Likely to Play Leading Part at Auckland Trots

Auckland Star, Volume LXVIII, Issue 299, 17 December 1937, Page 14

Likely to Play Leading Part at Auckland Trots

Three Strong Teams.—J. Fraser has Six Engaged.— J. T. Pauls Representatives.—Five from Stable of W. Willetts.

Three of tlie strongest teams to compete at the forthcoming Auckland meeting are those presided over by J. Fraser, of Addington, J. T. Paul, the Mangere mentor, and Willetts, of Epsom. In all the former has eix of Mr. G. J. Barton's horses engaged, while Paul will harness up over half a dozen at the meeting. W. Willetts will have live representatives.

J. Fraser left on Wednesday with Indianapolis, Tempest, Rongomai, Starwyn, Royal Doulton and Bittersweet. The former is reported to be showing a lot of improvement in his work, and is looking something like his old self. His efforts at the recent Cup meeting were very disappointing, and liis failure to fill a place in the Free-for-All oil the final day provided one of the sensations of the fixture. At his best lie would have to be considered off 60yds in the Auckland Trotting Cup, but the task is a difficult one. Tempest, with Indianapolis, shares the honours of being one of the stars of the team. This pacer won brilliantly on the second day of the Addington meeting last month, and is expected by southern critics to prove a worthy representative in the Auckland Trotting Cup. He is a splendid pacer, but has to be reserved for one final sprint. He was a starter in the Auckland Cup in 1035, but on that occasion was all at sea in the heavy going, and maybe, if the track is hard and fast this year, he Will play a leading part. Nothing is yet known as to who will drive Indianapolis or Tempest, except that Fraser will hold the reins behind otae of them. An American Colt. The American colt, Starwvn, may prove the best prospect in the team. He is reported very well, and is capable of running any distance. A very patient policy has been followed with this pacer, and he is likely to be all the better for the time allowed him to acclimatise. Last season Starwyn was successful on two. occasions, his first win being in the Autumn Novice at Hutt Park, when ho covered the mile and a half in 3.30, while his last victory was in the second division of the Trial Handicap at Addington last March. In this event he covered the mile and a quarter in 2.48 3-5. He has only started twice this season, and should be all the better for the outings.

Tlie improving' pacer. Royal Doulton. has been getting through a lot of solid work in accomplished style, and her connections are confident that she will not be long in reaching her best again. She is not too genuine on race day, but

pacer, and lias the early speed to ensure his gaining a prominent position. Another in the came class is Kiptide, but this gelding has not raced for some seasons, and will need racing before he is likely to be seen at his best. Among the improving trotters Paul has Within and Lady Bunker. The former was given a run at the matinee meeting in October, and impressed as a mare that would be all the better for the experience. She is a nice cut of a trotter, and she should not be hard to place to advantage. Lady Bunker won stylishly at the Thames meeting, but failed to leave the mark correctly at Claudelands, and was never a possibility. There are fewer faster trotters in Auckland than this mare, but she has to be taken on trust at the start. However, she appears to be improving in this respect, and will have to be considered in her outings at Epsom.

The manner in which Eyre disposed of a field of novices at Claudelands suggests that there are more successes in store for this filly, and she will get plenty of support in her engagements. She ran the mile and a quarter on that occasion in 2.48, time that equalled that registered by Nawton Parrish in winning the open sprint. Eyre is a splendid beginner, and in her present classes she should be an early winner. Bold Venture and Kewpie's King ara trained by Paul. The former was successful last season, but has not race I for some months, and may be all thj better for a rac« or two. Kewpie's is in good condition, but is troubled by hard going, and an easing of the track will be needed to enhance his chances. The stable should play a leading part in the decision of several events, but a trio that make direct appeal are Eyre, Axminster and Te Kahu. Two in Loose Classes. There are three trotters in W. Willetts' team of five. Querida and Gold Kip will compete in the loose-class trotting events, and both are speedy sorts. The former was purchased at the conclusion of the recent Waikato meeting at a very cheap figure by Mr. G. Mitchell, and was placed in Willetts' charge. She has not been set any exacting tasks, but is bearing « <bright appearance.

(Jold Kip has made great improvement during the past few weeks, and is now (shaping like an early winner. In his recent outings at Cl«udelands he was going like a place possibility when he left his feet in the Innovation Handicap. but made eorae amende by filling third position in the C'laudelands Handicap later in the day. He hais come

there is no doubting her speed. Ronoowai was not quite at her best for the recent Addington fixture, and the racinis reported to have brought her on a great deal. The remaining member of the team is Bittersweet, who will eontest the better class trotters' races. The maro was a competitor in the RowHandicap last year off 24vds ( but failed to go solidly, and was well beaten. This year she will attempt to concede starts up to ntivds, but she lias the task in front of her. All of them are likely to get plentv of attention in their respective ciifacements, but the best prospects at the fixture may be Starwvn and Tempest! A Solid Representation. The Mangere trainer ,T. T. Paul, can be relied upon to worthily uphold the honour of the best of the* local horses and his team for the fixture is a solid one. Last year Paul won only two races at the fixture, but with the* number of improvers he has to represent him on this occasion it will not be surprising if he proves one of the leading men tore One of the horses that looks certain to pick up a stake i* Te Kaliu. This trotter, in the past, has been inclined to weaken at the end of two miles but that age has eradicated this fault was indicated by the manner in which scored over this distance at the August meeting. Paul has won the last "two Rowe handicap, and has a 'oval chance of making it three in a row with Te Kahu. The novice Axminster is a verv promising customer, and at his la<t start finished fourth over a mile and a quarter. He ran the distance in 2.48 3-o, and on this effort he should open his winning account on one dav of the meeting. He is a most reliable

solid with age and now rarelv puts a lo, i wroup in his work. recent efforts of Great Sonoma ha\e not been encouraging. ow in" to a tendency on the part of the geldln- ' > make a break. He is trotting with plenty of freedom in his work, but his prospect* at the fixture are not bright. Jewel (. rest lias come on a lot of late, and is showing a fine turn of for a novice in his latest track effort*. This fielding has been given plenty of time, and the policy looks like bearing fruit later on. He is not partial to soft and has not been suited by the stan* of the tracks in his recent starts. Wlifi this gelding learns to pace solidly all the way. which he should with e.\peri°nce. he will not be hard to piace to advantage.

The remaining member of the team .Vt-'' lK 'k ,V Love. or. a* many term him. Lnlucky Love.' This gelding rarelv runs a bad race, but hi< successes arc few and far between. However, he usually capable of contributing something towards expenses. and he is oi>p of the few payable propositions in the middle classoi. He is putting a lot of heart into his track es<avs. and looka picture of health. If a'surprise i< i-i rtoie iii the classe* at Epsom lie is equal to brinaring it al>out.

EPSOM CANDIDATES.

SEVEN" FROM CHRISTCHURCH. The trotting trainer J. Knser brought a tea in of six. which included Indianapolis. fern pec-1, Royal Doulton. Starwvn, Bittersweet and Rongomai. while O E Hooper brought Willow Wave. Thev all have engagement* at the Auckland Trotting Club s meeting.