HUTT PARK FORM

Evening Post, Volume CXXVI, Issue 77, 28 September 1938, Page 17

HUTT PARK FORM

BRILLIANT PACERS

PHILARIO AND ALDERSHOT

(By "Ariki Toa.")

The Wellington Trotting Club's Spring Meeting at Hutt Park on Saturday was notable for many features, chief of which was undoubtedly the change of luck experienced by the club in regard to the weather. In the past it has been common for either rain to be falling or else the wind to be blowing with unusual strength on trotting days in Wellington, and it was indeed only a just reward that such a brilliant day should pertain on Saturday. Naturally, keen contests were witnessed, and in several instances the public were raised to a high pitch of excitement by the close finishes. . The club is to be commended for the promptitude with which the respective races were dispatched, and several other clubs would be well advised to follow its example. The meeting passed off without the slightest hitch, and it was indeed a compliment to the officials. Several classic races in recent years have been won in very decisive fashion, but it is doubtful if a field has ever been overshadowed as in the manner in which Aldershot outclassed his opponents in the Wellington Stakes. It was a most impressive performance, and the only time that the southern colt was asked to show anything like his best was when he established an unassailable lead as the field went into the top stretch. It is admitted that the competitors were composed of maidens, with the exception of the winner but, even so, Aldershot simply played with them. In all probability he will now be given a short let-up prior to being given a special preparation for the New Zealand Derby in November. WELL RELATED. Aldershot ranks as a full-brother to Wrackler, 4.19 1-5, Arethusa, 4.22 4-5, and Raclaim, 3.20 2-5, and he looks like proving every bit as good as his relatives. Trix Pointer was imported to the Dominion by Free Holmes, but was purchased by Durbar Lodge soon, after she commenced her stud career. She is a daughter of Demonio, 2.11J, and Bally Pointer, by Star Pointer, who also figures as the sire of Logan Pointer, one of the most successful sires ever imported to New Zealand. Philario was another to impress as a pacer likely to extend his record a great deal further before the season is brought to a conclusion. He ran away from the field over the final stages of the Bollard Memorial on Saturday, and on the day he was definitely a cut above the opposition. This gelding is a splendidly-moulded sort who should experience no difficulty in holding his own in a much better class. That he can successfully negotiate two miles he showed at Forbury last season when he won over the distance in 4min 23sec. On that occasion he was responsible for a brilliant display of stamina, for he was forced to cover the last mile in a [shade worse than 2min 6sec.

A five-year-old, Philario was got by Jack Potts from Flossie Harvester, and he is the first product of the mare. Flossie Harvester took a record of 3min 29sec, but an accident cut short her career on the track, and she was sent to' the stud. She is a sister to Sonoma, 4.32 2-5, and a half-sister to \ Tom Thumb, 4.28 1-5, and Pat Dillon,! 2.14, the dam of the quartet being) Flossie Dillon, by. Harold Dillon from an unnamed mare by Mauritius. Precious Metal registered a most j convincing performance in winning the Railway Handicap, for he was most awkwardly placed as the home turn was approached. It was not until half-way down the running that hisj driver succeeded in extricating him.1 He put in great work from that stage and was going away over the last bit. This gelding has taken a long time to reach the peak of his form, but he needs only to retain his present con-j dition to again figure on the winning! list before the season is much further advanced. TRACES BACK TO BERLIN. Precious Metal was foaled in 1930, and was got by Rey de Oro from Lady Dillon, who, after producing two fillies and a colt, died later on in the same year. She was a daughter of Harold Dillon and Lady Tempest, the dam of Tannhauser, 2.16. The line goes back to imported Berlin, who has had a big influence upon breeding in the past. The manner in which Sentiment accounted for the Sharpe Handicap left little doubt that she is a much-im-proved pacer and one that appears certain to develop into a high-grade performer. She was not asked for her best till fifty yards from the post, and she easily overhauled Royal Thread and won comfortably. It was a most pleasing performance, and lent colour to the opinion that she will certainly stay later in her career. Considering it was only her third outing to date, it is reasonable to expect the experience to benefit her a great deal, and she should be a much-improved mare at her next appearance. Prior to the meeting Royal Thread had accomplished nothing to suggest he would get on the winning list, but evidently he had shown his connections something, for he was backed down to second favouritism in the Sharpe Handicap. He made a valiant effort to lead all the way, but Sentiment was just a shade too good for him on the day. Later in the afternoon he scored his first success by comfortably annexing the Hutt Park Trial. It was' an encouraging effort, and the gelding should not be hard to place for further successes, especially over short distances. Royal Thread is a splendidly-bred pacer by Silk Thread from Glimpse, the latter being the dam of Royal Silk, one of the best pacers in the land a few seasons ago, and who numbered an Auckland Cup among his many victories. Glimpse, who also produced Gold Paper, 2.47 3 r 5, was got by Logan Pointer from an unnamed Prince Imperial mare, the dam of Thixendale, Lough Neagh, Denver City, and many other useful performers. Among the beaten horses at Hutt Park who can be expected to perform better in the future are Te Roto, Mazaire, Lady Vasclyne, Cavatina, and Taruna. All showed up in an encouraging light, and it "is reasonable to expect the experience to work the desired improvement.

Kinloch, one of the maidens entered for the New Zealand Cup, will not be competing. He has been turned out for a twelve months' spell.