TROTTING NOTES

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22372, 19 March 1936, Page 9

TROTTING NOTES

HORSES FOR WANGANUI AUCKLAND CONTINGENT ELEVEN WINNERS ON LIST BY ABAYDOS Auckland stables are well represented in the list of entries lor the Wanganui Trotting Club's meeting, which takes place on March 2S and April 4. The most notable absentees are the useful horses from Mr. W. Johnstone s team, King's Play, King's Knight and King Country, but there are 20 northern horses listed, the trainers represented being F. J. Smith, E. It. Smith, C. Moran, T. Roe, L. N. Vernall, L. J. Mahoney, G. McNicklo and J. G. Robertson.

Smith, of Takanini, is represented by Polly Pan, Farm Girl, Raron Alfonso, Nelson Princess, Muriel Bond, Ncrvie's Last and Rayon d'Or, while E. It. Smith, of Hamilton, has entered Waikato Prince, Tollgate and Sir Frank. Moran's team comprises Rockella, Meadow King and Silk Cord. Roe is taking Stalky and Worthy Song and Vernall's two are Our McKinney and Worthy Nor. Cherrill, Ironside and Parochial represent Mahoney, Robertson and McNickle respectively. The Auckland contingent is a strong one and includes winners this season. Horses who have won are Our McKinney, three; Ironside, Cherrill and Rayon d'Or, two each; Baron Alfonso, Polly Pan, Ncrvie's Last, Rockella, Meadow King, Silk Cord and Parochial, while Waikato Prince, Tollgate, Stalky, Worthy Nor and Worthy Song have been placed. Muriel Bond and Nelson Princess have not raced this season, Farm Girl has started only twice, while Our Frank is a young horse, who has not yet sported silk. F. J. Smith's Team of Seven Polly Pan is the only straight-out trotter in F. J. Smith's team and she has been included in the hope that a change of venue may prove beneficial. She will be handily placed at Wanganui and if she is successful she will become eligible for the tighter class events at the Hawera meeting. Polly Pan lias speed which will give her a chance of winning in any company, but lack of solidity is a drawback. When she won at the summer meeting, Polly Pan gave a high-class display, but she did not repeat it last month. Nervie's Last and Rayon d'Or are engaged in the two principal races, and if produced in the same form as at the Auckland February meeting they will add interest to their races, in spite of the fact that the opposition will bo very strong. It is likely that Nervie's Last will contest the Wanganui Cup and if he succeeds Ravon d'Or will run in the Liverpool Handicap on the second day. Like the majority of the horses entered, Nervie's Last and Rayon d'Or will bo making their first effort at the distance. When Baron Alfonso won at the summer meeting he was noted as one to win again. Last month 110 gave a poor display at Epsom, and although the ground he lost at the start was some excuse, he did not show a semblance of the dash that gave him his victory. Baron Alfonso failed in two later starts at Wellington, but the racing and travelling experience may prove of benefit. The Frank Worthy colt requires only to reproduce his best to win in his present class. Muriel Bond was very disappointing for the major part of last season, as after going one very fine race for J. G. Robertson, she recorded several complete failures. Produced at Cambridge by Smith in May, the mare showed allround improvement to run first and second. A week later she ran two poor races and has not raced since. Nelson Princess, a well-bred mare by Nelson Bingen—Logan Queen, showed promise in her only start last season, while Farm Girl, by Frank Worthy—Lady Grattan, should derive benefit from her rpcent racing. Waikato Candidates Waikato Prince, the trotting representative of E. R. Smith's team, has not struck the form that made him a good proposition last season, but by his being placed in some of his latest starts, it is evident he is making reasonable advancement. He ran some of his best races on the West Coast circuit, and while ho may find the handicaps at Wanganui difficult with useful improvers on the limit, the Hawera classes should suit him admirably. The displays of Tollgate have left the impression that his turn should not be very far away and a little improvement on his third in the Richmond Handicap will give him a fine chance of registering his first success in the North Island. Two seasons ago he was several times placed. The mile race at Wangfinui should be ,a very suitable event for Tollgate. Sir Frank is a good-looking son of Frank Worthy and Aggie Bell, a Gold Bell marc, and although he lacks experience, ho may be more than useful. Rockella is Moran's candidate for the Cup, and although he has not been tried at a longer distance than a mile and a-balf, ho has finished in his latest races like a stayer. Rockella has not always had the best of luck in his races and may appreciate the bigger tracks. Silk Cord should be suited by the mile and mile and a-quarter events for improvers, as he shows plenty of early speed in his outings, but he should improve in stamina. Meadow King, who has Avon at both gaits, will contest pacers' events.

Ironside at Two Miles A good deal of interest will be taken in the display of Our McKinney at two miles and, judged on the way lie has finished in all his races, the To Rapa pacer should go the distance. He has consistently run a mile and a-half at a little over a 2.14 milo rate. Worthy Nor, the ex-Epsom trotter, has not won a race this season, but she lias gained several places and is capable of doing better as the season advances. She is now trained by Vernall at Te Rapa, and with regular work on the grass she should make some improvement. _ , , Ironside is the only Otahuhu candidate for the chief events. Bred on staving lines, Ironside should run a solid two miles. Stalky, who is still on the limit of the slow class trotting races, has been in the money often enough to suggest that lie will soon be a winner. Owing to his being a trifle tender, Stalky makes frequent breaks on a hard track, hut a yielding course will suit him. Worthy Song, a smart beginner, who was placed last month, should make a creditable showing in the novice pacers' events. . Cherrill is freely engaged in the improvers' milo and mile and a-quarter races. She won twice at Epsom this season, but she is still not reliable at the barrier. GRAND NATIONAL STEEPLES REYNOLDSTOWN FAVOURITE According to a cablegram to Australian newspapers last week Reynoldstown was the ruling favourite for the Grand National Steeplechase, to be run on March 27, with Golden Miller the second favourite. The best-fancied of the others were Avenger, Castle Jrwcll and Belted Hero. The reason given for the extended price offered against Golden Miller was that he had refused to jump, and had throVn his jockey during a steeplechase at Newbury the previous week. His Cheltenham success this week probably will have rehabilitated him as favourite.