THE OTAHUHU MEETING.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18641, 23 February 1924, Page 12

THE OTAHUHU MEETING.

NOTES ON THE FORM. BY PICADOR. The Otahuhu Trotting Club's Summer Meeting was brought to a successful conclusion on Wednesday. The totalisator investments for the gathering showed an increase of £3544 over those for the corresponding meeting last year, and the club, having had an increase in the totalisator investments at both of its meetings thia season, is to bo congratulated on having had another successful season. F. V. Cutts (Temple and Ekoeranei), with two wins, headed the winning trainers' list, while T. Douglas (Jewel Wave), J. Conway (Speculator)., P. Riddle (Delavan Quest), K. Groat (Cute Lad), J. Lynch (Coal Light), W. Willotts (Her Ladyship). 11. L. Rasper (Rose Pointer), T. Roe (Gold Sovereign), J. Paul (Signorolla), C. Lowe (Wild Nut), A. Fleming (Locanda Mac), W. Kelsoy (Mulwaryj), A. Julian (Logan Queen), and W. Evans (Master Councillor), each had one win. F. V. Cutts (Temple and Ekoeranei) and W. Willetts (Rose Pointer and Her Ladyship), who were both associated with two winners, were the most successful reinsmen. J. T. Paul (Jewel Wave), J. Conway ' (Speculator), P. Riddle (Delavan Quest), J. Lynch (Coal Light). T. Roe (Gold Sovereign), J. Paul. (Signorolla), C. Lowe (Wild Nut), A. Fleming (Locanda Mac). W. Kelsey (Mulwaree) S. August (Lctran Queen), and W. Evans (Master Councillor), each at wired a winner. Gold Sovereign, who accounted for the Suburban Handicap, is a fine-]ookr/'<» four-year-old brown horse by Gold Bell from Black Queen. He has not done much racing, but is a very promising trotter, and set the backmarkers a stiff task by doing 11 2-58. better off the limit than he was handicapped to do. Gold Sovereign is owned by Mr. R. Peacock and is trained by T. 800, and his succees was freely anticipated. On the strength of his good showing in th& Otfthuhu _ Cup, Locanda Mac was installed favourite for the Dominion # Handicap, and improving slightly on his firstday effort he won cleverly. The Brent Locanda gelding has performed consistently well this season, his nine starts having yielded three wins, two seconds and two thirds, and £1730 in stake-money, besides a gold cup value# at £100. Locanda Mac is not done with yet.

The form shown by Dean Dillon in obtaining fourth place in the Otahuhu Cup and third place in the Dominion Handicap is proof that he has regained some of his former dash. He covered a lot of ground in the latter event, and may have done a trifle better. If, he continues to go on the right way he may get a stake before the Reason closes. < Though beaten into fourth place in the Dominion Handicap, Shoik was responsible for a fine performance and emphasised What a good horse he is. By covering the two miles in 4.29 1-5, which was a fraction faster than Blue Mountain King did in the Otahuhu .Cup, he put up the fastest time of the meeting over that distance.

Mulware© found very little favour in the Mount Albert Handicap on the first day, and never showed up. On the second day he was solidly supported for the Sylvia Park Handicap, and justified the increased support accorded him by winning nicely. He improved upon his handicap time by nearly 2s. After a long series of defeats Temple scored an overdue win by annexing the Richmond Handicap from a big field. Temple gave some evidence of regaining form by finishing third to Delavan Quest and Florrie Bingen in the Franklin Handicap at the Otahuhu Spring Meeting, and now that he has come right again may earn more money during the season. Jewel failed to settle to her work early in both of her engagements, but she put a lot of dash into her final effort in the Richmond Handicap and narrowly missed second place. Had she not lost so much ground in the first half-mile she may have won. I Despite the fact that he had not done much work owing to mishap. Holly Boy was fairly well supported for the Richmond Handicap. He was prominent for a mile and a-half, when he faded out of the contest, but in the circumstances did well. All going well he may be heard of before long, Beginning very smartly. Logan Queen led the field a merry dance in the Myers Handicap, and never looked, like getting beaten. She stepped the mile in 2.13 3-5s off the front, so that those behind her were set a stiff task. Having shown a lot of speed in the Richmond Handicap, Master Councillor was solidly backed for the Farewell Handicap. He took charge with half the distance covered and won comfortably. His form indicates that a mile and a-quarter is his best distance. . Moneymaker nearly effected a surprise in the Dominion Handicap, and in finishing .second was responsible for his best performance since occupying third place behind Logan Chief and Bonny Logan in the Farewell Handicap at Addington in August. The Tartar waa unlucky to linve improved upon his time by 11 l-ss. -in the Suburban Handicap and then been beaten, but he returned a payable second dividend. The eon of Wildwood Junior and.Emmeline has made considerable progress since going into the charge of W. Scott. The recent Australian importation, Some Jazz, had his first public outing in New Zealand in the Suburban Handicap, but paced away v from the mark and continued to pace for practically .the whole of the journey. Bicolour, who was making her first appearance in New Zealand, was . a firm favourite for the Newmarket Handicap, but did not display the speed she is reputed to have, and was beaten into fourth place. She may improve. Signorftlla was seen in a favourable light in the Newmarket Handicap. _ She was very slow to get going, but once into her stride she paced attractively and won at the right end. This was only her third run, and she should earn some more money. Pearl Fisher paced a good race into second place in the Newmarket Handicap, »nd d'd slirhtly better than she did on the first day when she finished fourth in the Tamaki Handicap. When the field turned for home in the Manukau Handican, Marion Style seemed certain to be in the money, but she broke up badly in the straight and spoiled an excellent winning chance.

The victory of Wild Nut in the Manukan Handicap was well-deserved. as he trotted a solid race and benefited by the mistakes of several of his opponents. Bundaberg faulted several times in the Manuka" Handicap, otherwise ho may have {riven the winner more trouble. He travelled very fast over ths last half-mile, and just reached second place on the post. Haricot confirmed her -first day form by finishing second in the Farewell Handicap. This was her third consecutive second, and she only requires a little luck to win a race. Lord Nepean broke up soon after , the start in the Farewell Handicap, and did not show his true form. At the conclusion of the Otahuhu Cup on f-'aturday A. T. Newdick was reported by the starter, Mr. R. T. Reid. for going to the post without permission, arid after bearing evidence the stewards decided to fine him £5. Stroller was a firm favourite for the Richmond Handicap, but his backers were soon out of suspense, as ho broke up badly at the start. Only four favourites were successful at the meeting, Jewel Wave. Del a van Quest, and Cute Lad winning on the first day arid Locanda Mac on the second day. „ Despite her defeat on the first day Flip was lavourite for the Farewell Handicap, tut she again lost ground at the start. Conscript went a solid race in the Sylvia Park Handicap, but found the wiunor a trifle too fiood. i