COMMOTION

Press, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 25299, 26 September 1947, Page 4

COMMOTION

GOOD PROSPECTS AT AUCKLAND Commotion gave a sterling display from the 48 yards mark to finish in third place to Contender and Certify in 4min 28 l-ssec in the Grey Lynn Handicap at the Auckland Trotting Club’s meeting on Saturday. Auto Chief set a fast pace in the early stages, and Commotion did not make up much of her handicap over the first mile and a half. Once F. J. Smith let her stretch out, Commotion finished very fast and on that display she should prove hard to beat from the scratch mark in the Putiki Handicap this week. A good-looking daughter of the Ameri-can-bred horse Raider, which is at, Mr E. Tatlow’s stud in Tasmania, Commotion is out of a winner in Ayr. By Logan Pointer from the St. Swithin mare Precision, Ayr left other good performers in Cloudy Range to Wrack, and Springfield Globe to Globe Derby. Commotion was educated and trained for her early races by F. J. Smith, and she showed good form as a four-year-old last season to register three wins and six minor placings in 13 starts. A consistent pacer, Commotion has been placed in her three races this season, and she should not be disgraced when she is brought to Canterbury to race. Jottings Democrat, the winner of the Improvers’ Handicap on the first day of the Auckland Trotting Club’s meeting, will probably be sent out favourite for the Oneroa Handicap on the second day of the meeting. Pampero, a division winner at the trials at Addington on Tuesday, should race well in the trotting events at the Reefton Jockey Club’s meeting to-morrow. Steel Sword, which is trained by J. R. Bates at Geraldine, gave an encouraging display in the event for maiden trotters at the matinee meeting at Washdyke on Monday. D. A. Morland was fortunate in escaping injury when Ncfilia fell in her heat of the 2min 59sec class pace at Addington on Tuesday. Bobby Burns was narrowly beaten by Lone Raider and Whanako in the United Handicap at Auckland on Saturday. He may win the Franklin Handicap this week. Withdrawn Soviet Star has been withdrawn from the Shirley Handicap and Thelma Grattan from the Seaview Handicap at the New Brighton Trotting Club’s meeting at Addington to-morrow. Racing at Reefton

Scotch Drift, a consistent performer last season, indicated that he is in good order by finishing in second place to Gallant Thorpe in the third division of the Geraldine Trot Handicap at Orari on Saturday. Scotch Drift will make his next appearance at the Reefton Jockey Club’s meeting to-morrow, where he should race well in the Ikamatua Trot and the Waiuta Trot.

A four-year-old gelding, Scotch Drift, which is trained at New Brighton by G. Cameron for Mr J. McDonald, is by U. Scott from Queen Pot, by Jack Potts from Jessie Bells. May Improve Ann Scott showed a lot of speed at the New Brighton Trotting Club’s meeting on September 6 when, after making a slow beginning, she finished in fourth place to Belhall, Plunder Bar, and Aberhall in the Electric Handicap. Ann Scott has some ability, and if N. L. Berkett can persuade her to leave the mark smoothly in the Farewell Handicap at Addington to-mor-row, she may prove capable of taking part in the finish. From a Winning Family Besides Great Worth and Tall Timber, W. Millner’s team at Sockburn includes a three-year-old colt by U. Scott from Gay Lady and a two-year-old filly by Gold Bar from the same mare. A winner herself, Gay Lady is by Jack Potts from a winnerain the Logan Pointer mare, Logan Princess, which left other winners in Hegal Voyage (the dam of Haughty, Traverse, and Wayfarer), Tinker, Belfast Jack, and Lady Maxine. South Canterbury J.C. Nominations close South Canterbury Jockey Club for two trots, Monday, at 5 p.m. Classes, 3min 37sec and 3min 33sec mile and a half. Advt. TROTTING BOARD ANNUAL MEETING Because of continued ill-health, Mr B. McCarthy, who is seriously ill at present, tendered his resignation to the board of the New Zealand Trotting Association at the annual meeting on Wednesday night. Mr J. B. Thomson and Mr E. A Lee paid tributes to the ability of Mr McCarthy, and it was decided to record the board’s appreciation of his services to trotting. Mr McCarthy joined the board in 1931, serving as president for the last two years. The following officers were elected:— president, Mr J. B. Thomson; • vice-presi-dent, Mr W. M. Ollivier; treasurer, Mr .T, R. McKenzie; licensing committee, Messrs J. R. McKenzie, W. M. Ollivier, and E. A. Lee; colours committee, Messrs J. R. McKenzie and W. M. Ollivier; foreign Ijorse examiners, Messrs J. R. McKenzie, W. M. Ollivier, A. Pirie. A. E Forrest, J. M. Samson, C. R. Caffin, J. B. Thomson, P. G. • Harkness, and W. H. Roche: nomenclature committee, Messrs J. R. McKenzie, W. M. Ollivier, and E. A. Lee. The deaths of the following horses were reported:—Coreopsis, Goldworthy, Jim Driscoll, Marge Pointer, Matai, Maureen Derby, Peggy Chimes, Radleigh, Rapture, Rita Grattan.

The Waikato Trotting Club was finec’ £2O for altering the order of the racea at their meeting on August 30 without first obtaining the consent of the association.

Just Beaten After racing in second place for most of the way in the Introductory Handicap at the Auckland Trotting Club’s meeting on Saturday, Legionnaire was beaten by a nose by Great Venture. An aged gelding by Swordsman from Nelson Princess, Legionnaire may have a winning turn in the Innovation Handicap on the second day of the meeting.