TROTTING.

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 219, 16 September 1939, Page 14

TROTTING.

VERY OPEN RACE.

THE WILFORD MEMORIAL.

RACING AT HUTT PARK.

Although only ten Tiorscfi a.re engaged in the I homas W il;ord Memorial, principal handicap event at the Wellington Trotting Club's meeting a,t Hutt Park to-morrow week, the race is remarkably open, and the i*sue may be fought out bitwien Auckland and Canterbury patws. It is true that the northern representation is but two. as against eight from the south, but they arc Red flush and Ne wpie'n King, high-class pacers, 111 Pxeellent condition, and capuible of running' a fast mile and a half. Hed Flush proved himself a good horse a couple of seasons ago, when he won several races on end, and he m now Uick to his best form. He failed at Auckland last month on nn exceptionally heavy track and when lie was giving away a second, but he i« 011 his right mark in this event and will take a "lot of beating. Kewpice King, who finished in front "f him in the August Handicap at Alexandra Park, is meeting Red Mush on a second worse terms, and. e\en thouch he should he an improved hoi so itt \\ elliit is by 110 means improbable that the table® will be turned.

Alwo on the front line arc Great Jewel, Jackaranda nnd Red Pigeon, and the best recent form ia possessed by fJreat Jewel. On Juno 5, at Ashburton, he ran a mile and a half—the distance of thin race—in 3.15 2-5 on a fast track to win the Winter Handicap. He followed this tip by running a good third to Great Divide and. Token in the Speedway Handicap at Addington. the mile and a quarter being covered in 2.43. Red Flush should lie his danger from this mark. American-Bred Improver. Bill 1!., a rapidly improving American importation. Great Divide, Windsor Lass, Kewpic's King and Marlene, figure on 12yds, and the three first-named are recent winners. (treat Divide won two events in August in very impressive •fashion, and he was narrowly defeated by Windsor La« at New Brighton a fortniight ago. In that race, the Wainoni Handicap, run over nine furlongs and a Ivalf, the pair met on even terms, ■ lul Windsor Lass, after leaving the mark slowly, finished with a magnificent burst to score by a length. However, Grcnt Divide is the more likely to improve. , Bill B. was somewhat above himself in condition on the first day of the Metropolitan Trots, but the run he had tlien improved him, and lie won the Belgium Handicap at' his next start, the two milm taking 4.27. He develops speed quickly, and should g<o to a tight mark this season. The others on this line do not appeal, and 'Frisco Boy, 24yds, will have to improve considerably on liis recent displays to have a chance. It is prolxuble that Bill 8.. Red Flush and Great Divide will be the favourite®. The Sprint Event. Horsepower, Lightning Lady and Nervie's Last arc in the main sprint race, the Wellington Handicap, the eight other nominations figuring in the Wilford Memorial. Horsepower was the champion three-year-old for the 19371938 season, but he lias failed since he wat purchased by Mr. G. J. Barton for 1000 guineas. Lightning Lady has some good sprint performances to her credit, while Nervie's Last has not shown any form worth while for many months. Great Divide. Bill B. and <«reat Jewel aro sure to be mentioned in early discussions.