WINTER TROTTING.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20901, 17 June 1931, Page 7

WINTER TROTTING.

AUCKLAND MEETING. / mark memorial field. notable pacers engaged. SOUTH ISLAND HORSES. Quantity as well as finality is represented in tlio list of acceptances for tho first day of tho Auckland Trotting Club's Winter .Meeting, to be held at Alexandra Park on Saturday and tlio prospects for keen racing arc very bright, Tho chief events will bo the Mark Memorial Handicap and the Auckland Handicap, and the fields in t'nese races are of 11 high standard. There are many notable southern performers engaged and both races are decidedly open, so that fancies are sure to take a wido range. Thirteca of tho nineteen handicapped for the Mark Memorial havo accepted, and tlio contest should be keen and spectacular. All the competitors havo won ever two miles and the majority havo Ecored quite recently, putting up fine performances.

Of the three oti the limit, Dillon Logan makes most appeal by virtue of his fast run at Addington, when ho won in 4.23.

While past records discloso tho fact that horses from tho South invariably fail to reproduce anything approaching their Addington records at Epsom, Dillon Logan js a gooc' pacer and may prove the exception. Cyone is a well-bred mare who has won over all distances. Sho possesses a fino tur,ti of speed, which, combined with stamina, makes her a dangerous rival. Gold Treasure is one of tho local hopes and lie should give his supporters a good run for their money. He has won several useful handicaps over two miles and lately has been conceding big starts. Gold Treasure is a true Gold r.ell, and besides being a genuine stayer can handle soft ground to perfection. O. E. Hooper's Good Pair.

.0. E. Hooper's well-performed pair, Satin King and Milo Minto, aro on the '1.50 mark. That both arc in splendid fettle has been strikingly illustrated dur-

ing the past few weeks, Milo Minto winning decisively at Addington, while Satin King's brilliant effort at Ashbnrton last Saturday was outstanding. If Hooper starts them Loth, the bracket will be in solid demand, and even if one is missing the other will find sound support. Gleniossie, 4.29, has not won since his last s.ppearanco at Epsom in February, but while his recent form has not been as good as generally expected, the memory of hiii several dashing displays at Alexandra Park will be sufficient inducement for his northern admirers to keep Jiim in mind. Meeoro, who is on the same / line, is a solid type of pacer and, like his former stable-mate, Cardinal Logan, can handle soft going well. Neeoro has made great progress since visiting Auck' land last June, and his victory at Forhury Park last month was highly meritorious. Ho is a real stayer. The two well-tested-rivals, Florent and Reremai, meet off the '4.28 mark, and as'both are -past-masters under winter conditions,- their chances, cannot be con - sidered lightly. Reremai won this race last June in approved style, with Florent in second place, while on the concluding day Floreat was successful, both beating strong opponents. The Abbey, Erin's Fortune and Mountain Doll are together qij 4.27, and while the first-named has so far failed to race well in the winter, the other two are solid pacers under any conditions. Erin's Fortune won the big event at Ashbui'ton it few weeks ago in rave stylo, and on Saturday she displayed good form without being in the money. Mountain Dell has not raced since February, when she won the principal two miles event in brilliant fashion. She is again showing fine form on the track and should run a sound rate. Jewel Pointer, the back-marker on 4.26, has been given every chance to score a win and although he may want a race to tune him up he should race well.

Best Times and Handicaps. The following- table gives the best time recorded by each candidate for a dividendplace, together with the handicap oil Saturday:— Cyono . . • • 4.2/ 3-5 Ist 4.31 Dillon Logan . . 4.23 • _ Ist 4.31 Gold Treasure ..' 4.32 4-o Ist 4.31 Irlilo Minto . 4.29 4-5- Ist .4.30 Satin King , . • 4.20 Ist 4.30 Olenrossie « • • • 4.30 3-5 Ist 4.29 .W'eeoro • • .• • 4.2-1 3-o Ist 4.29 Rerem.ii . . . • 4.2 C 2-5 Ist 4.28 Florent . . .. 4.27 2nd 4.28 grin's Fortune .. 4.26 1-5 Ist . 4,.< Mountain Dell . . 4.27 Ist 4.27 The Abbey . .. 4.27 Ist 4.27 Jewel Pointer . . 4.22 l-o 2nd 4.2G Viewed on the time basis Dillon Logan lifts most in reserve on the present marks, but as the performance was put up on a fast dirt circuit, Satin King's bright effort on tho grass at Ashburton may prove the more reliable guide. Necoro's record was also on a dirt- track at Forbury Park, which makes tho achievement of Satin King even more convincing. Taking a lino on recent form, Tiillon Lagan, Gold Treasure, tho Satin King-Milo Minto bracket, Neecrro, Erin's Fortune and Mountain Dell should make 1 lie contest brimful of interest, and when j comes to the final selection Hooper's rlect, Dillon Logan and Mountain Dell, l lay claim most admirefs. Large Field of Sprinters. Of twenty-six entrants handicapped for the mile dash, only seven declined to continue the engagement, leaving what promises to be a very large field, in which lire included some of the smartest sprinters in New Zealand. Benefice, Nella Dillon,. Teiiedos and Tumatakura are on -i ho limit, 2.14, and a smart quartette it is. Tumartakura won in great stylo at llawera and New Plymouth and if in that form ho will • keep the opposition busy, especially if the footing proves soft. Benefice should run a merry mile and those behind her will havo their work cut out to head her off. There is a largo contingent on the 2.13 line, and one to make a strong appeal is Meteor, a particularly speedy son of Sungod. The Southland pacer has made rapid progress t,his season and. recently attracted attention by two dazzling performances in mile saddle races,. Tic lias won in a shade worse than 2.10, while he proved himself a stayer by following Dillon Logan homo over two miles at Addington in 4.24 3-5. The greatly-improved Happy Land is another on th:s mark with sound prospects. He displayed fine form »it, Hawera, where he won twice at ten furlongs, Dillon Logan, Cyone and Milo Minto can all run a merry mile, but their chance of success will he gauged on their showing in tho Mark Memorial. On the 2.12 mark tiro Genuine, Trustworthy and Great Ballin, a trio with winning performances to their credit over the short journey. With his 12 yards penalty Satin King is now also on 2.12, and if reserved, he would see a short price, in spite of tlie fact that he is inclined to tangle at the start, a costly fault in sprint races. Mountain Dell, 2.11, is not by any means out of the contest, but a hard race earlier in the/ day may find her miss'.hg. Stanmoor, 2.10, has been given the worst of the argument, and does not look a very hopeful proposition. Benefice, Tumatakura, Meteor, Happy Land, Satin King, Genuine and Trustworthy will all have friends, but most suppott may be for Tumatakura, Benefice ami Meteor.