EPSOM TROTTING

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22457, 29 June 1936, Page 7

EPSOM TROTTING

SUCCESS OP MEETING FINE FIELDS OF IMPROVERS LACK OF HANDICAP HORSES

BY ABAYDOS

The success which attended the Auckland Trotting Club's Winter Meeting augurs well for general improvement in tho sport in the province next season. Tho excellent fields in the novice improvers' and intermediate sections demonstrated that there is no scarcity of horses tor these classes, but the parades in the higher-class events showed all too plainly that there is a dearth of the best material. This will be overcome after a few meetings if classes are arranged for the pacers who are assessed outside tho range of the present limits of the principal races. Some of these, given the opportunity, will soon graduate to the higher section. The two-miie races for straight-out trotters were again a feature of tho meeting and provided interesting competition. Meadow King was outstanding, but several ran creditably, and others not at home in the going should do a deal better when the tracks get firmer. Great Admiral, tho best of Auckland's trotters and who twice defeated Meadow King last season in tho lower grade, did not meet the grey this time, and, now that they are likely to bo on about even terms again, further meetings between the pair will be looked to with interest. With the higher scale of penalties for the lower classes, improving horses will come back more rapidly to fill the ranks of tho intermediate division, so that when the new season opens in August with tho proposed Cambridge jubilee meeting and the Auckland meeting, there should be no lack of horses in these departments. Best Prizes Go South As at the winter meeting, southern visitors secured tho plums, Do Soto, who won the Adams Memorial Cup and Mark Memorial Handicap, taking £5lO and a handsome gold cup, while Moeast, who was first in the Cornwall Handicap and third in the King's Birthday Handicap, collected £IOO. At the summer meeting Graham Direct, who took the Auckland Trotting Cup and President's Handicap, won £9OO and a £SO cup, while Rey Spec, winner of tho Champion Handicap and second in both two-mile races, earned £595. Valdor, winner of the Great ' Northern Trotting Derby and Christmas Handicap, lifted £325, while other successful Canterbury horses were Grace McElwyn £290, Bingen Palm £215, Rongomai £l6O, and Sure, with three seconds, £l3O, the seven southerners accounting for £2665. South Island horses get a large share of the prize-money, but they infuse interest into the racing, while their latest successes no doubt will induce more owners to visit Auckland meetings next season. A number of horses from the Manawatu took part on this occasion, but they did not have any success, the only one to secure any return being Baron Grand, who was second to Munga Tangi in the Suburban Handicap Arapai, winner of three races at Palmerston North, did not show anything like his best form "and it was evident he was not suited by the track conditions. Franz Derby, with a first and second in two previous starts, was disappointing, while Bolinda King also failed to show up. Most interest centred in Electric Bell, who, after being scratched at Wanganui, Hawera and Hamilton, was having only her second race for the season. She was solidly supported m the June Handicap, displayed rare speed in the middle stage, and then faded out. King's Warrior Record The failure of King's Warrior to do better than second in the Adams Cup and Mark Memorial Handicap was a severe setback to his numerous admirers, who fully expected the black horse to prove his superiority and probably qualify at the meeting for the New Zealand Trotting Cup. W'hile he did not. show anything like his best on the first day, Kind's Warrior had every chance in his second attempt, but could not beat l>e Soto at the handicaps. His two seconds netted King's Warrior £IOO, making his winnings for the season £1490. Tho Blue Mountain King gelding has a iino record of eight wins and three seconds in 13 starts this term. Last season, for three wins; two seconds and a third, he collected £355, and the previous season, as a three-year-old, ho earned £lB5 for two wins and a second. His earnings to date are £2OBO. Bonny Azure, like her stable mate, also suffered two defeats, which, after her fine record of eight wins in succession, came as a big surprise. The four-year-old was not by any means disgraced, and, for one of her inches, put up a big fight each day on the holding track. Bonny Azure is also by Blue Mountain King and she has a remarkable record for the season, having only once been out of a place in 13 starts, while she was nine times successful, twice second and once third, for £1305. J. Bryce's Five Wins

Last season, as a three-year- old, she was not extensively raced. She finished third to Subsidy and Proletarian in the Great Northern Trotting Derby and won the Mangere Handicap in June, at which meeting she was also second in the June Handicap to Rockella, her season's prize-money amounting to £145. She won last year for C. G. Smith, but her successes this season were gained in F. J. Smith's hands. F. J. Smith, who usually heads tho list of winning drivers at Epsom, scored only one success, Nervie's Last, but in nine other outings he drove, six seconds and a third. His only candidates to be unplaced were Baron Alfonso and Levity. Smith concludes the season with 39 wins.

J. Bryce, jun., was at the top of his form, driving five winners, while C. R. Wood, with two wins, was the only other reinsman to score more than one success. T. Logan, Do Soto (2), 0. Moran, Meadow King (2), and E. R. Smith, Sir Frank and Colleen Murphy, were the only trainers to win more than one race.

SHORT JUMPING CAREER

SISTERINA SAVED FOR STUD

Sisterina was well clear of the rest of

the field in the Greenfield Hurdles at Dunedin but she struck hard at the obstacle near the six furlong post. This severely checked her, and sho tried to run off at the next hurdle but crashed

through the inside wing and collided with the course rail on falling. She received a deep gash, which almost severed the shoulder. She lost a great amount of blood, and it was almost decided to destroy .her. Her trainer, M. Con/.a, stayed this proceeding, getting her back to the stable after much trouble. He hopes to save her for stud purposes.

Sistcrina's rider, G. Ridgway, was laid out for a long time, but recovered on his return to the enclosure, and was able to ride Greek Gold. He had another bad fall from Royal Buck in the Dunedin Steeplechase and was again knocked out, but escaped injury.