TROTTING NOTES

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22320, 18 January 1936, Page 11

TROTTING NOTES

SOUTHERN HORSES SOME EPSOM WINNERS BINGEN PALM AND SUPERTAX BY ABAYDOS An interesting feature of the Timaru trotting meeting, which will be held to-day, is the number of horses engaged who have raced in Auckland. Included in the list are Graham Direct and Bingen l'alm, who won at Epsom last month, while previous winners at Kpsoni are Supertax, Mocast and Homeward. Bingen Palm, Mocast and Supertax figure in the chief event, the President's Handicap, in which they should race well. In spite of his failure to win at two miles at the Auckland meeting, Bingen Palm is a sound performer at the distance, and, as he should be all the better for recent racing, the West Coast pacer, who has raced particularly well at Addiugton this season, is likely to be favourite. Bingen Palm had four starts at Epsom for a win and two thirds, and previously at Addiugton registered two wins in three efforts, one of his successes being at two miles. Few pacers in the Dominion have made as much progress during the last 12 months as the Maxegin horse Supertax. Last Easter he raced in promising style at Hawera, where ho won a double, and followed it up with a fine victory at Auckland. This season Supertax has won at Wellington, Addiugton and Auckland, and some of his performances have been of a very high order. He has not had much racing at two miles, but there is every reason to believe that he will experience little difficulty in seeing out the longer journey. Mocast Consistent Mocast, who did his early racing in Southland, where he had some success, has developed into a very solid horse since being under the care of C. S. Donald. At the previous Auckland summer meeting Mocast won the Christmas Handicap in 3.19 4-5, and at Hawera he ran sccund to Plain Pearl in the cup, going 4.28 1-5 and lowering Gold Jacket's placed track record. On the second day the Peter Moko gelding won the Wairnato Plains Handicap easily and has been 'several times placed this season. A good stayer, Mocast is not iwthout prospects. Giro, who also claims an engagement in the chief race, is a well-bred horse by Wrack —Pearlchild, and full-brother to White Satin and Plain Pearl. He won the New Zealand Trotting Derby in 1931, but subsequently, in the Auckland classic, was beaten into third place by Tempest and Avernus. He won a few races in the following two seasons, but last year, in 11 starts, could only register one second, in which he ran 2.45 1-5, being beaten by the useful Peter Locanda. Two of Mr. G. J. Barton's horses. Bracken and Homeward, are engaged in the sprint race, and, given a firm track, they should be capable of good efforts. Bracken was very disappointing on her two visits to Auckland last season, but on the second occasion the heavy track was not in her favour. One of Bracken's best efforts was at the Addiugton Easter meeting, when she gave Bingen Palm 2-1 yards and a beating in 4.21 4-5. Homeward has won races at Epsom in previous seasons for S. M. August, but at the recent meeting, in Mr v Barton's colours,, 9 huer best was" a third placing. Graham Direct's Chance Golden Direct, a six-year-old fullbrother to the Auckland Cup winner Graham Direct, has bceu a fairly successful performer since ho ran third to Indianapolis and Taxpayer in the Great Northern Trotting Derby. Last season his form was marked with consistency, and in eight consecutive races he registered a win, two seconds and three thirds. Golden Direct is on the limit of the 2.47 Pareora Handicap, in which his younger brother, Graham Direct, is the back-marker on 24 yards. Although the latter did not do so well at the shorter distance when at Epsom, his excellent form at two miles should give him a fine chance of success. The steady, but small, trotting mare Ann Parrish was very unfortunate -to strike a heavy track when she was in Auckland at the winter meeting, but, in'spite of adverse conditions, she gave some idea of her capabilities. This season she has raced consistently well, and although conceding starts up to 6(J yards in the Claremont Handicap, should make a creditable showing. Lux Lunae, whoso best elfort at the Auckland summer meeting was to run second when giving away two seconds handicap, is on the front of the Levels Handicap, and, if she has made any improvement as the result of her Epsom racing, may not bo without prospects, although the field contains some good improvers.

The young American stallion Gallant Knight, who lias won twice in his only three starts, is well placed on the limit of the Salisbury mile and the Farewell Handicap, and, judging from the manner in which he won his races, to say nothing of his private reputation for speed, Mr. J. R. McKensie's horse should not have much difficulty in winning at least one of his races. Gallant Knight is bred on the best American lines, being by Mr. Mclilw.yn, from lit a day, a full-sister to Star Etawah, 1.59 J. Ho lias had a lieht season at the stud, and included among the select mares accepted by his owner was the Auckland champion trotting mare Noll Volo.

The West Coast pacer Broughshane, full-brother to Hey Spec, who raced prominently at Epsom Inst month, is engaged in the Farewell Handicap, and his prospects, in view of his fine form at Westport, where he won his three races in easy fashion, must be considered bright. J. E. Mcßride, who bred Broughshane and Key Spec, has a very high opinion of the former and expects him to reach the sumo plane as Key Spec.