TRACK TALK.

Otago Witness, Issue 3890, 2 October 1928, Page 56

TRACK TALK.

By

Adonis.

THE GREAT NORTHERN DERBY, declariition of final payments for the Great Northern Derby, to be run at the Auckland Club’s spring meeting this month, finds 17 three-year-olds still standing their ground, and among them are several who have already revealed themselves as embryo champions. With the bracket Wrackeen and Wrackler, the Ashburton sportsman, Mr H. F. Nicol! holds a particularly strong hand, and at the recent meeting of the Ashburton Rae~*ub botk of the youngsters proved that they are in capital condition for the classic, Wrackeen finishing third in the Selma Handicap in 3.27 4-5. and Wrack- - 2 e50 9^ n? n the . Rakaia Handicap in z.b_ 2-s—brilliant performances for young f;vo S 'r> ear ’2r S i,.. /’• , Brycc ' s representa.Grandlight, finished second in each ot his three outings as a two-year-old. and at the recent Wellington meeting he raced well enough to convince his supporters that he will go to the post -at the top of his form. When Sonoma Child liX h nH S w ,Dg i ? takes last season bandlight and Wrackler finished in the minor places but the latter in particular is a mueh better horse than he was then, and a fi P r arS tbe Sonoma Harvester safe. Or the remainder Hinkler is probably the most forward, but at present Mr Nicoll’s prospects of winning his thn-d Northern Derby are very ChiS\h Wlt ? bandlight and Sonoma Child the hardest horses for his representatives to beat. " A VISIT TO FORBURY. Weather conditions were exceedingly Pleasant yesterday, and the fast track at Forbury Park was freely availed of by rncin^ rS \ SO 7? e ° f wl iom will have horses Dav S Qt Bamaru and Gore on Labour W. Grant was one of the first to appear wllk-P« HOI n tlO \- Rub l Bin " en - and Glen vt ilkee Horatio, who is being converted from the trotting to the pacing gait, was hitched to a sulky, and stepped over several circuits freely. It will be some time, however, before he is in his best verXi^? d,tl ° n - R V. by Bingcn Kiven won ! Xe m IS ?’ but the tr °tter looks eHsl’ X + Sh X d be rea dy for the looseclass trotters races at Forbury Park next month Glen Wilkes, who will probably be taken to Oamaru on Labour Davis no„ nearly so robust as she was before elXn Se ? t i. tO tbe patrons’ paddock, but she has lost none of her speed, and mav race prominently in saddle races a little later in the season.

T. Cal’on worked Celestial over several circuits in harness, but the Harold Dillon

chestnut would do nothing right. Recently he was fitted with special shoes designed to counter his knee-knocking habits, but, judging by his display yesterday, they are not a success. J. Al’Kewen, jun., worked two of Air A. Ferguson’s horses, Maiwhariti and 1* pur Bells, the former being the more impressive of the pair. Four Bells does not appeal -as one who is likely to win much stake money this season. The writer understands that Air Ferguson, who has certainly not been the luckiest of owners,' intends to transfer his interests as an owner to gallopers, and that he is at present looking around for likely horse* to carry Ins colours. It is to be hoped that Mr rergusons transfer of his fancy will be bufi a temporary one. as Dunedin owners 'are none too plentiful so far as pacers and trotters are concerned. Nothing looked better on the track yesterday morning than Stockade, Junior, and he pneed freely in harness for R. Robinson, who looks like placing him for a win early in the season. _ wbo . wa s recently purchased by G- Wilson (who must not be confused with the galloping mentor), was hunted along over several .circuits by his owner, but he stepped very short, and did not show much pace. It looked as though his hopples could have been lot out a hole or two. C. Hadfield worked C rnbine. but did' not ask him to go fast. The trotter looks well and. when he 10-es h : s flightiness he should win a loose-class race. F Farq”harson, J. Af’Kewen. sen.. J. Bamber, and J. Richardson also had horses on the track, but none of them vork aS^ed *° d ° more than jogging THE NEW ADJUSTERS. Two of the clubs that were seeking a successor to the late Air H. Brinkman have found him, and in each case the' appointment is one that should -ive general satisfaction. Air George Paul Xi ° n n] V i°? » tb f eb . oice of the Metropolitan Club fell, has been well and truly trmd in connection with North Island clubs, and his work has withstood the shafts of criticism that are sooner or later directed at the adjustments of all handimX el ‘i f Paul - is also to be com ’ ? C X i r - < the v ln which be exercises the little bit of discretion that is allowed to handicappers. The Oamaru Club has appointed Air Harry Jarden, who is well known as a sporting writer and a member of a tamily that has been connected with trotting since the very early days. Air Jarden has on occasions had horses racing tor him among them being those fine pacers Dalnahine and Dalmcny. A. brother, Air B. Jarden, who trained the champion Author Dillon a few years ago, has a big team in work at Lower Hutt, and recently he came back into the limewHK tn a . tra 'P er b F "'inning two races "ith the American trotter Alaxegin. Air Jarden will have plenty of material to v ork on in making his adjustments for Q r,J- a >OUr f P ay i meetln B. but it will be lf h r e f j? es not make them to the satisfaction of all concerned. IN SADDLE AND SULKY. John Appear will be useful on the country circuit this season. Nominations for the Oamaru Club’s spring meeting on Labour Day are due on Alonday. Reta Al Kinney, Dan Logan. and Economy will be among the favourites in the two events at Kurow. Becky Aline is improving with racing, and the sister to Sahib is assured of support at the minor meetings. Kate Thorpe still has a great burst of speed over a mile, but she has not learned how to carry it further than that. . Hinkler has been stepping nicely in his work, and gives every indication of lunning a big race in the Great Northern Derby.

Economy, the Petereta five-vear-old in J. AlLennan’s stable, will be well supported in the harness event at Kurow on Saturday.

Rap. who was placed in seven out of has 10 starts last season, is moving nicely in his work, and will soon be in his best racing condition.

Judging by her track work, the Happy voyage four-year-old Dice is coming right. She is out of Little Doris, and so is a half-sister to Little Logan. F. G. Holmes has Nan Brent in capital condition for meetings ahead, and it will be no surprise if the half-sister to St. Maura races prominentlj- at Oamaru on Labour Day. . Real Light races best on a firm track, and when the conditions are to his liking he can pull out a smart clip. He is one of the most promising horses in C. Donald's big team. The Sungdd four-year-old Alorning Sun is a promising pacer who should do well on the southern circuit this season. He was started three times last season for a win and a second. Logan D’Oro will later on be racing against better horses than those he beat at Geraldine last week. He paced a nice even race, and was not required to produce his top speed to win. Dalmeny has fined down a lot during the last week or two, and Tomkinson should have the Dunedin-owned pacer at the top of his form for the big meeting at Addington next month. Florrie Pointer has seldom done better work than she is doing at present, and it will be no surprise if she wins a race before long. She will probably be taken to the Oamaru meeting on Labour Day. New Aletford is trotting very pleasingly on the Addington track, and N. L. Price should have little difficulty in placing the promising Rey de Oro gelding for further wins. He has a fine turn of speed. Rose Aladie is not being sent against the watch at present, but she is thriving on the work allotted to her, and should soon be* in her best racing form. She is capable of stepping a brilliant gait. Dan Logan is a useful pacer, and the work lie has been doing lately suggests that he will run well at some of the country meetings. He is engaged at Kurow on Saturday.

Repute is in steady work, and appears to have lost much of her flightiness. She has the speed to carry her much further back in the handicaps than she is at present. Native Prinee is pleasing the trackwatchers, who expect him to win one of the big two-mile races early in the season. The best has not yet been seen of the Native King horse. Frances de Oro is not yet at her best, but in the Domain Handicap at Geraldine she showed a fair turn of speed for most i bf the journey. She is a three-year-old by Rey de Oro from Frances, and she looks certain to develop into a winner. Brandean has been trotting steadily in his work, and is apparently becoming more reliable. The first time he keeps to a level gait in a race he will be a hard horse for the loose-class trotters to beat. No Fear has apparently not yet forgotten the fall she had at Forbury Park last season, as she still shows signs of nervousnes in a race. It is to be hoped that she will regain her courage, as there is no doubt about her speed. Warepa looks a better horse for the racing he had at the Ashburton meeting, and he may run prominently at Methven on Saturday. He will be one of R. Townley’s team for the Oamaru meeting on Labour Day. Limosa, who was made favourite for the Domain Handicap at Geraldine, fan a very patchy race, and was not helped over much by her reinsman. The Denver Hiion mare will do very much better before the season is much older. Dick Logan looks as though he has been given plenty of work recently, and if he is among the starters at Methven on Saturday his condition will swing support towards him. Dick Logan is a fine stayer. St. Maura is looking exceptionally well at present, and she will be right on the - top of her form the next time she is harnessed up to race. She has not lost any of her speed, and a win among the high-class sprinters is not beyond her. Peter Bingen is not being asked to do much fast work at present, but the brother to Great Bingen is in fine condition to undergo his Cup preparation. He is seldom strapped up when taken on to the track. The aged Logan Pointer gelding, Free Pointer, is past the stage at which he is likely to make any improvement, and at the Kurow meeting on Saturday he will probably find it beyond him to give away starts to some of those on the limit. Wilma Dillon looks like being one of the first of A M'Lellan’s team to win a stake this season. He paced a fine race at the Otago Hunt Club’s meeting, and was just beaten after having got away badly. Sonoma Star was expected to run well at the recent meeting at New Brighton, but he did not move away at barrierrise. He has been doing well since then, and if he is started at Methven on Saturday he may prove that the claims of his supporters are justified. The track at Forbury Park is in fine order at present, and with the spring meetings, on the horizon it is being freely used. Among those who have teams in work are J. M'Kewen. jun., F. Farquharson, W. Hargreaves, M. Quirk, J. Richardson, W. Grant, and J. Pollock. The easiest win recorded in the four "Spacing events at the Geraldine meeting 'was that of Prince Chimes, who took the lead just when C. Donald asked him to, and won with a lot in hand. He is by Cathedral Chimes from Princess Perfection, and looks certain to win aeain. Loiterer, who won the Trial Handicap at the Wellington autumn meeting easily from Rose Marie and Great Triumph and 16 others, has been hitting out well for O. E. Hooper. The Denver Huon gelding is very smart, and is shaping like an early winner. Queen’s Own, who stepped a brilliant gait at the recent meeting at Addington, is being restricted to easy tasks, but she will soon be asked to step faster. F. G. Holmes is pleased with the condition of his Cup candidate, and has every reason to be. Reta M'Kinney, who is among the acceptors for the saddle event at the Kurow meeting, looks as though she 'has been doing plenty of work. She has stepped inside the mark on which she is handicapped, and in all probability she will be one of the favourites.' Ariki won the Trial Handicap at the August meeting of the Metropolitan Club last season in the smart time of 4.35, but since then he has started in 11 races without stepping into a place. The Cathedral Chimes pacer, has the speed to win from the mark he is on, but he is unreliable. Commander Bingen would win easily from the mark he is on if he would only carry his speed on an unbroken gait in a race. He looks as though he has had plenty of work recently, and if he is beaten at Methven on Saturday it will toot be for lack of condition.

... promising young trotter Victor Bingen in steadv work, and the Nelson Bingen chestnut is shaping well. It should not be long before he wins one of the loose-elass trotters’ races, and if he is taken to the Methven meeting on Saturday he will not be one ot the outsiders. The fact that Firelight was expected to run well at the recent Wellington meeting is sufficient indication that the southern-owned pacer has shown something good m his track work. It is over two years since he won a race, but it is scarcely likely that O. E. Hooper would haAe taken him if he was not capable or winning again.

R. Townley lias the promising young trotter Victor Bingen in steadv work, and the Nelson Bingen chestnut is shaping well. It should not be long before he wins one of the loose-elass trotters’ races, and if he is taken to the Methven meeting on Saturday he will not be one ot the outsiders.

Gi andlight is pleasing J. Bryce, who is conndent that the Matchlight three-vear-vLn 11 n n i a bi S ™ce in the Great -There is not a great share°of G bAH dhg lt ’> but J he has hls full nt hL ‘ b * h speed and gameness, ami at the recent meeting at New Brighton later e ln hat distauce will n °t trouble him th^ e tnl FOl V Iry +1 Park Ch,b has Pruned the stakes for the spring meeting to the extent of £4OO, but the cut has been fell' C, in l 'n y s P read .’, and win he scarcely ielt in the individual races. The club 100k 1 d l, P° n as a Philanthropic institution, and until the financial skies ? nd t J I - e Government relieves the club of strangling taxation it must “ cut its coat according to the cloth.”

(NSW) r tbe E PP IQ g (A.b.W.) £lOOO Handicap, to be run to-da-L are:—Bankhead (N.Z.), Wood Bov Duk?°'n a i S ’ R °vv ¥. uon ’ s Last > Excelihon Im bv aLu 7 '- al a Walla - Graeefu' Tori eb T s ock ’ AU Steel - Frisco. Lord Cap, Invader, Alaska. Olliewood Direct Mantle, Black Mari, Relief, Steel Slod e £* le ’ KenWyn ’ 6 Stoney Minton Bells. Ula Ribrabsman,_ Marie Dillon 12; Robert ’on ® e hs, Goonumbla 24; Steel All 30; One Step. Torpedo Huon 06; Paistex. Mirralwood 48.

n J be Oamaru Trotting Club will use a first timp Ce f eoUr - S i. e r nt J appointments for The Lt f °S ’4 Lf l bour Da >’ meeting, west w?l T and Sta i n ?’ " llich face 9 the jSe"-Vr? thLvr tO Stand officially, and LT2 layOr <. ( M r T rank Crawshaw) is also being invited to be present. It is anticianet d ? vill be a record attendance at the first meeting on the new course Mr R. G. Samsor? has been apPomted stipendiary steward for the meetmg. and the Municipal Band has been engaged to provide music.

ti,2 4t n a general meeting of members of the Oamaru Trotting Club last week a resolution was passed appointing. Messrs A. Ward, R. G. Black. F. Cullen, and J. f “ r n nce ’ and an > y otller Person appointed to the purpose by the combined, committee of the Racing and Trotting ConferLLL tO remove f rom the Oamaru race-hre-mb re ? erve any person who commits a breach of any regulation made bv the PerS °V wbo ma >’ be dee med desnable. or who comes within the meaning of the special rules set up by Vt .2 an< l Tr °ttiug Conferences. A t a subsequent meeting of the comX n /V ran ? en Jf- nts were finalised for the October trotting meeting.