EPSOM TROTTING

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22428, 26 May 1936, Page 7

EPSOM TROTTING

THE JUNE MEETING GOOD UNHOPPLED HORSES E. R. SMITH'S BRACKET

BY ABAYDOS

With a good number of straight-out trotters irf the • province eligible for the two-mile trotting events on the Auckland Club's winter programme next month and the prospects of several visiting horses being engaged, the fields in these popular races promise to be strong,' both numerically and in point of quality. As nearly all the local trotters have shown winning form this season, the events should create' very keen competition. The Hamilton trainer E. R. Smith, with Waikato Prince and Polly Pan. will provide a fine bracket. Waikato Prince has won at his last three starts, and, while he was undoubtedly lucky in getting off with a very light penalty for his first win at Hawera, he proved himself a genuine stayer in his two later successes. There was -a lot of merit in his second-d 4 ny win at Hawera, as, being sore, he broke baldly half a mile from home, but, with a remarkably fine effort, he got up to win nicely. At Hamilton he again won at the right end and has bright prospects of adding to his winning list. Although she has only ono success at a middle distance. Polly Pan has scored three times at two miles, indicating that she requires the extra journey to show her best form. At Wanganui sho won a double and in two starts at Hawera registered a first and third. At the conclusion of the meeting F. .7. Smith handed Polly Pan over to E. 11. Smith, for whom she has twice ran second in shorter races. The Peterwah mare appears to have developed more solidness and she is likely to race prominently next month. >

Consistent Audo Patch In spite of his failure to gain a place at his last two starts, the earlier consistent form of Audo Patch should cause him to be respected. In the spring C. G. Lee's improved trotter was in good order, winning three times in four starts."At the Auckland summer meeting Audo Patch raced very consistently, but unluckily, his record being three seconds in as many starts, his respective victors being Great Admiral, Kuini and Captain Bolt. Although ho has not raced since January, Audo Patch requires only to be back to his best to make things very interesting. Young Rodney commenced the season in a manner that suggested he would win some big handicaps, but at the summer meetings he failed to reproduce his earlier good form. H. Hedley's long-striding trotter has been a very consistent performer, and, after winning at the Auckland spring meeting, won a double at Thames in fine style, two of his successes being at two miles. The Nelson Bingen gelding is a genuine stayer of whom the best has nob yet been seen. Ho has freshened lip as the result of a respite and should strip in good condition for his coming engagements.

The form of Dilfashion since coming to Auckland suggests that he is at his best over long journeys, and, although he did not reach a place in his Hamilton engagement, he ran creditably and should improve. Dilfashion had his first racing in the North at the Auckland summer meeting, but lack of solidness marred his chances. Left in A. Bryce's care, he improved sufficiently to win well at two miles at the Cambridge January meeting, and later at Epson, put up a fine effort over the same distance in finishing second to Manna's Son. He is now trained at Te Awa,mutu and should be well conditioned next month. Captain Bolt's Stamina

One of the finest stayers in the North Island, Captain Bolt, is always dancerous in two-mile events, and, had he not contracted leg trouble after the Cambridge summer meeting, his record for the season would have been a very good one. The Peterwah gelding won his first race at the last Auckland winter meeting, and, after being placed in the spring, was successful at two miles at the December meeting. He was placed in his next two starts and was then spelled. Captain Bolt is working again at Hamilton, and, if ready, should be a prominent figure at Epsom. For a horse who had not displayed much form at two miles, the displays of Manna's Son at the February meeting were particularly bright and indicated that his staying powers were developing with age. As a two and three-year-old Manna' 3 Son showed a lot of promise and last season raced successfully at' middle distances, but failed when tried at the longer journey. After a useful spell the Worthy Bond trotter was recommissioned by E. S. Groat, who has been associated with Manna's Son in all his races, and he surprised by his forward showing to register a first and second. As he should be more forward next month, Groat's trotter should add interest to the events.

Mountain Sun has during the last few months been working at the pacing gait, but it is quite likely that he will race as a trotter. Last season \V. Fleming's sturdy gelding displayed fine form at two miles and he commenced this season by a well-earned victory at Epsom, when he defeated Great Admiral, and, while the latter did not reveal his best, Mountain Sun's effort was full of merit. He failed at the summer meeting, but was conceding good starts -to improving horses. Tho change to pacing should not do Mountain Sun any harm, and, as ho is in splendid heart, he should have prospects of further trotting success.

J. T. Paul's Trotters No trainer in the North Island has produced a finer team of trotters during the last two seasons than J./ T. Paul, who has scored well with Great Admral, Te Kahu, Golden Eagle, Nelson Chief and Corona Bell, 'lhe lastmentioned pair secured their first successes this season and at present are outside the limit of the two-mile races, but the other three will find the 4.54 classes suitable. Te Kahu was a fine performer last season, but his later efforts havo been marked by failur#, although he has not had many chances. Most of his racing this term has been with the pacers, but, given another opportunity in his own class, Te Kahu may make amends. - • - Golden Eagle has not been successful this season, but she has not been overraced and in one or two starts did not have much luck. She showed some improvement on the first day of the February meeting and on the second day was going like a probable winner when a mishap put hor out of the contest. If sho has taken no harm from the occurrence, Golden Eagle will havo a chance to reach the winning list before the season closes

On performances Great Admiral, who has only had one unplaced effort in trotting races, is the pick of Paul's fine team. It is just 18 months since Great Admiral commenced racing, but by solid and successful efforts he lias quickly reached a high standard and has prospects of going on to much better class. Any doubt regarding his staying powers was dispelled when ho won the two milos Rowo Memorial Handicap, in December. Great Admiral has registered six firsts and a second in eight starts in trotting races, and he is likely to add further to his fine record.