TROTTING

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21831, 19 December 1932, Page 13

TROTTING

Bv Sentinel,

The summer programme of the Forbury Park Trotting Club has been issued and shows a prize list running from llOsovs to 350-sovs. It has been arranged that Olive Nelson will trot an exhibition mile on the first day of the Westport Trotting Club’s fixture, which opens on December 20. The provision of a slow-class programme evidently makes a strong appeal to owners and substantial evidence of the fact is supplied by the large fields which figure as acceptances for the Gore Trotting Club’s meeting to be held on Boxing Day. A cursory glance need only be taken through the list of nominations for the Canterbury Park meeting to see that once again (says an exchange) insufficient attention has been given by owners and trainers to the conditions of the various races, and in consequence there are several horses nominated for races for which they are ineligible. Native Queen, a good sprinter in saddle or harness in her day, and who took a saddle record of 2.10 1-5, has not yet been represented on the race track, but in a few months her first foal, Prince Chenaidt, now a four-year-old, will sport silk. Native Queen i e at present rearing a line colt by Travis Axworthy, a natural pacer who has drawn the admiration of all who have seen him.

Wellington trotting enthusiasts will trek to the Wairarapa in full force on Boxing Day to assist at the inaugural meeting of the newly-formed Wairarapa Trotting Club, which has taken up the mantle of the now defunct South Wairarapa Club. Several Hutt-trained horses are engaged in the various events, while there are representatives from Hawke’s Bay, Taranaki, Aslihurst, and Wairarapa stables. Mountain Ore, who has been freely engaged in the principal races at the Auckland Trotting Chib’s summer meeting, and is one of the early favourites for the Cup, is a speedy pacer with excellent credentials as a stayer. Last season he worked his way out of moderate classes by sterling performances (says “ Ribbonwood ”), and this season in the higher grade his form has been attractive. At the Addington August meeting, in very heavy going, he displayed stamina by fiuidhing third in the Queen Mary Handicap to Pluto and Harvest Child, aim at the Greymouth spring meeting he turned the tables on this pair when he won the principal event over 124 furlongs, being Hie outsider in a field of 10. At the New Zealand Cup meeting last month Mountain Ore won the November Handicap from 4.34; clocking 4.2.‘> 2-0. Among those he defeated were Nelson's • Victory (second), Arabond, Ghent Parrish. Grand Canyon, and Harvest Child, all or’ whom are also entered for the hie races at Epsom. Mountain Ore. who is by Key

de Oro from Dot Pointer, is trained by L. A. Maidens.

While several inconsistencies in fixing optional penalties are bringing the present trotting handicapping system ifito disfavour with some owners and trainers, a larger measure of dissatisfaction (says “Abaydos ” in the Auckland Herald) is being caused by the reassessments for some horses who have not raced for a period, made by the Stipendiary Stewards’ Committee, which controls the system. Last season Firelight, who went off the scene on 2.47 and 4.33, was lined on 2.50 and 4.38 respectively, and Waikaha came up from 4.32 to 4.35. Recently Peterwah, who last started off 4.27, was given a 4.29 mark. When the assessment of such horses is compared with 12 yards let-up for others who have raced unsuccessfully in the interval, the action of the committee appears to be most inequitable. Peterwah and Mountain Dell started at Addington 15 months ago off 4.27, neither being placed. The pacing mare has since started 11 times without paying a dividend, and has come up to 4.28, while Peterwah, who has not raced since, is on 4.30 among the pacers, and probably could have been handicapped on 4.31 if the handicapper so desired. If this policy continues owners will feel disposed to put their horses in the background after numerous failures to await a reassessment, or else advocate a new system. There was little work of note at Addington on Thursday last (says the Press) but Terence Dilloq, Rollo, and Colorado attracted interest when they came out to work over two miles, starting off in the order named. Terence Dillon led for a mile and three-quarters, when he was eased up, the first mile and a-half having taken him 3min 24 l-ssec. In a good race over the final quarter Rollo had little more than a length advantage from Colorado at the post, after recording 4min 25 3-sscc for the full journey, his time over the last half being Imin 2 2-ssee. By his effort Rollo demonstrated that he is regaining the form which he appeared to lose just prior to the Cup fixture, as he did his work in very pleasing fashion. Colorado is in fine form for his holiday engagements, in which he should race with prominence. Terence Dillon did all that was required of him in an attractive style. Another interesting piece of work was that staged by the trotters Admiral Bingen and Nelson's Boy, who were associated in a bout over a mile, which the former did in 2min 13 l-ssec, about a length in front of his mate. The last quarter, run against the wind, took 33 2-ssec.

While it must be keenly disappointing to the Trotting Club to find the Great Northern Trotting Derby field diminished to three starters, in spite of the £OOO prize money, the contest will lose none of its interest from a public viewpoint. For some time past it has been the opinion generally that the Epsom classic would resolve itself into a duel between Taxpayer and Indianapolis, and with two such crack three-year-olda to measure strides there will be no lessening of public interest in the race. The times of Taxpayer and Indianapolis compare very favourably with those of Red. Shadow nad Arethusa at the same ago. Red Shadow won the Epsom classic two years ago in 3min 20 2-ssec, defeating Arethusa by a neck, and on the following day he won the Park Handicap in 3inin 19 4-ssec, Arethusa, who was conceding the colt 24yds, finishing second in 3min 18 3-ssec. Given a similar track at Alexandra Park on Derby Day (says the Press), there is every prospect of the present champion youngsters equalling or lowering Red Shadow’s record. Taxpayer’s sire, Great Bingen, established Jiis two miles grass record of 4min 19 2-ssec at Epsom.