THAMES TROTS

New Zealand Herald, Volume 78, Issue 24085, 2 October 1941, Page 7

THAMES TROTS

UNHOPPLED HOESES TWO INTERESTING EVENTS REVIEW OF THE PROSPECTS BY ABAYDOS Two events that should claim interest at the Thames Trotting meeting on Saturday are the Tararu Handicap, limit 8.49, and Omahu Handicap, limit 1 3.<15, for unhoppled and half-hoppled trotters. Both races have filled well and include several visiting horses. One to attract attention in tho Tararu Handicap will be Steol King, who. having only his second race, ran tho more-experienced Alvis to a neck in the Introductory Handicap at Epsom last month. The grey son of Wrack should have derived benefit from the effort and his prospects look very bright. Twice Worthy, without winning, was several times placed last season, earning a 12 yards penalty as the result of three second plaeings, but, as he is likely to be improved, this should not tie to his disadvantage. Twice Worthy is bred on tho best trotting lines. Providing he could be persuaded to do his best, William would bo a thorn to tho opposition, as he possesses as much speed as anything in the field. His latest track work suggests that William may soon make amends. Although a failure in his few races, Snow Cloud is capable of improvement and he may not be long in giving a return for trainer G. T. Mitchell, who has done well with trotters. If there is a surpriso, it may come from Snow Cloud. Form of Alvis Mac's Jimmy failed on previous visits to Epsom and Claudelands through lack of solidness, bat in winning at New Plymouth last season she gave a very sound display. Wiri Bingen, who showed a lot of improvement when lie won at Hamilton, lias only to reproduce tho same form to have prospects. Kara Avis has not produced his best this season, .but a repetition of his successful effort at tho Auckland winter meeting would make him dangerous, particularly in the Omahu Handicap, where no is on the front line. Few in the class have more speed than Kara Avis. The two defeats of Alvis at Hutt Park have taken some of the glamour off her good form at Epsom, but she did not do at all well on the trip. Alvis has freshened, and, although she may find it difficult to concede (i() yards to some of the novices in the Tararu Handicap, should be a prospect in the tighter-class event, Paul Parrish, whose truck work prior to the last Auckland meeting indicated he was a novice of more than ordinary ability, suffered from race shyness. It. may require another run or two to give him confidence and there is every chance that be will eventually make good. Gold Kip and Frontier Boy have not won for some time, but their form has been none the. less consistent. They are nicely placed in the Omahu Handicap and should add interest to tho contest. Vera Worthy Appeals In winning the Tararu Handicap last year Vera Worthy put up a performance that suggested she would quickly make tho better grade,, but, while she did not win again Dolores Silk, who was second, won four races, Vera Worthy showed a glimpse of returning form at Hutt'Park and was not discredited in being beaten by Mavis Nelson, who revealed high-class form. Vera Worthy should take beating in the Omahu Handicap. Buncraiia did much better last season than her earlier form indicated nnd she developed into a solid and useful trotter. She was not ready at Auckland lust, month, but improvement can be expected when Buncrana parades at Thames. , , Bon Haven ran such a sound race for third in the Introductory Handicap at tho recent meeting, when he just failed to concede Alvis 84 yards and Steel King 0(1 yards, that he must be respected from -IS yards in the Omahu Handicap in spite of his poor display on Tuesday. Esther, who surprised on one occasion last term, is trotting very resolutely in her training, nnd, provided she repeats it. should not be without a good chance in the Omahu Handicap. It is in Esther's favour that she can begin smartly. Renegade showed nseful form a few seasons ago, and, reproduced early last term, ran a fine race at Hutt Park for P. Young. Renegade is now in R. A. McMillan's stable and only needs to strike form to bo prominent. TURF JOTTINGS TRACK AND STABLE GOSSIP Stabilise finished so well in the President's Handfcap at Orari over nine furlongs that ho should make his mark in the near future at a middle distance. Elusory, winner of tho Moutoa Handicap at Levin on Saturday, is a six-year-old gelding, but he has been racing for less than six months. It was his first victory. Control of the totalisator formerly operated in Otago and Southland by Mr. W. P. James has been taken over by the clubs concerned and a central office is to be established in Dunedin. Bali, tho newcomer who won the Wainui Handicap at Orari on Saturday last, is a four-year-old gelding by R.ulanut from Colour* lino, by Nigger Minstrel from Civilisation, the dam of Civility and Siaosi. Lord Dundns has been placed in his four starts to date this season, and his turn as a winner should not be long delayed. He was a little unlucky in both his races at the Oral- | (lino meeting. He is a three-year-old by Myosotis from Lady Kipon, a sister to Studley Royal. Two recent registrations of horses similarly named may cause confusion. Evade is a three-vear-old fillv bv Bulandshar from Evasion, by Night Raid from Mundane, by Panmure. Evasive is a five-year-old daughter of Winning Hit and Evader, by Winkie from Sophistic, by Ben Trovato. Iceland Spar, one of the most-discussed horses for the New Zealand Cup, was unable to do himself justico at the Geraldine meeting. He was slowly away and could not negoatc the sharp bends. A better line on his Kicearton prospects should be obtained at Dunedin next week. Since he has been in tho stable of C. McCarthy at Riccarton Parchment has become solid 'and his last three starts have resulted in a win and two seconds. He now reveals definite promise that be will race up to his good breeding find ho is being discussed as a likely lightweight for the New Zealand Cup. Knuckle Duster and Lincoln are a couple of likely two-year-olds in G. Ridgway's stable at Riccarton. Knuckle Duster, a chestnut colt by Defoo from Sanguinaria, was bought by Mr. G. H. Grigg at the yearling sales for •I'OOgns, nnd Lincoln, a brown colt by Poxbridge from Love .Story, was secured at the sales for 2Sogns. «> Following an easy win in the second division of the Ohapi Handicap it was surprising to find Calypso so neglected in the betting in the Gladstone Handicap on the second day of the Geraldine meeting. These were her first successes, but the form was impressive nnd as she is staying-bred, she :« likely to do good service for her owners, Drs. R. and E. Fitzgerald, Oamaru. With the exception of his first success as a four-year-old, Piastre tins won all his races at a'mile to 11 furlonirs. Last season he won four good stakes, including the Wellington Autumn Handicap and the Egmont Cup He has opened his spring campaign early in beating ft useful field at Levin and he should win his full share of prize-money this 'season. He is in the stable of T. R. George •\fler three placed performances, the three-year-old filly Scottish Dale opened her winning account at Geraldine. She is by ioxbridge from Drama, a half-sister to Spiral and was secured by Mr. J. R. McKenzio for 400 guineas. Scottish Dale is one of the most promising fillies in the South Island. She was ridden at Geraldine by S Bell, who is apprenticed to F. D. Jones, llus was Bell's first rido in a race and ho shaped very well. From her :ast two previous performances racegoers had drawn the conclusion that Pay Roll was useless in heavy going, and there was some doubt whether she would start at the Fox ton meeting on Saturday on that account. However, the track sit Levin bad so improved during the week-end that she was produced in the Robinson Handicap. This allayed anv doubts her admirers may have held and she won with a largo measure of support Tho incident at Marlon recently when, after a protest, Caroline Bay was awarded a dead-heat for first with Tmperium after Salvation had divided the honours with the latter horse, had its counterpart a fortnight previously at the Ascot (Victoria) meeting. In the third division of the Norfolk Encourage Handicap Key rock got up to make a dead-heat with Arklow, with Joseta a length and n-hnlf away third, A protest against Arklow on the ground of interference with Joseta in the straight was upheld, Joseta being given a dead-heat with Keyrock. with Arklow placed third. Bookmakers did not bet on the protest, as thev were in a Quandary as to what tho decision would bo if tho protest was upheld. THAMES STARTING TIMES Starting times for events at tho Thames Trotting Club's Spring Meeting on Saturday are as follows: — 11.45. —Karaka Handicap. 12.25. —Tararu Handicap. 1, s—Hauraki5 —Hauraki Handicap. 1.50. —Goldfields Cup Handicap. '2,35. —Ngatca Handicap. 3.15. —Omahu Handicap. 3.ss—Totara Handicap. 4.40. —Puru Handicap. TURF REMINDERS To-morrow. —Auckland Racing Club, acceptances and final payments; Rotorua and Bav of Plenty Hunt Club, nominations.