TROTTING.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20638, 9 February 1929, Page 10

TROTTING.

FIXTURES. February 9. —N.Z, Metropolitan T.C. February 16.—Wellington T.C. February 23.—Kaikoura T.C. February 23, 27. —Otahahu T.C. February 27, 28.—Invercargill T.C. March I.—Marlborough T.C. March 2.--Waikato T.C. March 6. -Manawatu T.C. March 9.—Timaru T.C. • March 13.—Wyndham T.C. March 16.—New Brighton T.C. March 16.—Oamaru J.C. (two events). March 21, 23.—Northland T.C. March 23.—Thames T.C. March 91, 23—Wanganui T.C. March 30.—Takaka T.C. March 30, April I. —Hawera T.C. March 30, April 3.—N.Z. Metropolitan T.C. • April 6.—Taranaki T.C. April 20.—Ashburton T.C. April 20.—Te Aroha T.C. April 27. —New Brighton T.C. May 4. —Cambridge T.C, . May 9, 11.—Forbury Park T.C. May 18.—Oamaru T.C. June 1, 3. —Hawke’s Bay T.C. June 1, 3.—Canterbury Park T.C. June 8, —Ashburton T.C. June 22. 26.—Auckland T.C. By Sentinel, The first race at Addington to-day starts at noon. 1 Logan Park, who of late has raced particularly well at Wellington is doing capitally in his training work. He seems, however (says “Argus”), to do best over a shorter course than two miles. .Vestas is again in work and it is hoped that under Tomkinson’s careful tuition he will come back and show a return of his early promise. In th» Tapanui Handicap Trot at the recent Tapanui meeting Roseleen was credited with having won in 2min 54sec, whereas her time, was 3min 5 1-Spec. J. M'Kendry has Just taken in hand a very quality looking two-year-old filly by Sonoma Harvester from Flossie Dillon. The half-sister to Tom Thumb is engaged in the classic events. She has not done much work, but she shows a good action, and looks as though she will come to her speed early. It is repoi .ed that the Wellington sportsmen, Messrs Kelly and Morrison, nave transferred their horses to J. Bryce s stable, and they will in future be trained at Oakhampton Lodge. Acre, the trotter Maxegin, and two maiden horses have already arrived from the north. These horses were for a time trained by B. Jardeu, and later by T. Nyhan at the Hutt course in Wellington. Inconsistent running is very costly to backers (says “Orion”), because they lose two lots of money over the one horse. If they back a horse on the first day and he finishes down the course, they naturally back something else on the second day, and when the one they were on the first day wins tbdy lose again because of the inconsistent running. Early Harvester and Sonoma Harvester, the only two sons of The Harvester (2.1) in New Zealand, provide excellent blood for the crossing with Bingen, Peter the_ Great, and Axworthy mares. . For their good looks The Harvester breed has become famous, “If there. Is a drawback to the standard breed at this stage of its evolution,” wrote Marque in the Horse Review, “ it is to be found in lack of size, and we must look to horses of The Harvester line to provide us with breeding material that will help to offset this feature.”

It is doubtful if the performance put up by backers at the two clays’ trotting meeting at Nelson beaten (says " Orion ”). In trotting there are so many things that can go wrong in a race that the task of picking winners is considered to be more difficult than at the galloping sport, where horses do not stand on the mark and lose 30 or 40 yards, or go to a break during a race, but backers at Nelson evidently did not have to contend with any of these drawbacks, and from the time the meeting opened till the last race was rub they picked the winners with a consistency that was almost uncanny. On the first day the first four winners were short-priced favourites, then a second choice scored, but the favourite won the next two, and .it was only in the last race of the day that the judgment was astray, when a sixth fancy won. However, backers were on the target ■ again on the second day, when seven first favourites and a third choice won. Those who were prepared to take short prices would be sorry when the meeting closed. Terence Dillon on 60 yards behird in the Midsummer Handicap is handicapped up to his best, 4.25, but his form during the present season (says the Press) has not been impressive. Cardinal Logan, outside two wins on the small track at Greymouth has yet to- show his true form this season but in a field that does not look particularly strong he now appears to have a good chance. Vesuvius on 4.27 is probably on a mark, that flatters him, while Logan Park and Logan Chief cannot be regarded as truly great two milefs, although with the race run to suit him the former will give a good account of himself. Western King is a brilliant sprinter, and if Edwards has cured him of his excessive pulling habits he may be one to cause a lot of interest. Quality is a good stayer, but not too reliable, while Bonny Logan, though very consistent, does not stay well in a strongly-run two-mile race. Countryman, at the top of his form, would take beating, for, he is a goo- stayer, but unreliable at the post, while Talent and Audacious would both prefer a shorter journey. In a field that includes nothing of outstanding merit on recent form, and few proved stayers, Cardinal Logan may finish up favourite, with Logan Park and Wetsern King next best backed. A reader of the Christchurch Sun recently inquired for J. Bryce’s record as a trainer of classic and cup races in New Zealand. The following (says that jour-, nal), is the Oakhamptori Lodge trainer’s list of successes in New Zealand’s principal races, and it is noteworthy that the winners, in the main, trace on the male side to Abbey Bells, sire of Four Chimes: —New Zealand Sapling Stakes: Ahuriri, Taurekareka, and Kobara. Great Northern Derby: Chid and Taurekareka. Auckland Cup: Cathedral Chimes, Man o’ War (twice), and Ahuriri. Champion Handicap (Canterbury Park): Cathedral Chimes (twice) and Emilius. Dunedin Cup: General Link. New Zealand Trotting Stakes: Katute. New Zealand Derby; Great Hope, Taurekareka, and Kohara. New Zealand Cup: Cathedral Chimes, Great Hope, Ahuriri (twice) and Kohara. Free For All: Admiral Wood and Cathedral Chimes. National Cup: Matchlight, Man.o’ War and Alto Chimes. Dominion Trotting Handicap: Whispering Willie, Whisht, and Money Spider, Champion Stakes: Queen Chimes, Great Hope, Taurekareka and Kahara. New Zealand Gold Cup: Taraire'. . From 1915-16 to 1921-22 inclusive Bryce was the most successful trainer in New Zealand, and after missing the leading position in 1922-23 he was again in front in 1923-24. Here are his .winning nummers in the season mentioned:—l9ls-16, 33 wins; 1916-17, 34 wins; 1917-18, 22 wins; 1918-19, SI wins; 1919-20, 28J wins; ID2O-21, 21 wins; 1921-22, 27 wins; 1923-24, 24 wins. In the list of winning reinsmen he was in front in 1915-16 with 31 wins; in 1918-19 with 26 wins; and from' 1921-22 to 1923-24 he was at the head with 28, 23, and 28 wins respectively.

DUNEDIN CUP MEETING. The acceptances for the first day of the Dunedin Cup meetin, premise to furnish an attractive card for the opening day of, the fixture, and a good day's sport can be anticipated. The pleasure of seeing Aussie in action will be an add"d draw, and . will enable followers of racing to form an opinion as to how the Auckland crack is likely to shape when he meets Limerick in the Hazlett Gold Cup. Apparently Silver Paper is to be held in reserve for the Hazlett Gold Cup, but the stable missed a golden opportunity of getting a line on Aussie by meeting him in the Publicans’ Handicap. Both Pin’ Note and Royal Saxon are likely starters against all opposition in the Hazlett Gold Cup. Sir Rov was regarded as holding a chance in the Dunedin Cup, but the stable e-.idently prefers to rely on Nightmarch, who as a classic winner cannot be over- | looked.

It is a matter of regret that Footfall failed to survive a preparation, as his presence in the field would have imparted a good deal of interest to th& fight for honours in the Dunedin Cup,. A good field hao paid up for the Publicans’ Handicap, and Rapier has latterly come into favour for the race.

Battle Colours was beaten at Wellingr ton more by bad luck than lack of merit, and hence it is mildly, surprising to find him missing from the acceptors for the Dunedin Cup,