TROTTING BREVITIES

Evening Post, Volume CXXI, Issue 141, 16 June 1936, Page 13

TROTTING BREVITIES

That good trotter Nicoya is all to pieces. He refused to trot a yard in the Mayfield Handicap. They were a rough lot of maiden trotters at Ashburton, but Swift Guy is a solid sort who may stay on better later.

Gay Crusader began fast to lead out in the Longbeach Handicap, but went to a break and was not prominent in the last mile.

Patty Todd was backed confidently in the right quarter for the Longbeach Handicap, and with any sort of a run she would have been much closer than fourth.

Victor Bingen is one of the oldest trotters in commission, and the passing of the years has not improved this moody and erratic customer.

Llewellyn's Pet broke 3min 20sec for fourth in the Tinwald Handicap, and is definitely returning to her best form. She had to give starts to 18 horses. I The class in Canterbury seems to be a shade above the pretensions of Francis Lincoln, who could do no better than a moderate sixth in the Ashburton County Handicap. When Maltravers finished a good fifth in the 1935 Sapling Stakes, it seemed any odds to his winning a race early in the new season, but more than twelve months have elapsed and he is still a maiden. His speed is unquestionable, but he is not over-imbued with the fighting spirit.

"If ifs and ands. . . ."If Frisco Boy had received a clear run; if Southern Chief had covered less ground. These are two bones of contention that will invest the New Zealand Derby and Wellington Stakes with much interest. The one with most room for improvement at the present time is Frisco Boy. Moana Tama was quietly fancied for the Tinwald Handicap at Ashburton, I but he settled any chance he may have had by breaking early. It is hard to credit now that he beat probably the strongest field that ever lined up for the Sanling Stakes, those present including Gamble, Graham Direct, Grace McElwyn, and Subsidy. ' Discord is being hailed as another Sea Gift, and she certainly gave this opinion a boost by her polished display at Ashburton. She could have improved on the 3min 20 l-ssec she registered in winning the Mayfield Handicap from start to finish, and she has rare brilliance as well as staying ability superior to that of anything on and near her marks.