TROTTING AT EPSOM

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21932, 16 October 1934, Page 7

TROTTING AT EPSOM

NEXT SATURDAY'S EVENTS JELLICOE HANDICAP FIELD F. J. SMITH'S USEFUL PAJR BY ABAYDOS Judging from the quantity and qualify of the acceptances, the Auckland Trotting Club should have a very successful meeting at Alexandra Park, Epsom j next Saturday and Monday, and with reasonably good weather during the rest of this week the course should provide nice footing. Of the 80 horses entered foi- the first' day, only nine are missing from the acceptancelist, and in the principal race, the Jellicoe Handicap, tho only defection is Lady Coronado, who lias an engagement in the next important race, tho Electric Handicap. Included in the field for the Jellicoe Handicap is Auckland's sole New Zealand Trotting. Cup representative. Impromptu,, while the Auckland lloyal Trotting Cup eligibles Jewel Pointer, Peter Pirate, Kewpie's Tri umph and Auto Machine, and the Canter bury horse Chimes, are also engaged. Although those mentioned may find the very useful limit horses hard to beat, their presence in the race will invest it with keener interest. Of the four horses on the limit, 4.30, Worthy Light and Willie Derby registered outstanding performances in the intermediate classes last season. Worthy Light won ten. races in thirteen starts, and finished the season with an unbeaten record in five attempts at two miles. His fastest effort# were registered in winning the Wanganui Handicap, 4.31 1-5, and the Franklin Handicap at Epsom in 4.31 3-5. His last success was scored in the Adams Memorial Gup at Epsom, in which he had the hardest race of the season, defeating Tempest by only half-a-head. Willie Derby's Eecord Willie Derby last season won 'five races, three at two miles, at which distance ho was also twice second, being beaten by Cimarron and Chancellor. He registered smooth performances and displayed great improvement in stamina after coming to the Auckland province. He was defeated by Worthy Light at level marks in the Memorial Cup, and in the C. F. Mark Memorial Handicap, in which Worthy Light did not start, beat the consistent Tempest by a neck. His most attractive performance was in the Tamuhere Handicap at Hamilton, when he just failed to concede Chancellor 72 yards start, registering 4.27 3-5. As Willie Derby and Worthy Light both beat Tempest, and the last-named has since won good races in the South, they aro entitled to every consideration, in spite of the fact that they have not raced since June. After several southern failures last season. Wrecker won the Otahuhu Handicap at his first start for F. i. Smith, going 4.32 1-5, and he recorded the same time for third in the Mackenzie Handicap. At Addington in August he ran second to Cloudy Range in the Queen Mary Handicap, recording 4.24 3-5 on a fast He failed in a later ra;e, but in the August Handicap at Epsom, on a heavy track that was not to his liking, he finished with great dash into second place. If Wrecker is preferred to Worthy Light, it can .be taken as an indication that he is going to be hard to beat. Great Parrish has not won at two miles since lie was successful in the Auckland Trotting Cup, but last season, •n'hen at the top of bis form, he ran two attractive seconds. He has not done much racing lately and this will probably be against him. Ayrmont Chimes Consistent On a track that was all in her favour, First Flight, 4.28, failed in tho August Handicap, but she was not quite tuned up and with a little improvement 6he should be dangerous. She is just outside the Auckland Cup limit, but at this meeting will have a chance to qualify. Ayrmont Chimes, Auto Machine, Kewpie's Triumph and Peter Pirate, on, 4.27, form a formidable quartette. AyrmOnt Chimes was a consistent performer in the South Island last season, v/inning two races and beipg second in five consecutive starts. He took records of 2,41 3-5, 3.15 1-5 and 4.23 for a mile and a-quarter, mile and a-half, and two miles respectively. In the National Handicap at Addington in August ho finished second to Indianapolis, which sug--1 gests that he is again in splendid form. He has previously won at Epsom, and it is in his favour that he is equally at home on firm or soft ground. Auto Machine's prospects will depend on the state of the track, and if it is reasonably firm he will not be without prospects. Although he has reached an age where improvement cannot bo expected, he has not been over-raced and if he has done enough solid work to attune him for such a race he may be troublesome. Kewpie's _ Triumph is also a possibility, but it is just doubtful whether he is far enough advanced to give of his best Ho is a lazy track-worker, and does not usually reach his best until after some solid races. Peter Pirate enters seriously into' discussions, particularly in view of his fine finishing effort, at Hamilton and the fact that L. J. Green has him looking better than ever. At the Auckland Winter Meeting Peter Pirate from 84yds behind was third to Worthy Light, 24yds, and Tempest, limit, in the Adams Memorial Cup, and filled a similar place behind Willie Derby, 24yds, and Tempest, 12yds. in the Mark Memorial Handicap. A year ago he won the Jellicoe Handicap, and in his present condition has good prospects of repeating the performance. The Two Back-Markers The back-markers, Impromptu and Jewel Pointer, 4.25, are high-class horses. Since he won the Durbar Handicap at the Ashburton Autumn Meeting in 3.13 4-5' Impromptu has not run a bad race, and he has been successful over all distances, and has also taken a mile_ grass track record of 2.4 1-5. In view of his New Zealand Trotting Cup more than usual interest centres in his_ prospects. Jewel Pointer demonstrated in his work-out at Epsom on Saturday that he is far. from being a back-number, and although lack ot recent racing will bo against him, ho will not be without friends. It is a fine field, in which fancies will be j well divided. While final track work may throw further light on the prospect 9 of some of the candidates, the most favoured at this stage include Smith's elect, Willie Derby, Peter Pirate and Ayrmont Chimes. A Fine Sprint Field Class is strongly represented in the Electric Handicap, 2.47 limit, and in spite of being on 72yds, Impromptu will take all sorts, of beating. He won the second invitation match at Epsom last season and at Wellington ran Harold Logan to a head. This season he has been three times placed at a mile and a-quarter. First Flight, 48yds, requires only to repeat her June form to be very dangerous and her prospects will bo enhanced if the going is soft. Kewpie's Triumph, on the same lino, has splendid credentials at tho journey. Ayrmont Chimes is nicely placed on 24yds. Worthy Light and Wrecker, 12yfs, again give Smith a strong hand. Worthy Light isi a very nippy pacer, to whom few horses could concede much start. While Wrecker appeals more over a longer journey, he is also a useful proposition in the sprint. The limit lino contains several very smart sprinters, among them being Free Logan, who has a great burst of early speed and is well-conditioned for racing. Smooger is genuine and is always a danger in such races, while Lady Coronado will also tako beating, especially if the track is holding. Fancies at this stage include Smith's elect, Impromptu, Ayrmont Chimes and Free Logan.