improvers' Handicap. He was one of the smartest to strike a gait and soon ran into second position, a place he held until I the straight was reached, when he was taken to the front, to win decisively. The race was run in particularly fast time for a novice event (2.47), therefore it was an mcournging performance. On Monday Chili Bean competed in the Campbell Handicap, but on thie oecaeion did not go away at all well. However, he was soon up in a handy position, and actually hit the front two furlongs from home, but was not pacing at all evenly, and Bexley Girl beat him comfortably. Chili Bean is still on a handy innvk. but does not impress as a horse likely to be at home on soft tracks. He is engaged in four races at the Thames meeting on Saturday, but if reserved for the Hauraki Handicap, one mile and a quarter, is likely to take a lot of beatin"

Unlucky on First Day. When Pink Lady ran a great race into .second place against Listowel last February she v. as expected to soon win iimoiin th.o unhopplcl horses, hut it was not until Jlondsiy that she realised expectations. However, she was a shade unlucky on the hist day. as she lost a good deal of piound at the st..it. l.ut was making up a lot of leeway over the last half-mile. Ou Monday *he wu the first to begin, and led all the

way, her condition enabling her to score a decisive victory. It was a very encouraging performance, but the mate Las to pay the penalty of giving away 4e to start, as she has been reassessed at 3.42, so that she has gone back 72yds for one win. A similar case occurred in June when Golden Maid gave away time to start and won. There was no disgrace in the defeat registered against Axminster in the first division of the Improvers' Handicap. He was a trifle slow to strike a gait, and was not too well placed half a mile from home, but made a forward move to be up with the leaders as the field came to the turn. However, he weakened over the last bit and had to be content with fourth place. It was a good performance for a horse having his first race for over six monthe to run a mile and a quarter in 2.48, and as he can be expected to improve a little as the result of the race he should take a power of beating when he next makes his appearance. Some are inclined to discredit the gelding for his defeat, but he will make a lot of headway yet, and in another six months he should be equal to holding hie own with the best. Among the novices at Epsom were some promising pacers, and three that caught the eye as sure to improve were Uenuku, i Adversity and Kewpie's Queen. The first 1 named was having his first start, and' raced very greenly, but was putting in some splendid work at different stages of the race. Adversity was a trifle disappointing, but his turn should not be far away. Kewpie's Queen was making her first appearance, and it was a really fine effort to battle on and gain second place in the second division of the Improvers' Handicap on Saturday. She is a nice pacer and 'a good future should be in store for her.