TROTTING

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22066, 23 September 1933, Page 19

TROTTING

By Sentinel. The trotter Kilbirnie Dan, who is now Being trained at Addington by S. Humphreys, was in R. Townley’s South Canterbury stable earlier in his career. He is a seven-year-old by Nelson Bingen from a Bon Homme marc, and he started twice last season, without showing any form. events for pacers on the Geraldine card to-day have drawn good fields and the favourites for the Domain Han- i dicap may be Clem Dawe, Atralette, and Agile; In the Winchester Handicap those likely, to be fancied are Ivan de Oro, Argolis, and Social Pest. The pacing sires Cathedral Chimes and Matchlight, who had brilliant careers on the track, are advertised to travel the North Otago district, Marie Celeste, who won the Selma Handicap at Ashburton last Saturday, gave further evidence of her ability as a pacer on Thursday in the Geraldine Handicap. Penalised 3Gyds for her earlier success, she went off smartly and was one of the leaders at the end of half a mile. From that point the result never looked in doubt, as she played with the opposition, winning easily. It was an impressive performance and the Rakaia mare only needs to train on to reach good class before the season is much further advanced. Clem Dawe was strongly fancied at Ashburton last Saturday, but he failed to begin right and never was seen on the journey. Many of his backers deserted him m the Geraldine Handicap on Thursday, when he gave a greatly improved display. He went out smartly and was prominent all the way, being the only horse in the field to keep Marie Celeste busy over the concluding stages of the race. Rey Spec was responsible for a very smart two-mile trial at Addington on Thursday. Driven by E. C. M'Dermott, he covered the first mile and a-quarter in 2min 45sec and completed his task in 4min 26sec. He was tiring over the final furlong, but this was not surprising in view of the early speed. Atralette. who filled third place in the Orari Handicap, is a stable mate of the earlier winner, Marie Celeste, and is by the same sire, Man o’ War. Atralette had no previous form to commend her. She is a six-year-old from Belette, dam of several smart winners, and her fastfinishing run on Thursday, after a slow start, made her look a good prospect for an early win. Argolis paced a sound race in the Orari Handicap at Geraldine. He broke at the start, going off at a gallop and interfering with some of his rivals. Before going very far he settled down and for the remainder of the journey he was never far from the front. He is a four-year-old by Nelson Derby and he may develop into a good winner later in the season.