HUTT PARK TROTS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23487, 26 October 1939, Page 9

HUTT PARK TROTS

MEETING ON SATURDAY TWO AUCKLAND PROSPECTS PARAURI AND BAYARD FIT GOOD CHANCE FOR ACUITY BY ABAYDOS Seven of the eight acceptors for tho Royal Handicap, tho principal race at tho Wellington Trotting Club's meeting on. Saturday, aro in a position in tho assessments where a win will put the successful horso in line for tho Auckland Centennial Trotting Cold Cup. Tho remaining candidate, Bayard, made tho class when ho won the Labour Day Handicap at Epsom on Monday. Tho sevon aspirants aro Cruiser, Fremont, Jackaranda and Parauri, assessed on 4.34, and Acuity, Bill B. and Great Divide, handicapped at 4.33. Taking a lino on tho penalty awarded Red Flush for winning tho Jelliooo Handicap, Bayard will most likely be on 24 yards at ITutt Park. Bayard improved with his race on tho first day at Auckland and may show further development when paraded on Saturday, but ho will not find it easy to concede starts to somo of his opponents, and he may havo better prospects in tho shorter Electric Handicap. Tho other Auckland representative, Parauri, won well at two miles last season and proved a real stayer, but except for a run in tho short race at Epsom on Monday ho has not been seen in public sinco tho May meeting. If tho raco has boon beneficial, Parauri should make matters interesting. Chance for Cruiser Cruiser is a speedy horso, but not always reliable. On his day ho can run a sound two miles, as ho proved in winning tho Manawatu Trotting Cup. Ho revealed fino form on Monday at Oamaru, where lie ran 4.23 2-5 to bo second to Southern Chief, ono of the best horses in his class. Fremont has raro speed and also stays well, and is regarded in somo quarters as likely to not only mako tho Auckland Cup class, but also hold good prospects. Jackaranda has failed several times at two miles and may do better in the Electric Handicap. Great Divido was in splendid form at Addington in August for two wins, and his displays in tho interval have been consistently good. In running a dead-heat for third at Oamaru with Red Pigeon, Great Divido ran 4.22 3-5. Although sho has failed a fow times lately, Acuity has performed in good stylo at Hutt Park and last season mado a new milo and a-half track record of 3.13 3-5 to win tho February Handicap by six lengths. At Forbury Park she won tho Renown Handicap off <1.40 in 4.27. At New Brighton this month Acuity won tho Avon Handicap off 3.25 in 3.15. Tho raco is full of possibilities, and in a good rnr.go of selections tho most fancied may bo Acuity, Cruiser and Great Divide. Good Sprint Field With a few fresh horses, (hero should bo no lack of interest in tho Electric Handicap, 2.47 class. Form in the Royal Handicap will give a good lino on tho chances of Bill 8., Fremont, Great Divido, Parauri and Bayard. Tho last-named is in winning form and can run a merry milo and a-quarter. Jackaranda is good at the distance and oven if unplaced at two miles may improve in his second effort. Lightning Lady won several races last season and the distance is to her liking. Donald Dhu is in fino order and is a solid pacer of good class. Rcy Spec may bo past his best. Parauri ran a useful raco on Monday. Somo to find favour may bo Bayard, Jackaranda and Donald Dhu.

WAVERLEY RUNNERS

GOOD FORM REVEALED SUCCESS OF HUNTING CAT WOTAN LOOKING VERY BRIGHT [BY TKr,EGHAVH —OWN CORRESPONDENT] NEW PLYMOUTH, Wednesday Tho racing at Waverley on Monday was keen and .tfvell contested throughout,. The going was firm without being too hard and tho form displayed. is likely to work out at Bulls and Stratford. As tho Waverley Cup has in tho past often proved a good guide for Riccarton, considerable interest was taken in tho showing of tho New Zealand Cup candidato Hunting Cat. It was generally expected that ho would start favourite, but strong support mado Mataroa tho first selection. Tho early pace was slow and entering tho back Anderson, on Hunting Cat, realising that ho was on probably the best stayer of tho field, rushed to tho front and from thenco on the pace was fast. At the homo turn Hunting Cat and Namara ran wide and in a punishing finish came right out nearly under the iudge's box. This gave tho remainder of tho field a great opportunity to como on the inside, but Hunting Cat and Namara finished too well to fill tho first two places. Although not impressive as a New Zealand Cup trial, thero was a good deal of merit in tho performance of Hunting Cat. Ho mado all too pace over tho last six furlongs and the timo, 2.8 4-5, has only been bettered on two occasions, by Oratress in 1910 and Mendip in 1020, both of whom carried less weight. Hunting Cat appears to havo taken a now leaso of life, having won three out of his last four races. It is interesting to note tho number of Waverley Cup winners who havo scored in big twomilo races sinco the war. Included in tho list are Or.-itress, Depreciation, Muraahi, The Banker and Ferscn. Star Rose was second in tho Waverley Cup just prior to going south to score his sensational victory in the Now Zealand Cup in l!)Ol>. Windsor Chief Unlucky The unlucky runner in tho Cup was undoubtedly Windsor Chief. With Hunting Cat forcing tho pace along tho back, the rider of Windsor Chief was content to trail along in tho rear, but about threo furlongs from homo ho commenced a great run on tho outside and was looming up, to be handy at tho turn. When Hunting Cat and Namara ran wide, Windsor Chief had to change his courso and this rather unbalanced him, and in addition ho ran into some trouble about a furlong from the post. In spilo of this, ho finished fast to bo right up in fourth placo at the end. It was a fino effort and Windsor Chief's prospects at Bulls and Stratford appear bright. Wotan looked bright and well when ho paraded. Ho was slow to move, but with tho easy paco ho soon ran up Into a handy position and along tho back was running along in about fourth position. Ho appeared to meet with somo troublo at tho homo turn, but 'io finished strongly in third placo on tho rails. In "most of his races ho has como with his finishing run on tho outsido and had lie been able to do this on Monday ho might havo won. Nevertheless, his showing was a satisfactory ono and he is likely to come in for solid support at Stratford, whero ho should be suited by tho roomy courso and its long uphill straight. Running of Namara Although narrowly beaten by Hunting Cat, Namara ran his best race to date in open company. Ho soon bit tho front, and, although headed by Hunting Cat along (lie back, he was at no stage further back than second and fought out tho finish in couragoous fashion. Ho has evidently improved with his recent racing and his turn may not bo far off. His effort on Monday demonstrated his ability to run out a solid mile and a-quarter. Tho Waverley track has long been recognised as a difficult ono for a horse with a big weight, but this did not stop Kaiwaka in tho Moumahaki Hack Slakes, lie was always handy to the leaders and onco in lino for the judge ho quickly placed tho issue boyond doubt. It was an impressive effort, stamping Kaiwaka as a hack well above the average and a good middle-distance handicap may como his way before long. Ho was capably handled by C. Sargent, one of 11. Dulieu's apprentices, who rodo his first winner! Caution Improving Tho three-year-old Caution created a favourable impression when ho won the Morion Memorial Maiden. He received none the best of a straggling start and was well back when tho field settled down. Ho emerged from tho bunch about three furlonsrs from homo and set off after the leaders. Maintaining a long-sustained run, hi! finished splendidly to beat The Smiler on tho post. • Caution has improved considerably since ho was outclassed in the Watiganui Guineas and has tho makings of a useful sort, ilo is by Inflation. Tho progeny of the Hallowmas—Formless mare Saxon Saint were much in the limelight in the racing on Labour Day. The opening event at Trenlhani, tho Rona Hurdles, was won by Clarion Call, who is by Hunting Song from Saxon Saint, The sceno then moved to Waverley, where Kaiwaka put up a fino performance lo win tho Moumahaki Hack Stakes. The final raco of tho day at Waverley saw Saxon Tor score in stylish fashion. Saxon Tor's dam Saxony is a full-sister to Clarion Call, being by Hunting Song from Saxon Saint. As Formless, the dam of Saxon Saint, is out of Dreamer, by Most.vn from Moorooroo. she comes from one' of tho most celebrated of the stud book families, the one that provided the turf with performers of tho calibre of Wakeful, Nightwatch, Bon Revo, Erie, Havering, Mountain Knight and Awaken.