AUCKLAND TROTS

Evening Post, Volume CXXVII, Issue 33, 9 February 1939, Page 17

AUCKLAND TROTS

KENWORTHY WELL PLACED

(By "Ariki Toa.")

Nine of the horses down to contest the Otahuhu Handicap at the Auckland Meeting on Saturday next competed in the Auckland Trotting Cup at Christmas, when the limit was tighter than that provided for on this occasion, but it is possible that the form shown then will prove a reliable guide. The extension of the limit to 4min 33sec has allowed four newcomers to come in, namely Our Peggy, Double Great, Sandusky, and' Willie Derby. Two of the backmarkers are Navy Blue and Our War, and a comparison of their records is interesting. Our War won the Waikato Handicap at Claudelands from the limit, and the following Saturday finished second off 36yds, being beaten half a length by Navy Blue, the latter handicapped on 48yds. They met again in the Auckland Trotting Cup, Navy Blue scoring in 4min 28sec, with Our War, 4mm 29 l-ssec, fourth. On the last day of the meeting Our War won the President's Handicap- off the limit in 4mm 22sec, Navy Blue, on 24yds, being unplaced. Both have progressed m the interim, and the clash between the pair should be of great interest. F. J. Smith, who has won the race on five occasions, has Bexley Girl and Sandusky engaged, and it is possible the coupling will be the public elect. After winning at Addington in 4mm 19sec off a 4.36 mark Bexley Girl was third at Claudelands off 4.33, but when giving away a couple of seconds at Epsom during the holidays she failed to act up to expectations and was unplaced each day. Sandusky has yet to succeed at two miles, his best effort on a grass track being his 4min 29 3-ssec when he acted as run-ner-up to Kewpie's King at Claudelands. However, he was successful over a mile and a half in 3min 18sec at Epsom, and reports from Auckland credit him with being in great form. Age is probably improving his staying ability, and between the pair # supporters of the stable should receive a great run for their investment. Kenworthy rarely runs a bad race, and his record this season is one win, two seconds, and two thirds in six starts. He was a good second to Navy Blue in the Auckland Trotting Cup in 4min 28 4-ssec, and repeated the form by occupying a similar position behind Our War in the President's Handicap on the final day, his tiiro on the latter occasion being 4min 21 l-ssec. A horse capable of acting well in any conditions, he is certain to play a prominent part on Saturday. Kewpie's King has secured two firsts and three seconds this season. He registered 4min 28 2-ssec when he annexed the Labour Day Handicap at Claudelands, and the following Saturday just failed to concede Our War 48yds in the Waikato Handicap. ,He is partial to soft going, but no matter how the conditions are he should give a good account of himself. . Fernbrok Lass has previously won over the distance, .<nd she may be one of the surprise packets of the field. Willie Derby may be past his best, arid Double Great, although having a record of 4min 21sec, has shown no form for some time. At this stage some that may be solidly supported are Kenworthy, the Bexley Girl-Sandusky bracket, and Kewpie's King.