TRACK TALK.

Otago Witness, Issue 3859, 28 February 1928, Page 55

TRACK TALK.

By

Adonis.

THE INVERCARGILL MEETING.

For the Invercargill Club’s meeting, which is to be held on Friday and Saturday of this week, the majority of the fields will probably run to bulky proportions, and in most cases backers will experience difficulty in locating the favourite. Some of the backmarkers will find their handicaps considerably added to by having to travel round big fields, and this factor may result in most of the favourites coining from the front marks. Naturally, most interest will centre round tire runn.ng ot riie v-up. in which, if he is started, Tamatakura, the promising three-year-old' from J. Bryce’s stable, wiil be showing a short price He looks nicely placed on a 4.40 mark. Spring Chimes, despite the fact that he has Deen tightened up two seconds for staying at the barrier in each of his races at Gore, will g< a good race if A. M'Lellan coaxes him away, as there is no doubting his pace. Cardinal and Blue, who is on the front of the handicap, has drifted out of favour as a result of his showing at Goro last week, and Tun Chimes, who headed her home in the Riversdale Trot, looks to hold her sale again at a difference of 12 yards. Nan Brent is a smart pacer, and if the distance docs not trouble her the others will find her a hard horse to beat. Sunshower’s recent form will find her with plenty of supporters, but they may not b« sufficient in number to give her the call in the betting over Tamatakura, Spring Chimes, and Nan Brent Horses likely to be fancied in other races are:—Free Advice, Mountain Queen, and Overture in the Maiden Handicap; R an Wilkes. v> atorsong, and Helen M'Gregor in the Monowai Handicap; Reta M'Kinncy, Winnie Chrysler, and John Appear in the Crescent Handicap; Master M'Grath. Luath, and Red Abbey in the Thomson Handicap; Arctotis. Deceitful, and Wattle Patch in the Travis Memorial Handicap; Emulight, Shady Spot, and Needles in the Members’ Handicap; and Sonata, Bricklayer, and Grace Bingen in the Takatimu Handicap. PROGRESS OF THE TROTTER. Although a close-running field of pacers 'sweeping round the bends and through the straight stretches presents a pretty spectacle, it is as nothing compared with that presented by a field of high-class trotters when they are stepping faultlessly. A trotter in full flight, free of the straps that gear a pacer to artificiality, makes an appeal to even the most phlegmatic racesoer. That G by the way, and merely serves as a peg on which to hang the observui. : .it the best of our trotters nowadays are capable of stepping close to the times recorded by the best of our pacers, and that is one of the most pleasing features of rhe undoubted progress that the light harness sport has made during the last few seasons. In the generally accepted idea, horses that can get down to the 4.30 mark are entitled to be placed on the topmost pedestal, and trotters in commis-’on at the present time who have got inside or close to this mark are Escapade, Trampfast, Peterwah. Young Blake, Elzear, Waikaha, Sister Beatrice, Money Spider, and Peter Swift. In some countries—Austria, for instance-*-all the races are contested by trotters, and fine races they are. That will never be the case in New Zealand, but with a continuation of the steady raising of the standard of the trotter the feature events for him will not be confined to the Dominion and Rowe Handicaps. DOES WEIGHT TELL? It is an oft-repeated question, and one about which there will probably always be two sides. In travelling round the meetings one comes across cases, particularly at country meetings, where the question would have to be answered in the affirmative, to the accompaniment of a figurative tear for the horses that have to pull the 13 stone or so of their drivers to the end of two miles on tracks the surface of which would scarcely stand comparison with a billiard table top. Each succeeding hole that the sulky wheel finds makes the load heavier and tells on the horse at a vital stage of the race. That, of course, is an extreme case, but even on the smoothest of tracks weight tells its tale, and there could be recalled instances in which it has turned the balance against a win. The lightweight horsemen have a

distinct pull over their bulkier fellows, B.nd so it is only natural that the latter should harbour the idea of trying to get b law framed that will lessen the handicap under which they labour. A bit of extra ■weight behind a trotter helps him to keep to a level gait, but in the case of the pacer weight tells, and has no counterbalancing compensation.

IN SADDLE AND SULKY. Jewel Pointer has won £3625 in stakes Bo far this season. Nominations for the Wyndham meeting are due to-morrow. Overture is pacing well enough to win at one of the minor meetings. Sonata shapes like a winner of a mile Baddie heat. She is in at Invercargill. John Appear likes a big track, and that fp - ' not be overlooked if he is taken t argill. .. mi nations for the trotting events On the Oamaru Jockey Club’s programme are due on Thursday. South Star is apparently feeling the

weight of his years, and his prospects of winning a race are far from being bright.

Liberal will go away right one of these days, and be an easy winner. Backers will, however, have forsaken him by then. O. E. Hooper has Heroic properly wound up again, and the Brent Locanda gelding promises to be one of his best stakeearners.

The aged gelding Watersong is useful in loose-class saddle races for trotters, and is well enough placed at Invercargill to win if he does his best.

Quo Vadis paced his best race for some time in the Progressive Handicap, but the last furlong found him out, and he drifted into fifth place before the post was reached. A race of 12 furlongs will suit him better. The card for the O+autau meeting, which is io be held on March 21. carries two events for pacers—the Wallace Harness Trot and the Bayswater Saddle Trot Nominations are due on March 5. Alva Lass, a five-year-old by John D’llon from Misfortune, is now in S. Todd’s stable. She paced into third place at the Winton meeting behind Red Swithin and Needles.

Nan Brent is in capital condition, and a win for her soon will not come as a surprise. If harnessed up for the Members’ Handicap at Invercargill she will be one of the hardest to beat. Mountain Queen has been shaping like the early winner of a loose-class race, and many will be disappointed if she does not do it soon. She will be well smnnnrted at the forthcoming southern meetings. R. Townley has All Peters in steady work, and the inbred gelding, who won so well on the second day of the Forbury Park meeting, is showing an improved gait. His next outing will be at Timaru.

Listen In, the winner of tire mile saddle race at Waikouaiti, has improved witii the racing he had there, and will be capable of going to a better gait in his next race. He has been nominated for the Waimate meeting.

While racing in the Riversdale Trot at Gore last week Mirella stopped suddenly, and it was discovered that she had broken a bone in her hip. That means the end of her racing days, and she will be sent to the stud. Real The Great trotted two fine races at Otahuhu, and the American bred mare is now much more solid than she was. She is still well out in the handicaps, and may he a winner n o f^ rc ffie Easter meetings are over.

Deceitful has the pace to win a loose class trotters’ race, but as yet she is a long way from being solid, and does not appreciate the horses running alongside of her. She is only four years old. however, and so has plenty of time to settle down. Nelson Fame can get to the end of a mile in time that few horses in the Do minion could equal, but after that he begins to stop. He shows very little promise of developing the stamina that was a characteristic of his full brother. Nelson Derby. The Central Otago pacer Poolburn Lad looked an improved horse when stripped at Gore, and he carried the confidence of the stable. He put in a bad break when out in front the first day, and on the second day was never one of the leaders. The Nelson Bingen gelding Dawson Bingen has recovered from the cold that prevented him from being a starter at the Forbury Park meeting, and is in nice condition for meetings ahead. He can step a slick mile.

Needles is being sharpened up for the southern meetings, and the Sungod mare should race prominently up to 12 furlongs. She won the Oreti Handicap on the opening day of the Southland Racing Club’s meeting very easily and with a lot in hand

Spring Chimes refused to bit his straps at the start of each of his races at Gore, and took no part in them. It will be unfortunate if the fault becomes chronic with the Four Chimes gelding, as he is a smart pacer and still on a good mark.

Sunshower had to pull out a fast clip to get up and beat Sunfish in the Telegraph Handicap at Gore, and she did it very gamely. She is at the top of her form just now, and her owner should have no difficulty in placing her for another win.

Muri, a shapely four-year-old by Denver Huon from a Prince Imperia] mare, ran a good race in the Trial Handicap at Oamaru on Labour Day. when she looked a long way from being ready. She has been doing good work, lately, and will bo a starter at the Waimate meeting. The Kurow trainer S. Hawthorne has a very promising three-year-old in his stable in Reta M'Kinney. who is by Nelson Bingen from Rose M'Kinney. On the track she has shown a race-winning gait, and if she is taken to the Invercargill meeting she may race prominently. A pacer that took the eye at Gore, although he did not show up prominently, was Tenedos, a three-year-old colt by Nelson Bingen from The Pigeon. He is from W. H. Muir’s stable, which has produced Royal Step and other good winners.

A. M’Lellan harnessed up a promising three-year-old at Gore last week in Sunfish, who was just nosed out of being a winner by that smart pacer Sunshowc-r. Sunfish was unfortunate enough to clip 6 2-5 seconds off his handi a'i, and eon-v ”.er: ? as paid a heavy penalty for a light re’urn. In Jolly Maid F. J. Perriam has a very promising pacer, who gives every indication of eventually stepping to a tight mark. She is by Cathedral Chimes from Jolly Girl, and so is a half-sister to Jolly Chimes and Jolly Pet, the latter of whom is now in J. N. Clarke’s stable.

Maybird is one of the most improved pacers in Southland, but unfortunately she has recently been showing a disinclination to go away at barrier-rise. She goes particularly well in saddle, and Although she is getting back in the handicap she has pace enough to win more stakes. Rey Logan is an improving pacer, and he should get among the winners before the season is through. From a 4.35 mark in the Timaru Cup he looks the most likely of those near the front to trouble the backmarkers. The Rey de Oro gelding proved in his last outing that he was veryclose to being ready to win. C. Hadfield is adopting a policy of patience with Arctotis, and the chestnut trotter is looking well. There is no doubt about his speed, but in his most recent races he has proved that he does not yet know how to control it. He is only five years old, and so age might have a steadying effect.

Terence Ddlou paced another great race in the Dominion Handicap, the big race on the second day of the Otahuhu meeting and if he had not been interfered with through The Shrew being capsized he would have made the winner step a little faster. Although the Author Dillon gelding i s now on a tight mark his winning days are a long way from beihg over. . Although Logan Park is handicapped up to his best, and at first glance appears to be well in his place in the Timaru Cup, few of those in front of him appear to hold any pronounced threat of danger, and if he is harnessed up for the race he is quite entitled to be one of the favourites. It was at the corresponding meeting last season that the Logan Pointer gelding won his first race over two miles, getting to the end of the journey in 4.40 2-5. In giving away starts up to 108 yards in the Alexandra Handicap at the Otahuhu meet’ng and winning in the fast clip

4.31. Young Blake registered the finest performance of his career. When the Wildwood Jun Holding won the New Zealand Trotting Stakes at the Forbury Park meeting in 1923 he showed himself to be possessed of latent speed that would eventually carry him to the end of a journey in smart time, and he has fulfilled the promise then shown. Unfortunately, he frequently travels at a broken gait. Apparently the Victorian wr.ter. “ Snowden,” is not a patron of the “trots.” Recently it was part of his duties to attend the Cup meeting in Tasmania, where the club has trotting events on the programme. He writes of on e of these • “ There was a field of 17, and it was amazing to see how the crowd flocked to the totalisators. Slowmotion racing*-may have its interesting, as well as its amusing, side, but after witnes sing galloping it reminds one of the philosophy of the immortal Marchioness in ‘ Ihe Old Curiosity Shop.’ namely. ‘ that oranzepeel water tastes like champagne if you imagine enough.’ ” Native Prince’s success in the Coates Handicap at Otahuhu was not unexxpected. Native Prince is by Native King from Miss Audrey, and he was bred by the late Mr B. Shadbolt, but as a young horse he went to Australia, where he was owned by tho well-known Svdney sportsman Mr C. Rokkjer. Mr Rokkjor brought Native Prince to the Donrnion in 1924. and won a race at the Auckland Trotting Chip’s meeting in October Native Pr’nce was then a three vear-old. When P Rid-Ue came from Svdney to attend the Auckland Trotting Club’s Cup meeting this season Native Prince was one of his tejm. but the pacer aced Iwtdlv. and was later sold to Mrs Sweetapple and went into J Shaw’s stable This was Native Prince’s first sue cess for his new owner. He is a brilliant pacer, who should do a lot better Later

CANTERBURY DOINGS.

By Observer. The Riccarton tracks have been quiet during the past week, as the trainers have been resting the horses who raced at the Canterbury Jockey Club’s meeting, but there will now be a gradual livening up again. The Banks Peninsula meeting, to be held at Motukarara next Saturday, will be the first attraction, and horses engaged there will provide some interest during the next few days. A little later Waimate will claim attention from a number of local stables, while at the same time others will have teams racing at Trentham. The quiet spell will thus be of short duration. The fields for the Banks Peninsula meeting are of fair size, and they should provide some good sport. ■ Thorndale and Satrap should have an interesting contest in the Peninsula Cup. Scoff was troubled by the length of the journey in his recent race at Riccarton, but he will be hard to beat over a shorter distance at Motukarara.

Margaret Birney ran a good race at Riccarton, and she may win at the Banks Peninsula meeting. It is worth remembering. in her case, that she has previously shown a liking for the Motukarara course.

Lancer is an improving gelding who raced well at the Canterbury Jockey Club’s meeting. He has trained on all right since then, and he should soon be a winner.

Philippic, who won the Trial Stakes at Riccarton a week ago, is to be tried out over a journey in the Peninsula Cup He will be worth watching, in view of future events, as his racing and his breeding mark him as a horse likely to stay. He has not done a great deal of work, so he should improve on his recent form.

Projector is training on well for hurdle races at the autumn and winter meetings, but before then he may pick up some money on the flat, as he is a useful galloper. Satrap is booked for a trip to Trentham, where he will contest the New Zealand St. Leger and possibly the Trentham

Go.d Cup. .So far as the St. Leger is concerned the opposition looks like being decidedly weak, and the Paladin gliding appears to have a royal chance of success, as in his recent races lie has sua < d like a stayer. In the Trentham Gold Cup he will encounter some much better class, and a real line will Tie available, through Rapier and Star Stranger, as to his ranking as a stayer. Satrap also claims an engagement in the Great Northern St. Leger, and if he gets through his Trentham programme satisfactorily it is probable that he will make the trip to Auckland at Easter.

Martarma. was blistered last week, and he will have a rest for a few months. His respite will be spent at Riccarton, ■where F. Christmas will keep a watchful eye on the Martian colt. The three-year-old Rameses, who is owned on the West Coast, has been sent to Awapuni, where R. E. Hatch will get him ready for North Island meetings. Fresco has resumed work, looking in excellent health after a short spell. The Kilboy mare Killoch arrived at Riccarton from the North Island last week, and she has gone into C. Preston’s stable. Her legs were knocked about through being galloped on in a recent race, but if she makes a good recovery she will do the West Coast autumn meetings. F. D. Jones is keeping Limerick busy, chiefly with short sprints, in which the champion shows a lot of brilliancy. It is Jones’s intention to leave for Sydney with Limerick and Zaragoza on Thursday. Limerick should be at his best for his strenuous Australian campaign, but Zaragoza’s share in the trip will probably be to act as training mate for the crack.

F. P. Claridge lias just taken in hand the two-year-old filly Shuffle, by Solferino from Tinihanga by Absurd from Formless. She is bred to be a smart galloper. A two-year-old filly by General Latour from Sylvan (an Australian-bred mare by Tressady) is a recent addition to J. Boyd’s team. She is a shapely youngster, who looks as if she would be useful. D. Campbell has purchased the three-year-old "elding Polydectes, by King Mark from Itamos and he is now in v, k at Riccarton. He has shown useful hack form, and he should do well in open company. It is intended to send him and Battle Colours to the Waimate meeting. Tarleton was sore after doing useful work last week, and it seems doubtful if 4he Nassau gelding will last much longer. Ankiwai has been thrown out of work, and he will be spelled for a couple of months. He has done very well this season, and has improved so steadily that r. D. Jones is hopeful that he will dexelop into a high-class four-year-old, capable of winning at any distance. 1 aperchase has been causing her trainer some anxiety lately, and it seems doubt,s , W1 1 race a ”ain this season. C.nekwheat has been put in work after a good spell. It is probable that tie win b e raced over hurdles. Gay Queen has resumed training, and ! she will be got ready for another trial ' hurdles later in the season Nincompoop is on the easy list at present, but he will soon be moving along rv al - n ’ T 3 c. 18 llltei '‘ ( i p <l to race him in the Waimate Cup. thiL P° yd d S 7?. rki!l K a useful-looking geld, . ng I>.V Thurnham from Madrid, the dam oi Malaga n»,l <lur-n H J D. Jones s absence in Australia Limerick s two year-old half brother R (l = erea by Rossendale, has r«-enth b-'en wb I * n n hanaa^ ai » by F. D. Jones," and ne v.i ■ be one of J. Russell’s charges during Jones s absence in Sydney. RoscPea showed rouble i eaHy Th ? st ‘ ason > iU troubles made a rest advisable. Provided he train on all right he should be useful in the s prmg, and Jones apparently a° possible SOlnetb,ng about him as ;rlv

Rapier Was allowed to drop out nF rha Fhe ai w“lte CUP ’’ h’t V aiUe,r nOt a PPreciating the welter weight he received, though it was not much more than could have" been expected m such a field. Rapier is trainn g on quite satisfactorily and he should be d for m t° nth ’ Wh - en he wi " north T? elln K- The Trentham nM nW UP I. Wll !„ b 5 bls chief objective, but Fen L p by r e W1 h t ve a race in the Thompson Handicap on tho first day. Bronstell has been ta'- •?. >n hand a-a.n by A E. Wormaid, after a short spell and he will he got ready for some of the minor autumn fixtures.

Assurance is gradually showing improve ment and he may be seen to advantage in a race before long. J. Beale put Arrowmir in work again recently after giving him a brief rest. Un fortunately, however, he continues to exhibit signs of lameness, the cause of which is not apparent, and it looks as if the Arrowsmith gelding will not stand a severe preparation. A couple of Solferino two-year-olds in T H. Gillett's stable are training on wel’. One of. them is Count Cavour’s brother. The X iscount, and the other is Dame Strait lace s first foal, the filly Corsetiere. They nave not been seriously tried out though they .. . done a bit of sprinting. It is probable they will both be raced at the Banks Peninsula meeting on Saturday. Count Cavour will not be seen again this season. He made such a slow recovery from the effects of his fall in Auckland that it wa= realised he could not be roadv for the Trentham Gold Cup -ext month, so he has been turned out. His spell will last for several months, after which he will be preoared for spring racing. The. steeplechaser Charlatan, who met with injuries to his legs some time ago through contact with a wire fence is making steady progress. T. H. hopes to have him in work in a few weeks in preparation for winter engagements Ch’ef interest among local trotting enthusiasts is centred in the Timaru and New Brighton meetings -to he held in following weeks next month. Both fixtures have attracted Large nominations, and with some of the. good horses engaged, also manv promising maidens, the sport will be of tho best.

R. Marshall is handling a useful-looking pacer by Logan Pointer from the dam of Locanda Mac.

B. Jarden is jogging Author Wood, and the young pacer is becoming 'very docile. Doctor Dillon seems to be much sounder now than was the case a short time ago, and F. G. Holmes may win a short race with him.

J. Lorgelly has Direct Tod and Brigand going along well in their work, and the two American horses may race prominently before the end of the season.

Logan King bears a well-trained appearance, and he has only to behave at the barrier to be an early winner.

The pacer Logan Ata has been taken in hand again by his owner after a spell, which was necessitated through a splint. His half-brothers. Proud Ata and Nelson Ata, are trotters, but Logan Ata is a pacer, as might be expected from a son of Logan Pointer. The trotter Sea Queen has improved a good deal this season. She has become very reliable, and she is now training particularly well.

Rey Logan continues to do good work in training. He is not yet at his best, but he should win before long. Routine can be marked off for an early win, as he is working very attractively. J. N. Clarke has Jolly Pet looking in the best of health, and good form may be expected very soon in a race.

A three-year-old trotter by Homeleigh Dick from that good mare Olive L is a promising member of J. N. Clarke’s team. He is a well-grown youngster, with a fair turn of speed.

Loganwood was kicked severely while running in the paddock recently. He is all right again, but he is very big as a result of his spell. G. S. Smith’s trotter by Lee Norris has built up into a powerful horse. He was troubled with splints for some time, but he seems to be all right now. The Sonoma Harvester—Fatality two-year-old in A. G. Wilson’s stable is not being hurried. He is a well-known gelding, who looks as if he will come to hand quickly when asked to go fast. The pacer No Fear is at present having a spell. She docs not seem to have recovered from her fall at Forbury Park. Nancy M’Kinney is back at the trotting gait. She will require to mend her ways at the barrier before she can lie supported with confidence in a race.