ASHBURTON TROTS

Evening Star, Issue 19891, 13 June 1928, Page 2

ASHBURTON TROTS

Commenting on the Ashburton trots, tho ‘ Press ’ says:— The North Canterbury owner-trainer, C. E. Lindsay, has prepared two brothers in Harvest Child and Sonoma Child for the New Zealand Sapling Stakes, and has secured a second and a win in successive years. Lindsay bred both horses and also owns the sire, Sonoma Harvester, and the dam, Gwenchild. Before asking Mrs Nicholl to decorate Sonoma Child, winner of the New Zealand Sapling with the Blue Riband, Mr H. F. Nicholl congratulated the owner, Mr G. Cudby, on tho possession of a good two-year-old. Tho Sapling Stakes year by year had grown in importance and interest, and the committee of the Ashburton Club was proud of its achievement in instituting such a race. The committee had no intention of discontinuing the event, and lie trusted that owners would give the club still further support in its efforts. The Sapling Stakes encouraged owners and trainers to pay more attention to their young stock. At present horses were being trained much earlier than bad been tho case in previous years, and it was found that the early training had no illeffocts on. the competitors, who wont on to win Derbies and even New Zealand and Auckland Cups. Mr G. Cudby, owner of Sonoma Child, enjoys a beginner’s luck so far as trotting is concerned, for the Sapling Stakes winner is the first trotter or pacer he has owneif. In response to the fcmarks of 'he president of tho Ashburton Club on Saturday, Mr Cudby congratulated the club on tho standard of the sport and the conduct of the club’s meetings. So long as tho Ashburton Club conducted such meetings it was bound to profit, and a race 1 such as the New Zealand Sapling Stakes encouraged owners to take part in the sport. Sonoma Child was tho first pacer lie had owned, but ho had I received enough encouragement to ensure that he would have representatives in the future events. None of Mr 11. F. NicbolTs horses raced up to form on Saturday, and no doubt this is accounted for by the . fact that only a few weeks ago they were affected by colds. An unavoidable stoppage in their work, ajid tho fact that the tracks have not been favorable for training operations, no , doubt left those affected at a big disadvantage. Both Wrackeen and First Wrack appeared a bit above them- , selves, and would not settle to their j work until all chances of victory were i gone, while Wrackler. who went a | good race in tho_ Sapling Stakes, blew very hard on his return to tho birdcage. By the time the Derbies come lup for decision both Wrackler and Wrackeen should ho greatly improved, and First Wrack also may be expected i to benefit considerably before she is called on to take part in the match with Kora Peter.

Wrackeen, a beautiful chestnut filly by Wrack from Pansy, was asked to contest two-mile-and-a-half races at Ashburton on Saturday, and it would generally be conceded that this was a big task to ask one such a tender age. In the first event, however, she made a bad beginning, and her chance being hopeless, she was not persevered with. In the Sapling Stakes she again showed lack of racing experience, and lost a lot of ground at the start, and there was more merit in her fourth placing than appears at first glance. Judging by Saturday’s display, it would not be surprising to find Wrackeen being the Durban Lodge best three-year-old. Pansy, the dam of Wrackeen, is by the Rothschild horso St. Swithin from the Vancleve mare Verity, dam of Fancy Girl, Pearlchild (4.39 2-5), and Eden Child (2.24). Wrackeen is bred the right way to win races.

Backers bad a bad time at Ashburton, for not a single favourite won during; the day. Golden Author set the

ball rolling by paying a good doublefigure price, and Peter Linn and Jackie Audubon each returned cheering dividends. Sonoma Child did not pay a big price considering that he was third favourite, but Matagouri, Repute, and Locanda General each improved upon the previous_ average, and the Final Handicap price was so big that only 110 half-sovereign dividends were collected. There were over 6.000 tickets sold on this race. Trampfast, after an absence from tho race track for sis months, was, started in the Ashburton County Handicap on Saturday. He seems to nave done well on his let-up, and he will need a lot of work before he is in anything like racing condition. The race he had on Saturday should assist his trainer in the preparation, and possibly about November time he may be in a condition to give of his best. Talent went a good race in the Ashburton Ceunty Handicap, and was close to the placed horses at the finish of the race. The recent racing he has had has worked wonders in him, and he should be very near his best for his Auckland engagements this month. Bing Boy was surprisingly well supported to win the Ashburton County Handicap on Saturday, being sent out a good third favourite. _ Although Bing Boy had performed fairly well at the recent Oamarn Meeting, ho is not by any means reliable at the barrier, and there seemed little reason for tho exalted opinion the betting public had formed of him. Ho failed to go away correctly,- and never looked a winner,