TROTTING

Dominion, Volume 22, Issue 264, 3 August 1929, Page 17

TROTTING

FIXTURES. August 10, 14, 16—N.Z. Metropolitan Club. NOTES AND COMMENTS

(By

"Overcheck.”)

Acceptances for the first day of the New Zealand Metropolitan Trotting Club’s August meeting will close at noon next Tuesday. It was generally expected that the new system of handicapping adopted at the recent conference would be subject to criticism, and so far as my recollection goes those who championed the change have never contended that it is pertect. XV e know it is not, but I am one of those who believe that on the whole it will prove mure equitable than the methods of the past. The system has already been the subject of criticism by an Auckland writer, who remarks: —“When the New Zealand Trotting Conference adopted the ‘systematic’ handicapping scheme, maximum penalties were fixed which gives adjusters still a discretionary power, but no provision was made for a ‘letting up’ policy, although the New Zealand Metropolitan handicapper, Mr. G. Paul, appears to have made such a method applicable in framing the Addington allotment, When Young Blake was placed on a 4.20 J mark at Auckland, be was liberally treated, and as pointed out in ‘The Sun’ at the time, it was the handicapper’s tip, and the trotter duly landed. On the concluding day off 4.29 in the pacers’ contest, Young Blake finished in third place, and rightly no penalty is awarded a horse in this class getting the small end of the purse. But in the big event at Addington, Morgan O’Brien’s fine trotter is ‘let up’ 12 yards, being on a 4.3 U mark. This is a bad beginning for the new system.’’ Just why the new handicapping system should be mentioned in connection with the “letting up’’ of Young Blake, it is difficult to appreciate, as that system deals solely with the maximum penalties that may be imposed, and there was no Idea of interfering in any other way with the discretionary power of the handicapper. It is true that, taking a line through some of those he met at Auckland, Young Blake is nicely handicapped, but I do not propose to discuss that particular aspect of the question. The point I want to make is that the “letting up’* of Young Blake has nothing whatever to do with the new r system of handicapping. The race he won from a 4.29 J mark was one for trotters only, which is quite a different proposition to the August Handicap, in which his chances have to be assessed in comparison with a field of very high grade pacers. Two of these, it may be mentioned, arc only asked to concede Young Blake 12 yards, although they have actually gone 4.26 and 4.26 2-5 as against his 4,28 3-5. I' urthermore, it may be pointed out that Daphmde Oro ran third at the Canterbury Park meeting in April from off the front in :i 4.28 class, but she was subsequently ‘let up” to the extent of a second and raced from a 4.29 mark in the King George Handicap in June. This was before the new system was introduced. Other instances could be cited but one is sufficient to prove the point.

Mr. V. Jacobs has given a smoker’s companion, valued at 10 guineas, to be presented to the driver of the winner of the principal event at the benefit trotting meetIng to be held at Addington in September In aid of the earthquake relief fund. Reinsman A. J. Gregg has old Emilias in great racing trim, and, considering the number of years he has been at the stud, he recorded a great performance to win the Ascot Plato (says a Tasmanian writer). He led from start to finish, and, although May Duke and Cantab Rock threatened him turning for home, the Rothschild horse only needed to be shaken up to beat them home. He finished more strongly than cither of the others, in spite ot making all the pace, and clipped the limit by tbret. fifths of n second, so will be penalised only 12 yards for the victory. Should his legs stand the strain of a searching preparation he should be good for another race or two before ho has finished with the trotting tracks. At Elphln the previous Saturday be finished second to Cardinal on little or no work, but that race evidently topped him up for the event last week-end. He Is a very stylish mover, and travels like a machine.

The cinder track at Addington is in strong demand these days, and the cinders are reported to have been a great boon to trainers during the recent bad weather.

Logan Chief is getting through his work in a useful manner at Addington, and notwithstanding bls advancing years is still able to give a nice burst of speed.

Baron Bingen lias been placed under the care of C. S. Donald.

Ahuriri will be a starter In the International Handicap, of one mile, at Addington on Saturday week (states an exchange), but the Cathedral Chimes horse is not generally regarded as a crack sprinter, and his chances will not be favoured. The race should help to sharpen him up for his two-mile engagements later at the meeting, and he should be in better form for tho National Handicap on the third day.