HUTT PARK TROTS

Evening Post, Volume CXXIX, Issue 21, 25 January 1940, Page 15

HUTT PARK TROTS

(By "Ariki Toa.")

THE CENTENNIAL HANDICAP

The light-harness season at this end of the island will be advanced a further stage when the Wellington Trotting Club's Centennial Meeting; opens at Hutt Park on Wednesday next. With the classes arranged to attract the best class of pacers patrons are promised some rare exhibitions of the sport, especially in the principal events.

An interesting point in connection with the Centennial Handicap, , chief feature of the first day's programme, is the fact that six of the seven entries contested the New Zealand Trotting Cup in November. Both Lucky Jack, the winner, and Blair Athol, who finished third, are again likely to measure strides, and their clash over the shorter distance of one mile and a quarter should in itself be an added attraction.

It is not often that light-harness enthusiasts enjoy the opportunity of witnessing only the best horses in action over a mile and a quarter, but the Centennial Handicap offers this extra opportunity. The tight limit allows for a back mark of only 36yds. which should give King's Play ■ and Plutus every opportunity of getting within striking distance early in the contest. • " .

The logical favourite is Great Jewel, whose recent form has been a model of consistency. He has appeared'on twelve occasions this term for six firsts, one second, two thirds, and two fourths, so that he has on only one occasion failed to finish in the first four. He has won over all distances and in any kind of going, and his clash with the best of the last New Zealand Cup candidates should be a rare treat. Last November he was not eligible for the big Addington event, but he has met and beaten most of the field since.

Possibly the greatest opposition to Great Jewel will be offered by Lucky Jack, who showed that he was not far from the peak of his form by winning over a mile at an Addington Meeting last week. As a winner of two New Zealand Trotting Cups he is entitled to the greatest respect, even though he would probably be seen to. better advantage over.a longer distance. However, investors are in the fortunate, position that Lucky Jack and Great: Jewel will be bracketed, which should ensure their being a very short-priced combination.

Blair Athol is one of those every-day pacers who do nothing wrong, but invariably have to be content with .one of the minor placings. In twelve starts this term he has been in the money on eight occasions, including one first, four seconds, and three thirds. He won a double on the course at the corresponding meeting last year, and hisrecent good form suggests that he will again pay expenses on the trip. j Horse 'Power must enter into calcu- I lations by reason of his two convincing' victories over a mile and a quarter at

the Auckland Meeting- at Christmas, especially as his smart beginning ability ■ will allow him to secure a prominent position early in the contest. Pot Luck1 •' is another showing fairly solid form of " late, and with five placings to his credit recerrtly a winning bracket is overdue for the son of Jack Potts.

The field is. completed with the two back-markers King's Play and Plutus, and if the pace happens to be slowearly both should be in the firing line over the final stages. Plutus is a rare -' sprinter; in fact, a mile and a quarter is his pet distance.

Viewed from all angles the field is a truly representative one, and a trio in early favour may be Great Jewel, Lucky Jack, and Blair Athol.