TROTS AT HUTT PARK

Evening Post, Volume CXIX, Issue 32, 7 February 1935, Page 8

TROTS AT HUTT PARK

GOOD CARD FOR SATURDAY

HORSES IN RECENT FORM

The even size and quality of the field:, that have paid up for the Wellington i Trotting Club's Febmaiy Meeting at Hutt I V.irk on Saturday should ensure keen betting and exhilarating racing, and the ' club is fanly optimistic about the outcome being in accord with the piesent tiend. The slower class of the h\ o principal ' e\ ents has enabled the stakes total to be i Kept down, but none of the other six c\ents have suffered, and indeed the' aveiage for them is higher. With a sue- I cessful meeting, as is piomised with the I weather so settled, the club should be able to lecoup some of the lots that it has experienced. this season on account of the wet days for the fiis,t two fixtuies m September and October; The fields on Saturday are of the average I'atk dimensiqns, langmg from seven to twelve, and two dividends at least appear assured in all of them. Several may also carry the third ■'. dividend, but in\estors cannot hope for big thud returns, as more numerous fields are necessary for such prices from the-last placing. With fields of the size that so legularly parade at the Park, it might be advisable were the club to drop this contentious dividend altogether, for those who receive back a few shillings for a pound do not seem to appreciate the tact that their candidate has after all been well beaten, and the ,other prices are consequently also shoitcned below what backers of first and second horses expect. The Hutt Park course is in splenHid order for the meeting when the circumstances of the recent long dry spell aie ;taken into consideration.^ The. lawns, are. well turfed, though naturally the grass is no longer as green as it was. The trade too lias been well looked after, and though it is dry and,fast it will not be feenously hard for the horses, as it is of a yielding nature under the surface. THE PRINCIPAL EVENTS. The principal events of the day are the Dominion Handicap and the Au Revoir Handicap, for which almost identical fields have accepted. The nine horses remaining in the mile and a half heat have also paid up for- the mile and a quarter heat, and the only addition in the latter is the locallytrained Purser, who has not raced for some three months. The Dominion Handicap is a 3.25 class, which is the equivalent of a 4.34 two-mile class, such as last year featured the Autumn Meeting m March and will probably do so again this year. Most of the acceptors have recent winning or place foim. Four of the nine runners will start from the front mark, and of this quartet one pair who will probably make the mam appeal are Jimmy da Oro and Bracken. Jimmy de Oro was a. winner over a mile m saddle at the Canterbury Park Meeting at the New Year, and previously he was successful at New Brighton over Saturday's distance in a slower class, but it is against him that he does not always begin veil. Blacken was third last start at the Metropolitan Royal Meeting, beating Jimmy do Oro over two miles, and he is a solid type of pacer who was well fancied in. several of his engagements at the Auckland Summer Meeting. William Tell has shown little form since his two v ins early in the season, and Young Frank has not raced since early in. December. THE LIKELY FAVOURITE. Qn 12yds is Agile, who mar be the ia.\ounte for Saturday's lace. This five-year-old Bon of Rey de Oro has raced consistently this season, and his work in the south lately has been as attractive as ever. He is la brilliant beginner and he should toon be in a leading position, from which it will not be easy to displace him. At his last start he was" beaten only by the outsider Todd Lonzia in the MidsummerHandicap, over the same distance, at Ashbuiton on Boxing Day. Little Nelson, on the same mark, is a speedy pacer, but he will have to go away right to have a chance with Agile. He was the favourite for the Midsummer at Ashburton, when he was conceding Agile 12yds but was unplaced, and he also has not raced since. Fernbrook Lass's recent form does not look too hopeful, and the remaining candidate on the mark, Mocast, is a much more likely pioposition on the book. Mocast was a winner over 1% miles at Auckland at Christmas, and was second again on the final day, which represents holid form. Mocast may prove the most .serious opponent that Agile has to beat if he reproduces his Epsom form. Somerby, on 48yds, completes the list. At his best he paces brilliantly, but there is little'to commend him in his recent form. His best effort this season has been' to ■■■run" third over a mile-, at. Canterbury Paik at the New Year. He" will find it difficult to concede the distances he has to his Saturday's opposition. The field for the Au Revoir Handicap, lun over a quarter of a mile shorter, will bee the same horses again m action, with the addition of Purser The form in the earlier race will assist bettors, but it may be said that if Agile fails in the Dominion he is still likely to make honourable amends at the end of the day, for he can go a really good mile and a quarter. The distance will also suit Mocast and Bracken, but Little Nelson and Jimmy de Oro hardly begin well enough to be lecommended. Purser is equally good at this distance and races well when fresh, and his recent work at the Park has been pleasing. The other six events will be run over distances from 1% miles to two miles. The only two-mile event is the second trot, the first trot being at IM miles. The four* minor events for the pacers are two at l'/s miles and two at I^4 miles.