NOTES ON THE RACING

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21378, 30 December 1932, Page 9

NOTES ON THE RACING

WIN HUON'S IMPROVEMENT SUCCESS OF REY DIRECT DERBY FAVOURITE BEATEN BY ARCHER The slow class trotters in the Oak Handicap did not give u very good exhibition of trotting and Win Huon deserved liis surprise victory by reason of the fact, that lie was practically the only one to go solidly all the way. Handicapped to do 3.'12, Win Huon improved upon his handicap time by over nine Bceonds and his display was considerably better than on the first day, when ho was never prominent and finished well back in ninth position. Kelson Pirate gavo another good display and ho was going like a winner in the lead until he broke in the straight. He looks like being very good and ehould soon win his way into better company. Mattie Herbilwyn trotted well over the last mile and Autumn Lu also shaped very creditably. Margaret Parrish, the favourite, and Smooger both displayed speed in patches, but failed to go steadily and Margaret Parrish spoilt a good chance by two had breaks. The three-year-old filly Rey Direct was responsible for a nice performance in winning the Tramway Handicap, for which she was a good second choice to Bingen Chief. Once the field had eettled down Rey Direct was nicely placed behind the pacemaker, Nellota, and she was still well placed when Lislea and Nellota were leading coming to the homo turn. She then slipped through on the rails and won easily from Nellota, who stayed on solidly at the finish after making practically all tho running. St. Felix hampered his chance by being slow to settle down and getting a long way back early. Ho made a fine run on the outside over the last half-mife, but tangled in the straight, otherwise lie may have been second. Cimarron, who began badly, finished very fast on tho outside from a long way back. Worthy Cause, who was always in the leading division, did best of the others. Bingen Chief, the favourite, failed to begin well and was never going like a winner, although he displayed speed in patches. Victory for Little Guy The Milford Handicap provided K spectacular contest and narrow margins separated the placed horses at the finish. A notable feature of the race was the fine showing of F, J. Smith's candidates, Little Guy and Pageant, who were responsible for all the pacemaking, and finished first and third, being divided by Kewpie's Triumph, who was just behind them on the rails most of the way. Little Guy registered his best performance to dato and the manner in which he fought off Kewpie's Triumph's challenge at the finish was impressive. Great Parrish, tho favourite, paced another fine race and only for getting pocketed on tho rails would have been closer than fourth. Baron Bingen and Nelson's Victory also made solid showings and it appeared as if Wilms, Dillon would have been well in tho picture if he had not made a bad break when racing third at the end of the first quarter. v The field of three for the Great Northern Trotting Derby was composed of Southern three-year-oids arid Indianapolis avenged his defeat at Addington last monfh by decisively beating the favourite, Taxpayer. The pace was fairly slow over the first mile in 2.21. when Taxpayer made the running from Golden Direct and Indianapolis and the real struggle did not commence until half a mile from home, when Indianapolis went up on the outside to tackle the leader. Taxpayer and Indianapolis then rolled into their work in great style and they came into the straight together for Indianapolis to win _ like a really good horse. The last half-mile was run in 1.5 and it .was a splendid performance on the part, of Indianapolis in view of the fact that he had lately been troubled with soreness following a mishap. The' winner is a solt of fine physique and he is a bold pacer, who should be a class horse when his powers are fully developed, Dan Direct Scores It was with a fine finishing run that Dan Direct won the Dominion Handicap in time that was one-fifth of a second slower tiian Arethusa's course record of 3.18 3-5 for a milo and a-half. The winner went a good race in the Auckland Trotting Cup and in consequence he was fairly well backed, although Chen away. Our Peter and Baron Bingen were all better fancied. Chenaway and Our Peter had every chance, but they both failed at the finish, where Dan Direct smothered the opposition after being nearly last half a milo from home. Chenaway actually finished last and his performance was very disappointing. Glandore did surprisingly well, paying a good price for second, and Modern Light also shaped very creditably. Baron Bingen finished solidly and may have been closer than fourth only for losing a few lengths when he skipped after going half a mile. The Rowe Trotting Cup winner. Garner, gave another demonstration of her ability in handsomely winning the Fjpsom Handicap. She was sent out an odds-on favourite and never gave her supporters much cause for aB she trotted faultlesslyall the way and was in front over a-quarter of a mile from home. Dark McKinney, after a slow beginning, trotted a good race for second and returned a dividend verging on double figures. E;e put in a break near the post, but recovered very quickly. Bessie Parrish began belter than usual and finished on solidly to get third. She seems to be on the improve and ehould win very shortly. Hardy Grattan just failed in the last furlong after attempting to win all the way. Blue and Gold covered a lot of ground and may have been closer only for breaking about half a mile from home. She will bo hard to beat the first time she goes solidly 'throughout. Brent Zolock Improves Showing marked improvement upon his form on the first day, when ho faded out at the end of a mile to finish seventh, Brent Zolock brought off a surprise in the Ranfurly Handicap and returned a doublefigure dividend. Brent Zolock lost no time in getting to tho front and held just a slight advantage until two furlongs from home, when he went, away to win easily. Kewpie's Triumph finished very resolutely and just cut Carnui out of second. Carnui and Grand Canyon made good efforts to overhaul Brent Zolock at the foot of tho straight, but both tired in the last fifty yards. Arabond was always well in the picture and made a very respectable Allowing. but none of tho others gave any trouble. The odds-on favourite Pegaway was beaten into second place in the Innovation Handicap, but he appeared unlucky to lose, as he was pocketed most of tho way and, did not get a chance to make a run until less than two furlongs from home. Then he unwound a fine effort, but the task of going round a bunched field proved too great and he could not reach Native Berry, who was always well placed, and ran on strongly in the straight. Flying Cloud paced another good race, but sho was made too much use of after being interfered with early and tired in the straight. Whippet, who was badly checked when Sandy Pointer broke at the end of the first furlong, was in the rear nearly all the way, but made a fine run in the straight to beat Winshow for third. With a good run Whippet would have been very dangerous.