EPSOM TROTS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 309, 30 December 1940, Page 3

EPSOM TROTS.

TABLES ARE TURNED.

OUR PEGGY—ADVERSITY.

HUGE INVESTMENTS INCREASE

Auckland owners had their revenge on Saturday lor what occurred at the opening of the Auckland Trotting Club's Jubilee Cup carnival on Friday, when South Island-owned representatives virtuallv geooped the pool, winning live of the eight races carded, including the double, the Cup and 1 lie .St. Holier's Handicap. On Sal-nday exactly the reverse, happened, Mr. F. SniitVs Our. Thorpe mare Our Peggy, taking the Champion Handicap and .Miss X. Dunlop capturing the Banfuily Handicap, the second 'Me- " With Adversity, while Buncrana, Cynic and ( lay Pot also wc u for the north, Tocectie, Klie Key and Latest Edition succeeding for the South Island.

The rating was of a high standard throughout the day, and several exciting finishes roused spectators to a high pitch of enthusiasm. This was noticeable in the races won by Our Peggy, C'lav Pot Elite Key and Adversity, the maximum winning margin being a bare half length in favour of Adversity. Favourites Fail, But .

Despite the fact that not one win favourite was first past the post throughout the afternoon, thus repeating the debacle of Fridfij, spectators, of whom there were 15,500, wagered with surprising dash to the end of the day's sport, with thc result that investments again soared, the total of £61,746 showing an increase of £ 13,258 when compared with the figures for the corresponding day last year. The amount go far registered at the fixture has reached ±136,090 10/, £22,434 10/ more than for the lirst two days last year. It was exactly 12 months since Our "eggy liaci won an event, and on that occasion it was the Champion Handicap, in Which M. Stewart was also the driver. .The aged Our Thorpe mare had been raced sparingly in the interim, but at Claudelands earlier this month she showed she was not far from her best when she finished third, behind the dead-heaters, Bayard and Bold Venture, in the Auckland Cup Trial. Her connections were confident on Saturday that she would be particularly hard to beat, and she was fortunate in having the services of Stewart, than whom there is no better horseman in this province.

Our Peggy went to the front shortly after the start, but Stewart slowed tbe field' in the middle stages, and then shot the mare away on the home turn to take a two lengths lead. This won her the race, as although Superior Rank finished brilliantly he failed by a neck to get up. The time, 3.16, was only 3-5s out of the course record set by Uenuku, and it was one second faster than was recorded last year. Worthy Need ran on well into third place, and later in the day was responsible for another good performance by running second to Adversity after running the Ranfurly mile and a quarter in 2.42 2-5. Our Jewel, Cruiser and Kilrea lost their chances by failing to go away correctly.

Adversity registered her best performance to date when she won the Ranfurly in 2.43..1t is true that the AI Mack mare covered the distance in 2.41 1-5 when fshe last won, bat that was on the fast Addington dirt track, where she took the Craven Handicap on March 28. She went into tbe-lead? early in the Ranfurly, and nothing ewer really threatened danger, although it is possible that Worthy Need would have worried her if he had not received a check in running and been forced to cover extra ground. Our Jewel again failed to begin well, while the favourite, Njed Worthy, wa« another to miss striking his straps smartly, and both were soon in a hopeless position.

Likely Improvers. The novice four-year-old Wrack trotter Buncrana, who races in Mr. W. Hosking's interests, put up a taking performance in the Oak Handicap by leading all the way to win in 3.30 1-5 from 3.49. Bhe failed to trot correctly on Friday, but on this occasion never put a foot wrong, and is apparently a most promising performer. Getaway, second, Silver Countess (third) and _ Mac's Jimmy (fourth) are worth bearing in mind for events ahead, as also is Bomber, who was not far from the leaders at the end after * bad break. The win favourite, Suspense, again broke badly, eifectnally settling his prospects. Tlhe GraAtan Loyal—Cyone mare Toceetde, winner of ithe Grandstand Handicap on Friday, completed a winning -double iby talking the Summer Handicap from 36yds behind. She was again driven a patient race by the veteran Holmes, and won in resolute style in 4.26, thus emphasising that elhe should add to her record ere long. Mazai-re was closer at the end, in third place, than ait any other pai-t of the race, and left the impression that he imay got on the winning list soon. Kinawley was prominent for most of -the way, and should ibe better for €he race. The -hot each-way favourite Betty Boop again broke very ibadly at the •tart, but showed rare speed later, and •he Should not be discarded for her two lapses at tihis meeting.

The Epsom-trained Clay Pot gave Handicapper, another local candidate, a Rood start with half a imile to go in the Tramway Handicap, and maintaining a good run down the home stretch managed to get_ up and beat Mr. G. StuMw' old campaigner by a neck. It was a good run on -the part of the Jack Potts mare, who has yet to reach her ibest. Katerie was racing -round the field in winning ■tyle with three furlongs to go, but he then went, to a bad 'break and lost a lot ground. Sixth at the judge's box, he should be borne in mind. Ropata (fourth) was another to catch tlhe eye by a resolute finishing run. Elite Rey, 84vds behind, owed her success in the Epsom Handicap to her solid trotting. She never put a foot wrong, a-nd ran home brilliantly to wrest victory by a head from the second favourite, Modest Maid, in the very fast time of 3.21 2-5 from 3.35. Worthy Belwin, the favourite, was always prominent, and close to Modest Maid at the straight entrance, but he had had enough then, and was a fired horse, in .fourth place, at the winning post. However, this was his first run since May 25, and the race should do him good. Latest Edition showed considerable improvement on his first day's form to win the Dominion Handicap- in 2.46 4-5 from 3.48. The Grattan Loyal—Daphne de Orr> gelding commenced from 36yds behind, and he had the issue in safe keeping a lonp way from home. He was under restraint all the way down the straight, and should 6oon win again. On Friday he was slow away from tihe barrier, but went" up fast ■commencing the last half-mile, only to drop back on the top stretch, and he was a good away in the rear of the leaders When the post was reached.