TRACK TALK.

Otago Witness, Issue 3889, 25 September 1928, Page 57

TRACK TALK.

By

Adonis.

THE CUP PAYMENT. As a result of the first payment in connection with the New Zealand Cup, the problem of finding the prospective winner has not been made any easier for backers. The defection of Acron was not unexpected, for it is generally agreed that the one-time brilliant Logan Pointer pacer is never likely to reach his best form again. Nor was it surprising to find Logan Chief missing, as he looked to be held safely by most of the field. It did come as a surprise, however, to find that Jewel Pointer was not among those for whom the first payment was made, but u as has been explained, this was due to the fact that the trainer of the Logan Pointer gelding did not know that a payment was due. With 19 horses still standing their ground there is every prospect of a fine field lining up for the big race in November, and if the track is in good order the winner will have to go fast. At present Ahuriri still holds the honour of favouritism from Jack Potts and Padlock.

A REGRETTABLE DEFECTION. Not only is the defection of Jewel Pointer from the New Zealand Cup regrettable from the point of view that al followers of trotting wanted to see the Auckland pacer take his place among the champions, but it is doubly so when one takes into consideration the circumstances that brought it about. From Auckland comes a complaint of lack of publicity in respect to the making of the first payment, but it is surprising to think that those connected with a horse engaged in the country’s biggest race do not make themselves conversant with the conditions and requirements. Trainers and owners may not be any more dilatory than any other section of the community, but it is really surprising the number who leave the making of a nomination or an acceptance to the very last minute, even when dependent on the telegraphic service. In fact, numerous cases could be quoted, where nominations or acceptances which have been handed into a telegraph office an hour or so before the time for the receipt of them have, through delay, not arrived in time, and have had to be refused. Some of these delays could be laid at the door of the department concerned, but the fact that these delays do occur should convince dilatory trainers and owners that they are taking a big risk by “cutting things too fine.” The placing of Terence Dillon’s acceptance form in the club’s letter box might well be advanced as a reason why trainers and owners should allow a liberal margin of time between the making of a nomination or acceptance and the hour at which it is due.

EUROPE’S GREATEST TROTTER. So little is. known in the outside world of affairs in Russia, K where in years past there were more extremely fast trotters than in any other European country, that to begin with it will have to be left out of the accounting (says a writer in the Horse Review, in discussing the question of the greatest trotter in Europe). The Bolshevik resolution practically wrecked the great Russian breeding industry, and while it is known to be coming back, it is as yet only the shadow of its former self. Once in a while a few details come to hand indicating that there are now some very high-class Russian trotters racing, horses capable of beating 2.10 considerably. But so little is known about them as to give no basis for judgment". This leaves us to consider the four Continental countries in which trotting is a strongly-organised and progressive major sport, producing Jiorses that are capable of brilliant achievements and a credit to the turf. These, named alphabetically, are: Austria. France, Germany, and Italy. Belgium, Holland, Denmark, Czecho-Slovakia, and other Continental countries also have harness racing and breeding interests by no means negligible, but they are necessarily not of the importance of those of the four great ones first-named. Taking them alphabetically, there is no doubt that the best trotter in Austria is the five-year-old stallion Elsoe IV, 2.10}, by Granat (2.22), son of Caid, 2.7}. He was the conceded champion of that country in 1927, as a four-vear-old. at all distances, and is credited with the ability to beat 2.10 by a considerable margin. Except when handicapped severely he seems to hold all the other fast trotters on the Austrian turf at his mercy. He is of pure American blood.

In France, by unanimous consent, the “ bright, particular star ” is the great mare Uranie, the reigning queen of the French turf for the past three seasons. Uranie is by far the largest moneywinner of her sex that France has yet produced, and none of its contemporary males has a chance to defeat her without a big pull in the handicaps—and even then her defeat is seldom accomplished. The best record of Uranie is but 2.12}, but it was made in it long distance dash of nearly two miles. She is credited with the ability to trot a mile much better than 2.10 by French sportsmen, and is doubtless able to do so under favourable conditions. Uranie is of almost purely French blood, being by Intermede (2.23}). and going directly back to the greatest of Gallic progenitors, Fuchsia, “the Hambletonian 10 of France.” In Germany without doubt the best trotter there last season was the exAmerican stallion Guy Bacon (2.6}). though the difference in form between him and the other ex-American stallion, St. Roberts (2.31), was so slight as to be practically negligible and the outcome of a match between them could have ben predicted with no certainty. St. Roberts holds the German trotting record of 2.61 at the present writing, this being also the European trotting record as well. Guy Bacon is by Guy Axworthy- (2.8|). and St. Roberts by Lord Roberts (2.7}), and both horses are so well known to our readers as to need no further comment.

In Italy the undoubted champion of the_ day is the young stallion Homer (2.7}), though that horse was foaled in Germany, and made herself famous there, and if of pure American blood, having been exported from this country in utero. Homer was sold from Germany to Italy about a year ago, and has performed magnificently since going there, having last season trotted two consecutive heats in a race in 2.7 f, 2.9. The past winter Elsoe was taken to Italy for the express purpose of meeting him, but. in the race he decisively defeated his young Austrian rival. We may confidently group the horses above-enumerated as the best trotters that Europe boasts to-day, but to decide which of them is the greatest is an impossible task. Guy Bacon and St. Roberts, we think, have both been doing stud duty in Germany this past spring, and we have seen nothing of either as having raced yet in 1928, though both doubtless will face the starter later on. Uranie, Elsoe, and Homer have all been performing of late with their accustomed brilliancy. It would be most interesting if this quintet could all be got together in a race for the championship of Europe, but it is improbable that anything of that kind can ever be brought off. It is not impossible that all but the great French mare might be assembled on a given daj and track to battle for such a prize, but she has never been raced outside of 1’ rance, has started almost exclusively at Paris, and no disposition has ever been shown to take her away from home. We believe a challenge was issued on.her behalf to race against any other European trotter, but the stipulation was made that the race must be decided at Paris, with other conditions which would give her a manifest advantage—hence it was not accepted.