TROTTING NOTES

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22741, 29 November 1935, Page 4

TROTTING NOTES

By Sentinel. Lost Count The drivers of Gunmetal and Dillon Queen appeared to lose count in the couple of circuits to be traversed in the Caversham Handicap. Donalda - Donalda wrecked a good chance in the Progressive Handicap by mixing at the start. He afterwards displayed a lot of pace by racing info second place at the home turn, but he then petered out Sea Trail

Sea Trail showed some speed in the Spring Handicap, and it might have been effective if it had caught the driver of Noble Prince in a somnambulant mood created by a sure win. Noble Princa

Noble Prince, who shapes as if he will win again, is a six-year-old by Wrack from Princess Zoe, by Kanuknot —Hedvic, by Prince Imperial—Barbara, by Young Irvington.• • A Good Performance

Ann Parrisb just about doubled her handicap in the Roslyn Handicap by breaking at the start. Despite the extra task, she won comfortably. Ann Parrish was penalised 36yds for the Dominion Handicap, and went back to 84yds. She went 4min 36 2-ssec, or faster than in her first race.

Cut-throat Tactics Bay Flier and Golden Mist were strong tips for the Progressive' Handicap,' and they settled their chance by racing each other all the way, while the more patiently handled Self lay in behind them. Self beat Bay Flier in the la6t couple ot strides, and tbey both knocked 14see off their handicap mark. Iraq

Iraq did not race up to expectations in the W. F. James Cup. He was well enough placed in the early stages, but failed when the pace improved over the final half-mile. He showed a lack ot dash in his 6econd start, and perhaps has been kept busy a bit too long.

A Loss to the Stud Book Grace M'Ehvyn, the winner of the Dash Handicap, is the only foal of her dam. Jean M Elwyn died after producing her only daughter, and the fact is a matter of great regret. Jean M'Ehvyn was got by Nelson Bingeu from Miss Spear, by Peter the Great, and had a record of 2min Bsec and 4min 24 4-ssec, and. with ordinary luck, would have enriched the Stud Book. Hairy Legs

The well-tufted fetlocks sported by Big Author suggests that a Clydesdale had strayed into the Trotting Stud Book, but that idea is disabused by a horse able to jog 2min 12 2-ssec. Big Author was got by the stylish-looking Author Dillon from Dot Bobbins, by the imported Frank Robins from a mare by Geo. M. Patchen, who has thoroughbred blood in his pedigree.

Tactless Tactics Drivers continue to render a two-mile handicap as practically useless, and once again a crawling pace spoilt the W. F. James Cup. They took 2min 21 sec to go the first mile, and so made the race a present to Vesuvius. A Bad Starting Post Crowding towards the rails at the start of a mile and a-quarter race at Forbury Park helped to spoil the Dash Handicap. It is a bad place to start a race, but might be considerably improved if the field lined up on the outside of the track. The track is wide enough to start a fa'ii> sized field from the outside half of the track, and trestles could be used to make a better run to the turn.. : .' .■'■', A Greasy Track The watering cart paid rather too much attention to the inside of the Forbury Park track made the going a bit greasy. Thi3 appeared to cost Rocks Ahead a win, as she skipped and unbalanced about 50 yards from home. The horse-drawn water cart is too antiquated and slow and should be discarded for more up-to-date methods. The object of watering a track is to keep the dust down, but the methods adopted at Forbury Park leave a great deal to be desired: The only satisfactory method of. watering a track between races is by a motordrawn wagon. . ; Time Schedule Adhered To The good weather and excellent track conditions helped to make the first day of the Forbury Park Trotting Club's meeting a distinct success, and, for an off day, there was a good attendance of the public. The racing was most interesting, and was carried out strictly up to time, proving the possibility, under careful management, of reducing, the .time between races. The bright flower borders were much admired, as were the recent improvements to the outside enclosure. Given a continuance of the present, fine weather, the concluding day of the meeting to-morrow should see, a-rvery large attendance, and the committee should be well rewarded for its efforts. * - «••;' - The Championship ; Australian nominations' for the. interdominion trotting championships, to be held at Perth in, February,-are as; follows: —Western Australia: Willowcliffe, Lulu Mick, Solvista, Northwood, Lady Nelson, Pronto, Ben Huon, Kolect, Glad Lily, Adonaldson, Huon Pic, Con Derby, Storm Cloud, Lady Childewood, Nancywood, Chic, Big Smoke, and John Donald. New South Wales: Walla Walla, Lawn Derby, Wirra Walla, Minton Ribbons, and Ladie's Image. Victoria: Auburn Lad, Tennessee Wood, Star Princess, New Derby, and Moreica. South Australia: Speedy Boy, Don Lawn, Princess Myrtle, Golden Gift, Logan Park, and Phar Patrol. Tasmania: Logan Derby. Quality, if not quantity will certainly be represented. Auburn Lad, with his 4min 19sec for two miles and 2min against time (flying start), also in NewZealand, is the most notable entry. He has proved himself on all tracks and under all conditions (says the Trotting Record). New Derby, another mighty pacer, has also been entered. His ability to go any distance has been proved in Victoria, but with the exception of a successful visit to Tasmania last Easter he has not been raced outside his native State. His brilliant effort, over one mile and a-half last September at Ascot, when he paced 12 furlongs in 3min 16sec, was; a great effort, and,is just about on 'ai par with the performance of Walla Walla and Lawn Derby on Sydney tracks. Tennessee Wood proved Australia's; greatest three-year-old over all distances, and yas a four-year-old recently established:.the; record for nine furlongs :'(ab6ut\a'2min, 13sec rate) at Ascot. Like Aiiburn/L'ad, he is a born racehorse'-•, and -;. a, gTeSttraveller. Star Princess,.stable companidn to Tennessee Wood and Auburn Lad, -is a member of Globe Derby's family.'-'.;Her.' winning rate of 2min 14seev for one •mile and a-half at Ascot speaks for itself,; and, she was responsible for New De'rbyl.havi ing to averageiabout a 2inin llsec : 'ratp.: Last, but riot least, is Moreica. He is the" only one of the Victorian contingent raced, exclusively in his -native State, and■ has claims to fame'by his sustained effort a£ t the business .end of ; a long'journey. - His\ record rate of 2min 15sec makes him the' slowest winning member of the;party; but"; he will undoubtedly average a faster'ratein Perth. Lawn Derby, a grandson of *• Globe Derby, was entered at Sydney* Before he had attained his fourth birth:-: day he had won in fast company, .and his placed 3min l"6sec for one mile and/a-half,=.. and unhopp'led at that,, put vhim -in: the. very -highest classy. He competed' against New: Derby at "Launcestori, and, this.pair comfortably Outclassed .the sitiori, New Derby.was. not and could not survive the effort o£givingv his more- solid opponent an advantagein the handicaps. Walla Walla has ,a)sd : been entered, together with his brilliant five-year-old son, Wirra Walla. Recently Wirra Walla »(unhoppled) won the'Flying at Harold Park in 2min 12£sec.