TROTTING

Dominion, Volume 22, Issue 92, 12 January 1929, Page 13

TROTTING

TROTTING FIXTURES. January 12—Tlmaru T.C. Summer January 12—Wairio J.C. Annual (two January 5 19—Wellington T.C. Summer. January 24, 26—Forbury Park I.C. NOMINATIONS. January 16—Tapanui R.C. Annual. January 24—Metropolitan T.C. Summer. HANDICAPS. January 12—Forbury Park T.C. January 18—Nelson T.C. Annual. January 23—Tapanui R.C. Annual. January 29—Metropolitan T.C. Summer. ACCEPTANCES. January 15—Wellington T.C. Summer. January 16—Forbury Park T.C. January 25—Nelson T.C. Annual. January 30 —Tapanui R.C. Annual. TIMARU MEETING (By “Overcheck.”) The summer meeting of the Tlmaru Trotting Club will be held to-day. r-ach race has filled well, and the racing promises to be of an interesting character The first race is the Claremont Handicap, of a mile and a half, for unhoppled trotters. The class is not a strong one, and it would seem that the prospects of Scuttle Kereta. Koro Peter, and Aileen Wood are likely to be held In esteem. At Ashburton on Boxing Daj Aileen Wood won the Mitcham Handicap from Duco and Scuttle, the latter being tvo lengths away. The pair then met on level terms, whereas Scuttle now reaches 36 yards. Kereta won the Petrie Handicap at Greymouth in October, defeating kelson Parrish, who has since shown good form. Koro Peter has had a busy time of late, and he won the Express Handicap at Greymouth on January 4. His form has however, been somewhat the public may prefer Scuttle, Kereta, and Aileen Wood.

It is possible that one of those on the front mark in the Improvers Handicap may prove equal to winning this event, but the chances are that the public will prefer to rely on Sunny Bob, Ono^.°’ h Ma y > Locanda, and Lindberg. Sunny Bob was second to Tarndale atGore in O to his while Onoto has a eouple of thirds to his credit, his la’St placed performance bein = a third to Return Voyage at Oamnruin December. Mary Locanda is a fair -ort, while Lindberg showed winning form at Greymouth recently. Possibly Onoto, Lindberg, and Mary Locanda will do best.

A very useful lot are engaged in the President’s Handicap. Of the pair on the front Invader reads best, though of late has has not been racing up to expectations. Harold Burwood u ill, I anticipate, find the distance too far In the Ashburton Cup Avenger finished n front of Kotuku Jack when conceding 1-j ds. Now that they meet on equal terms. Avenger should again head him off. is netting on in years, and I doubt bis abiHtv to win from a 4.35 mark, though at Addington in August, 1927, he went 4.33 3-5 William the Great is preferred to Omaha. General Bingen, or Macaranda. Jolly Pet has behaved so badly of late that one hesitates to recommend him. Billy Sea is handicapped within three-fifths of a second of his best time, but as the class is not overstrong he should go a good race. Dundas Boy ran second in the Ashburton Cun from a 4.34 mark; now he is on 4.3-, and meets Billy Sea on 24yds. worse terms. Still, Dundas Boy is undoubtedly on the up-grade, and he has yet to play his best card. Of the others on 4.32, I look to Trampfast to do best, as lie is capable orunning inside his handicap when Firelight failed at Otahuhu from a 4.34 mark, ami hardly looks a likely proposition on 4.31. Author Jinks is giving away a lot of ground, but if driven judiciously is likely to be handy at the finish. At Ashburton on Boxing Day he ran to Kotuku Jack in a mile and a qua-er race when conceding 72yds.; now he has to concede only 96yds. over tw o mlies. When heads are turned for home, Avenger, Billy Sea, and Trampfast may be in front.

A number of those engaged in the Levels Handicap contested the Midsummer Handicap at the Ashburton meeting on Boxing Dav, and of these June de Oro did best. Harold Logan contested the Advance Handicap at the same meeting, finishing fourth. He was on 3.39 in that race, the winner of which reduced her handicap by over 7 seconds, so Harold Logan would have had to do better than 3.31 to have won. In the present race he is on 3.36. At Hawera last April Beverley Audubon ran 3.33 4-5, and a repetition of that form would give her a chance in this race. Mountain Ore won the Geraldine Trot at the Geraldine .meeting in September rather comfortably in 3.39 3-5, and as he comes from J. Grice’s stable is likely to be well supported. Several of the others are promising, and the race generally bears an open appearance, but in Harold Logan, Mountain Ore, and Beverley Audubon form a very likely trio.

The Waimate Handicap is a two-mile race for unhoppled trotters and the result will depend very largely on how the various contestants behave during the running. I am inclined to favour Quicktire most of those on the front mark. New Metford is a promising sort, while Avalanche and Sea Queen are two old hands that should not be far away when the judge’s box hoves in sight. Avalanche has done better than 4.52, the mark he is on, while Sea Queen should be well suited in this particular class. Commander Bingen won at Auckland but is inclined to leave his feet, and I would take Len Wood in preference to him. The finish may be between Quickfire, New Metford and Avalanche.

Of those in the first half of the Pnreora Handicap, Travis Axworthy and Warepa make the strongest appeal. Evelyn Locanda is racing well and she should secure some of the stake money. Dillon Gold may account for Avenger. Harold Burwood is not reliable and Arran Chief should account for him at a difference of only 12 yards. The public may place the greatest confidence in Travis Axworthy, Evelyn Locanda and Warepa. It will come as no surprise to find Great Logan being made a firm favourite in the Salisbury Handicap, bjit he mav not have matters all his own way for Kiowa is a useful sort, and is nicely placed on 4.45, while Curfew Bell, Becky Mine, and Delightful are a trio likely to also run well. Of the back-marker's Wakatana and Mercury appeal most. The latter won a double in saddle at Addington, and is evidently back to form, but whether she will race as well in harness remains to be seen. On the whole, the pulilie may prefer Great Logan, Kiowa, and Delightful. Hackthornc should give a good account of himself in the Farewell Handicap, which is a saddle event of one mile. Chef was supported to win at Addington in better company than he now meets, and this may be accepted as evidence that he is well. King Abdullah won the Harvest Handicap, a mile and a quarter, at Ashburton in 2.54 2-5, and he should be capable of going inside 2.19. If anything beats these three, it may be Royal Serene, who went 2.16 at Ashburton In June in dead going. This is the mark she is now on. WELLINGTON MEETING The handicaps for the Wellington Club’s meeting, which were published yesterday, have provided food for thought for trotting enthusiasts, who are looking forward to the meeting at Hutt Park on Saturday next. With the material in hand at present the meeting should be a particularly interesting one. The following corrections in the handicaps for the Wellington meeting were notified yesterday:— Cup.—Jackie Audubon, 18yds., not 12 yds. Novice Handicap.—Larmel, not Carmel, scr. Quality Trotters’ Handicap.—Proud Ata, 12yds., not scr. Dispatch Handicap.—Logan Park, 24yds., not 42yds. The Gold Cup is a 4.30 class, not 4.50.