THE TRENTHAM MEETING.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 13 March 1928, Page 6

THE TRENTHAM MEETING.

NOTES AND COMMENTS. (By * ‘Maecenas. ”) The tracks at 'Trentham received much benefit from recent rains, and will be well nigh perfect for the coming meeting. The win at Franklin meeting of Brilliant Light brings to mind the few success of all Trainer Jamieson’s Australian purchases. (Outside of Prince Humphrey, none has earned great distinction.

At times the Wellington Racing Club like other clubs that have classical racing, has received very small and unprofitable fields in such events, but, the North Island -Challenge Stakes this season has filled well, and gives promise of being a good contest. The Wellington Racing 'Olub’s autumn meeting takes place on Thursday and Satnrdav next.

The annual meeting of the Ohinemuri Jockey Club open s on Saturday and concludes on Monday next. Trainer J. T. Jamieson has divided his team for the week’s racing. Prince Humphrey, Mithva and Le Choucas will represent the stable at Trentham and Eden Hall, In the Shade, Prince Otto, Ti Tree, Dinnington, Perception and Brilliant Eight will race at Paeroa. Owner-trainer F. Davis perservered with the well-bred Tintoretto for a long time to win a little stake money, but was unfortunate enough to sell liiin’ just on the eve of his double win at Napier Park. Thus Mr Sampson has got Tintoretto for nothing and a few pounds added to carry on his expenses. Limerick is to have his first race in Australia on March 24, on which date the Rawson Stakes (nine furlongs) will be run. It is stated that the Eng-lish-bred Gothic is to get a special preparation for the event. Gothic is one of the most brilliant horses that lias raced in Australia. The fact of his twice winning the difficult Newmarket and other great sprint races, is proof of this. He will be better conditioned than Limerick, but will lie see out a solid nine furlongs? In the long distance races Limerick will need to be at his best .to beat Trivalve, a proved good threcv ear-old.

When a youngster, Joy King gave indications of developing into a galloper much above the ordinary, and as ; two-year-old his form was little inferior to those remarkably good ones Commendation and Lysander, and as a matter of fact, lie beat this pair in the Royal 'Stakes at Ellerslie with a few pounds in his favour. As a three-year-okl Joy King showed excellent form in the autumn, but this season he has not thus far shown age improvement, 'hut his success at Napier suggests that he is worth noting for the. Thompson 1 Tamil cap. As the field for the Thompson Handicap cannot be classed as composed of great ‘ ‘ milors, ’ ’ it brings before one the chance of Laughing Prince. While this Australian-bred three-year-old has performed only moderately well this season, hi s first feats certainly entitle him to respect in Thursday’s event. With Limited in the big sprint, and Laughing Prince and Mandane to represent the stable in the Thompson Handicap, the veteran trainer F. Tilley certainly holds good prospects. Raasay has shown such excellent form to win Ins last two handicaps (carrying nearly ten stone) that it will be interesting to see how he compares with Prince Humphrey, which two-year-old is now regarded as the season ’s best. At his best Limited is brilliant over a six furlong course and although the son of Absurd has let his followers down in some of the more important races decided this season, his form in his last two starts (at Wanganui), left the idea that a good race might again fall to Limited. With 7.9 to carry at Trentliani in.- will ga fasti. The good acceptances received for Hie Wellington Racing 'Club’s meet ing suggests that owners 'are forced lo wait for flic more important mooting, at which gatherings a fair margin of profit goes to a winner even after the heavy deductions of to-day are taken from the prize won.

Most followers of racing' considered Keremoana (9.G) was nicely handicapped for the l coming Thompson Handicap, and his withdrawal would cost anti-pos.t betters some money, as lie was one of the favourite selections. While Keremoana has registered some excellent performances this season, his form is just a little below his best, and his trainer, realising that the big mile race at Trentliam will be run in 1.38 or better (if the race track is, good) came to the conclusion that the gelding’s chance is better in the ■Challenge Si a Ices.

Like I'Rerornnana, The Hawk is golfing on in years, .but his form (like that of the Egmont-trainetl gelding) ha.s been go oil of late, but naturally many pounds below his best. AVhile The Hawk ran fine races in the open sprint races decided during the last few weeks at Trcntham, New Plymouth and Napier Park, lie was narrowly defeated each time, although his wins on the second day at Trcntham and in the Taranaki Stakes would in a measure give some consolation to his painstaking owner-trainer. For years some close followers of racing have been- 'advocating centralisation of the sport. Prom some points of view this idea has much to recommend it, namely the advantage of good stake money in proportion to the expense iucarrcd. There are points almost as strong against, some chief of which is the depriving of the “sport” in the smaller town of his local meeting, unless he cares to travel many miles to such meeting. Others claim that once racing is only carried on in the larger towns, so soon does it become a business and not a sport.