Trotting

NZ Truth, Issue 943, 22 December 1923, Page 10

Trotting

NOTES FROM NORTH.

(By "Spearmint.")

Ahuriri Is a very fit horse now and he is sure to pay his way at the big meeting. Once he leaves the mark he paces as true as steel the whole way and his recent, showing at Hamilton where the track was not m hia favor -suggests that ho does not know how to break. >

Taurekareka will be a very hot order m the Derby, and Bryce may also start Whetu as there is a good stake for second placo. A. 6. Wilson is bringing Prlscilla Dean from Christchurch, but unless sho has Improved since leaving Bryce's stables there would not be much fear of her defeating the favorite. Tho latter's record Is two starts, two wins. He is still vejry green, but once he gets going he settles down to his work like an old hand at the game.

Stroller, the unhoppled pacer and a full brother to Don Wild, Is working freely at Epsom. He is regularly driven by his trainer P. Riddle and he gets over the ground m a very taking manner.

Woodvalo does, anything on the tracks, but he will not repeat Jt ln a race. Just now he is going like a train m his work and the first time ho leaves the mark on his boll ho will set thc others something to do to catch him. The punting public is well sick of the Orange-trained pacer, but ho may come home any day and will ray a price.

Aerial Bingen will bo driven by J. Bryce m the Rowo Cup. Many In these parts claim the bay as the best trotter m tho Dominion.

Mr. T. Ritchie has a half-brother to Peter Swift that he expects to be the equal if not the superior of the horse named.

Darknlte, who was sold by P. Riddle to the local owner Mr. George McMillan, is now being converted to the hopples.

The Squire is a good breaker and he loses no ground like a lot of others do. In this respect he reminds one of the Aussie visitor of two years ago, viz., Stormy Voyage.

On all sides tho Cup is regarded as very open and whatever wins will pay a better price than was expected. The latest to come into the market ts First Carbine, who was given a work out over two miles with Great Hope last week and went extra well. It is thought that the bay will be driven by A. Bryce.

The connections of Master Councillor lost their tin at the Waikato meeting through the vagaries of the erratic Oro who failed to leave the mark properly.

Great Hope looks a perfoct picture of condition, but some of the track watchers aro of tho opinion that he is going off. Wo will see on Cup day.

There has been a controversy going on here lately as to whether trainers should own horses. Many arguments for and against have been given and the matter Is no nearer solution. Ono leading trainer from Sydney remarked that if tho authorities brought In such a rule ho would pack up and return home by tho next boat. As long as tho differently owned horses do not clash In races thero can be no trouble, but when they do and the trainer's horse wins, tho owner Is very often too prone to think that ho has been taken down.

Another Sydnoy trainer ln tho person of J. Rockejcr has arrived at Epsom with three horses. One of them is the trotter Stylo who can get over tho ground well, but he Is Inclined to leave his feet. Ho went a mile m 2mln 17sec a couple of days after his arrival here.

The A.T.C, caters for the trainers who oporato their teams ot Alexandra Park* and no fees are collected. This Is the way to popularise the game. If tho club could see its way to water tho tracks occasionally and so get rid of the awful dust nuisance thoso who have to work there would outoom It a great boon.

A lot of horses from those parts are going south for tho Wellington, Manawatu and Wanganui circuit.

Tho Squire Is doing a lot of work at Alexandra Park m view of th<« bl^ meeting, but he haa been n.loet«< m his tank* and he. Is not m>eti ut his best under such conditions.

Pa.nl was taken from A. Julian after the Waikato meeting: The trotting cam "3 reoombloH gun club rules. One BJM and you un; out.

It was expected that the three-year-old Nelson Fame would have beeh given a race at the Waikato meeting and thus a line would haVe been obtained as to his chances m the Great Nor*thern. Derby. However, he was not produced so it looks as if the Linton-*---tralner animal will be an absentee from the big race.

The imported mare Bonnie Jean A is back at N. Cunningham's stables. She is looking well and has been stepping out freely m her track essays. Even if she fails to reproduce her best form here she should be useful m the matrons' paddock.

Brendo is going well m his work and tho brown gelding should do owner Morrison and trainer Billy Orange a good turn any day now.

W. McCarthy has Promenade going like a train. The best has not yet been seen of this mare and her owner who regularly drives her m her work is paying a lot of attention to her.

Blue Mountain King is still standing up to his work and last week-end he was slackened out over two miles. He was not on a time-making mission, but he went very freely with one of his owners m the sulky.

The ancient Golden Gate is again m jvork here. He Is now under the care of Albert ■ McSweeney, who intends jogging him about the roads for some time yet. Golden Gate was formerly reckoned a dud," but when fired out of one stable he promptly went and won a couple of races.

It is said that Andy Bryce will have the reins behind First Carbine m the Cup as the bay goes* better for hiro than for his owner. On their work on the track thia' scribe will be on Great Hope' to beat-the son of El Carbine.

There will be three brackets In the Cup. Acron and Lightning will carry the McKenzie colors, Kewpie and Blue Mountain King Will also be bracketed, as will Tom Rowe's-pair, Gold Girl and Steel Bell.

„ Acron has a host of admirers for the Cup, but it should* always be borne In mind that he is an iffer at the barrier, and also he has a good- sized field to work his way through. This is against him.

P. Riddle is on the lookout for a private track at Canterbury. He doefl not intend leaving Auckland until next February.

Escort may be as good as his friends assert, but remember that, wizard and all as his trainer may be with a horse, he has yet to get tho horse at his best, and this is a hard matter with a race on such ah old gelding.

Audex is to be produced again ln the opening event at Epsom on Thursday next. He may be as good as is claimed for him, but Rose Blngen could carry him to the home turn and then drop him and beat him home.

Downfall, on th© limit, will be the goods m the December Handicap. His race at Hamilton will Improve him a whole lot. as he had not previously been seen Out with the colors up.

It is m Escort's favor that he is oh the limit, and that also Riddle withdrew Sheik m his favor.

If Style, on the limit, goes right the others will get a headache chasing the newly-arrived Aussie m the Parnell Handicap. Another Aussie In Stroller will be m the boom fo> the same race, and so will Wimmera King. The latter will win a race at the meeting. All you want to know is which race.

No one here thinks Taurekareka Isrill get beaten m the Great Northern Derby. He will be . bracketed with Whetu, making it a one-dividend field.

It may not be easy to pick the winner of the Great Northern Handicap, but everyone khoWs that Dick Dillon will be favorite. las£ time he was produced he was baclfed down to a very short price and duly arrived. This was also m a saddle event.

The Rowe Cup has got the heads In a tangle. Pyramus, .Ndrmlca, ; Heir. Bundaberg, Marlon Style, and Aerial Blngen have all got chances. This scribe Is going toy the last-named, as he can work out with tho best m the land, and he will be.with.them at the finish.

Those whp saw Pakotl win at Hamilton will want to be with her at Alexandra Park next week. She has a lot of pace over a short course.

Brendo has been racing over lengthy courses of late, but he is m a mile race at Epsom on Thursday. What oh!