FAST TROTTING

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23545, 4 January 1940, Page 5

FAST TROTTING

EPSOM HIGHLIGHTS REVIEW OF THE FORM HONOURS TO MARLENE BAYARD SMALL, BUT GOOD BY ABAYDOR Speed on a well-prepared and fast track was a fine feature of the racing at the Auckland Trotting Club's Summer Meeting, which was most successful and enjoyable. Placed horses in the 24 races improved considerably on their handicap times, and, while some of the trotting events were far front perfect exhibitions, good times were recorded, a Honours in the two miles pacing races were with Marlene, Bayard and Equipoise, and the fact that the lastnamed was not thoroughly attuned, on account of soreness prior to the meeting, made his performances tho more meritorious. Marlene, who camo north with a dirt track record of 4,17 4-5, ran up to her best, winning the Centennial Trotting Gold Cup in • 4.2-2 2-5, and croing 4.20 for third in the President's Handicap. C. S. Donald's maro also revealed fine speed in recording 3.14 1-0 for second in the Champion Handicap. The daughter of Jack Potts—Auditress is not lacking in courage, and. bred on such sound lines, it will be surprising if she does not reach tho highest clnss. Equipoise Stays Well Tho diminutive horso Bayard covered himself with glory in the two main two-mile races. A faulty beginning marred his prospects in tlie shorter Champion Handicap. His second in the Trotting Cup was tho effort of a game horso, and in going 4.22 4-5 he justified the opinion of his driver, C. G. Smith, who was confident Bayard would do 4.23. In winning the President's Handicap he went 4.23 2-o. Bayard is a product of Frank Worthy, sire of Kcnworthy, who was second in the previous year in tho Cup and President's Handicap. His dain, Bonny Logan, by Logan Pointer, was a speedy mare with line records. Equipoiso started three times, and on tho first day, after a slow beginning, finished fourth in tho Grandstand Handicap in 3.19. At his next start Equipoiso improved to 3.15 2-5 for third in the Summer Handicap, which paved tho way for his success in the Bledisloe Handicap. In this event tho Hey do Oro horse was quickly in the lead, and, setting a lively pace, won very easily in 4.22, a rare performance in a 4.30 class. S. M. August was unfortunate in not being ablo to have Equipoise right for the Waikato meeting, when he may have qualified for the chief' Auckland events, to which he would have added a good deal of interest. Horsepower in Form Starting threo times, Horsepower won twice over sprint courses und was second in tho President's Handicap, in which he run •1.21 4-ss. The Jack Potts gelding was sent north in splendid order by J. Fraser, in whose absence Horsepower was very capably handled by A. W. Broughton. Horsepower won classic races at Epsom as a two and three-year-old, but last year was not at his best when racing at tho Auckland meeting. Except for his third in tho Trotting Cup, in which ho made his best time, 4,23, Uenuku failed to race up to expectations. The hard race on the first day, in which he was responsible for the, fast pace, evidently told on tho son of Bey do Oro. although a year ago ho improved each day to make his record of 3.1.3 2-5 oil the last day. Uenuku is to compete at the Inter-Dominion Championships at Perth next month and he may freshen in the intorval. Three Bells again demonstrated what a solid and consistent pacer he is by scoring decisively in the St. JJelicrs Handicap, for which ho was well fancied after his fine effort for second to Red Flush in the Auckland Cap Trial at Hamilton. Tho Truman Direct gelding did not reproduce his best in the Champion Handicap and met with a mishap in tho Ranfurly Handicap which kept him off the scene on the final day. Ho has seldom missed a place since racing in Auckland. Good Stake-earner Tho success of Our Peggy in tho Champion Handicap, in which race she ran second the ■ previous year to Sandusky, was fall of merit, i and she was nicely handled by M. Stewart.. ' Our Peggy, who is a full-sister to tho welll performed Joy Bird, has been a good winner : in sprint and middle distances, but., in spite of fine form at a mile and a-hnlf, she has failed to impress when raced over two miles." | Her sire, Our Thorpo, although successful at two miles, was more at home over shorter courses. Josedale Grattan was out of luck, although ho ran two solid races, in which he jeopardised | his winning prospects by boinc: slow to leave tho barrier. In the St. Helicrs Handicap, after losing a great deal of ground, Josedale Grattan revealed one of the finest bursts of speed for three furlongs seen at Epsom for some time, but after reaching tho front lie was narrowly beaten by Three Bells. The American horso again raced solidly, in the Champion Handicap, bat could only finish fourth. This was his first unplaced effort of the season. Produced only once, Molly Direct, who was turned out in excellent condition by M. Stewart, justified the kooil opinions formed of her capabilities when she returned to tho race track hi October after a lengthy spell. She won (he Tramway Handicap after a desperate tussle with Horieslus, registering 4.28 oli 4.14, and drawing attention to her fiituro prospects in uscfukiwo-inilo events. Springfield Globe is Solid The Australian horse Springfield Globe was started three times, and on each occasion he ran prominently, but was unable to overcome his severe handicap. In going 4.21 for fourth money in tho Trotting Cup, Springfield Globe made his first record at two miles. Ho was also fourth in tho Ranfurly Handicap and in the President's Handicap made, a creditable showing. Springfield. Globo did not have much luck in the running on any day, being forced lo cover a good deal of extra prround. "When alio won the Grandstand Handicap Fortex registered her third successive victory since joining Stewart's stable, and the manner in which she scored her success gavo her connections confidence when the mare tackled tho Premier Handicap on the last day. She was going well in a good position tvheii she struck some trouble, which marred her chance. Fortex is a Man o' War mare who can unwind a fine turn of speed at the end of a race, and she may soon return to the winning list. Having only his third race, Belfast Jack scored his second success when he narrowly won tho Christmas Handicap, but, while his margin was small, tho Jack Potts pacer was very impressive. Like most of his sire's progeny, Belfast Jack is a good stayer and when suited with a two-mile race wjll take beating. Stewart, who trains Belfast Jack, also produced another by Jack Potts, Albertim. who, making his first appearance in the North, won the first division of tho December Handicap in a manner that indicated further success. Honostus in Form Although ho was never dangerous ill his first outing. Honestus showed marked improvement when ho registered 4.30 1-5 to run Molly Direct very close in the Tramway Handicap. He repeated this form tho last day to win the New Year Handicap in 3.20 2-5. Honcstus is a fine-looking son of Jack Potts and Fanny Logan, a good mare by Logan Pointer. To Nelson Derhy Fanny Logan produced Philus, who last season revealed exceptionally fine form at all distances. When Kete Kara failed to go off correctly in the New-Year Handicap to miss a place, it was the first time he finished out of the money in eight starts. The Truman. Direct gelding is a solid pacer, and, although not qiiito capable of winning, has run round about 3.21 frequently. Having his first effort at two miles, Kete Kara ran 4.3.1, an indication that he will do well at the longer journey. Shrewdy, driven with splendid judgment by J. J. lvennerley, recorded his first victory for some time when ho held Adversity oil in a great finish for the Summer Handicap, and in going 3.18 the Wrack gelding registered his best. time. Shrewdy, who is trained mostly at a galloping gait, was in splendid condition and displayed tho courage of his dam, Tho Shrew, when challenged in the final stago. Good Derby Test Bonniedene' attracted attention when she ran a good second to Albertin in the December Handicap tho first day, and, improved for the raco, she won tho Park Handicap in 3.27 off 3.43. It was a really good test for tho Great Parrish filly and as a result sho gained many friends for her Great Northern Derby engagement in February. Bonniedeno is a half-sister to Bonny Azure and Sandusky. J. J. Kennerly scored a good win with tho Wrack maro Lady Vasclyno, who has not run a bad raco in tho last "12 months, and in recording 3.20 1-5 was responsible for a very attractive performance. Sho was followed homo by her stablo mate Amywin, a small but gamo maro by Great Audubon. Amywin registered 3.21 3-5, which was a solid effort. Both Lady Vasclyne and Amywin gtvo the impression of being capablo of going woll over two. miles. Tho surprise of the meeting was supplied by Hottentot, who won tho Dominion Handicap very decisively in 2.48 1-5, to return over two score on tho win machine. Hottentot scored hs first success at New Plymouth in April, but after following with a win at Ilawora suffered a lapso of form. By Rey do Oro —Bounty, Hottentot is bred on lines indicating that ho will go on to a good standard. RACING TAXATION AUCKLAND CLUB'S RETURN Government taxation in connection with tho Auckland Racing Club's Summer Meeting amounted to .£35,700 Os sd, made up as follows:—Totalisator tax. £18,402 8s; dividend duty, £10,170 4s; stakos tax. £219 10s; amusomont tax, £875 4s Sd.