TROTTING.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20906, 21 December 1929, Page 24

TROTTING.

FIXTURES. December 26.—Ashburton T.O. December 26.—Gore T.C. December 26, 27.—Westport T.C. December 26, 28.—South Wairarapa T.C. December 27. 28, 31.—Auckland T.C. By Sentinel. Handicaps for the Timaru Trotting Club’s meeting are due on January 3. The Forbury Park Trotting Club’s summer programme has been issued for the meeting to be held on January 30 and February 1, The programme has been allotted 477550va in stakes, and the principal events will be the Dunedin Cup Handicap, of 725sovs, 4.29 or better, and the Metropolitan Handicap, of COOsovs, 4.30 or better. The secretary of the Gore Trotting Club has drawn attention to the fact that owing to Boxing Day falling on a Thursday this year it will be possible for Dunedin patrons of this meeting to arrive at \Gore by train in the morning and return by the evening express, leaving there at 7.55.

Cyone created something of a surprise by finishing second at New Brighton in the_ Bowhill Handicap and paying a big dividend. Cyone, who is at present pacing in improved form, is engaged in the chief event at the Gore Trotting Club’s meeting on Boxing Day, Bonny Logan is reported to be in good order for her Auckland trip. She was worked out early this week, and paced in her best style. Although Bonny Logan has done a lot of racing, she is a very sound mare, and, while the Auckland Cup may be too far for her, she may show up prominently in some of the shorter races. Reports from Gisborne credit Peterwah with i being in excellent shape, and the champion trotter is expected to be at the top ot his form for the Auckland Trotting Cup meeting. The Auckland owner, R. Millen, intends selling off his light harness stock, and contemplates making a trip to England. Tile American-bred mare Linnett the Great is reported to be in excellent order for her engagements at the Auckland Trotting Club’s meeting. After a lengthy holiday, Lapland is again in work. Both Gold Jacket and Free Advice have latterly been stepping along well in their work.

Dilwortb continues to be the ruling fancy for the Auckland Trotting Cup, and Prince Pointer and Linkma have advanced in favour.

The champion square-gaiter, Peterwali, lias not been seen at his best for some time past. In fact, since his great effort of 4.23 4-5 at Addington in the National Cup of 1928, the purple-blooded Americanbred horse has not raced with much prominence, R. Fiaken intended this year (says “Abaydoa”) to make an attempt on several trotting records with the son of Etawah, but Peterwah failed to strike form, and the .project was temporarily abandoned. Should the Gisborne crack have made a good recovery in the meantime, he will be seen in action at Alexandra Park, and off a 4.26 mark and dressed in his best would have a fine chance if reserved for the Rowe Cup. Few square-gaited horses have shown such rapid progress in a short space of time as Western Voyage. At the Christchurch August carnival the First Voyage gelding finished a very moderate second to Bonny Belmont, being on a 4 .39 mark. On the middle day he won nicely from 4.38, and the final day from 4.36 he beat all excepting Money Spider, which be made go 4.25 1-5 to get the prize, 4.33 4-5 being Western Voyage’s time register. After a couple of failures (says an Auckland writer) Tomkinson’s trotter won the Dominion Handicap at Addington ast month off the limit, 4.35, and, penalised two seconds the next, time out, he finished second. On the final day he was orf 4.31, and again secured the second berth. It was a splendid performance right through, and the southerner must be greatly respected at Epsom. Recently in England the Championship Scratch Race for trotters only was revived. Tbe race was of four mile heats, three of which were required to be won outright, from a flying start. Saxon Queen II (Colonel Axworthy—Saxon Queen) was the winner, her fatest heat being 2.15 4-5, which is. incidentally, a record for a British-bred trotting mare. Rosetta M., the blind mare, was second, scoring 3. 1,3, 3.- Her winning heat took 2.17. The first prize for these four strenuous heats was £4O. Saxon Queen, the dam of the winner, was imported to Great Britain, and in America had a record of 2.10 J pacing. Saxon Queen II is aged 10 years, and was bred in Ireland.

The Auckland Trotting Cun is now engaging the attention of light harness sportsmen, especially those who like to have a mild flutter before the actual race day. From the time the nominations appeared 'Dilworth was the ruling favourite, and this is not surprising (says the Press) when one remembers her sensational performance in the Courtenay Handicap on the second day of the New Zealand Metropolitan Trotting Club’s spring meeting. Since then the Travis Axworthy filly has not raced, but reports from Nelson state that she is doing everything asked of her in her Cup preparation. All will depend upon whether her trainer, L. F. Berkett, can get her to the post as fit and well as she was at the recent Addington fixture, and it must be remembered that Dilworth has at times suffered from unsoundness, What is more, she is only four years old, and she is set a big task for one of her tender years. Gold Jacket, who made such an inglorious showing in the New Zealand Cup, has had excuses made for him in that be struck himself very badly in the early stages o’ the Cup and could not afterwards perform with his usual dash. Previous to racing at Addington he had been doing great work, and northern reports are to the effect that he is now working as well as ever. At his best on the day he must be one of the hard horses to beat, for he is a rare stayer, and is especially good in heavy going. W. J. Tomkinson has a likely pair in Concliff and Prince Pointer, and the latter is pleasing by the manner 'ii "'lnch he is getting through his work at Addington. He promises to strip a much better horse than when he' raced lasi; and he handles the right-handed Auckland track to perfection. Imprint, who will be bracketed with Dilworth. is a possibility, for he raced well in the Aew Zealand Cup, and the field he is now set to meet is not so strong as was '■ho case last month. The Auckland Cup should provide a race worthy of the occasion, and those that have the necessary credentials for such a race are Gold Jacket, _ the Dilworth—lmprint bracket, and Pnnce Pointer.