TROTTING.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 19940, 8 May 1928, Page 14

TROTTING.

BY PICADOR.

SEASON'S FIXTURES. May 39—Oamaru Trotting Club. June 2, 4—Canterbury Park Trotting Club. June 4—Hawke's Bay Trotting Club. June 2-3, 27—Auckland Trotting Club. THE CAMBRIDGE MEETING. NOTES ON THE FORM.

The Cambridge Trotting Club concluded tho country circuit for the season on Saturday with the holding of its fourth totalisator meeting. The gathering was attended with considerable success and the receipts from all sources would no doubt show an increase over last year. The totalisator turnover was up nearly £2OOO and only for the number of big' dividends it would probably have been even better. A word of praise is due to tho energetic secretary, Mr. W. Stopford, for his capable management of the meeting. Despite tho large fields engaged, the final event was got off very few minutes after tho advertised starting time, and after some recent experiences this vas indeed a pleasing feature. It is some timo since the results at a meeting in this province wero so unfavourable to backers as they were at this fixture. Hostess was the only favourite to win outright, but another in Joy Bird also deadheated for first. Tho dividends were all l good and four winners returned their supporters double figures, while several of the second horses also made payable returns.

A young trotter ol considerable promise was seen to advantage in the Introductory Handicap. This was Koro Peter, a two-year-old gelding by Peter Moko from Koro Ena, who got to the front early and trotted faultlessly to win nicely. It was a pleasing performance on the part of tho youngster, although his task was made easier by *he mix-up that occurred enrly in the race. Several two-year-old pacers have won in the Dominion, but I cannot recollect a straight-out trotter of that age winning previously. Some of tho older followers of trotting may be able to tell us wheMier one has scored before.

Another two-year-old trotter in Great Way was also in the field for tho Introductory Handicap. The youngster was well backed, but he had an unfortunate experience. Capsizing his driver at the start, he galloped to the head of the field and then turned about to charge into the oncoming runners. Fortunately nothing serious happened, although he did collide with Peter Brown nnd stopped that horse. Eventually Great Way lumped the fence of the course and left the sulky behind, but was caught unhurt. It is to be hoped tho escapade will not make him nervous, as ho is distinctly promising. On the Improve. Dealer is on the improve and he won the Leamington Handicap decisively to register a big surprise. As he was the backmarker in the big field and concoding starts ranging up to 72 yards, he was not fancied. The Hova gelding gradually worked his vay through the field and put in a fine run over the last half-mile. His time for the mile and a-half. 3m 36 3-ss, was a creditable effort on the slow track. Two more failures went down against Great Eyre at the meeting and she appears to be of very little account. She had every chance in both her races, being with the leaders early and then dropping out quickly after going about a mile. Unless she can show greatly-improved form, Great Eyre wjll bo very difficult to place, as she is unlikely to get the class easier anywhere. It is a great pity that Gold Circle v ill not begin correctly, as he would otherwise be a good proposition. The Gold Bell {elding had a couple of outings at tho meeting and spoilt his prospects by failing to Plart decently. After losing a lot of ground in the President's Handicap, he paced in f.ne style and was close up fourth at the finish. Any time he goes kindly he should win from his present mark.

Recent form pointed to Andover having an excellent chance off the limit in the Cambridge Trotting Cup, and he was made a good favourite. For about a mile he was out in front on the outside of Mara and then he forged ahead to take the rails. Until joined by Dillon Huon and Nelson Tasker near the home turn, he was always going well, but he made a skip there that cost him several lengths. At the finish ho came again and just missed second place by a neck. Andover might not have won in any case, but without the skip he would have been a lot closer to the winner. Earlier in his career Dillon Huon was very erratic, but he has become more solid this season and has been racing in improved fashion. His victory in the Cambridge Trotting Cup was his best over two miles and he scored very easily, after trailing the leaders until about two furlongs from home. Penalised 12 yards for the win. he was produced again in the Farewell Handicap finished third. Only for getting cut back last at the start he would b'&ve been much harder to beat, as he was badly placed ever the first few furlongs. Dillon Huon vas second favourite in both his races, but leturned quite a nice price in the cup.

The Abbey, who has been in the public eye lately through a dispute over hi® ownership, was or.e of the field for the Cambridge Trotting Cup and was handled by A. E. Adams. The Gold Bell gelding was one of the outsiders and soon put his few supporters out of suspense by standing on the mark. Now Staying Better. There is no doubt'that Nelson Tasker is now staying on better than formerly and his second in the Cambridge Trotting Cup gives further proof that he can go two mile 3 solidly, although he was hitherto only regarded as a sprinter. Nelson Tasker has been very unlucky in country cups in the last couple of months, having run second at Thames and third at Te Aroha, in addition to his latest placing. It would be pleasing to see his consistency rewarded with a win.

The contest between Urarnic and Joy Bird in tho President's Handicap was very exciting and a dead-heat was a fitting conclusion. R. A. McMillan clearly outrode W. Willetts. otherwise Urarnic would have won outright. Joy Bird is an improving pacer who has been racing well at tho country meetings and may go on to more success. When Hostess and Lord Hnldane battled hard up the straight and crossed the lino on close tcrm3 in the Stewards' Handicap most people were probably prepared for another dead-heat, but the judge declared in favour of Hostess, on the outside, by a nose. There was very little between the pair, and had the result been reversed there would have been no surprise. To me Lord Haldano appeared to just win. Twelve months ago Admiral Lock won the Farewell Handicap at Cambridge, and be made a bold effort to repeat the performance this year, but had to be content with second place. The Admiral Wood gelding has been racing solidly for J. G. Robertson, but is now on a mark where he is finding it difficult and cannot quite manage to win, On figures Cornelian appeared to have cn excellent chance in the Farewell Handicap and it was not surprising that she was a good third choice in the betting. The Author Dillon mare disappointed her admirers by failing to get a place, but she was going on strongly at the finish. Her tonn was probably incorrect and she may be Sben to greater advantage before the season is over. TROTTING STAKES WINNER. Manhattan, winner of the New Zealand Sires' Produce Trotting Stakes at h'orbury Park, is a three-year-old gelding by Happy Voyape from Lady Cherry. He was t red by his owner, Mr. 11. F. Nicoll, and is evidently a young trotter of more than average promise, as he scored very easily. FTis success is a good advertisement for his siro, Happy Voyage, who was himself a good straicht-out trotter until converted to a pacer. With the straps on Happy Voyage made a record of 2m i l-5s and was a genuine racehorse. He was also a splendid individual, and, as the oldest of his progeny in the Dominion—now threo : year-olds—are showing promise, ho eeeras likely to be a etud success.