HANDICAPPING

NZ Truth, Issue 1286, 31 July 1930, Page 11

HANDICAPPING

Improvement Can Be Expected (By "The Toff.") DT placing Travis Axworthy on 4.27, D thus inflicting the maximum penalty for his win off. 4.29 m June, G. Paul Jr. has departed from the precedent he established during .the season about to end. Had Travis Axworthy received the same treatment that Wrackler and several other horses did, he would have been on 4.28 and thus free to win a thousand pound race without prejudicing his chance of being on the limit of the New Zealand Trotting Cup. However, if it is Paul's intention to indulge m a better system of assessing winners of big handicaps, it is common sense that he had to start somewhere, and it appears that the axe has fallen on Travis Axworthy. So owners may expect an application of more equitable penalties for winners and runners- up m the best classes m future. Off 4.27, it is doubtful if Travis Axworthy will start m the August Handicap. If custom is adhered to, Travis Axworthy can win a sprint \-ace without reducing his two-mile handicap, so if his owner decides to risk the weather, he may start his good pacer m the International Handicap on the first day of the August meeting, and reserve him for the King George Handicap or National Cup which will be run on the second and third days respectively. Travis Axworthy's danger of not winning m August is the weather. He is a fine day^ pacer, and if the climate is as erratic as it usually is, Watson may take advantage of the first suitable day to send his horse after the big money. Perhaps the acceptances will assist m the solution of his programme.