SPORTING

Evening Post, Volume CXXXIII, Issue 93, 21 April 1942, Page 8

SPORTING

EARNINGS GROWING

BRONZE EAGLE'S RECORD

Since being handed to V. Alborn. who is well known to local trotting enthusiasts as the owner-trainer of Burl Scott, the chestnut horse Bronze Eagle has made four appearances for a brace of wins. It was just before the Timaru Meeting that the transfer was made, and at that fixture Bronze Eagle won with his new trainer in the sulky. Last Saturday saw him add yet a richer prize when he took the Wellington Trotting Cup. That marked the eighth success of the five-year-old son o£ Wrack and Lady Bridget, and it is interesting to note that four of those wins have come at Hutt Park. Throughout his career he has shown a preference for soft or easy tracks, and although he finished in grand style on Saturday he is now on a mark that will make matters increasingly difficult for him The winner's portion of £440 at Hutt Park raises his stake-earnings to the I good figure of £2489. - Solid.—Winner of the Autumn Han- ' dicap, when he returned his backers a dividend of over a quarter of a century on the win-machine, Hargooe"lf Pride later ran another excellent ra'.e in the Hutt Handicap to finish second to Dan's Pride. A three-year-old gelding by Jack Potts from Hermes, Hargood's Pride has shown great determination in his finishes, which suggest that he will develop into a solid tyf.' of pacer. Prior to Saturday he h?3 revealed stamina in his races on th* West Coast circuit, and his win was quietly anticipated by his connections : Broke Twice.—David Derby extin- : guished his chances in the Autumn Handicap at the barrier, refusing toleave the peg until the field had travelled about two furl6ngs. At his second appearance the Nelson Derby gelding left the mark smoothly to lead for seven furlongs in the Eastbourne Handicap, but he then broke, which cost him what appeared to be an excellent chance of being in the money. However, it is not unlikely that, with the experience he has gained, he will develop into a useful sort next season. Punters' Lament.—After the hot favourite. Burt Scott, had lost anything from 60 to 72 yards at the start of the Wairarapa Handicap, he failed to strike his gait immediately and was about 100 yards away before' he settled down. Over a mile and a quarter journey it became a hopeless chase, and, though his army of backers were left lamenting, his fourth, under the circumstances, was a creditable effort. Failed.—There was solid support for Glenariff in his engagements on Saturday, but the Wrack gelding never flattered his supporters at either start. [ Since leaving M. Stewart's.stable Glenariff has not reproduced his northern form, but some excuse must be allowed for his failures in that he was badly pocketed in each instance. Galloped.—Favourite for the R. A. Armstrong Memorial Handicap, Margin, who was off 108 yards, did not enhance her prospects by galloping for nearly half a furlong at the start of the race. Once she settled down she trotted fairly well, but with a round still to go she looked distressed, and although she battled on she never looked likely to gain a place. Made Amends.—The five-year-old Young Author—Queen Bess gelding Dan's Pride made amends for his defeat in the Carterton Handicap, in which-he broke under pressure when within 40 yards- of the post, by taking the Hutt Handicap in promising fashion from Hargood's Pride and Ranger. But for his break he would have been a definite second in his first outing. Well Supported.—Backed down to favourite for the Autumn Handicap, Cabin Boy, who.was having his first outing under silk, was very confidently driven by his owner-trainer, P. P. Gallagher, but the heavy rain before and during the race made the surface very greasy and the Jack Potts—Sheila Fleetwood five-year-old did not appreciate it. He was quite unable to pace smoothly, slipping and sliding on several occasions; indeed, he went very close to breaking twice, passing through the straight the first time. Later in the day he contested the Eastbourne Handicap, and even though he did not appreciate the dead going, the track having improved, he responded very gamely to a touch of the whip. As he was a green horse, it would indicate that he has ability above the average. A Veteran.—Although one of the smartest to begin in the Palmer Handicap, Smooger went up into the air very early, and it was not long before he was at the rear of the field in company with Margin. However once he settled down the 14-year-old Native King gelding trotted solidly if without showing any brilliance, it is asking a lot to expect him to stage a come-back, but he may prove capable of it. Unreliable.—Marco Polo, who refused to leave the barrier in the Hutt Handicap, was a costly proposition to patrons at Hutt Park on Saturday even though he did settle down to pace correctly later. He was a runner in the Carterton Handicap also, but was fully two furlongs behind the field before he struck his gait. At present this good-looking Jack Potts horse is most unreliable. Disappointed.—No horse at the Wellington Meeting disappointed more than did Burt Scott, but another to keep him company was Volo Maid the American-bred mare by Peter Volo from Molema. She registered a very promising effort at her first start in the Autumn Handicap, when after a slow beginning she got up to fill second place It encouraged patrons to install her favourite for the Eastbourne Handicap, but after racing into a i handy position she failed to make any ' material impression over the final circuit and could not do better than finish ' fourth. ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS '.Vl^;'.'~S;- s- £1 4s: R- £1 ss fid. t.B. —Maggiore was not a runner at Riverton on Easter Saturday. She ran seromi to Baahful1 Lady in the Champton Ck Handicap on tuo second day when 2-2 to the betting. '■Inquirer."—There is no definite rule rovernme the position, and operators differ ffirEifSr paylne fuu umits •-*