WELLINGTON TROTS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22004, 10 January 1935, Page 7

WELLINGTON TROTS

SUMMER HANDICAP FIELD

AUCKLAND FORM AS GUIDE

ROI L'OR AND WORTHY LIGHT

BY ABAYDOS

With Worthy Light, Impromptu and Blue Mountain, all owned in the Auckland province, contesting the principal race a good deal of local interest will be taken in the Wellington Trotting Club's meeting on Saturday. Of the nine horses in the Summer Handicap, which last year replaced the N'ew Zealand Trotting Gold Cup, seven, namely Auburn Lad, Blue Mountain. Worthy Light, Glenrossie, Lindbergh and Roi L'Or contested the Auckland Royal Trotting Cup and President's Handicap, while the remaining two, Silver de Oro and Sunny Morn, have performed well in the South. The most noticeable absentee is Indianapolis. but, in view of his attempt on the New Zealand mile record at Addington on January 19, it is not surprising that F. C. Dunlevy allowed him to drop the two-mike engagement. Jinny Aucldund admirers were hopeful that Indianapolis would meet his Epsom victors at Hutt Park to prove that his form here was all wronc. Except for the two newcomers, the race is a repetition of tho Auckland Trotting Cup, with the winner, Roi L'Or, meeting tho runner-up, Worthy Light, on the sanw terms as at Epsom on account of tho latter winning the President's Handicap. Blu» Mountain, Auburn Lad. Glenrossie, Impromptu and Lindberg ere meeting Roi L'Or and Worthy Light on 12 yards better terms than in the cup, which should have tho effect of bringing all very close in line if they raco up to their best form.

As •winners in fast and solidly-run races at Epsom Roi L'Or, 4.22, and Worthy Light, 4.'26, make a very iltrong appeal, hut allowance must be made for improvement on the part of 6Cino who failed to beat theni in Auckland. In the cup Roi L'Or conceded Worthy Light 48 yards avid beat him by half a length in the record time of 4.15 2-5, the local horßO going 4.15) 3-5. In the President's Handicap, at a difference of 60 yards*. Worthy Light, improving to 4.11), defeated his cup conqueror by a similar margin, Koi L'Or reducing his remarkable record to 4.14 1-5. Chance lor Glenrossia Both Koi J,'Or and Worthy Light cispluyed speed, stamina and rare courage in their Auckland races and wore produced at the peak of their form. If they meet on Saturday under similar conditions, they are fci und to play a very important part in the decision of the race. Glenrossie, trained at Hutt Park, must be considered a dangerous rival, and. although he is not at all times reliable at the post, recently he has run two very fine races at two miles. At Addington he followed Indianapolis home in the Christ church Handicap, recording 4.17 3-5, which time he repeated to finish third to Worthy Light and Roi L'Or in the President's Handicap at Epsom. At his best Glenrosßie is a scund, game i-acer, and. as he improves with racing, ho should have good prospecta off 4.25,

Impromptu's fourth in the cup in two seconds faster time than his dirt-trnck record of 4.20 4-5 was a splendid efioT t , and. with the advantage of 12 yards ovei; Hoi L'Or and Worthy Light, he must be given a good chance. He has raced. t?uccessful)y at Hutt Park and it is in his favour that the course ia the same way round ns nt Claudelands. where he is trained. 1"1 would be particularly interesting if an Auckland horse won, because last year Jewel Pointer and Kewpie's Triumph fought out tho finish, the former winning by half ft head, while Pesaway was fourth. Lindbergh, 4.23, finished third last yenr, being only a head away. and. in spite of his inferior displays at Epsom, ho must be treated with respect. Although he has never shown anything like his true form here, ho demonstrated by his very attractive work with Roi L'Or before the meeting that ho was in splendid heart, while his Hutt Park and Ashburton records give ample proof that he ia quite at home on tho grass. Blue Mountain's Prospects

Although he could not do better than finish third in the cup and fourth ill the President's Handicap, Blue Mountain Tan two solid races, and on neither day did he have the luck of the race with him. In the cup he displayed courage with a late run when ho got clear, and again on the last day, after losing enough ground at the 6tnrt to put him out of court, ho finished with great determination into iourth place in 4.18 4-5, exactly the same time as he returned for third in the cup. Blue Mountain looks refreshed as tli9 result of un easy time ein'-e the meeting, and. as ho has a 12 yuids pull an the handicap over his Epsom victors, his prospects off the limit must not be overlooked. ~ Auburn Lad's form was rather puzzling, as he did not at any stage race in keeping with his solid track displays. W. McKay was very disappointed and was of opinion that the horse had trained off. Auburn Lad struck himself on the last day, which necessitated a short let-up, and, if he lia3 gone along in the right- way since reaching Wellington, ho may make amends. The fresh ones, Silver de Oro and ounny Morn, are more than useful, and off the limit they will add a lot of interest to the race Silver de Oro is a smart pacer and at Addington in August defeated Indianapolis in the King Georgo Handicap in 419 4-5 With this success she oualified for the New Zealand Trotting Cup, but a bad beginning spoilt any chanco she had. bha was favourite for the Courtenay Handicap, won by Worthy Light, with Sunny Morn close up fourth. Both Silver de Oro and Sunny ikiorn were conceding* tlie Aucklander 24 yards, wliilo on Saturday they all meet on equal terms. Sunny Morn is a rare sticker and does not lack courage at tno finish. „ , ... The field is a high-class one. and. wit.i the exception of Harold Logan and Indianapolis, contains the best pacers in the Dominion. The race is full of possibilities and fancies are likely to take a wide range, with perhaps a preference for Roi LOr, Worthy Light, Blue Mountain and Impromptu.

High-class Sprinters The 2.43 class Kia Ora Handicap has attracted nine high-class sprinters, tho most noticeable absentees being Harold Logan, winner of the Addiuglon Free-for-All. and Indianapolis, winner o£ the Auckland (•h;uapion Handicap. With the exception of Gold Country and Mountain Dell, those engaged are listed also for the Summer Handicap and the form disclosed in the two miles race will have some bearing 011 the sprint result. Both Gold Country and Mountain Dell nro brilliant sprinters when thoroughly attuned and they may race creditably off the tront, but if Blue Mountain goes away correctly ho looks the pick of the limit lot. Silver do Oro is nicely placed and may be very hard to beat ofT 12 yards. She is a nippy pnefir, with n rare fiiiisninp dnsh. and, provided that she makes 110 mistakes early, her prospects are bright. Auburn Lad requires only to reproduce his sprinting ability of last, season and repeat Jn? recordbreaking effort, fo have the finish to himself off 24 yards, while on Die name lino Glenrossie, Impromptu and Lindbergh aro likely to be troublesome. Both Glenrossie and Lindbergh can sprint with the best in the land, but Impromptu is perhaps more reliable and lie should go very close fn getting the mam share of the pri7.e v The chief danger' will bo Roi L'Or if he misses a penalty. His 2.:>,f> 2-5 at Alexandra Park was a wonderful effort and stamped him as a eroat sprinter. The race should provide keen speculation, with a preference for T?oi L'Or, Impromptu, EIIIO Mountain and Silver de Oro.

A SCATTERED FAMILY RELATIVES OF PHAR LAP With the departure from Lyttelton lant week of ino l'.vo-yenr-old filly Tc Jim, who has been purchased by an English buyer for 2000 guineas. another of the progeny of Nidht Raid and Entreaty has left lur native land. The oldest of this family, Fortune's "Wheel, is at the stud in the Dominion, mid her daughter Calieme has been in the rneinsr limelight recently. Rim, Lap. tho eldest son, spent most of his life in Australia and died in America. The next sister. Xea Jjnp, is at the ftud in the United Stales Next m the l ; st is Niahlgimrd, who has remained in New Zealand and raced at Reefton yesterday. There wa« no foal in 19 n( ) but the colt, of 1930 was All Clear, now in' Ceylon. Friday Night. who was foaled in 3931, is at present spelling in Canterbury. r Jhis accounts for all except tho "baby foal. RACING FIXTURES January 10—Reefton Jockey Club January 10, 12—Thames Jockey Club. January 11, 12—Vincent Jockey Club. Janunry 19—Wairio Jockey Club. Januarv 22—Ashhurst * Pohangina Racing Club. t , January 22, 24, 2G— Wellington Racing Club. January 2t>. 29— Takapuna Jockey Club (at Ellerslie). January 31, February 2—Wairoa Racine Club. January Ml, February 2—Wanganui Jockey Club. February 2—Matamata, Racing Club»