Trotting Notes

Northern Advocate, 27 October 1938, Page 13

Trotting Notes

Veteran’s Ability. Sheer ability on the part of the veteran driver, Tom Roe, got Mule first past the pest in the Mountain Handicap at Epsom on Saturday.

One of the Best

! Our Peggy has been a paying proposition for Fred Smith, and she is one of the best of her sex over all distances. Very Unreliable. Equipoise again broke badly in the Parnell Handicap at Epsom, and was [never within striking distance of the leaders. Ho is very unreliable on race days. f Bad Luck. It was bad luck for Mrs McGregor that Bronze Queen went sore on the eve of the Epsom meeting, thus necessitating a spell. The mare was in rattling good order until something went wrong with one of her hind legs. Not So Good. Here Oro may not be quite as good as many imagine him to be. He had every chance in the Improvers’ Handicap at Epsom on Saturday, but could do not better than finish a poor third.

Patience Rewarded. C. H. Goodall has spent much' time in getting Militia in racing trim, and his win on Saturday was well deserved. Now that Militia has come right, she may keep on with the good work.

Booked for Wellington. Navy Blue is booked to race at Wellington on Saturday, and on the week-end racing at Epsom she should collect a stake at the southern meeting. She is coming right after an absence from the race track.

First Up. F. J. Smith continued his sequence of “first ups” when Llanvabon gave him an armchair drive on Saturday. This son of Great Bingen will win many more races for the Takaknini trainer.

Expectations Realised. Expectations regarding Royal Grattan were realised when he came home at Grey mouth last week. This chap has been steadily improving, and there is every chance that he will go on with the good work.

Double Winner. Mankind notched a double on the opening day of the Greymouth meeting, and on each occasion he did his work well. It has been hinted that he is above the average, and it would seem that racing is bringing out the best in him.

Coming: Right. Trauan, by Truman Direct, is coming right, and the race at Epsom on Saturday, when he showed speed to the home turn, will sharpen him up, and there is every chance of him registering a win within the new few weeks.

Popular Old Trotter. The hand given Harold Logan when he did his preliminary at Epsom on Saturday proved how popular the old fellow is. He is to race at Wellington on Saturday, after which a decision will be made as to whether he will take his place in the New Zealand Cup field or otherwise.

Pace on Early. Crocus was well fancied for the big heat at Epsom on Saturday, but faded out badly- in the final stages. The fast pace set in the initial stages evidently told the talc. When the winner went 3.18 from 3.24, there was certainly no loafing on the trip.

More to Come. Labourman looked the part when he first started racing, but he fell from grace by a number of poor efforts. Of late, however, he has been shaping up well, and his win in the big heat on the first day of the Greymbuth meeting was accomplished in great style, suggesting that the last has yet to be heard of him. An Early Winner.

Marcus got into a lot of bother at the start of the maiden pacers’ event at Epsom on Saturday. He had worked well prior to the fixture, and went out third favourite. This is one which can be kept under observation for an early win at a minor meeting, and it will be surprising if he fails to catch a heat before Christmas. Atoned For Defeat. The Village Farm connections had the satisfaction of seeing Bexley Girl atone for the Wellington defeat when she annexed the Stewards’ Handicap at Epsom on Saturday. This mare is going to take a two-mile handicap on the first occasion she steps out over that distance.

Lawn Derby at Claudelands? There is every possibility of the crack Australian pacer, Lawn Dei’by being seen out at the Waikato meeting in December. Negotiations are in progress to tempt J. O’Shea’s charge to tackle a flying mile, and should Lawn Derby appear, Nervie’s Last will be matched against him. The fastest mile against time on the Claudelands grass course is credited to Impromptu, who ticked up 2.4 1-5 some few years back. On the Epsom grass circuit, Nervie’s Last has recorded 2.4, so it would seem that the Claudelands record will be lowered if the race eventuates.