WELLINGTON TROTTING CLUB

Evening Post, Volume CXXIII, Issue 56, 8 March 1937, Page 13

WELLINGTON TROTTING CLUB

BONNY AZURE IN ARMSTRONG MEMORIAL

(By "Ribbonwood.")

With another big increase in ihe gate and totalisator receipts, the Wellington Trotting Club will show a substantial profit over Saturday's meeting, which was also a great success from a sporting point of view. The belting facilities at Hutt Park, however, are still evidently inadequate to cope with all the business on offer within the time schedule, which at this meeting had been increased to iorty minutes between races. The programme drifted from its olbcxol course until the last event was run over half an hour late.

There was only one official inquiry, that into the accident in the Randwick Handicap, in which Franz Derby put her foot through Swordsman's sulky wheel.. The stewards decided that the happening was purely accidental. South Island stables provided four of the winners, Gallant Knight, Starwyn, Tommy Boy, and Reno, but the outstanding successes of Bonny Azure and Franz Derby are an indication of the increasing strength of those stables operating the southern portion of the North Island. Bonny Azure's clear-cut victory in the Armstrong Memorial Handicap entitles her to rank as the best mare in the Dominion and Australia today; while Franz Derby, who is trained in Palmerston" North, is a smooth-actioned, brilliant trotter now well on the way to metropolitan company. Her exhibition in the two-mile trot was to all intents faultless. The remaining winners were Our Peggy, a good improver from Frankton Junction, and Queenie Direct, the local mare who returned a win dividend approaching three-quarters of a century when she received the verdict in a blanket finish to the Taita Novice Handicap. The totalisator investments were £23,025 10s, compared with £15.661 last year, an increase of £7364 10s. ALL THE WAY AGAIN. Tommy Boy staged another lone hand in the Handwick Handicap, and won by a good length from Indolent in much the same comfortable manner as he did oh the second day of the February Meeting. Bronte, who was a length behind Indolent in third place, attempted to force the pace and: take the lead .with half the journey covered, but Tommy Boy never _ looked like giving a yard, and he easily held off a challenge from Indolent in the run home. It was a solid exhibition, and the winner, who was converted from the pacing gait, is a good deal better than was generally thought. He may have been fortunate, however, in the wholesale debacle that descended upon the favourites. Gerfalcon broke leaving the straight, and again about three furlongs from home, and he finished a poor fourth. Swordsman and Franz Derby were putting in great work at the far turn when Franz Derby put her foot through Swordsman's sulky wheel and wrecked the chances of both. Franz Derby appeared to be doing it better than anything at the time. Most of the others were unsteady. Renegade went solidly enough, but retired quickly when the pressure was on. STARWYN CLEARS OUT. Starwyn, settling down smartly in the Autumn Novice Handicap, made the opposition look very cheap. The ■further they went,' the more assured was his victory, and he was easing up at the post four lengths_ clear of Pursuit. Starwyn, an American-bred four-year-old stallion by Mr. McElwyn, lmin -59Jsec, from Sunstar, has taken time to acclimatise, and he will be a lot better yet. He is owned by Mr. G. J. Barton, and is one of the strong team controlled by F.C. Dunlevey. Pursuit came late on the scene, and outstayed Crocus by half a length. This sister to Waress is^the same fineyboned type as that-good n¥afe,'arid'fqr.btiesp inexperienced she shows promise. Crocus also came from the middle of the field at the half-mile post, and on this form she should be a winner on the West Coast circuit. Transfer tired after tackling Starwyn in the early stages and: holding on to him for nearly a mile. He was a fair fourth. Queenie Direct and Snowy Bingen were the best of the. others. .Wynan, Mauri McKinney, and Chili Bean were among those to ruin their . chances through breaking. OUR PEGGY NOT THREATENED. Our Peggy confirmed her good form at Auckland, where she won a double, by staging an end-to-end win in the Wainui Handicap. When it came to the last furlong, Glorietta was the only one in a position to make a race of it for Our Peggy, who had more in hand, however, and was a good length clear at the post. Glorietta went an honest race, and will pay her way at Wanganui and Hawera. Diversion was a safe third, but was four lengths behind the second horse, and there was another gap to Great Chum. The form of the others, while not instructive, left some excuse for Dark Hazard and Icevus, both of whom broke at the start and had to cover a lot of ground. Native Cole showed a good turn of speed in the middle stages. Our Peggy, a five-year-old bay mare by Our Thorpe, 2min 6 2-ssec, who at one time was the mile record holder, is a sister.to Joy Bird, who. won several races. She is owned by _F. Smith, of Frankton Junction, who trains her himself. ; ' : NONE BUT THE BRAVE. Bonny Azure effectively silenced the claims of a stout field in the Armstrong Memorial Handicap, her well-timed run from the top of the straight .being characteristic' of this great staying mare's inherent determination. Big Author was allowed to take 2min 17sec for the mile, and he and King's Warrior were at the mile and a half in 3min 23 2-ssec. King's Warrior, who •was last at the. mile, took time by the forelock in the next furlong, and sprinted past the entire field actually to head Big Author for the lead in that short space. He could not hold ms advantage on the bend, however-, and was content to remain alongside the pacemaker until well down the back. Three furlongs from home Kmg s Warrior, Big Author, Gunfire, and Bonny Azure were racing in close order. Ihen Recess sprinted past Bonny Azure, the latter being held until two furlongs from home for her final move. Kings Warrior was clear of Recess at the straight entrance, and Big Author, on the fence, was giving ground to Bonny Azure, who was coming round wide out. Recess drew up to Kings Warrior, and had the favourite in difficulties at the distance. Bonny Azure, after a short, sharp encounter, gradually drew away to beat Recess by two lengths, King's Warrior was Ihree lengths away third, and Grace McElwyn was a fair fourth. At the head of the others were Queen Author and Tempest. , . , Big Author and Tempest were abject failures. The collapse of the former was not altogether unexpected, because he has yet to prove himself a genuine two-miler. Tempest, on the other hand, should have been suited by the medium pace for a mile and a half. He was handily placed at that stage, but Bonny Azure went past him as though he was tied to the fence, and he had had enough long before the straight was reached/ Llewellyn's Pride also failed to stay. Gunfire was outclassed after running an honest race, but Grace •McElwyn did herself further credit. During the short season Bonny Azure has been in L. Q. Thomas's stable, where she was placed by Mr. S. G. Hedley after she had had a successful career in Auckland .under F. J. Smith, she has won approximately £1200. The dividends she has' been allowed to return on more than one occasion have been false for a mare of her proved ability over all distances, and her win return on Saturday was out of all proportion with her excellent form at the February Meeting. Bonny Azure is one of those "big-little" mares with a heart of a lion. She is not tall, but is long and beautifully proportioned. Her shoulder development is exceptional for one of her inches. TWO WITH BIG FUTURES. Franz Derby and Swordsman kept clear of trouble in the Palmer Handicap, and. with the marc keeping track ot Swordsman all Ihe way to the

STARWYN UNPLACED?

straight, they came away over the last furlong, a spirited duel ending m Swordsman breaking and presenting victory to Franz Derby by a length. In the opening stages Tan John was the leader, but he soon broke, and Indolent was showing the way after half a mile to Renegade, Sonomo King, Swordsman. Bronte, and Franz Derby. Soon after this Franz Derby tucked in behind Swordsman, and was content to trail him until the last furlong. Swordsman was holding, a length advantage when he broke, but the honours of the race were with the winner, I-who is one of the best trotters produced in the North Island in recent i yeShe is an aged mare by Nelson Derby, sire of very few trotters, but she gets most of her ability from her dam; La Franz, who was by "Franz (brother to an old champion in Fritz J, by Vancleve, an influence for good m the pedigrees of such great trotters as Worthy Queen, Nicoya/ Kempton, White Satin, and many others. Franz Derby was driven a heady race by her owner, A. G. Farland, and this was her fourth success on the course. Tommy Boy, penalised 48 yards, broke at the start, and was never prominent. Comment about the remainder would serve no useful purpose.

The crowd was dumbfounded when the judge failed to place. Starwyn in the Taita Novice Handicap. Penalised 48 yards, Starwyn picked up his hanidicap quickly, and he was in striking distance of the, leaders when Crocus fell with five.and a half furlongs to go and seriously checked him. ■ He lost three or four lengths, but kept to his gait, and paced brilliantly to-close the gap of about ten lengths to the leading division by the time the straight was reached. Here he came wide out, and indulged in a thrilling battle in which five horses passed the post with less than a length between them. .

Starwyn . appeared to get up into a place, at the very least, but his number was not among the first four hoisted by the judge. Queenie Direct was placed first, Worthy Audubon second, Mauri McKinney third, and Pursuit fourth. Bare heads, if that much, must have separated the five mentioned. On the face of it, Starwyn was a good thing beaten. The interference1 cost the classy American a double success, and he should go through the table of penalties in double-quick time now that he appears to have struck his real Queenie Direct, a five-year-old black mare by Dan Direct, an imported English pacer who won races in Auckland, is out of Queen Betty, a useful pacer by Four Chimes. Queenie Direct is owned by Mrs. E. Rayner, and trained at Hutt Park by S. M. August and J. W. M. Garnett. Wynan, the favourite, refused to line up at the barrier, and he eventually broke up and tool? no real part in the race. Ratepayer also tangled, and was pulled up before the finish.

KENO'S MPBOVEMENT. Reno Wqxi the Waiwetu Handicap all the .way,1 and when Fortex- and Glorietta put in their'claims at the distance post she had plenty in reserve to keep them scratching. Her winning margin was a length, and Glorietta was only a head behind Fortex in third place. Dark Hazard had every chance, being second to Reno all the way to the straight, but he was beaten 100 yards from the post. Icevus was soon in third position, hemmed in on the fence, and he did not get out until late, but he was still a bit disappointing. Airworthy went a.fair race, but Great Chum did not come on after making a smart run round the top. Fortex, if she could, have got out sooner, would have made it much more interesting for Reno.

Reno, a five-year-old ' bay mare by Jack Potts from Film Star, by Pedro Pronto (a fine Australian-bred pacer who sired Impromptu, Nervie's Last, Prince Pedro, Pronto Bingen, etc.) out of Alone (dam of Prince Pedro, Lone Derby, and Blondie), is owned by Mr. B. Forest and trained by C. S. Donald, who bred her. A FORLORN CHASE. There were nine horses in the Farewell Handicap with Buckley's chance of winning. The tenth was Gallant Knight, who registered one of the easiest wins in fast time ever seen at the Park. The story of the annihilation is soon told. Gallant Knight was actually the first away, but he allowed Logan's Pride to run past him and pace him until about three furlongs from home, where he went to the front and won with a good deal in hand by about a length and a half. He went 2min 43sec, a fine effort under the conditions, and it seems that he has only to be favoured with ordinary luck to make the New Zealand Cup grade this season. . ■ ■ - ; Recess, with a 12 yards advantage, accounted for Bonny Azure, who went another capital race from 24 yards -in 2min 42sec, by two lengths. King's Warrior could make no impression on Bonny Azure in the run home, and was two lengths back fourth. Tempest and Queen Author were next. Gallant Knight, a six-year-old jet black stallion by Mr. McElwyn from Eta Day, member of a noted family with two-minute distinction in a near remove, was beautifully turned out by Mr. J. R. McKenzie's private trainer, R. Dunn, whose success with others of Mr. McKenzie's American importations in Air Flow and U. Scott makes the future of "Roydon Lodge" loom bright as a leading breeding nursery of both pacers and trotters. RESULTS IN DETAIL. Randwick Handicap,—£lso; 3.40 class; \\ miles.—s-6 Tommy Boy, scr (L. F. Berkett), 1; 6-5 Indolent, 24 (S. C. Wright), 2; 2-4 Bronte, scr (C. R. Wood), 3. Also started: 10-10 Mother's Boy scr, 9-9 Tan John scr, 7-7 Winnie Parrish 12, 1-1 Gerfalcon 12 and Renegade 12 (bracketed), 11-11 Calm Queen 24, 8-8 Sonoma King 24, 12-12 Arapai 36, 4-3 Swordsman 36, 3-2 Franz Derby 60. Times: 3min 31 2-ssec, 3min 30 sec, 3min 32 l-ssec. Autumn Novice Handicap, £130; 3.43 class; li miles.—l-1 Starwyn, scr (J. Fraser, jun.), 1; 7-7 Pursuit, scr (M. McTigue), 2; 3-4 Crocus, scr (F. J. Smith), 3. Also started: 10-11 Gauge scr, 11-10 Queenie Direct scr, 5-5 Ratepayer scr, 2-3 Wynan scr, 9-8 Snowy Bingen scr, 6-6 Mauri McKinney scr, 13-12 Acora scr, 8-9 Transfer scr, 4-2 Chili Bean scr, 12-13 Stepson scr; ■ Times: 3min 30sec, 3min 31 l-ssec, 3min 31 2-ssec.

Wainui Handicap, £175; 3.34 class; U miles.—3-3 Our Peggy, scr (C. Wood), 1; 7-6 Glorietta, 12 (R. Townley, jun.), 2; 5-5 Diversion, scr (G. McKendry), 3. Also started: 1-1 Dark Hazard scr, 6-7 Player scr, 8-10 Warpath scr, 4-4 Reno scr, 9-8 Oversight scr, 12-12 Great Chum 12, 2-2 Icevus 12, 11-11 Native Cole 24, 10-9 Ideal 24. Times: 3min 27sec, 3min 26 l-ssec, 3min 27 4-ssec.

R. A. ARMSTRONG MEMORIAL HAN- ■ DICAP, £400; 4.30 class; 2 miles. 6 —4—Bonny Azure, 48 (L. O. Thomas) 1 s—7—Recess, 12. (J. Bryce, jun.) .. 2 I—l—King's Warrior, 48 (F. G. ' Smith) 3 Also started: 2-2 Big Author scr, 9-9 Guy Junior scr, 10-10 Queen Author 12, 8-8 Gunfire 12, 7-6 Grace McElwyn 24, 4-4 Llewellyn's Pride 24, 3-3 Tempest 48. Times: 4min 24 l-ssec, 4min 28 sec, 4min 25sec. Palmer Handicap, £175; 4.55 class;

2 miles.—2-2 Franz Derby, 72 (A. G. Farland), 1; 1-1 Swordsman, 48 (F. J. Smith), 2; 4-3 (Indolent, 36 (S. C. Wright), 3. Also started: 7-6 Bronte scr, 11-12 Mother's Boy scr, 5-5 Tan John scr, 7-8 Tommy Boy 48, 3-4 Winnie Parrish 12, 10-9 Renegade 12, 9-10 Calm Queen 36, 6-7 Sonoma King 30, 13-13 Arapai 48, 12-11 Wah 132. Times: 4min 35 4-ssec, 4min 39sec, 4min 40 l-ssec.

Taita Novice Handicap, £130; 3.5 class; l:i miles.—l 2-12 Queenie Direct, scr (S. M. August), 1; 9-7 Worthy Audubon, scr (L. O. Thomas), 2; 4-5 Mauri McKinney, scr (G. McKendry), 3. Also started: 8-8 Ratepayer scr, 6-3 Pursuit scr, 1-1 Wynan scr, 7-9 Sustenance scr, 10-10 Snowy Bingen scr, 5-6 Chili Bean scr, 2-2 Crocus scr, 3-4 Starwyn 48, 11-11 Mr. Guy 48. Times: 2min 55sec, 2min 55 l-ssec, 2min 55 2-ssec.

Waiwetu Handicap, £150; 2.57 class; 11 miles—s-4 Reno, scr (C, S. Donald), 1; 2-3 Fortex, 12 (E. J. Smith), 2; 3-1 Glorietta, 12 (R. Townley, jun.), 3. Also started: 1-2 Dark Hazard scr, C-10 Player scr, 7-7 Oversight scr, 7-6 Allworthy scr, 9-8 Midshipmaid 12, 11-9 Great Chum 12, 10-10 Native Cole 12, 4-5 Icevus 12. Times: 2min 48 3-ssec, 2min 47 4-ssec, 2min 48sec.

Farewell Handicap, £240; 2.46 class; 11 miles.—l-1 Gallant Knight, scr (R. Townley, jun.), 1; 3-2 Recess, 12 (J. Bryce jun.), 2; 4-4 Bonny Azure, 24 (L. O. Thomas), 3. Also started: 9-10 Logan's Pride scr, 6-5 Gunfire 12, 7-7 Llewellyn's Pride 24, 10-9 Queen Author 24, 2-3 King's Warrior 24, 8-8 Guy Junior 24, 5-6 Tempest 48. Times: 2min 43sec, 2min 42 2-ssec, 2min 42sec.