TROTTING

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIII, Issue 175, 27 July 1942, Page 5

TROTTING

Auckland Club's Effort For War Relief FAVOURITES FARE BADLY . i Despite an overcast sky and the certainty of damp conditions underfoot, followers of light harness racing flocked to Alexandra Park in large numbers on J Saturday afternoon to witness the Auck- ' land Trotting Club's meeting in aid of the All Purposes War Relief Fund. At first — that is, just before the initial j event on the programme — the attend- . ance was on the poor side, but by the time the third race came along the stands 1 were filled to overflowing and the success 1 of the fixture was assured. Supporters of favourites had a very lean time, as it was not until the eighth (and final) event that one of them won. However, despite these monotonous jolts in the exchequer, investors continued to ] bet well, and the grand total showed wagering- £54,304. These figures form some indication of the popularity of the , sport, and it is interesting to note that < they are £4219 ahead of the total handled at the opening of the winter meeting last year. No such fixture was held this ■ year, owing to war restrictions, and as a goodly percentage of the horses had only limited training for the patriotic meeting, the betting on Saturday was really re- i mc-rkable. CAVALRYMAN FAILS The Nobleman pacer Cavalryman was solidly backed to win the Churchill Handicap, but he was beaten into third place after being sent to a bad break when Narbada broke in front of him. This incident cost Cavalryman a lot of ground, and consequently he had to be hurried along to make up the leeway, thus leaving him without a final run. The consistent Isabella Pointer, one of E. E. Cressey's successful team, owed her victory in the race to her superb condition, plus a heady piece of driving by E. N. Kennerley. The mare was always pacing kindly among the leaders, and it was not until the home stretch was entered that Kennerley called upon her for her best, which took her past the then pacemaker, Princess Linnett, to win handsomely by a length and a half. STIRRING FINISH The United Nations Handicap, second "leg" of the double, provided the best finish of the day, Double Peter, Our Peggy, Ivete Kura and Kewpie's Queen crossing the line with less than a quarter of a length between the four of them. Double Peter, a smart Peter Bingen pacer over any distance, did best to get the verdict from his stablemate, Our Peggy, the bracket returning a little better than 2 to 1. JUST MISSED HAT-TRICK The young Mangere trainer, M. Paul,, had his horses in great condition, and he won with Red Surprise and Parrish Lad, both at good prices. He went close to doing the hat-trick when he drove Kete Kura into third place in the United Nations Handicap, and, but for receiving a slight check in the straight, the Truman Direct gelding may have won. BIG MONEY ELUDED HIM Followers of F. J. Smith's stable had an exasperating time, the Takanini trainer's horses racing particularly well without winning. Hilda Potts, his first drive, finished third, only to be distanced for galloping. His next three drives, Karnak. Princess Linnett and Symphony all filled second places, and with Village Lass he was third. His only unplaced drive with one of his own team was Josedale Grattan in the United Nations Handicap. Smith also drove Worthy Worker for Mr. E. E. Cressy in the Roosevelt Handicap, in which he w-as unplaced. AUSTRALIAN TURF AVINTERSET BEATEN MELBOURNE, July 26. At the Moonee Valley Racing Club's meeting yesterday Dorset scored a comfortable win over Winterset in the A. V. Hiskens' Steeplechase. Details:— A. V. lIISKENS" STEEPLECHASE, first £700. second £230, third £100; about two miles three furlongs an<J a haIf.—DORSET, 9.11 (R. Sweetnarn), 1; WINTERSET, 12.7 (L. Meenan), 2; VICTORY MARCH, 9.1 (W. Godfrey) and TEMFUS FUGIT, 9.0 (L. Miller), dead-heat for third. Fourteen started. Five lengths; three lengths and a half. Time 4.47. NEW ZEALANDER WINS SYDNEY, July 26. The New Zealand-bred Yours Truly won the principal event at the Ascot races yesterday. Details:— ROSEBERY HANDICAP, nine furlongs and fifty yards.—YOUßS TRULY, 7.13 (J. Thompson), 1; RON RICO, 7.0 (A. Gollogly). 2; CABLE BOY, 7.6 (N. Wilson), 3. Twelve started. Three-Quarters of a length; two lengths. Time, 1.571.