AUCKLAND TROTS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21577, 23 August 1933, Page 7

AUCKLAND TROTS

I r SATUEDAY'S CONTESTS STRAIGHT-OUT TROTTERS both events fill well the royal oak field The new trotting season in the North Jsland will bo opened at Alexandra Park, Epsom, next Saturday, when the Auckland Trotting Club will hold its August meeting. Although tho various races will bo confined to provincial horses, they should provide keen and interesting contests. With two or three exceptions, the best' pacers in tho district are engaged jn the principal events, which bear a verv open aspect. It is seldom that Auckland horses are so far forward at the beginning of the season, and consequently fancies will he widely distributed. Track-work at Epsom during the past ten days has demonstrated the fitness of a number of locallytrained candidates, many of whom should race conspicuously. That they will n °t ha o things all their own way can be judged by tho calibre of the opposition from Mangere, Takanini and •\Vaikato stables. The representatives from Claudelands and Tamahere are reported to be in splendid heart and their supporters arc confident that they will secure a good share of the prizemoney. The Mangere and Takanini teams are also well-conditioned. A very pleasing feature of tho acceptance list is tho good response in the two races for straight-out trotters, particularly the Royal Oak Handicap, with a limit of is a v distinct improvement in the numerical strength of this class compared with the fields last season, whert in some instances there were not sufficient runners for moro than one dividend. Although there are several eligible trotters. missing from the list, including the well-performed Nell Volo and Bessie Parrish, ten very useful horses are carded, and the list includes six, namely, Moko Bells, Moko Girl, Billy Carbine, Parrish Belle, Zanzibar and Gay Paree. •In addition, Explosion, Windchat, Etta Cole and Gold Sov- , ereign should add to the interest. Windchat, Etta Cole and Gold Sovereign have been let up 12 yards, which may be of some assistance to them. The field for the Introductory Handicap. is also decidedly useful and contains some likely and improving novices f on the limit, namely, Gala Day, Mountain Sun, Grand Triumph and Young Rodney. Those further back, Golden Huia, Mattie Herbilwyn and Wiriwhata, were winners last season, the last-named displaying greatly improved form and scoring at his last start from a good field. GREY LYNN HANDICAP USEFUL IMPROVERS ENGAGED A. race at the Auckland Trotting Club's v"' meeting on Saturday which promises to provide a very interesting contest is the Gn*y Lynn' Handicap, for improving pacers. With a limit of 3.39, it has attracted a field of eight, and with one exception, Whakakihi, ajl have been returned win"stormy Mack, the back-marker, has good credentials over a mile and a-quarter.' at which distance last season he won twice and was second twice. He is a smart beginner, and revels in soft going, but may find the mile and a-half journey a shade too far.. Although giving away 24yds, to start oft the limit of the 'Orakei Handicap, he may have brighter prospects over the shorter distance. Whakakihi, although handicapped on 8.27. is still a maiden performer, but was ■unfortunate in earning penalties for placed performances prior to the present handicapping system coming into operation. After being off the scene for some time owing to an injury, he was reproduced toward the end of last season, and, after two failures at Epsom, put up a solid effort at Hamilton to get second to Cimarron. Having now received the benefit of a 12yds let-up, he has reasonable prospects of scoring his first success. The Tamahere representative. May Chenault, in spite of puzzling form in the autumn, cannot fail to attract attention from a 3.38 mark. Last season she won two races at Epsom, both at a mile and a-half, and on a, holding track. At Thames, Te . Aroha and Cambridge she - raced below form, but her third win over two miles at ihe Waikato winter meeting was sufficient guarantee that she was on the way to good foim agaito. ... Donee, who figures on the same line, is a solid type of improving pacer, who did not succeed in winning last season, but raced consistently into minor places. He won the previous season, and gave promise of developing into a useful performer. In his recent outings at Hamilton he was responsible for two sound efforts, being beuten over two miles by Cimarron, who with "Whakakihi also finished in front of him over a mile and a-quarter. Wee Parrish, who comes from Canterbury with smart credentials, is a sturdy pacer, and what he lacks in size appears to be wore than compensated for by his speed powers. He has put up his best races on firm tracks, and has yet to prove a success under adverse conditions. He may feel the lack of recent racing. Red Hope claims an engagement in the Mount Ederi Handicap, and if he fails to materialise will be giving away 12yds to compete After his display when last at Epsom lie should be dangerous. Last season lie registered a win and two seconds, and was making fine progress as tho season concluded. ~ , Although Donum raced badly on a heavy track at Cambridge, lie proved that form all wrong when he stepped briskly over a mile and*, a-quarter at Rotorua, demonstrating clearly that he must have a firm track to give of hi/- best. He won a racist ITokitika before coming north, ana as lie is only a young pacer, he should make good advancement this season. Although* Botterwin did not win a race last season, he had a fine record for consistency the previous term, when, after five seconds, lie scored a well-earned victory. He commenced last season by running second to Guid Hairst in tho Onehungu Handicap nt Epsom, but in subsequent races fr.iled to 'pvoduce his best form. Betterwin has been let up to a 3.40 mark, but witii the limit, of the race reduced to 3.39, has to take his old lino to get a raco. HORSES FOR SYDNEY BAY TREE AND SENIOR • [BY TELEGRAPH —OWN comtKSI'ONI)ENTI WELLINGTON. Tuesday J. 11. Jefferd is leaving for Sydney by the Mamma from Auckland on Friday and Bay Tree's companion will be Senior, not Cylinder. Senior is Mr. T. 11. Lowry's three-year-old colt by Chief Ruler—First Blow. Cottesmore, whose special mission in Kydney will be tho Epsom Handicap, will leave by the Wanganella next week in charge of his trainer J. T. Young. Cottesmore, who came through the Grand National racing in good shape, is working the reverse way at Trenthani. Sydney papers which arrived by the Marama to-day disclose that Cottesmore was backed last week straight out for the fcpsom Handicap and was also coupled Kith several Metropolitan candidates. Acceptable, who was transferred to T. .Pritchard's stable at Trentham after the <Jrand National meeting, will carry the colours of Mr. G. H. Mason, who also has l'Jatter in Pritchard's stable. . TROTTING FIXTURES [August Trotting Club. (September 2—New Brighton Trotting Club. September 9—-Wellington Trotting Club. Soptember 16—Hawke's Bay Trotting Club m- (at Hutt Park). {September 30—Methven Trotting Club 'October 7—New Brighton Trotting Club. October 14—Waikato Trotting Club. October 21, 23—Auckland Trotting Club.