TROTTING.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 150, 26 June 1940, Page 13

TROTTING.

SOUTH ISLAND PACERS.

POSITION OF WILLOWBANK.

AWAITING SUITABLE CLASSES

Lack of sni'tablff classes has prevented Willowbank making an appearance since she Joined R. J. Humphreys' stable early in the New Year. After dead-heating with Iron Duke for first in the Gore Trotting Cop, ehe won the Winter Cup in 4.23 2-5, several seconds faster than the previous best recorded in a two-mile race in Southland. To win she was. compelled to travel over, a good deal of extra ground. Although a lightiy-made mare, she has shown great speed and stamina. Since her arrival at Templeton. Humphreys has jogged her about, and she has put on more condition. She is in good order to undergo the necessary ' preparation for the new season's racing. ABOUT DONALD DHU. Donald r>liu has also resumed work. He is ready to add to his list of winnings. Donald Dhu began his racing career under L. A. Maidens, and while in his stable won several races, including the Wyndham Cup. Last season he was prepared by R. J. Humphreys, and in eight starts he secured three firsts, onS second and two fourths, and earned £935 in stakes. Since August he has competed in eleven races for two firsts, one second and two thirds. He has not raced since the Canterbury Park Club's meeting in February. He is a Eix-year-old gelding by Man o' War from Tracey Maid, and has shown excellent form over all distances and on all kinds of tracks. He is on a handy mark to add some rich prizes to ale already good record.'

A FAST TRACK

Scapa Flow scored an overdue win in the Lyndhurst Handicap at Ashburton laet Saturday, and from a 3.43 mark, recorded 3.24, an improvement of 19 seconds on her assessment. This represented very fast' time for the class of horses engaged, and once again proved the Ashburton track to be one of the best winter courses in the Dominion.

WARFIELD IMPROVES. Warfield gave an outstanding performance to win the Winchester Handicap, at Ashburton, for conceding 48 yards to some smart pacers, he recorded 3.18 for a mile and a half. While Warfield has disappointed his supporters more than once, there is no question as to his ability and it seems he only requires racing experience to become as solid as his brother Marsceres. BLAIR ATHOL RESUMES. Blair Athol ia' in splendid order after his spell, and is being prepared for important contests at the summer meetings. Since joining Humphreys' stable he has won five races, has been three times second and four times third.. His achievement in winning the LouissOn Handicap at Aldington in November in record time for a mile and a-half was one of. the highlights of the season. On that occasion he recorded 3.11 3-5, a world's race record for that distance. VOLOMA GOES HOME Voloma has been returned to Southland by the Methven trainer M. C. McTigue, and it is unlikely that she will race again. Prior to going to Canterbury, Voloma had won several races in Southland, where she was bred, and though little more than a pony, she had shown sufficient ability to encourage her owner to consider her fast enough to win at Addington. Competent judges in Southland hold that Voloma was. without doubt, one of the best mares bred in Southland for several years, and one of the few for which an offer approaching four figures was made. She was not oyerraced in the early part of her career, but In all her contests exhibited both speed and stamina. She is a half-sister to Southern Chief, Walter Moore. Southern Smile. Pola Negri and Reglna Derby. Their dam. Regina Logan, is a sister to Native Chief (2.4 1-5), being by Logan Pointer from Reglna de Oro, by Copa de Oro (1.59). Voloma is by Adioo Guy, imported from America by Mr. G. Youngßon, of Gor-e, several yean ago.