TROTTING.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19495, 26 November 1926, Page 8

TROTTING.

SEASON'S FIXTURES.

November 26. 27 —Forbury Park Trotting Club. December 8. 11—Wellington Trotting Club. December 27. 28—Westport Trotting Club, December 27. 28—South Wairarapa Trotting Club. December 27 —Ashburton Trotting Club. December 16, IS—New Brighton Trotting Club. December 28, 30. 31—Auckland Trotting Club. January B—Northland Trotting Club. January 22—Te Aroha Trotting Club. THE OTAIIUIIU MEETING. NOTES ON THE FORM. BY PICADOR. Conditions were perfect for the holding of tho second day of the Otahuhu Trotting Club's Sprint Meeting at Alexandra Park on 'Wednesday. Under tho circumstances it war. not surprising that fast times were recorded. With the exception of Some Jazz, who finished third in the Epsom Handicap, all the winners and placed horses improved upon their handicap times, several horses going over 6s better than handicapped to do. A few days ago Festive Morn was purchased by Mr. W. Johnstone, and she was not long in giving her new owner a return, as she won the Papatoetoe Handicap at her first start in his colours. Festive Morn ha 3 now won at her last two starts and is a mare that may go on improving. Her successes have been attained in unhoppled events and her exhibitions of pacing without the aid of straps have been attractive Festive Morn was prepared for this meeting by A. Forbes at Epsom, but she will in future be trained by R. E. Mills at New Brighton. is remarkable how lons some trotters retain their form, and Amberite is a case in point. As far back as the 1915-16 season he raced as an aged horse, so that he is now into the veteran stage. Yet he is still going strong, his two starts at the meeting producing a win and a second. Moreover, in winning the Innovation Handicap, in 4m 51 4-53 he recorded the best performance of his career, well as clipping over (5s off his handicap time. Amberite has always been a solid plodder and has won numerous races for his popular owner, J. Gee. One of the unlucky horses of the meeting was Gold Sovereign, who was narrowly beaten in the Papatoetoe Handicap, despite the fact that he went over Gs better than handicapped to do. It was unfortunate to be defeated under such circumstances, but Gold Sovereign is an improving horse and ho may go on and do still better. Two seasons ago Jewel showed excellent form, but she lost it last season, and her success in the Fergusson Handicap on Wednesday was her first for two years. There was no fluke about her performance, because the race was run at a cracking pace and she put up the good time of 4m 27 3-5s off a 4m 32s mark. It may be hard for Jewel to win in future, but she has well repaid J. T. Paul for his perseverance. The victory was not unexpected, as she was a close fourth on the opening day.

Any horse that P. Riddle produces at Alexandra Park is usually well supported, and his representatives, Parkwood and Deanwood, were heavily backed by the public, but they failed to return a dividend. Parkwood notched two thirds and went a stinging good race in the Fergusson Handicap, being mainly responsible for the fast pace that was set. It is probable that he may improve a little, in which case he should win races in the Dominion.

Despite the fact that he was unplaced on the opening day, there was good support for Direct Morning in the Fergusson "Handicap, but he performed below expectations. Direct Morning did not appear happy roundiris the turns and he made a bad break at the end of the first lap, then going right back. The trotter Money Spider did not fare ■well among the pacers in the big races and spoilt his prospects by 'breaking early in both events. Money Spider also contested the sprint event on the first day, but was never dangerous. As a resut of his brilliant win among a moderate lot on the opening day Auto Machine was solidly backed for the Fergusson Handicap, but his backers were soon out of suspense. Not only was he slow to begin, but he left his feet before going a furlong and completely extinguished his chance. Auto Machine is a classy pacer, but he is inclined to be uncertain! in the early stages of his races.

William the Great missed a place in his engagement on the opening day, but he made amends by winning the Franklin Handicap on the second day. All through the race he was tucked in on the rails behind Respect and Lord Nepean, and his supporters became uneasy at the turn, as ha seemed to be pocketed, but an opening came in the straight and he just got up in time to win. William the Great is an improving pacer and he should be seen to further advantage during the season. Consistency was a feature of the performances of Lord Nepean, who contested four races at the meeting for a second and three thirds. Lord Nepean was a very_ fit horse and his condition was a credit to his trainer, S. August.

Final McKinney came north with a good reputation, and. even though she failed to win a race, she demonstrated that the reports concerning her ability were founded on solid grounds. She improved upon her handicap m both of her engagements, going nearly 5s better on the second day than she was handicapped to do on the opening day. Final McKinney looked a winner entering the straight in the Dunedin Handicap, but compounded at the finish and missed a place.

The New Brighton trainer R. E. Mills brought three horses to the meeting and secured two wins and two seconds with them, Prince Pointer and Kotuku Jack being his successful representatives. He was also associated with Festive Morn, who was recently purchased by a patron of his stable, and was the leading remsman of the meeting with three wins. There was sufficient backing for Machine Gun to make him favourite for the Franklin Handicap, but he never flattered the hopes of his supporters at any stage. It was his first race for some time and he may be seen to greater advantage next month. The three failurse of St. Maura proved costly to backers, who made her favourite in two of her engagements. _ St. Maura went a fair race in the Dunedin Handicap, but she did not show up in her other engagements. The trotter Peter Dean, who broke a long sequence of failures when he accounted for the trotting exhibition at the Royal Show, got on the winning list again in the Visitors' Handicap. Apart from galloping a short distance in the early' stages, he gave a fine display of trotting and scored narnowly. H. Kinnimont is now training Peter Dean and he deserves credit for getting him back to form again. It was the popular opinion that Pyramus was well treated in the Visitors' Handicap and she was considerably better backed than in her first-day-engagement. Pyramus never got close enough to look a possibility, and, even though she may not 'have shown her true form, she would have had to go fast to win, as the winner went over 3s better than his handicap. Toward the back end of last season Aerial Bingen went al! to pieces and was very light in condition, but by careful treatment he has been brought back to excellent order again. It must have been very gratifying to his owner. Mr. J. Pettie. to see him trot such a fine race into third place—less than a lensrth from the winner—in the Visitors' Handicap. Aerial Bingen was driven by that capable reinsman J. T. Paul and went in his very best style. v A BRILLIANT HORSE. The two performances recorded by Prince Pointer at the recent meeting stamped him as a horse of outstanding quality. On the opening day he conceded starts ranging up to 103 yds. to his opponents, and won the Jellicoe Handicap in 4m 275. Good as this performance was, he registered a still better one on the second day in the Fergusson Handicap, even though he was beaten into second place. Handicapped on 4m 235, and this time giving away starts ranging up to 132 yds., Prince Pointer gave a magnificent exhibition of pacing, especially over the last mile, when he made a great effort to win. The task of winning proved a little beyond him, but he recorded the brilliant time of 4m 225, which is the best ever recorded on the track, being 2s better than Man o' War's track record of 4m 245. and only one-fifth of a second outside Author Dillon's New Zealand and Australian record of 4m 21 4-ss, which was established on a dirt track. The public were not slow to realise the merit of the performance, Prince Pointer being given a great reception on returning to the enclosure. It is probable that the time may have been slightly better if his driver had not eased him a little at the finish when he saw there was no chance of reaching the winner. Prince Pointer is, a handsome horse, by Logan Pointer from Princess Sherwood, and is trained at New Brighton by R. E. Mills. His form this spring has been consistently good, his six starts having yielded two wills, two seconds and a third. A few weeks ago he ran second in the New Zealand Trotting Cup. and mas? keen judges are of the opinion that he may have won that race if it had been run a week later. Prince Pointer's earnings to date amount to £4005. , AUCKLAND TROTTING CLUB. Nominations for all handicap events to be decided at the Auckland Trotting Club's Summer Meeting close to-day, at 5 p.m.. with the secretary, Mr. C. F. MaA. Final payments for the Great Northern trotting Derby (1926) and first forfeit for Great Northern Derby (1927) also close to-day, at 5 p.m.