COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW

NZ Truth, Issue 1272, 17 April 1930, Page 15

COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW

The Preliminary Sprint and Saddle Fields KINGCRAFT IS SHAPING WELL

(By "The Toff")

The Easter meeting of the New Zealand Metropolitan Trotting Club opens at Addington on Saturday with the Preliminary Handicap, for unhoppled trotters.

ROSE AUDO off the limit is a fast beginner and she is good over a j mile and a-half. She will begin too quickly 1 for Kyra, which seems to race best when m front. Oval is an improved trotter, with recent winning form to recommend him. Both Rose Audo and Oval should keep Boneta busy, but should the ground be firm Jock Blngen probably will earn first money. He has a lot of "toe" and when the conditions suit him he is a very haid horse to beat. Backers should make certain that he likes the going on Saturday. From 36yds. Admiral Bingen cannot be left out of the argument. He has improved considerably under F. G. Holmes, and 36yds..for. one so brilliant is not a great task. If Jock Bingen finds things to his liking he should beat Admiral Bingen, so care is necessary m making a final selection. Of the party Rose Audo, Jock Bingen and Admiral Bingen should have most friends. . The second event is the mile saddle contest. It is a 2.14 class. Speedy Cushla dOr will give the opposition a fright. She may not begin too cleverly, but once she is on the trip she can pull out more speed than any of her colleagues. ■ \ Then on New • Brighton success Avonwood cannot be ignored. He will begin like lightning and stay all the way, but provided Gushla dOr gets on the journey at all well she has too much speed for Avonwood.

Laplander, m the same stable as Cushla dOr, also has been training m convincing style, so it looks as though F. G. Holmes holds two strong strings to his bow. On 24yds. is Away. How he will go m saddle is open to argument, but there should be no doubt about him acting pretty well. . ' With Cushla dOr and Laplander bracketed, backers have a strong pair to think about, Avonwood being best fancied of the others. The big sprint is the Flying Handicap, •which is restricted to pacers that can dash over a mile and a-quafter m 2.45 or faster. . . ■] For this exclusive event no fewer than twenty- seven of the best horses m commission have been entered. So big a field favors the front - markers. In looking them over one immediately picks The Shrew to go well. She has done well under Kennerley and m addition to being a quick beginner and possessed of good manners she is pretty slippery over a short journey. If she can beat Great Logan out of the barrier she should have the inside running. It will take a mighty good one to take it off her. Carmel Stands Out Probably Logan Hanlori, with an expert reinsman, would cause most annoyance. Logan Hanlon is; a brilliant customer, as he has shown on previous occasions at Addington. He will beat St. Maura,' which is inclined to hesitate at barrier-rise. She is very well, and may win a stake at the meeting, but barring accidents she should not finish m front of The Shrew. No doubt Talent's autumn displays will encourage support, but on Saturday the class looks a bit too rich for him. The more one delves into the ways and form of the front division the better they like The Shrew. Figuring on 12yds. are Harold' Thorpe, Sunshower, Linkman, Daphne de Oro. Carmel and Tom Thumb. In all probability Harold Thorpe and Sunshower will contest the big race that will be decided earlier m the day. Of the remainder the Aucklander, Carmel, stands out. She is m splendid buckle and since her arrival at Addington her work has been good. She wftl beat Bessie Logan, but should Concliff be reserved for this event he will be very difficult to dispose of. He is down to meet another pacer of merit m Kingcraft, which is better now than ever he has" been. Early m the season Kingcraft developed uricertain habits at the, barrier, but during- the past two months has sobered down. Should everything go right with him Kingcraft' should down Concliff and the remainder of the back-markers as' well. It is a hard race to win, with The Shrew, Carmel and Kingcr,aft the most likely to pay a dividend.