NOTES AND COMMENTS

Evening Post, Volume CXIX, Issue 35, 11 February 1935, Page 6

NOTES AND COMMENTS

WELLINGTON TROTS

EXTRA MEETING AT PARK

MAIN EVENT TO BRACKEN

The Wellington Trotting Club's February Meeting, an extra fixture this season utilising one of the vacant Hawke's Bay permits, enjoyed bright sunshine and a light southerly wind for the early events at Hutt Park on Saturday, but after the fifth race heavy mist again began to roll in from the harbour and completely blocked out the sun for the remainder w tiie programme. The track and grounds iiad ireshened up as a result of Friday's ram, but tlio going was still fast. The conditions generally were excellent for good racing. There, was a. satisfactory attendance for an off meeting, though the gates were clown on the January Meeting, and, except nn a i iBml ll s.nitial P°ol o£ Just overt/uu, tne betting- was well up to anticipation For the day the totalisator handled £12,251. compared with £12,487 at last month's meeting, and with £ 10,709 at last year's March Meeting.- Owing to the smaller stakes, this woujd represent a small profit to the club, the first it lias enjoyed this season). . Well-backed-, horses had a good innings during the'day and three first favourites fame home, including- the double trot winner llotsam. With the fields small, and tour of them just sufficient in dimensions tor three dividends, there were naturally no very large prices. FAVOURITE'S EASY WIN. Flotsam won % the Preliminary Handicap rather easily after making a breakwhen ho had travelled half a furlong Ha began quickly, rf and recovered from his mistake to occupy a good position behind the early leader, Header. Approaching the ten furlongs' post, he took the lead and remained there to win easing up by two lengths from the rank outsider, Earl -Bingen. Flotsam is owned by Mr. C. M. Ollivier who is vice-president of the New Zealand Metropolitan . Trotting Club. He is a six-year-old gelding-by Wrack from Berenice, and he is trained by M. Holmes, who drove him. * Header, trotted stylishly to take the lead ii Ai l of a turl PnS> and was going well till he made a break near the'mile-and-a-qnarter. post. .Winbome Laddie and Renova made mistakes ,at the start.1 Renova showed plenty of speed to take second place at the half-mile disc and was well placed when he committed his second error going down the back straight the Jftst time. . Guy o' Mine also spoilt Ins chance by breaking'when 'holding a good position. Earl Bingen was the only candidate to keep to his gait all the way, and this earned him second dividend. Flotsam was. a hot favourite, carrying well over twice as much as any other candidate. The first half-mile was covered in lmin 14sec, and the mile in 2min 22sec. WIN AT SECOND START. . .R; Townley had a comfortable drive behind Harold Wrack, who took the lead at the end of three furlongs in the Woburn Inal Handicap, and never afterwards appeared in danger of defeat. He is* a five-y»*r-old by Wrack from a mare by Harold Dillon, and this was only his second start. The.favourite, Levity, dwelt at the start, but picked up his ground to occupy a good position in fourth place when two furlongs had been covered. He moved into third place at the mile post, and was second into the straight, where,--under -pressure, he broke up badly and finished out of the money. Casino shaped promisingly to finish second, and Edgar Wallace paced solidly all ' the way- for third. Handicapper was pacing well as a likely place-filler till he tit ed in the straight. Orleigh .Mills and Native Son broke at th& start. , , Levity carried £361 10u, Harold Wrack£l42, and Casino £151. The first halfmile was covered in. lmin Bsec, mile 2min 15sec, the mile and a quarter 2min 48sec, r.nd the full distance in 3min 22sec. CONSISTENT PERFORMER. Mrs. D. R. Revell's three-year-old filly Grace McElwyn 'led.-all the' wuy to win the February Handicap after, a spirited finish with Royal de Oro, who trailed her until Jhp straight was reached, sbut could not bgat her. Grace McElwyn is a consisteji pacer by Jack Potts from Jean M&jjßwyn, and she is destined .to do well in iietter company. ■' ■ / Peter Mitchell and Colene Pa'rrish were well placed all the way, but were outclassed at the. finish by Grace .McElwyu and Royal de"Oro. ,"• \ Blondie began slowly, but he travelled fast going down the back straight the last time, and he was handy to the leaders at the bena far home, but then left his feet under pressure. Flintlock and Portlight broke at the stait, and Midshipmaid broke/when she turned into the back straight the fii^it time. - The first half-mile was disposed of in lmin 9 2-ssec, and the mile in 2min- 18 3-ssec, and the. mile and a quarter in 2min 50 3-ssec, and the mile and a half in 3mhV22sec. . Royal de Oro was favourite with £319 ss, Grace McElwyn canying £204 ss. ' , TOO SOLID FOR FAVOURITE. Bracken trailed Young Frank' for a mile, arid t then went to the front and stayed there to win the Dominion Handicap with, his driver' sitting still. Agile, who was in third place from the start, lan into second place at the nine furlongs post. He challenged Bracken in tho straight, but he could not head her. Bracken is raced on lease by Mr." G. J. Barton from her owners, Durbar Lodge, Ltd. She is by. Wrack from Maori Belle, and was well driven by J. Fraser, jun. It was her, first win for a couple of years, but it was anticipated through her recent improved showings. - William Tell paced resolutely all the way, but he was well back in third place at the finishc Young Frank was first to break the line, but he cried enough when he had travelled a mile and a quarter. Jimmy de Oro got away fairly well, but made a bad break when he had covered a furlong and a half. Mocast, Fernbrook Lass, Little Nelson, and Somerby all stopped over the last two furlongs. Agile .was a firm favourite with £519 ss. Bracken carried £222,15s and -William Tell was entrusted with £100- 10s The first .half-mile was compassed in lmin 7sec, the .mile in 2min 13 4-ssec,'the mile and a quarter in 2min 44sec, and the mile and a half in 3min 18sec. EARLIER RESULT REPEATED. Despite hiß penalty of 36yds,, Flotsam won the K'oro Koro Handicap very easily by two lengths from Earl Bingen, who made the pace for nearly a mile and seven iurjongs. Ihese two horses drew .right away from their opponents 'over tho last tour furlongs, Flotsam outstaying Earl Bingen over the last furlong. Header, a poor third, made two mistakes during the contest, and did not finish as well as ho did over a similar journey at Timaru recently. JLnc placmgs were a repetition of the'earlier trotting result. Derby Thorpe -and Guy o' Mine, a wellfavoured bracket, were decisively beaten put the pace was rather too solid for the back-marker. Winsome Laddie left the mark but broke badly when he had travelled half a furlong. Renova was second early but failed to stay. Flotsam was favourite with £365 5s Earl Bingen carrying £304 15s". The first half-mile was 'covered in lmin 15 2-ssec the mile in 2min 22 2-osec, the mile and a half in 2min 29 2-osec, and tho full journey in 4min 38 l-ssec. LEVITY'S ATONEMENT. Levity won tha Suburban Handicap after being under a stiff drive all down tho straight. He gave a much better showing than ho did earlier in the day and at Timaru recently. He, and the second horso Plutus, enjoyed a ■ perfect passage. Levity showed a lot of .ability when a two-year-old, but a mishap put him out of court for some time. This was his best peiformance this season. He was bred by his o^ncr, Mr. W. J. Holland,

(B* '•BAWGATIRA")

and he is a three-year-old gelding by Roy do Oro from Escapade, and he was well handled by M. Holmes Vlutus, Hundicappor, and Edgai Wallace paced solidly all tho vay Kiom 48jds behind, Haiold Wrack made up his giound yery fast to be with the leulei -\\hen torn fuilonga had been coveied, but the icsult Uds ho tued badly when the stiaight wa«. reached. Native Son left the maik kindly, but was beaten a long way fiom home lho fiist mile was tla^plsed in 2min 16 3 sbec Levity was favomito with £383 Plutus earned £213 15s, and Mijai Wallace £223 5s BLONDIE'S GOOD EFFORT. After making a mistake soon aftei the stait, and then being taken o\ei ,1 good deal of giound, Blonche inuahed too well fpr Royal do Oio 111 the Eastbourne Handicap These hoises diew light away 110 m tho field o\ev tl a last thiee tuilon 's and had the finish to themsehes Giace McElwjn went a solid lace fiom 24yds behind to secuie thud monej, and she was limning on stiongly at the close letci ilitchell was the eaily leadei, but. like Ruth Logan, he stopped badly ovei tho concluding stages of the lace Rojal do Oro was a hot favounte with £403 los, Blondie cauying £206. Tho fiist half-mile vas ncpitiated in lmin 12 3-ssec, tho mile in 2min 17sec, and the mile and a quaiter 111 2min 48 1 5-, ec LITTLE NELSON'S SURPRISE. Littlp Nelson won the Au Revoir Handicap attei waiting 011 the leacleis 101 a mile and a £111 long O. E. Hooper had him well placed eaily in the contest, and he kept him in until the stiaight was leached befoie askipg him toi .1 final effoi t • Littlo Nelson is a six-jeai-old gelding by Nelson Deiby from Little Doris, and ho was bred by his owner, Mi. B Gnce, at Tinwald. His dividend, though nothing outstanding, was the best dining the day. Mocnst made up a lot* of giound over the last three fuilongs, and finished well to gain second money. Young Frank and William Tell weie the leaders foi over a mile, where Young Frank weakened. William Tell hung on to fill thiul place. Jimmy de Oro left the mark well, and was within a length of the leadeis when he made a bieak going out of tho straight. Agile was 311 st behind the leaders for a mile and a furlong, but he was squeezed back at the distance post, .and did not get clear in time to make up his lost giound He finished a close foiutli. Agile was favountp with £680, Littlo Nelson cairying £187. Mocast £173 I,oa, and William Tell £278. RESULTS IN DETAIL. Results were-— ' Preliminary Handicap Trot, £120; unhopplcd trotters;' 3.42 class; 1% miles—l Flotsam, scr (M. Holmes), 1; 7 Earl Blngen, scr, 2; c 2 Header, scr, 3. Also started: 3 Winsomo Laddie scr, 4 Renova scr, 6 Blue and Gold 24, 5 Guy o" Mine 60 Tunes, 3mln 29sec, 3mln 29 3-ssec," 3min 81 2-ssec. Woburn Trial Handicap, £100, 343 class; 1% miles—s Harold Wrack, scr (II Townlcy), 1; 3 Casino, scr, 2"; 4 Edgar Wallace, 38, 3. Also started- 2 Handicapper scr, 7 Orlelgh Mills scr, 1 Levity scr, 8 Native Son scr, 0 Guy Zolock 24,,9 Super Ta\ 24 Times, 3mln 22sec, 3min 24sec, 3mm 22 3-sacc February Handicap, £150, 3 33 class ;* 1% miles'—3 Grace McElwyn, scr (R B. Berry), 1, 1 Royal de Oro, 12, 2; 4 Colone Pairlsh, 12; 3 Also started: 8 Peter Mitchell scr, 7 Flintlock Scr, 6 Portllght scr, 2 Blondlo "scr, 5 Midshipmoid 36. Times, 3mln 22soc, 3mln 21 2-5 sec, 3mln 21 4-ssec DOMINION HANDICAP, £200; 3 25 class; 1% miles. 3 Bracken, scr (J. Frasor, jun ) 1 1 Agile, 12 (G. S Smith) ....'. - 2 8 William Tell, scr (J. Brycc, jun ) 3 Also started: 6 Jimmlo de Oro scr, 7 Young Frank scr, 2 Little Nelson 12, 4 Fcrnbrook Lass 12, 5 Mocast 12, 9 Somerby 48. Times, 3min 18sec, 3mln 17 2-3 sec, 3mln 19 2-ssec. Koro Koro Handicap, £130; for unhoppled trotters; 457 class, 2 miles —1 Flotsam, 30 lnc 36}ds penalty (M Holmes), 1; 3 E ar i Bingen, scr, 2, 4 Header, scr, 3 Also started ■ 5 Winsomo Laddie scr, 6 Henova scr, 2 Derby Thorpe 12 and Guy 0' Mine 72 (bracketed). Times, 4min 38 l-sscc, 4mln 41 3-ssec, 4min 43 2-ssec Suburban Handicap, £ 100; 3 3 class; IW. miles—l Levity, scr (M. Holmes), 1; 5 Plutus, scr, 2, 4 Edgar Wallace, 36, 3 Also started: 3 Harold Wrack 48, 2 Handicapper s>cr, 9 Mamaltu scr, 6 Native Son scr, 7 Irevor do Oro scr, 11 Silver Berry 12, 8 Jean Parrish 12, 10 Super Tax 24> Times, 2min 51soc, 2mm 51 l-ssec, 2m:n 49sec . Eastbourne Handicap, £14.0; 2 58 class; 1« miles—4 Blondie, scr (owner), 1; 1 Royal da Oro, 12, 2; 5 Grace McElwjn, 24, 3 Also started: 7 Peter Mitchell sc.r, 2 Ruth Logan scr, b Portllght scr, 8 FllntloU, sci, ! Colenc Parnsh 12. Times,. 2min'4B l-3(iec., Jmln 47 2-osec, 2mln 48 1-jscc , Au Itcvolr' Handicap, £160; 241 class, 1% miles—4 Little Tfelson, 12 (O X Hooper), 1; 5 Mocast, 12, 2; 2 William Tell,, ser, 3. Also started- 6 Jlmmle de Oro scr, 7 YoungFrank scr, 8; Fernbrook Lass 12, 1 Agile 1" 3 Purser 24, 9 Somcrby 48 limes, 2min 44 3-ssec, 2mln 45scc, 2min 4b 1-jsec