TROTTING NOTES

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21346, 22 November 1932, Page 7

TROTTING NOTES

CHIEF RACES AT WAIKATO

BRENTLIGHT'S GOOD FORM

CHANCE FOR BRENT ZOLOCK

BY ABAYDOS

Although tho field for the AVaikato Handicap, to bo contested at Claudelands ou December :i. does not promise to bo strong numerically, tho class is very useful. The presence of several horses with a view to qualifying for the Auckland Trotting Cup will lend additional interest to tho race, which bears an open aspect. Tho first candidate to make a strong appeal is the consistent Brentlight, who has an unenviable record of three seconds and throe thirds in six starts over two miles. Two ot these efforts were recorded since the Matchlight gelding catno to tho Aucklund province. At Claudelands on October 8 he followed Direct Morning home in the Mark Memorial Handicap and occupied a similar position in the Labour Day Handicap at Epsom last month. Brentlight has also several placed performances over shorter courses and on his present useful marks the To Awatnulu pacer is a possibility in both the Waikato and Farewell Handicaps.

Carnui only requires to reproduce his best form to make it decidedly difficult for the rest of tl'.e field to head him off. His form recently has been somewhat puzzling, and, after failing badly at the Hamilton Spring Meeting, ho ran a very creditablo second to Direct Morning in the Auckland Jellicoe Handicap. The second day he did not reproduce his first day's strong finishing effort, but ho was interfered with when holding a good position. Carnui looks in splendid heart at present and ho will not lack supjjort if stepped out again at Claudelunds. Brent Zolock won the Remuera Handicap at Epsom last month in such dashing fashion that lie will not be neglectod in his Claudelands engagements. While the Brent Locanda pacer won over a sprint course, ho has useful credentials over two milflS, and, providing he has trained on tho right way since returning to Feilding, Brent Zolock will make the longer race interesting. Ills prospects in the Farewell Handicap Will not bo overlooked, either. Track conditions usually govern the chances of Dan Direct, who races best right on lop of the ground. It was in the Waikato Handicap last December that A. T. N ewdick's horse displayed his best two miles form, but he was fortunate in having tho race run to suit him. This was the last success of tho roan at the journey. He is again working steadily and may be in better condition when next harnessed up. Dan Direct is also handily placed in tho snorter event.

Little Guy's Prospects

A good deal of interest will be in the appearance at Hamilton of Little Guy in the two miles race. As far as condition is concerned, tho Real Guy pacer will not be found wanting, and already bo has demonstrated something approaching his best speed for F. J. Smith over shorter courses. Little Guy won a two miles event at Hastings three seasons back, registering 4.37 from a 4.47 mark. If age has played its part with Little Ouy's staying ability ho will bo a very dangerous contender for winning honours. Te Wahia, who has not won a race for some considerable time, is one of the few horses who did not receive the let-up in the handicapping concessions to which he was entitled at the commencement of the new season. In spite of this hardship, R. A. McMillan's aged gelding is doing his best to win another race before being retired from tho active list. Te Wahia figures in both the principal races at Claudelands, and in tho small fields ho may have n chance, although his contract does not look by any means easy. Great Parrish, who has done a good deal of racing in Canterbury this season with varied success, is booked to make his reappearance in the province at the Wailcato meeting. Great Parrish should be in great heart after his solid training and racing campaign in the other Island, and if he starts in either of the lhain events at Claudelands he will be accorded sound support, in spite of his failures at the recent big carnival at Addington. Great Parrish possesses both speed and stamina, and unless he has been overdone with fast work he should make a good showing. First Flight's prospects in the two miles race at Hamilton cannot be under-estimated, even in view of her three failures last month. In the Mark Memorial Handicap at Claudelands the black mare ran very much below form, and on the first day of the Auckland meeting any chance alio possessed was obscured by a faulty beginning. In the Labour Dry Handicap, First Flight -showed up in better light and she may have been closer than the moderate third she occupied had she not been interfered with on tho last bp. First Flight should have made .sufficient improvement to have a reasonable chance of success. Direct Mornine's "four on end" shows up in a very attractive light when compared with the performances of tile majority of his opponents in the Waiknto Handicap, but in spite of his splendid record the Hamilton-trained pneer is going to find it difficult to continue his sequence of successes while tho, limits nre on the loose side. Taking a line through Brentlisht, who has twice finished second to W. F,. Cockbill's gelding, his prosoects are not too rosy. With a concession of .% yards at Epsom Brentlight severely tested Direct Morning and ran him to a neck finish, and. us K. I). Kennerley's charge has now on advantage of 00 yards, it certainly points to Brentlisht beating the back-marker. Direct Morning looks to hold a brighter chance in the sprint race.

Our Peter's Chr.nce in Sprint

One of the most improved pacers in the province last season was Our Peter, who is trained at Te Ttapa. by N. L. Vernall. Hi* form at Hamilton meetings last, year was bordering on brilliancy over sprint courses, nnd, while ho has not faced the starter this season, the Peter Moko gelding races particularly well when fre3h. Off the limit of the Farewell Handicap, Vcrnall's pacer is entitled to the greatest respect and he will not lack support on the day. Our Peter made some creditable showings over two miles at (he end of the season and later on he should be heard from in races of this description. An interesting competitor in the Farewell Handicap at Claudelands is Benefice, who had her last few races in ilie South Island without uncross. The Roy de Oro mare raced usefully earlier in the season at Epsom. but she did not strike her true form when trained at Addington and she was sent home for a well-earned spell. Since being reconimissioned Benefice has not been given much solid work, but she appears to be progressing satisfactorily on tho treatment and she promises to make a prominent showing in her engagement.

On the policy of " horses for courses" there will be fair support for Glandore in the sprint event next, week-end. and if the roan gelding begins smartly ho will keep those behind him pretty busy to overhaul him. When ho won at Claudelands last season Glandore returned a wonderful price, which was, however, justified, as it was his first success for five years. Later, at. Auckland, A. McGarry'a pacer ran two good races into second place, and if ho is far enough advanced with his preparation to see the ten-furlong journey right out. Glandore will be a possibility in the Farewell Handicap.

If produced in tho milo and a-quart.er heat at the Waikato fixture, Nelson Tasker will add a good deal of interest to the contest. The Nelson Bingen horse was given a race at the recent Auckland meeting, but lie had not ljeen long in work and failed to show up in his true form. Since tho local meeting W. Brain has put some sound work into his horse, with the result he is again displaying a reasonable amount of dash. Nelson Tasker has built up a lot lately, and while he may need a. race or two to sharpen him up. he should bo at the top of his form to tackle the Auckland Cup at Christmas.

GOOD AMERICAN WINNER

TOP FLIGHT TO BE RETIRED

Top Flight, who had such great success in two-year-old races in America Inst season, lias not done as well as anticipated this season. Sho lias won races confined to fillies, but lins failed when opposing the colts. A few weeks ago she was beaten in a. three-year-old handicap at Havre de Grace (Maryland), for which she was supposed to im a certainty, but three colts finished ahead In consequence she is unlikely to do nnv further racing, arid will commenco at the stud this year. Top Flight has earned 275,000 dollars in two seasons, which is much more than has been won by anything else of her sex in any part of the world.

TROTTING TRAINER'S MOVE

The trotting trainer A. W. Brougliton has moved from To Awamutu to Tamnhoro to become private trainer for Mr. Wilfred Johnstone. Brougliton held this position some years ago.

TROTTING FIXTURES

November 21, 26—Forbury Park Trotting

Club. December 3—Waikato Trotting- Club. December 10—New Brighton Trotting Club. December 2(s—Gore Trotting Club. December 26—'Wairarapa Trotting Club. December 2li—Ashburton Trotting Club. December 26, 27—West port Trotting Club. December 27, 29, 31—Auckland Trotting Club. January 2, 3 —Canterbury Park Trotting Club,