TOORAK'S PROMISE

Evening Post, Volume CXXIV, Issue 87, 9 October 1937, Page 22

TOORAK'S PROMISE

LOUGH GUY RETIRES

SOUTHERN CHIEF IMPROVED

(Special from "Irvington.") CHRISTCHURCH, October s. After being off the scene in recent months Toorak will probably make his reappearance at the approaching Oamaru Meeting. He hps done for his spell, filliDC out into a flne-lnoking horse, and he can be expected to reach good company before the end of this season's racing. Bill B. has not enjoyed any the'best of the running in his last two outings to be third on each occasion and his 1 winning turn cannot be, long, delayed. The disappointing Blondie has had a long spell from racing, apd in recent weeks he has been doing a turn, as a hack as a prelude to a return to i the active list. A good sprinter _in private,: several heavy falls in training shook his confidence, and although he has been given every opportunity to come rights he is a doubtful proposition. . , , Jewel Pointer was represented by his first South Island winner when Young Pointer won in attractive manner ;at Methven last week. A good type of pacer and well bred on both sides, Young Pointer gives promise o£ developing useful form. As he is on a hard mark where there are few opportunities for him, it has been decided to retire Lough Guy from racing. He has reached an. , age when little Improvement could bs expected in him, and he will probably be used as a harness horse. HARD TO PLACE. The latest addition to N. C. Price's New Brighton stable is Priceless, i who ; was trained for a short period at Add- • ington by G. S. Smith. At his best Priceless is no more than a sprinter,., and he does not appeal as likely - to prove easy to place to advantage. Superior Rank has done a good amount of work under C. S. Donald at Belfast, but he may be in need of racing to be seen at his best.' He has grown, into a fine horse, and should prove a good performer over all distances. , Although her appearance is not great- i ly attractive, Ivy Peterson has raced well for pne -win 1 and three, minor placings in the past two weeks, and it would seem that she is better than the majority in her present class. . Her Methven display would not suggest that age has worked any wonders with Sunny. Ducrow, and she proved as erratic as ever away-from the barrier. Once on the journey "She showed plenty of speed, but she is still lacking in other directions. ■ ' One of the most improved pacers in; appearance at Addington is Southern Chief, and his recent work has been accomplished in a smooth manner. J. J. Kennerley still holds a high opinion of this horse's ability and future prospects. ; v.Not a great deal is seen of Graham Direct av Addingtori, but he is making good progress in his preparation for the New Zealand Cup. and his condition leaves little to be desired.*; He i* very bright and well forward. '. , , RETURNING TO FORM.. Early in his career Sports Review gave indications of proving a highclass pacer, and he won two races m an .attractive manner. However,, his . subsequent form fell a long way below expectations and he raced poorly. He was recently taken over by L. A. Maidens, and although he failed :to- be placed in JiiSj outings at Methven,last week he showed a great deal of his former, dash,' suggesting that he may possibly show a return to form in the near future. Steady progress in his track work has Indicated that Captain Potts is a / novice pacer of bright" prospects andit should not be long before he wins a maiden race. "Well mannered, he is a good pacer and he stays on well. Last week Indianapolis went slightly lame, but when seen early this week he was walking well and appeared to be in excellent order. He was booked to parade at the New Brighton fixture today, and his running will be one of the most Interesting features of the afternoon. Since being taken ovet by J. Seibel, Big Nelson nas not been asked to do a great deal of hard work, but he does not build up in condition, and he still has a lean appearance. - On occasions his track work suggests that he has the ability to win in good company. His efforts in public, however, have not been sufficiently, solid to attract. -■ GREYHOUND V. MUSCLETQNK The champion trotters Greyhound (U.S.A.) ana Muscletone (Europe/ were to have met in a match rac6 at Springfleld k U.S.A,; yesterday, for a purse of 20,000 dollars; It is possible that return matches between, the pair will be staged at Hom% Naples, or ' Milan in November. : Muscletone, who: /was, bred in America, was sold to Italy as a three-year-old, and he has trotted at the rate of lmin 57sec to the mile there, proving himself the greatest trotter ever seen in Europe. „ . .. _ • , Greyhound is a big, free?striding ■ horse,; and is said .to be magnificent m 1 his action. He stands over 16 hands, but his size does not hinder him on small tracks, as he has a record of lmin 59|sec on a half-mitecircuit-Greyhound races in open bridle, .ana his front shoes vary from 7or downward, according to their state of wear. The short-shaft sulky, all silver, weighs 261b, and Is 28in high at the centre .of the arch. He-wears knee boots with suspenders, and is also booted behind. Greyhound has created records at two, three, four,, and five years old. Now that he has a mile and a half record of 3min 2Jsec, it is quite possible(that Greyhound will attempt to reduce Peter Manning's two miles record or 4min lOjsec, established m 1925. TROTTING BREVITIES Nominations for the Wellington TroV ting Club's New Zealand Cup Trial Meeting, to be held on s ® tui:d 0 8 t y, a® c !f" ber 30, close on Wednesday P-J?" There are a score and more gopaclass horses eligible for the Cup Tral, and a field of at least a dozen is expected to face the starter. „ The result o£ the 2min 44sec swlrtt event at New Brighton today will help considerably to determine the likely Kith Tthe° field for the Wellington event, which isjun less than a fortnight before the New Cup. The "October Handicap, the principal- two-mile event-at the Wellington. Trotting Club's coming meetrng, ISA 4min 33sec class, a guarantee of the most promising. P ace ",,in .the, country will be competing- This class is likely to draw strong support from Auckland and Canterbury stables, and Aucklander's have more than,, held their ; "Own in these events of recentye, Tommy Dillon must have-a cast-iron He came iiere_ from New Zealand in 1929 as a four-year-old, and since that time has competed in 174 races for 19 firsts. 12 seconds, and six thirds," says a Perth writer. "Three times the horse ambulance was arranged for to convey him to anburying ground, and each time the old fellow came back from the brink of the crave, and eventually made a tecovery" Tommy Dillon was a recent winner in Perth at tbe age of 14 years.