SPORTING

Grey River Argus, 14 January 1928, Page 2 (Supplement)

SPORTING

Local owners are keeping their charges in work in preparation for the Grey mouth and Inangahua Trotting Clubs’ Meetings in February during Jubilee Week. Kawana Avas a big disappointment in its starts at the Christmas CarniThe former favourite of West Coast trotting fans, Lord Lytton, is now running about in a paddock out Karoro, and probably the track Avill see no more of the son of Advance and Mary Lincoln. At its best, Lord Lytton was one of the speediest and most honest performers seen in the local light-har-ness game. Bred in Wanganui, it was brought to the (.'oast by Mr Tom Lalor, well-known owner, trainer and driver, and proved a very profitable investment to him. During its racing career it was responsible for some fast times, among the best being—Reefton 4.39 for 2 miles; Kumara, 2.23 for the mile; Hokitika, 4.43 for 2 miles; at Greymouth;, 2.54 for 1} miles (twice). Another fine performance Avas in the N.Z. Trotting Gold Cup Handicap at Wellington in 1921, when it ran second to Locanda Dillon, coming out later in the day and winning. Another feat accomplished by Lord Lytton was the winning of seven consecutive races, a feat Avhich it is doubtful if any other Coast horse has accomplished. From this it will be seen that the veteran has wellearnetj his rest from active work.

Civility failed to show her best fonn at Awapuni, and she is not likely to be asked to do much till the autumn. Amor and Magna Charta, Avho are due to race at Trentham, have been getting through useful tasks at Ricearton. Silver Paper has been getting through plenty of useful work at Riccarton. This smart two-year-old should pay his Avay at the Trentham meeting. Tv. J. Mason has resumed work at Riccarton with Shalimar, Avho looks well after her spell. The two-year-old Goblin Market, in the same team, is working along steadily, in view of a trip to Trentham. Notable absentees from the Wellington Cup field arc Count Cavour. Te Monanui and Mandane, all being sore as the result of efforts at Ellerslie. Te Monanui filled second place in the last two Wellington Cups. Par Money, a three-year-old filly by Paper Money from Paphia, therefore half sister to the speedy but shorrAvijided Paphian, who raced on the Coast under the colours of Mr A, ArcConnor, owner of Prince Ferouz. showed a lot of speed in the maiden race nt Tauherenikau, and but for running off the course at the turn into the straight might have been hard to beat.

Tip Tree Avon twice during the holi- . day meetings in Taranaki, besides finI ishing second and third in his tAvo other engagements, and is reported to be e.u improved sprinter. He is one of the i few of defunct Tree Lucerne’s stock racing at the present lime. i By winning the Invercargill Cup ith '!:e :-te’dier of 9.6. Set Sail put ■ " <•><•< 1! nt performance Csays “Sentinel”). There is little doubt that the Solferino mare is in better form now than at any other period , of her career, and her Avin stamps her as one of the best handicap performers , in the South Island. , Agrion is showing no signs of soreness as the resmlt of his race in the Great Northern Derby (says a southern writer). There are no immediate engagements ahead for Agrion. He is in the Great Northern St Leger, but not in the New Zealand St Leger. Percy Mason stated that Agrion Avas unlikely to race in Australia in the autumn. Marble King, who won the Tirol Stakes on the opening day of the Stratford meeting, is a three-year-old son of Marble Arch and Miss Amans. This gelding followed up the victory by annexing the County Handicap on the concluding day of the same meeting. He is trained at Te Aroha by A. G. Reid, and is likely to Avin further races diring the season. Although Centrepiece figures in the nominations for one race at Trentham, he will not make the trip. He will require a rest as he has gone sore. Six of his stable mates, who did not race during the holidays, may accompany Childsplay and Front Rank to Trentham. They are Quarterdeck, Sudden Storm, Sky Quest, Wild Work’ and the two-year-olds, Full Feather and Impert incnce. Comet King, who figures as top weight in the Hurdles at Dargaville has raced very consistently at the Northern meeting, find Avon the hurdle race on the second day at the fixture twelve months ago. The Day Comet gelding will only need to be himself to ensure him being hard to beat r.t the country fixture this week . The Day Comet-Opal gelding, Orbit, Avho has done most of his racing around the Waikato, was taken down to the West Coast (South Island), says the Auckland “Star”), and he Avon the Otira Handicap at the Greymouth summer meeting. Orbit has been entered for hack events at the Wellington fixture, but will find the opposition at Trentham far harder to beat, as there are some good hacks engaged. By winning the Canterbury Handicap in 4.28, Logan Park has qualified for the Ncav Zealand Trotting Cup. He was driven by F. C. Dunleavy. Logan Park has such a nice turn of speed that he is able to secure a good position whenever his driver considers the time has arrived for him to run up to or past the pacemakers. Noaa' that he has 1 reached the 4.28 mark he may find if difficult t to> win again, at two miles> ? I

By “ Natator ** :

ning a gallant second in the Final Handicap, (states the “Hawke’s Bay Herald”). People stood up on the stand and cheered again and again, and the ladies added their voices to the popular demonstration, in addition to which they indulged in a perfect fullisade of hand-clapping. It was manifest that The Hawk was a little above himself in condition, and his game effort under the circumstances, and under his welter weight, shows what a sterling racehorse he is. Mr J. Al. Campbell had reason to be pleased and proud of the reception his old favourite received.

The one-time brilliant pacer, Logan Chief, has been sold to Mr J. F. McKendry, and the aged son of Logan Pointer Avill go into F. G. Holmes’ stable. I.ogan Chief a couple of seasons back was undoubtedly one of the best pacers in the land, but he suddenly lost some of his dash, and though he can run great trials on the track he does not produce them in a race. One of the best races he ran for some time was in the last Ncav Zealand Trotting Cup, when he Avas out forcing the pace for a considerable part of the journey. A change of stables often works wonders with a horse, and it may be that the veteran F. G. Holmes will get Logan Chief bark to his best form again.

Nincompoop has proved a rare bargain since being acquired from R. J. Alason’s stable, by Air J. AlcCormack. Regarded as a very doubtful customer at one stage, Nincompoop has raced with the utmost consistency, and his double win at Dunedin, and his sec* on 4 to. Set Sail in the Invercargill Cup has earned his owner a substantial addition to his banking account. Possibly Nincompoop cannot be regarded as a high-class racehorse, but he keeps on winnings races.

Berenice, Avho at times has shown a lot of speed but little stamina, was recently mated with Matchlight, and she will be retired from racing in the near future. Berenice is by Nelson Bingen from Cameos, the latter, who also left Onyx, being a well-bred mare by Galindo from Thelma, dam of Wildwood Junior Adonis, and Authoress, the lastnamed the dam of Arthur Dillon.

A. Bryce, who went to Auckland just before the Cup meeeting and drove Koha-.a in the big race, has decided to remain in Auckland, and will join the ranks of trainers there. He will be located at Epsom, and at present he has a useful trio to open his campaign. They comprise Kohara, winner of the last New Zealand Trotting Cup, Money Spider, one of the best trotters in the Dominion, and the pacer D’Artagnan. Bryce has been associated with trotters and pacers ever since he Avas a lad, and he should have no trouble in getting a good team of horses together.

The Alartian colt, Alartarma, arrived back from Ellerslie on Saturday morning after successfully competing at the Auckland Racing Club’s summer meeting where he Avon £2,400 in stake money. As a result of his decisive victory in the Great Northern Derby, he is bound to start a firm favourite for the Ncav Zealand St laeger Stakes, run at Trentham in March. He will not compete in the Great Northern St Leger. but after racing at Wellington h? avill be shipped to Sydney to contest the rich A.J.C. St Leger in which event he will most likely measure strides with the dual Derby and Melbourne Cup Avinner Trivalve. How he will fare against the Cyklon colt at Randwick remains to be seen, but all going well in the interim the Riccarton colt will play his part in no uncertain manner in the New South Wales classic race. Besides racing in the A.J.C. St Leger, Alartarma will also contest the King’s Cup, in which he Avill oppose the cream of Australia’s handicap performers, and will also meet another New Zealander in Limerick. A late foal Alartarma will continue to make steady progress from now on and such a rare stayer should make a name for himself in the long distance races in Sydney at the approaching autumn z carnivals.

A great deal of discussion has arose in-» the north about the disqualification of Dolores because she broke at the finish of the Taranaki Handicap, run at the Auckland Trotting Club’s meeting. Her driver (J. Bryce) was fined £5 in addition to the mare being deprived of the stake. The main point to consider in such cases is Avhether the rider or driver has made reasonable efforts to “collect” his horse and get it back to the correct gait. Apparently the steAvards held the opinion that Bryce went for the “urge” instead of the “collect.” Still, the fact remains that a trotter may break to a gallop and, after a stride or tAvo ,can

catch back to trot with very little manipulation of the reins. Then, again a rider or driver may “kid” to check his horse on a break or bore or interference, and this w r as once effectually carried out in one of the most important races decided at Addington.

The New Zealand Trotting Conference has decided to take applications up till January 16 for positions as stipendiary stewards. The amount of the salary is not definitely stated, but it is said to be in the Vicinity of £7OO per annum, including fares and expcz.«ses attending race meetings. According to the conditions advertised, communications to members of the • Stipendiary Stewards’ Committee will not be permited, and the appointments will be subjected to the power of the Stipendiary Stewards’ Committee to discontinue at any time on giving one moT»+h’s notice, or to dismiss without nonce for inefficiency, irregularity cf conduct, disobedience of orders, or infringement of the rules or by-laws. If rumour is to be believed (says an exchange), there Avill be no dearth of applicant ■ c or the positions, and the Stipendiary Steward’s Committee Avill beafforded a Avide field from which to select suitable men.