TROTTING NOTES

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21962, 20 November 1934, Page 7

TROTTING NOTES

AUCKLAND CUP HORSES PROSPECTS OF WORTHY LIGHT JEWEL POINTER'S CONDITION BY ABAYDOS With six high-grade pacers eligible for the Auckland I?oval Trotting Cup at the Christmas meeting the province will have sound representation and some of the local horses will offer stout opposition to the best of the Southern candidates. .The local brigade comprises Worthy Light, Kewpie's Triumph, Kewpie's Guy, limit, and Impromptu and Jewel Pointer, 24 yards.

Although several horses racing at tho recent Addington meeting were fringing on tho Auckland Cup limit, 4.27, tho Takaninitrained Worthy Light was tho only one to qualify und his presence will not only strengthen the local division, but add a great deal of interest to the race. There has been no more consistent performer than Worthy Light, who3o record now reads 12 wins and two thirds in 19 starts, six of his successes being scored at two miles, as follows: Wanganui Handicap, Waimate Plains Handicap at Hawera, 1 liamoa Cup, Onehunga and Labour Day Handicaps at Epsom, and Courtenay Handicap at Addmgton, his best time, -1.23, being registered in tho last event. For a young horse Worthy Light has done remarkably well and he is just the type of pacer to run a great race off the limit of the cup. Worthy Light's progress during tho next few weeks will be followed with keen interest and F. J. Smith may make further improvement in his candidate. In spite of advancing years, Jewel Pointer is standing up to his work remarkably well, and, while he will find some of his younger rivals difficult to defeat, the Auckland favourite can be expected to put up ft great fight. Although it is five years since Jewel Pointer recorded his fastest time. 4.22 1-5, at Aldington, lie showed last season that hi 3 stamina was not dimming by several fine efforts. Fine Run at Hutt Park At Epsom he was placed in 4.23 2-5, while at the Wellington summer meeting he won tho big race on the Hutt Park grass track in 4.24. equalling the record of Roi L'Or. Jewel Pointer, who was third in the Auckland Cup won by Carmel, was unlucky in last year's race, and, had lie not met with a mishnp, may have been placed. The aged 1 uccr is in splendid condition again and will have the benefit of a race at the cricket carnival and also at To Aroha. where lie will be 180 yards behind. . Auto Machine has never looked brighter than at this stage and there is no doubt that he will make a good deal of progress with fast work. He has reached an age where improvement cannot be expected, but ho requires only to be produced at his best to make the race interesting. _For some time past Auto Machine has been in the unhappy position of giving away long starts in twomiles handicaps, but with tho suitable cup limit he will have a better chance to prove his worth. It is in Auto Machine a favour that lis has not been extensively raced since A. Brov n brought him to Auckland, and last sens'mi in sprint races be displayed all his old-time brilliance. He is admittedly a dry tra;k horse and should find conditions to his liking at the summer meeting. Kewpie's Guy has not raced since she won the President's Handicap at the last Christmas carnival, but it is reported that she is doing well in her preparation at Cambridge. When thoroughly attuned. Kewpie's Guy is a high-class pacer and she has demonstrated several times that she has inherited the staying qualities of her sire. Blue Mountain King, who von among several good handicap* the Auckland Trottinc Cup. If G. T. Mitchell produces Kewpie'a Guy in lier beßt form, she will not be without prospects. Kewpie's Triumph Improving Age has played its part m developing stamina in Kewpie's Triumph, who earner in hin career proved himself a classy sprinter. Two seasons ftgo he won two twoniiles races in good style and last season raced even better over the longer journey. He was going as well as anything in tho last Auckland Cup, and J. Gee was of the opinion that, had Kewpie's Triumph not met with a mishap two furlongs from home, he would have been difficult to beat. A night later at Wellington Kewpie's Triumph rail a great race, to be very narrowly beaten by Jewel Pointer, registering 4.2G 1-5. On a'heavy track at Epsom in April lie created a surprise by outstaying the solid Auburn Lad, and last month, bt Epsom, Kewpie's Triumph ehowed further improvement by clocking 4.24 1-5 into third place behind Worthy Light and Willie Derby. As ho has derived benefit from the racing and will further improve, Kewpie's Triumph will invest the cup race with a lot of interest. Although he failed to win a race at Addington, the Hamilton horse Impromptu did not run a bad race and in the New Zealand Trotting Cup he was only beaten by inches for the fourth prize. In the twomiles Free-for-All Impromptu won the stake for the first horse to reach the half-mile, beating Harold Logan, who won the race, and clocking 1.2 for the section. C. Moran stated on Saturday that it proved definitely vhat a great horse Harold Logan is to.be able to win a two-miles race after going the first half at such a torrid rate. Impromptu took no harm from the wing and is in nice order to continue his preparation for the Christmas meeting. He will be nominated for the cup, but there is no guarantee that he will 6tart, as his owner 6ays his pacer would have no chance of beating Indianapolis at a difference of 24 yards, and he may be meed in sprint events and tho President's Handicap the last day. Chance lor Blue Mountain As he is owned in Auckland, the grey gelding Blue Mountain can to some extent be considered as a local representative, and. in view of his fine form this season, he must bo accounted very dangerous. Like the majority of Blue Mountain King's progeny, Blue Mountain is a rare stayer, while he possesses a fine turn of sneed. Last, season ho raced very consistently, winmni: many two-miles rnces, but this season he has displayed further improvement. When lie won the August Handicap at Addington Blue Mountain ran 4.18 2-5 and reduced tW time to 4.17 when he followed Indianano.is home in the New Zealond Cup, and. f prove his stamina and courage, the grey came out later in the Hagley Handicap to race Sir Guy to ft head. Tie was outclassed in the two-miles Free-for-All, which is not surprising, as he was attempting a bis tas.c in tackling Harold Logan. Roi L'Or and Red Shadow at level marks. The hard racing evidently told on Blue Mountain, as ho faded at the finish of the Christchurch Handicap on the last day. As he will have ample time to get over the effects. Blue Mountain can be confidently expected to play an important part in tho cup from 12 yards behind. The following summary gives the handicap and best times of tho local trained and owned cup candidatesIldcp. Best Time Place Auto Machine .. 4.27 4.20 2 Kewpie's Guy . . 4.27 4.25 3 Kewpie's Triumph 4.27 4.241-5 3 Worthy Jjight . . 4.27 4.23 1 Blue Mountain .. 4.2G 4.17 2 Impromptu . . 4.25 4.20 4-5 2 Jewel Pointer .. 4.25 4.22 1-5 2 The first three listed registered the times' on graso tracks, while tho remainder put up their efforts on the Addington dirt track TRAINER'S RECOVERY r. McMillan to start again R. A. McMillan, the Tamahere trotting owner and trainer, who had a leg badly broken at the Thames meeting last season when his charge, Lady Amanda, came to grief in the Turua Bracelet Handicap, was a visitor to Te Rapa on Saturday and is now able to got about without the aid of any supports. After visiting Auckland for the Juno meeting McMillan re-entered hospital for further treatment and states that tho injured leg lias now made good progress. McMillan will shortly take up trotting training again and will make a start with, Ptinco Pedro, Kia Kahn and one or two ycung horses. The Tamahere trainer said that the fine programme issued by the Auckland Trotting Club for tho summer meeting was an indication that tho sport is on the upgrade again in the province and expressed tho opinion that in a year or two trotting would again occupy it« former high standard in the North. HORSES FROM SYDNEY i f PERSIAN AND CARRICKORE Major P. Kerr-Srailey's horses, Persian and Carrickore, are arriving from Sydney by the Marama to-day. They are to compete at the Auckland Racing Club's Summer Meeting at Ellerslie. Persian is a five-year-old bay horse by Legionnaire or Spelthorno from Pura. His last win was registered in the RosehiU Handicap, li miles, at Rosehill, on July 25. when he carried 8.12 and scored by two and a-half lengths in 2.7. Persian s last placed performance was to finish second to Shatter in the Squatters' Handicap at Randwick on October 1, when he carried 8.6 and was beaten by three-parts of n length in 2.7 x. Carrickore is a two-year-old chestnut colt by Iliad from Fleeting, hence a half-brother to Inflation. He was purchased at the yearling sales at- Trentham last January for 550 guineas. Carrickore has had only one run. running unplaced in the Groystanes Juvenile Stakes at Warwick Farm on October 20.