TROTTING NOTES

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22399, 21 April 1936, Page 7

TROTTING NOTES

CHALLENGE CUT POINTS

TREASURE BOND UNLUCKY ARAPAI WAS OUTSTANDING BY ABAYDOS Of special interest in connection with tlu; west const of tho North Island trotting circuit is the position for the circuit challenge cup. Bonny Azure and Poll.v Pan, each with 15 points, are not competing on the second day, to-mor-row, of the Mannwatu Trotting .Club's meeting, but those next in ordei, Treasure Bond, 14, and Arapai, 13 points, have two engagements each. Jv a von d'Or showed marked impro\ement at two miles and finished stiongly to win the Manawatu Trotting Cup in record time. The slow pace set enrlv, the mile taking 2.21, suited the winner, and, patiently driven by I'. J. Smith, linyon d'Or made his effort at the moment. Penalised 21yds, ho ran a creditable race in the President's Handicap. While at the Hawera meeting Smith offered to exchange Bavon d'Or for J. A. Gerrard's trotter Native free, but the deal was not myde. Treasure Bond was tho unlucky horse of tho cup race, as he lost some ground at the start and did not have tho best of the running. .Tust as A. Bryco elected to mako his effort, .Treasure Bond received a check and was forced to go on the outside. He displayed rare gameness in the run home, but could not reach Bayon d'Or. Treasure Bond has had a first, three seconds and a third in six starts on the circuit, and he has fino prospects of adding to his consistent record to-morrow. Rockella ran a sound race in the cup, going 4.31 3-5. which was only a fraction outside tiie winner's time. He is staying on better and lias good prospects of scoring at the distance before the season ends. After this showing and his two wins at Wanganui at a mile and a-quarter, Bockella was elected a warm favourite for the sprint; event, but a bad break early marred his chance. '

Rare Rev is racing consistently, without being good enough to win, but ho appears to be on the improve, and a sprint race may come his way very soon. He has acted as pace-maker for tho two-mile events he lias lately contested, but he is lacking in stamina. Rare Roy missed the jump-out in tho President's Handicap, but he was going very fast at the finish to get within a head of Bolinda King, who put a big break on the field in the early stages. A Promising Novice Electric Bell was again absent when tho numbers went up for the Dash Handicap, and she has not yet raced on the circuit. W. Orange's mare is listed for the mile event to-morrow and she looks bright, in spite of opinions expressed that she is not in the best of health. Orange produced tho Wai-kato-bred Claudelands, full-brother to Jackie Thorpe and Our Summer, and he made a very creditable showing for a novice. He beat all others excepting the more seasoned and consistent Real Pal and ran 2.51 1-5. Claudelands should be difficult to beat next time. Baron Alfonso ran more generously than at Hawera, and, although he had no chance with Epilogue in the Pohangina Handicap, he fought stubbornly under pressure to cut out Waving Corn from second place. Baron Alfonso is still growing and this appears to be the cause of his indifferent displays, but when he is matured there is every reason ,to believe that he will, justify the good opinion of his connections. Ho stays oil well and has prospects at two miles, but will find Epilogue again a very difficult opponent. A. Cranston made his first appearance in Mr. W. Johnstone's colours on Saturday with King's Knight and Transfer, but the former, who was well fancied, did not race impressively. He was checked at one stage, but when ho got clear King's Knight did not put any dash into his work and he may lack racing. Transfer, a half-brother, by Peter Bingen, to Transworthy, showed speed in patches, and with experience may develop. He is a trifle "green" at the barrier at present. Our McKinney ran two good races and he handled tho track much better than at Wanganui. He was in the firing line most of the way in the cup, but faded in the last furlong. He did not begin well in the President's Handicap, but ran on well at the finish to get third money, going 2.46. With a better beginning ho may have made it difficult for Bolinda King and Rare Bey. Defeat of Silk Cord With Electric Bell out of tho way, Silk Cord appeared to have excellent prospects in tho Dash Handicap, but he went under to Allworthy, who ran more genuinely than at Wanganui. At the distance, feilk Cord looked to havo the measure of Allworthy, but the Hamilton horse did not respond as well as expected, while his rival answered gamely. A mile seems to bo far enough for Silk Cord, who 'may make some amends to-morrow.

Arapai was tho outstanding trotter at Awapuni, his two successes being achieved very decisively. After his good showing at Wanganui he was given an excellent chance in tho two miles trot, but there were, not many who expected him to spreadeaglo a field of useful pacers in 3.27. A penalty of 24yds could not stop Arapai in his other start, and lie will bo difficult to keep out of tho money in his second-day engagements. Arapai, who is a half-brother to Arabond, is in great condition, and a credit to the Fcilding trainer, A. F. Liddall. S. M. August has been very patient with Real Pal, who was at one time in M. B. Edwards' stable. Real Pal has been racing consistently on tho circuit without much luck, and lie put up his best effort to win tho Longburn Handicap in 2.48 1-5. Great Chum missed his opportunity when ho failed in the Pohangiua Handicap off the limit, as his second-day mark will bo much stiffer, owing to his second at Hawera. Great Chum secured a minor placo in the mile, but is now worso off in tho handicaps than the lirst and second horses. One of the most improved horses on the circuit is Bolinda King, and, although he was giving away time to enter the President's Handicap, he won nicely. He was splendidly driven by A. Garnett, who is one of the most promising youyg roinsmen in tho North island.

Muriel Bond did not make a good beginning in tho Dash Handicap and was never dangerous. She won at Wanganui on the first day, but an injured foot kept her from racing again until last Saturday. Tho race may do Muriel Bond good, for sho sprkits well. Tho well-bred Teela, after several years of failure both at the trotting and pacing gaits, scored her first success when sho lod all the way in the Awapuni Handicap, trotting 3.35 off 3.49, but the Wrack mare wag at a very short price, considering a third at Wanganui was her only indication of form. TROTTING FIXTURES April 22—Mannwntu Trotting Club. April 30, May 2—Forbury Park Trotting Trotting Club. May 2 —Cambridge Trotting Club. May 7—Marlborough Trotting Club. May 9—Oamaru Trotting Club. May i)—Waikato Trotting Club. May lfi, 18—Nelson Trotting Club. May 30 —Canterbury Park Trotting Club. June 13—Aahburton Trotting Club. Juno 20, 23 or 21—Auckland Trotting Club.