TROTTING.

NZ Truth, 6 January 1917, Page 10

TROTTING.

The weather was very inconsiderate on Cup day. The morning^ opened beautifully fine and remained so till just after Ohß o'clock, and a record' crowd had arrived at Alexandra Park. Then a drizzling rain commenced ;to ; fall, and "besides making things generally uncomfortable, had the effect of soddening what would otherwise have been a delightful track to race on. ■•■'"',.■ ■ ■'. ■ ;-. - . ■ '. ■ ■ ; The Introductory Trot was only a work out 'for Kerone, on whom W. ; Orange went for bare -life and was out by himself at the end of half a mile' and finally won after being pulled up at the home turn -and doing the rest, in a jog. :'' If the contest for second place in the Introductory Trot was not good, it was interesting, because Sandy Patch and Dignity were continually breaking and allowing one or two of those behind- to -close up the gap. However, Dignity managed to get second,! but there was not much merit in the performance. Punters unrolled their wads and put money in bundles on MaHinga, one of D. Nyhan's prads, to win the December Handicap. She was in front in a stride, and tho daughter of Hal Zolock just strode along and was never asked to do her best to win easily. The race for the December Handicap was affected through Miss Chevalier rearing up at the start arid interfering with the field, many of whom had no chance from the start. Two of the drivers in the December Handicap indulged in a wordy warfare after the race, and numerous quiet places were mentioned as suitable to: settle the argument, but the gloves I were not required. What promised to be the. treat of the racing carnival, the Trotting Cup, was completely spoiled by the rain which came down in torrents. The* track was but a quagmire, and. the rain was pouring down heavily when tho horses Were dispatched on their journey. „ I#dy Haldatio refused,, to ; strike a gait and was pulled up, while' Adelaide Direct was also pulled up, and with a third of the journey covered the event looked any odds on Chlldndale, whom Bryce was driving in front of Harold Junior and Strategy. So fains could bo seen, the others had no chance; but when the last six furlonga I were entered on Admlrnl Wood sudj denly appeared In the picture. He had been a long way back but was now ploughing through the slush and mud like the champion ho is, and it was a treat to see him pass Strategy and Harold Junior In a stride. Chlldsdalo was still bowling along well in front i at the half-mile peg. but nil eyes wen* centred on the scratch horse, who wa« 1 rapidly closing up the gap. Two furlongs from tho post ChlldsUfilo broke and in a" nosh Julian had {lashed pant with Admiral Wood, the crowd commencing toKcheor th<m and they nm-er stopped till tho champion returned to tho paddock. .If; wa« n «reat performance on the part of a great horec. Six of tho eight. events on the dm day wore won by visiting horsfcs. and U was pleasing to -soft one or two socalled Auckland shrewdies fretting licked when- they- did have n go. | Pn«,il Huon trdttod about nvc tulles prior to the start tor tho Edon Trot. riTnl in the race ho siayefl on beiKMtlinn any of his opponents and walkcl away with the prize. I'how: Did you notice Mlnipon flrt« ishinsc In i ho Grc-nt Norinom Hnntllcap. s?omo trotter >llnt»nn. Hucinsr Hundb^ok, post fr«e Td. mlvot ti.Mfmt'&t pegf O.:- 1 - , i

i Grattan Chimes only had one chance ■ of losing second money in the Eden I Trot, and he took that chance and broke up at the ■ home turn. > Hats . off to the Auckland Trotting > Club stewards, who disqualified one • winner, a second horse and a driver in one day. This is the only cure.-. : Chid did not begin well in the Derby, [ and at one part Miss Rolf e had a break of eight or ten lengths .on the k favorite with "Mice Admiral sahd- . wiched lii between. However, Bryee was driving Chid very confidently, and Once in ttie home run soon dashed up to Miss Rolfe and won easily. ' The treat for the first day's racing, , if one accepts the performance of Admiral Wood, was the winning effort of the pony. Soda, in the Great Nor-' thern Handicap. The little mare, did not begin too well, and at the halfnine peg was standing the leaders up a big start, but when F. Jones asked her to sprint, she came along with an electrical run which landed her a comfortable winner. And the crowd did not forget to cheer either. 'A Cameron went oft! very fast with Sanddrif t in ttie Great Northern Handicap, and it looked any odds on him winning till Soda rattled along. An obituary notice; might Well be written around the Tjarnell Handicap, won by Lena Patch. ! Miss Rolfe backed and beaten. It's ! hard, but alas it's only top true; Vice Admiral looked to be well beaten at the home turn in the. St. Heller's Handicap, but he came oh in the straight and won easily. '. . . J. Bryce did not remain in Auckland after ; the first day of the trots, ; but returned south with Admiral Wood: and Childsdale. Adelaide Direct is. a fair ''snifter." She provided a treat when she paced 2m. 6 2-ss. on Saturday and lowered Country Bell's New Zealand record of 2ni. 7 l-ss. Later in the day Adelaide Direct came out, and giving away 96 ■ yards in a mile and a-quarter, wort in 1 a. jog. "■.-.■- J}-\'; : - .■ . ■■ . ■'. ■ With the exception of Scientist the runners iii the Oak Handicap gave a very mixed exhibition, and were continually breaking. But for this, Highflyer would haye won easily .as it was only because Scientist went steadily throughout that Paul's gelding won. A 'fair beauty was put on to backers in the Tramway Handicap When George Akwood, a screaming hot favorite, showed' just about enough pace to get in before the horses came out for the next race. Surely he - can do : better than this? It will be interesting to note how he shapes at the next; .meeting. Manuka Park and Dabster were having a royal battle in the straight in the Tramway Handicap, but' Dabster broke up badly, leaving Manuka Park . to go on and win easily. Miss Chevalier is one of the .most' erratic mares seen out for some time ; and it is odds-on her failing to leave; the mark. It was no surprise to see Adelaide Direct lower the mile record to 2hi. 6 2-65., as prior to the meeting the bay daughter of Directaway paced a, half mile on the track in 2m. 0 3-ss. ~ Pttnters will not forget the boomed Lady Haldanje in a hurry. In both the 'Trotting Cup and Summer Cup she • -failed to strike a gait and took no. : part In either race. ; The race" for the Summer Cup was one of the best ever seen at the Park. Half a mile from home the whole field were close together, and all lookedto be going well. Abbott then hit "the ; front with Strategy, and he led till a . few strides from the post, when Ed- .;■ wards brought Reggie Huon along . a fine burst of speed and won by : a neck. Little Soda made up her ground In great style in the Summer Cup, anil turning into the straight the last ■ time, dhe was close to the wheel of , Strategy, who was in front. However, she struggled on gamely enough • but was Just beaten out of a place. Steel Bell was going on not far behind the placed horses in the Summer i Cup, and her turn is not fat off. Little Jewel Chimes was holding a winning chance at the home turn in the Summer Cup, but he lacked that finishing effort necessary to land the stake, and he had to put up with third 'jposso" a length and a-half behind the two leaders. Had Derby Dillon been a good horse lie should have won the SuMmer Cup as ho began very quickly and 7 had a good lead in the first mile. A little further on he began to stop and was well gone when Strategy grabbed him tit the half-mile peg. Though beaten, Prince Akwood show-: cd a lot of pace, and is sure to win some good races. / Jußt after the start of the Christmas Handicap, Prince Kufus foil, and his rider (Julian) was thrown heavily, ■ though fortunately he was not badly ' injured. : , ■ Futurity took .a long time to settle ' 'down In the Christmas Handicap and never had a chance at any part of the race. U is time the bay was jet out ft bit as it Is some time since • he won a race:' Though King Capitalist broke badly once during the race, he was so superior to the others that M. Edwards dfd not have -an anxious ride to win by four lengths from St. Tlella. Th* latter stayed the two miles out much better than expected. ■ * " . Harold Junior is, at the most, only n useful horse, and will have to improve a lot to beat a good field over a twomile journey. A mile is a« far as he cares to go at present. Macwoocl looked like making no race, of the }?psom Trot at one part, but; lie began to tire badly after/going a mllo anil a-ha.li*. and wa.s a long way beck at the finish. l.<ady Wilmington wan mixing it badly all through thtj Epsom Trot, and M. Kdwartls could not jj«u her to souk* down at all. l'nul llunn I* nothing if not a slayer anil lie can also go -fnst wiion warmed up to Ms worl;, i'ot'n mtc:i which Inwon woro captured oaslly, . In ihe abspiuro of J. I'rycc. Soda and Paul Huon were, driven -by W. Orarißf on i!i« second duy. Alf ifoKlnney did not tuku long to hti Uio front J» the ■Ranfurly Handicap, and he must have hfui a full Hf- | toeii lengths' I'rcnk on Ado'tnlrie Direct ! half u mIU- from homo. Thy champion ; then wont nfterlilni, and. fairly fl.vlusr. \ Hlic had tho prize half-way up tlx* \ , strrtlpht nnd won in a Jon* \ A. Cameron scorns to have n mort- j pnfirc on mite rnefs nt the trots, and i i a. tnceUnip raroly yot« by he doos not !

not win\oiie pr more of these events. On the Srst day he ran second with Sand Drift, and on the second day won. both mile races, one with Sand Drift and one with August Child. Prince Berion played up at the start 'of the Raiifuijly Handicap, and would hot go -when tV^e lever was pulled. He took ho part ih the race. Joan of Arc was doing well at the death in the RanYnrly Handicap, and but for losing a. lotSpf ground at the iStarti.may have beeiv, second. Bell Gray is not the mare she once was by a long way. ' Stone Beldon showed a heap of paqe in the Dash Handicap, and led till nearing "the post, when August Child challenged and a good finish saw the .last-mentioned 'Win by a neck.