AT ADDINGTON

Evening Post, Volume CX, Issue 41, 16 August 1930, Page 23

AT ADDINGTON

METROPOLITAN TROTS NOTES ON THE RACING (By Telegraph.) (Special to "The Evening Post.") CHRISTCHURCH, 15th August. The August Meeting o£ the New Zeiir land Metropolitan Trotting Club was concluded at Addington to-day in bright sunshine. < There was some high-class racing. In the National Cup, Traps Asworthy fell on the home turn, bringing Linkman down. Earlier in the race Terence Dillon had to be pulled up with a damaged sulky wheel. J. S. Shaw, the driver of Native Prince, was fined £25 for careless driving. The final event provided a no\*elty. A dense fog enveloped the ground, and the. horses could Dot be seen until they were within a hundred yards of the winning-post. The totalisator investments were £40,599, compared with £50,204 on the third day last year, the total for the meetiug being £101,178 10s, against £134,025 last year. MIDWINTER HANDICAP. .Racing over his favourite distance, Admiral Biugen easily accounted for the Midwinter Handicap. As usual, he went away very fast, and going down the back the first time raced past most of the field, being in second place at the end of three furlongs. From this point he was never troubled, and won easily. Admiral Bingen is one of the fastest trotters now racing, and although he is staying better with age, he is best in a mile and a half race. He is by Nelson Bingen from the American-bred mare Bonny Jenny. As he is only six years old he is likely to make further improvement. Midland trotted a sound race, but had uo chance with the winner. Midland has shown a good deal of improvement of late, and, although a better stayer than Admiral Bingen he has not the speed of his conqueror. Cannonball, who won on the second day, put up another fine race, and is evidently back to his very best form. He seems to be quite sound again, after his spell, and he may win over a longer journey later in the season. t LIGHTNING HANDICAP. Laplander created something of'a surprise "by accounting for the Lightning Handicap. In the concluding stages he stayed better than anything else in the field, and won decisively, paying a good dividend. Laplander is owned in Methven, and is trained by F. G. Holmes at Addington. He is a. useful pacer by the defunct Harold Dillon, and is equally good over sprint or long courses. He has some good mile performances to his credit, but his latest effort is his best to date. The ex-Auckland pacer Tony-Victor has not been long in C. S. Bonald's stable. He put up a good race, and after losing his position rounding the turn into the straight, came on again and got second. He seems to be best in saddle events. NATIONAL HANDICAP. King Pointer, who won the National Handicap, seemed to be somewhat lucky to secure the victory, as the race was not run, at a sound speed all the way. It was slow for the first mile, and this may have helped the Methven-trained pacer, who is not a real stayer. King Pointer was somewhat unlucky in his race on the second day, when he finished second to Cardinal Logan in the Speedway Handicap. He is in good form at present, and is pacing well over all distances. He is by Young Star Pointer, and has been trained for all his races by 0. E. Hooper, who drov^ him to victory. In finishing second to King Pointer, the Nelson-owned pacer Imprint repeated his performances in the chief event of the earlier days, so he can be accounted very. unlucky. Imprint'is in his best form, and Berkett thoroughly understands the big Denver Huon gelding. FEDERAL HANDICAP. Muriel de Oro, who won the Federal Handicap, gave further evidence of her brilliancy over sprint courses by finishing in fine style. Owing to F. G. Holmes's injury in the National Handicap, Muriel de Oro was driven by J. S. Shaw. She is a five-year-old by Eey de Oro from a mare purchased by her owner during a trip to America. Though small, she has a fine turn of speed, and, has also won over two miles. Further •successes should come her way during the season. The Wellington pacer, Logan's Pride, had every chance, but Muriel de Oro was too good for him. Logan's Pride does not seem to be in such good form as when he last raced at Addington. HEATHCOTE HANDICAP. Invader, the winner of the Heathcotc Handicap, had raced well earlier in the meeting, although he bored very badly. In his latest effort he went much straighter and being a fine stayer accounted for the race with ease, giving C. S. Donald his first win in the new season. Invader is none too sound, but he is a very i)romising pacer and is best over two-mile courses. Neeoro, who got second to Invader, put up fast time in the race, covering the two. miles in tain 24 4-ssec, and qualifying for the Cup. He is a much, improved pacer, as he did not have the beat of the running during the race. ADDINGTON HANDICAP. After winning the two niUe race for trotters on each of the first two days, John Mauritius, who is improving with his racing, had a very easy victory in the Addington Handicap. At the August meeting last season Koro Peter won the three trotters' races over a mile and a half. John Mauritius is in such good form at present that he may be successful again before long. Maxegin, who was second to John Mauritius, spoilt his chance by a bad beginning. Once he hit his gait he trotted solidly all the way, and stayed on well. He showed good form at the meeting, and had he gone steadily it is probable he would have won a race. ~ ISLINGTON HANDICAP. Royal Silk showed a lot of improvement when he won the Islington Handicap, in which he was made a good favourite. He is a four-year-old by Silk Thread from the speedy sprinter, Glimpse, and he was bred by S. J. Thomas. He was purchased by his present owner for a big figure, going into C. S. Donald's stable, and he raced well as a three-year-old. He is a quality-looking pacer, who much resembles his sire, and, like Silk Thread, he stays well. It was a fast race, as Royal Silk was handicapped at 4min 39sec, and went nearly lOsee faster. Apex paced a flue race, in which lie finished second to Royal Silk in fast time. Apex, who is by Denver Huon, gave promise of being a good stayer early in his career, but later he was raced with some success over short distances. Ho is trained by E. A. Berry at Addington. An inquiry into the running of Tioyal Silk is to be held to-day. No dividends were p;iid out. FAREWELL HANDICAP. Native Prince showed further evidence of being on the top of his form by winning the l'Vowell Handicap in a good finish. He won the King George Handicap on the second day, over two miles, and finished third in the National Handicap, being beaten by King Pointer and Imprint. The Auckland pacer has done well during the winter months since he has been at Addington. It was at first intended not to start him in the two mile event on the last day, but there was a change of plans, the two-miles race did not seem to affect him at all, as he showed great brilliancy in the mile and a quarter event. Bonny Logan seems to keep her form in a wonderful manner. She has been racing for a number o£ years, and is still a power in sprint events. She came with a fine'dash over the last furlong, and was narrowly beaten. Dotalls :— Jlldwlntcr Handicap (harness), of MO soys; 3 32 class; unliopplcd trotters; one mile and a I,'alf 2 Admiral Hitmen, 72yds bhd (P. G. Holmes) 1; 7 Midland, sit, 2; S Cannonball. Slyds blul, 3. Also started: <i (Jomltpht, II) Taraahinc, 3 While Satin scr, 1 Ilumo Voyagu, 9 Bonetn. 0 Flfa. 13 Trampcrlsp 12yds blid, 11 AH Peters, 15 Nelson Ata, 14 Nelson Boy 24yds bhd, 16 Blngen Starr, 12 Joclc Bingen 36yds blu!, 5 Maxeßln 72yds bhd. Times: Smln 23'soc. Smln 28 2-saec, 3min 22scc. Lightning Handicap (saddle), of 300 soys; 2.13 class t ono mila<—B Laplander, 12yrts fihd