AUCKLAND TROTS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23052, 1 June 1938, Page 11

AUCKLAND TROTS

SATURDAY'S OPENING HEAVY TRACK EXPECTED CORNWALL HANDICAP FIELD CHANCES OF OUR PEGGY BY ABAYDOS Although a heavy track appears assured, everything augurs well for the opening of the Auckland Trotting Club's Winter Meeting at Epsom on Saturday and line weather is all that should be required to ensure a successful gathering. Some fine contests should be witnessed and one of the most interesting may be provided by the Cornwall Handicap, limit 2.51, 1} miles. Nearly all the acceptors have won in the last 12 months, but even though the lorm is well disclosed, fancies should take a wide range. Two of the best performers, Star Pronto and Crocus, are engaged earlier in the Adams Memorial Cup and, if they do not earn a penalty, both should go well. Gay Sister has won twice recently at two miles and can run a merry mile and a-quarter, so that she should be dangerous. The distance should suit Winaway, who was third in a similar class at Hawera. in spite of his defeat over two miles at the Waikato meeting, Our War has good prospects. He won at the distance at Thames and Awapuni and his staying ability should assist him on the j heavy track. Sir Frank's effort in win- j ning the Cambridge Winter Handicap j should gain him friends. He has a good 1 turn of speed and is staying on in im- j proved style. lioyal Jewel, who won well in Feb-: ruary, was probably in need of a race j when he made a creditable showing at Claudelands last Saturday and is a i likely improver. Red Frontier only I needs to begin correctly to have a j chance, but Our Peggy is more reliable. | She won in February and was nar- j rowly beaten by Hearsay at Claudelands a little over a fortnight ago. Slight improvement should make her< difficult to beat. Winter conditions suit Kewpie's Crest and Compass, who were winners last June. Compass showed signs of returning to form when fourth at the Waikato meeting recently. Great Chum's finishing effort for third last Saturday drew attention to his prospects and he should be all the better for the race. He will be coupled with Argolis. Chili Bean has won at middle distances, and he was narrowly defeated [by Our Peggy at Auckland. "Musketeer won twice in the summer at two miles, and at the Waikato meeting finished strongly for third in the Autumn Handicap. Although he has not won for some time, Munga Tangi is working in his best style, and his prospects cannot be disregarded. Some to find favour may bo Our Peggy, Our War, I Munga Tangi and Great Chum. TIME IMPROVEMENTS CLAUDELANDS PERFORMANCES The first four horses in every race showed improvement on their handicaps at the Cambridge Trotting Club's meeting at Claudelands on Saturday. In winning the Bruntwood Handicap in 2.51 off 3.1 John's Last displayed the greatest improvement, and his time compared very favourably with those of the placed horses in the 2.55 class, being faster than that of Bismuth, who ran second. Another improver, Roma Girl, won from 3.39 in 3.30, the same improvement being credited to Ratepayer, who ran 2.56 off 3.5. Vanora's 3.27 from 3.35. in view of his easy win, was a fine effort. Following is the list of time improvements:— MILE AND A-QUARTER Mark Time imp. John's Last . . 3.1 2.51 10s Tommy McElwyn 3.5 2.55 2-5 93-5s Stargum .. .. 3.5 2.55 3-5 9 2-58 Scottish Bard . . 3.5 2.50 9s Ratepayer . .. 3.5 2.56 9s Starguni .. .. 3.5 2.50 2-5 8 3-5s Militia .. 3.5 2.50 3-5 8 2-58 Scottish Bard .. 3.5 2.50 4-5 8 1-53 Sandusky . .. 2.51 2.1!) 5s Bismuth . .. 2.55 2.52 3s Great Chum . . 2.59 2.49 1-ft 2 4-5s Royal Jewel .. 2.53 2.50 2-5 2 3-5s MILE AND A-HALF Roma Girl . . 3.39 3.30 9s Equipoise .. 3.39 3.301-5 8 4-5s "Wmhisway .. 3.43 3.312-5 8 3-58. Neon Oro . .. 3.43 3.35 3-5 7 2-5s Vanora . . ' .. 3.35 3.27 8s Kia Kaha . .. 3.30 3.29 3-5 0 2-5s Bedford . . •. 3.35 3.29 3-5 5 2-5s King Country .. 3.34 3.29 3-5 4 4-5S Frontier Boy .. 3.49 3.42 7s Leeleeta .. «• 3.49 3.42 4-5 01-os Braemar .. .. 3.42 3.30 3-5 5 2-5s Wiri Bingen . . 3.49 3.44 5s TWO MILES Win Huon . 4.50 4.18 £s Grand Triumph .. 4.59 4.513-5 7 2-oS Braemar .. .. 4-58 4.513-o Great Surprise .. 5.4 4.58 3-o 5 2-oS Sir Frank . .. 4.43 4.37 l>s Transwell .. 4.45 4.39 l-o 04-5s Lucky Love .. 4.44 4.41 --o - 3-oS Our Summer .. 4.45 4.42 4-o 2 l-.»s TROTTING BREVITIES NEWS FROM ALL SOURCES The Northern Tasmanian Trotting Association has decided to undertake the 1939 championships and accept the conditions, which provide that £7OOO must be offered in prize-money. The Tasmanian Association endeavoured to have the amount reduced, but without success. Great Hope, by Great Audubon— Sadie Dillon, a New Zealand Trotting Cup winner, is making headway as a winning sire in Tasmania, South Australia and West Australia. This season ho has been represented by several winners, including Native Hope, Stylish Hope, Jenny's Pride, May Hope, Great Chimes, Great Pick, Baby Betty, Victor's Hope, Desert Gold and Hopewood. In his unsuccessful attempt at Harold Park, New South Wales, to lower Walla Walla's mile record of 2.2 2-5, the unhoppled pacer Lawn Derby ran 2.2 4-5, after skipping and losing time at the start. The first two furlongs took 335, but he passed the half-mile in 1. 03-5 and reached the six furlongs in 1.31. His fastest racing was the second quarter in 27 3-ss. Had he not gone away tangling, Lawn Derby probably would have recorded new mile figures. At last month's Gloucester Park. Western Australian, trotting meeting two former New Zealand horses won the first and last events respectively. Great Way, from 288 yards behind in the 5.10 Trotters' Handicap, won easily from the limit horse. Ally Borneo, in 4.34. Vesuvius won the Darwin Handicap, of one mile and three-quarters, from 36 yards behind, travelling at a 2.10 rate. Great Way is by Peterwah— Medway, and a full-brother to Captain Bolt. Vesuvius is by Matchlight— Hetty King. ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS L.D., Kawakawa.—ln the Great Northern Steeplechase in 1923 Dick made most of the running and was in | front at the top of the hill the third time, when he was joined by Mary Bruce, who almost stopped at the first fence on the hill and lost a lot of ground. Mary Bruce came again to join Dick at the last fence and beat him by a neck.