COMMENTS ON FORM

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21782, 23 April 1934, Page 7

COMMENTS ON FORM

DEFEAT OF CHANCELLOR LEG TANGLED IN CORD PUKEMIRO'S TWO SECONDS OhinemutUj driven by A. Bryce, improved upon her second at Thames by comfortably winning the Elstow Handicap after a short fight in the,straight with To Kahu, a three-year-old halfbrother to Pegaway. To Kahu was driven by M. H. Tims, owner of the racehorses To Kara, Karapoti and Bambury. In the 1921-22 season Mr. Tims won two saddle races at Epsom with Inclement, who was owned by Mr. J. T. Young. Inclement returned two substantial dividends and out of the proceeds Mr. Young purchased Lottio Audubon, who subsequently produced Pegaway, Nollota and Te Kahu.

Young Rodney, who broko in tho early stages, trotted steadily over tho last halfmile to secure third place from ltose Marblo. who led the field for nino furlongs. Hose Marble, a fullsistor to Indolent, is showing improvement, and is a possibility in a slow-class raco. Billy Sunday, who won at Thames, broke up early and trailed the field all the way.

Tho Waitoa llandicap was marred by a mishap as the horses turned out of the straight :just after the start, Orleigh Mills falling and bringing down Gold Dredge and interfering with Red Frontier, who fell a little further on, Transworthy and El Thorpe, Lady Fame, Kewpie's E'ond, Jester and Lucky Lovo were the only one? clear nt the turn, and they had the race to themselves, lady Fame, driven by 8. A. Edwards, of Canterbury, went to the front and eventually won easily. The favourite,' Jester, challenged in the straight, but stopped wider pressure, and was c.ut out of second by K'jwpio's Bond, sister to Kewpie's Guy. Lucky Lovo was fourth. Winnox Leads Throughout In the Manawaru Handicap F. J. Smith took Anita Fume to the front and she won all the way. Bingen Chief and Jackie Thorpe were slow away, but fought out the issue for seco:ad, Bingen Chief, who finished on a broak, getting the decision. Whekahihi, a surprise favourite, was well beaten at the finish. Jackie Thorpo was unlucky, 'for after going away very slowly ho received a, bad check going out of the straight and lost a lot of ground. Chancellor was made a good favourite for the Te Aroha Trotting Handicap, but a bad break in. the first lap caused him to drop back from second position to last. The three-year-old made a very courageous effort when ho settled down, but could only finish fourth. Free Logan went away with a long lead and with 10 furlongs covered was 20 lengths clear of Smooger, Homeward and PukemirD. At the home turn these three had caught him, and Chancellor was up handy. Ssmooijer did best in the run home to hold off the consistent Pukemiro by half a. length. Homeward was third, followed by Chancellor, Froe Logan and Realty. Chancollor'n lapse came as a shock to his admirers, as he has always raced so solidly. Investigation after the race disclosed the fact that the starting cord became wound round o:ae oi 1 his legs and was caught in the sulky wheel, thus locking it and causing the horse to break. Under the circumstances, he put up a very meritorious performance and displayed raro courage in fighting on ti) the end.

Easy Wiu for Alexis Driven, by S. M. August, Alexis, -who ran a cireditfi.blo second to Le Chenault in tho Tuiua Bracelet at Thames, von the Ruakako, Har.dicap with ease. He was always in a ha.ndy position following Phyllis Axworthy and 'Lady .Amanda, down the back, and when this former weakened crossing the top, ho ran up to Lady Amanda and, taking charge tit the home turn, went away to score in hollow fashion. Since coming to the Waikato, Alexis has been somewhat disappointing, his only two successes having: been gained at the Ngaruawahia non-total-isator meetii.g, where ,he raced in saddle. Lady Amanda, driven by L. Green, was second, with the. favourite, Le_ Chenault, who headed ;;he tiring Iron Man in the last furlong, fourth. Phyllis Axworthy, who had charge along' tho back, stepped badly in the run home. Lady Amanda ran her best race since her promising form at Epsom in the spring. . There was a boil-over in the Waihou Handicap, when the fancied . division. Kiilni, Manna's, Son and Gala Pay, failed to gain a dividend place, the winner being 1 Autumn Lu. the outsider,, who won from; end tcr end and returnee! over half a century. Autumn Lu was patiently driven by her ownertrainer, G. 11. Stubbs. Last season she won t to races at a milo and a-half, but this was her firiit good showing at two miles. Indolent and Manna's Son were always at the head of the remainder, nnd in a good race Indolent beat Manna's Son for second, showing: mu;h more solidness than he did at Thames, while Winwhite was a useful fourth. Kuini made two bad lapses along the back, ruining any chance she had, and Gala Day found tha pace too hot. Autumn Lu going 4.45 1-5 from tho 5.0 limit. Although he trotted three seconds faster than he did to i:et third at Thames, Wimvhite could not g:ain a place. Hot Springs Accident Manaaka and Kewpie's King failed to go away correctly at the start of the Hot Springs Handicap, Bonnie Pointer leading out from Piny Lady and Red Frontier, but the latter fall at the top of the straight, bringing down Home Brew, who had made up her ground quickly. The accident also stopped Manaaka and Kewpio'a King, who were picking up the speed nicely. Bonnie Pointer, Play Lady, Rayon d'Or and Lady X<'aine were left clear, and approaching the home turn Lady Fame-ran up along' side Eonniis Pointer, and after a sharp tussle to wi:hin a furlong of the post, drew away to win easily. Bonnie Pointer, having her first ra:e, shaped very creditably, and will make further improvement. Rayon D'Or was third, si:: lengths qway, followed by Play Lady, a small filly by Peter Bingen—Her Ladyship and a half-sister to tho winner. Lady Fame. Speculation took a peculiar turn in tho Farewell Handicap, Linelle, who had not shown much form this season, disputing favouritism with Mancp, while Jackie Thorpe, tho winner, was fifth favourite each way. Jackie Thorpe began well and after trailing Dad's Hopo for over half tho distance, went to the front, with Pukemiro, Paul Druses and Linella all handy. In a good finish Jackie Thorpe hung on to heat Pukemiro by half a length, with the fastfinishing Linella. a neck away third and Paul 'DrufUiS next, Manco broke early and was pulled up. Jackie Thorpe did not score out of his turn, and he has raced consistently, if somewhat unluckily. A little les3 than two years ngo ho was foundered po badly that W. F. Saunders was advised 'o destroy him, but the pucer hau made a wonderful recovery. Linelle ran hor post ra< v ; for some time, nnd Pukemiro gave a lino display, clocking 2.44, which would have won at uny other lime.

SMITH'S FORTIETH WIN

FIVE SHORT OF RECORD

When this Takanini trotting trainer 1 1 . J. Smith drove Anita, Fame to victory at Te Aroha on Saturday his winning_ total for the season was raised to 40, which is five short of C. S. Donald's record, established in the 1929 30 season. Smith had one of his lean days, for he had a drive in every race and secured only the one win. His drives were Rembrandt," Jester, Anita Fame, Chancellor, Lo Chenault, Kuini, Kowpie's King and Dad' 3 Hope.

TIME IMPROVEMENTS r FAST TRACK. AT TE AROHA !»■ The To Aroba .grass. track was in good order on Siturday. as is shown by the time improvements. Willi the, exception of the To Aroha Trotting Handicap, in which tho first and eecond horses, Sniooger and Pnkcmiro, run i. fraction outside their handicaps, improvements were shown in every race. The novice and improving trottors and pacers' events disclosed tho largest margins, as is shown by tho following table:— ONE AND A-QUARTER MILES Improve Hdcp. Time menfc Lad.v Fame . . 3.G 2.53 3-5 12 2-5s Kewpie'a Bond 3.(5 2.54 2-5 11 3-5s ■Tester . . . 3.(5 2.54 4-5 ]1 1-5r Anita Fume . . 2.511 2.51 1-5 4 4-5s Bincen Chief . 2.52 2.48 4s Jackie Thorpe . 2.52 2.48 4-5 3 l-5a Jackie Thorpe . 2.51 2.47 4-5 3 1-53 Pukciniro . . 2.47 2.44 3s Linello . . 2.51. 2.48 1-5 2 4-53 ONE AND A-HALF MILES Lady Fiirno . . 3.42 3.23 J-5 13 4-5s Ronnie Pointer 3.45 3.33 1-5 11 4-5s Rayon. I)' Or.. 3.45 3.44 Is Alexis a.S» 3.?4 3-5 13 2-5 a Lad.v Amanda . • 3.38 3.2(5 3-5 11 2tss Lo Chejifiult , 3,35 3.?6 . Os Ohinemuri 3.50 3.38 i-5 11 4-5s To Kahil . . 3.50 3.30 2-5 10 3-5 a Young Rodney 3.50 3.40 3-5 9 2-5s TWO MILSB Autumn Lu . . 5.0 4,45 1-5 14 4-5s Indolent . . 4.57 4.43 3-5 13 2-5s Manna's Son . 4.58 4.16 1-5 11. 4-5 a