WANGANUI TROTS

Evening Post, Issue 82, 6 April 1936, Page 13

WANGANUI TROTS

"DOUBLE" WINNERS

IRONSIDE AND ROCKELLA

There was some splendid racing at the Wanganui Trotting Club's Second Meeting on Saturday, and the times were considerably faster, due to the much-improved track compared with the previous Saturday.

Favourites had a good innings, but in all except one instance they returned surprisingly good dividends. King Franz, who scored his maiden success in the Borough Handicap, returned a dividend of nearly a score. There was an increased attendance, the totalisator handling £7547 10s, against £5322 10s for the second day last year, a total of £13,074 for the two days, an increase of £2102 on last year's figures. AN IMPROVEMENT. Baron Grand showed considerable improvement on his performances of the previous week to finish on a bit better than Dusky Chum in the Improvers' Handicap. He had Activity for a pacemaker until two furlongs from home, when he came out from the rails with Dusky Chum in hot pursuit. Activity dropped back at the distance, and Dusky Chum failed by a good length to reach Baron Grand. The winner is a three-year-old colt by Baron Chenault, a little-known horse by Peter Chenault (imp.) from Onyx, 3min 13sec, holder of the mile and a half pacing record against time. Baron Grand's dam is Welcome Pearl. Dusky Chum went a fine race to register 3min 25 4-ssec from the back, but Tollgate, well placed after a quarter, stopped badly at the business end. Epilogue and Roadster were the best of the others. Carus went away very slowly, and continued at the same rate. A BIG SURPRISE. King Franz, whose previous few performances had been far from impressive, led all the way in the Borough Handicap, and righted himself cleverly after, twice mixing his gait in the last quarter. He is an aged bay horse by Native King from La Franz, and is a half-brother to two useful pacers in Concertina and Jazolock. He is owned and trained by D. W. Hansen, who drove him. Native Tree was giving the winner half a dozen lengths at the half-mile, and finished resolutely to cut the very tired Tecla out of second place. Kraal went off at a gallop and was never dangerous, and all the others made mistakes at some stage. Polly Pan, who broke twice, was the worst offender, and dropped right out in the back the last time. THREE-YEAR-OLD STAYS BEST. Baron Alfonso outstayed Great Chum decisively in the Suburban Handicap, although there was only a length in it. The winner broke up at the start, losing five or six lengths, but he had made up the loss at the end of a mile, and remained in close attendance to Great Chum until coming to the home turn, where he came outside Wrackless and Great Chum and soon had their measure. Baron Alfonso is a three-year-old gelding by Frank Worthy (imp.) from Gineta, who was imported from America by Mr. E. R. Davis, of Auckland, the breeder of Baron Alfonso. Gineta was by Atlantic Express, who had a mile record of 2min 7Jsec. The winner is raced in partnership by the Hon. Mark Fagan and Mr. E. Davis. Wrackless . stopped ,in the straight after making his dab at the half-mile. Waving Corn was asked to cover much extra ground, and did well to get third. Meadow King showed speed for a mile and a half after failing to begin, and then collapsed. Orleigh Mills- was last throughout. IRONSIDE AGAIN. Ironside again had a better finishing, ruir'.than Treasure Bond and Rockella in the Liverpool Handicap, the placings being the same as in the Wanganui Handicap a week before. A smart beginning carried Ironside up to sixth place in a close-running field at the end of half a mile, and he was not asked for his best until the last quarter, when he came on the outside to measure off the opposition in a manner lending support to the opinion that only now is the Wrack gelding beginning to live up to his two-year-old promise. Rockella was driven a waiting race, but could not get clear in the straight, otherwise he would probably have beaten Treasure Bond for the other ■dividend. He had to alter his course twice in the run home, and' by the time he got through on the inner he was still two lengths from his objective. Rayon dOr and Blondie, who made all the pace, were in distress before they straightened up. Rayon dOr was a fair fourth, but Blondie disappeared out the back. Guymond was going well half a mile out, but made no further impression. Our McKinney showed small improvement, and Rare Rey stopped on the mark. FIRST TO DONALD. The backmarker, Celebrity, gave 48 yds and a sound beating to Cassidy in the Stewards' Handicap, but if Sir Frank had been made more use of there may have been a different story to tell. Celebrity gave C. S. Donald his first win at the meeting, and she went an improved race. . She is a three-year-old chestnut filly by Jack Potts from Delco, and is owned 'by the Christchurch sportsman Mr. W. E. Stickings. Sir Frank should soon do better. He was always there, and was finishing full of running. Real Pal had a spar with Cassidy crossing the top, with honours to the latter, and Real Pal died into fourth. He does not relish the hard stuff. Nelson's Princess did not begin, and Worthy Song never looked like leaving. Abyssinian King petered right out after leading for about six furlongs. AFTER A BAD LAPSE. Polly Pan really outclassed the poor opposition in the Borough Handicap, but had to overcome a bad lapse shortly after she had covered a mile. Native Leaf challenged. her at this "*■""? .and, took the lead, Polly Pan breaking and losing several lengths. She was so far. in front of the others, however, that she had time to settle down and hold second place. She travelled f: ;t when into her gait again, and returned the compliment to Native Leaf, who could not match her speed, and broke up never to settle again. Polly Pan easily accounted for the threats of Arapai and Lucky Rose, but had to be handled very carefully, for fear of breaking again. Native Tree, who broke early, was a poor fourth. The others didn't matter. A DEAD HEAT IN MILE. . Excitement ran high when Parochial, Silk Cord, and Allworthy came to grips at the distance post in the Louis Cohen Memorial Handicap. Allworthy was the first to cry enough, but Parochial and Silk Cord went stride for stride, and passed the judge in line. Parochial did not get away as well as usual, but F. J. Smith, who accepted the drive, pushed her through on the fence to take third place before half-way, and after that the three leaders had the places in keeping. Parochial looked a bit unlucky as the race was run. Parochial is a four-year-old bay mare by the Auckland Cup winner Great Parrish from Aggie Fame, and is owned and trained by G. McNickle. Silk Cord is a half-brother by Silk Thread to Impromptu, and is trained by C. Moran, who holds the deadheater on lease from his breeder, Mr. J. R. McKenzie. Cherrill came up with a rush at the straight entrance, but did not continue the run. She was fourth, followed by Tollgate. Casino again went moderately. ROCKELLA READILY. Rockella practically annihilated the sprinters in his repeat success over a mile and a quarter, a distance at which he should climb to much better class. He began best of those on 12yds, beinjj early in third place to Rare Rey and Blondie. He went up to Rare Rey leaving the straight, and

quickly settled all other claims when the home stretch was begun. Blondie dropped away apparently beaten at the top of the straight, but came again in the last 100 yds to such purpose that he deprived Treasure Bond of- second place when the latter's dividend prospects looked assured. Treasure Bond was one of the slowest to begin, but would not have beaten Rockella in any case. Rayon dOr, who was always with the leading bunch, could not pull out anything like a decent finish, and Guymond was merely fair. Rare Rey beat a sudden retreat on leading to the straight. RESULTS IN DETAIL. Results were:— Improvers' Handicap, £70; 3.43-class; 114 miles. —4 Baron Grand, scr (A. Garnett),.!; I Dusky Chum, 3(i, 2; 5 Activity, scr, .3. Also started: 7 Roadster scr and St. Hal scr (bracketed), 15 Epilogue scr, 2 Carus scr, 3 Tollgates 30. Length; two lengths. Times: 3niin liSsec, 3min 23 4-ssec, 3min 29sec. ■' . Borough Handicap, £70; for trotters; 3.4!) class; JMi miles.—B King Franz, scr, 1; 1 Natives Tree, 24, 2; 3 Tecla. scr, 3. Also started: 6 Stalky scr, 1 Red Hula scr (bracketed with Native Tree), 10 Native Bird 24, II Bell Hoather 24, 4 Native Leaf 36, 9 Kraal 3G, 2 Polly Pan 60, 5 Worthy Nor 72, 7 Arapai S4. Two lengths; four lengths. Times: Umin 33 l-sscc, 3min 34 l-sscc, 3min 38 ;(-ssec. Suburban Handicap, £70; 4.55 class; 2 miles. —2 Baron Alfonso, scr (F. J. Smith), 1; 3 Great Chum, scr, 2; 5 Waving Corn, 12. 3. Also started: <1 Meadow King..l 2, 1 Wrackless 24, 6 Orleigh Mills 60. Two lengths ; eight lengths. Times: 4min 39 4-ssec, 4min 40sec, 4min 41 4-asec. LIVERPOOL HANDICAP, £125; 4.45 class; 2 miles. 1 Ironside, 36 (J. G. Robertson) 1 •J, Treasure Bond, scr (A. Bryce) 2 5 Rockella, 12 (C. Moran) 3 Also started: 7 Rare Rey scr, 6 Blondie scr, 8 Our McKinney 12, 3 Rayon dOr 12, 9 Nelson's Chum 36, 4 Guymond 30. Length each way. Times: 4min 31 2-ssec, 4min ,35 1-Dsec, 4mln 34 l-ssec. : Stewards' Handicap, £70; 3.5 class; li miles.—3 Celebrity, 48 (C. S. Donald), 1; 1 Cassidy, scr, 2 ; 7 Sir Frank, scr, 3. Also started: 8 Lady Snips scr, 9 Abyssinian King scr, 5 Nelson's Princess scr, 4 Worthy Song scr, 6 Epilogue scr, 10 Juggler scr, 2 Real Pal 24. Length; same. Times: 2min 48 l-ssec, 2inin 52 2-ssec, 2mln 53sec. Ballance Handicap, £75; for trotters.; 5.2 class; 2 miles.—2 Polly Pan, 24 (F. J. Smith), 1: 4 Arapai, 60, 2; 3 Lucky Rose, 36, :j. Also started: 3 Native Tree scr and Red Huia scr (bracketed), 6 Native Leaf scr, 8 Native Bird scr, 9 Bell Heather scr, 7 Stalky scr, 5 Worthy Nor 36. Two lengths: three lengths. Times: 4min 45 2-ssec, 4min 42 4-ssec, 4min 40 4-saec.

Louis Cohen Memorial Handicap, £70; 2.23 class; 1 mile.—l Parochial, six (F. J. Smith), ■ant! 4 Sillc Cord, scr (C. Moran), dead heat, 1; 5 AUworthy, scr, 3. Also started: 8 Tollgate scr, 6 Waving Corn scr, 2 Cherrill scr, 9 Dandy Locanda scr and Lee Nelson 36 (bracketed), 7 Casino scr, 3 Wracltlesa scr, 12 Baron Derby 12, 12 Tennessee's Child 12. 11 Bolinda King 36, 10 Daddy Longlegs 36. Two lengths between dead-heaters and third. Times: 2min 15sec, 2min losec, 2min 15 4-ssec. FAREWELL*HANDICAP, £80; 2.55 class; IV* miles. 1 Eockclla, 12 (C. Moran) 1 4 Blondie, scr (C. S. Donald) .'.. 2 a Treasure Bond, scr (A. Bryce) 3 Also started: 6 Raro Key scr, 7 Our McKlnnoy 12, 2 lUyon dOr 12, 8 Winshow 24, 9 Nelson's Chum 36, 3 Guymond 36.

Length; neck. Times: 2min 47sec, 2min 48 l-ssec, 2min 4S 2-ssec. '