TROTTING

Otago Witness, Issue 3899, 4 December 1928, Page 56

TROTTING

FIXTURES. December B.—Cheviot T.C. December 15. 17.—New Brighton T.C. December 26.—Gore T.C. December 26.—Ashburton T.C. December 26. 27.—South Wairarapa T.C. December 26, 27.—Westport T.C. December 27. 29, 31.—Auckland T.C. December 29.—Winton T.C. December 31.—Inangahua T.C. January 1, 2.—Canterbury T.C. January 3.—Westland T.C. January 4, s.—Greymouth T.C. January 19—Wellington T.C. January 24. 26.—Forbury Park T.C. February 1, 2.—Nelson T.C. February 9.—N.Z. Metropolitan T.C. February 16 —Wellington T.C. February 23.—Kaikoura T.C. February 23. 27. —Otahuhu T.C. February 27, 28.—Invercargill T.C. March I.—Marlborough T.C. March 2.—Waikato T.C. March 6.— Manawatu T.C. March 9.—Tlmaru T.C. March 13.—Wyndham T.C. March 16.—New Brighton T.C. March 21. 23 —Northland T.C. March 23. —Thames T.C. March 21. 23. — Wanganv T.C. March 30.—Takaki T.C. . March 30. April I.—Hawera T.C. March 30, April 3. —N.Z. Metropolitan T.C. April 6.—Taranaki T.C. April 20. -Ashburton T.C. April 20.—Te Aroha T.C. April 27.—New Brighton T.C. May 4.—Cambridge T.C. May 9, 11.—Forbury Park T.C. May 18.—Oamaru T.C. June 1. 3.—Hawke's Bay T.C June 1. 3.—Canterbury Park T.C. June B.—Ashburton 7*C June 22. 26.—Auckland T.C.

TRACK TALK.

By

Adonis.

AN UNLUCKY STAR. The spring meetings of the Forbury Park Club seem destined to travel beneath an unlucky star so far as financial returns are concerned, and this is regrettable for the reason that it may mean a further spoke in the wheel of progress. The weather on Thursday was anything but pleasant, but the totalisator showed only a slight shrinkage, which would probably have been counterbalanced on Saturday if heavy showers had not driven the crowd into the stands when speculation was being indulged in on a couple of the races. But the weather was not the only obstacle to success, for the holding of two inquiries tied the money up for a considerable period. The success of a meeting must not. however, be measured in terms of finance only, and from the sporting point of

view last week’s fixture was thoroughly enjoyed by those who atteuded it. A PROMISING PERFORMER. Roi L’or placed himself on a higher pedestal in the estimation of the public last week by winning two races, and winning them impressively. In the Dash Handicap on the opening day he swung away from the tape at the start, but when D. Withers got him straightened up lie quickly paced into second place. There he was kept until a furlong from home, where he easily gathered Bismurate m and went on to win pulling up. In the Tainui Handicap, in which it was generally considered he was exceptionally well placed, and in which he was made the shortest-priced winner at the meetine. he was taken to the front at the encl of half a furlong, and made his own pace throughout. He was never asked to do his best, and after the race was not the least distressed. The Rey de Oro chestnut is fit for much better company. The improvement he has shown may be gauged from the fact that at the last Waikouaiti meeting on New Year’s Day he could only finish third in one of the events there.

WEIGHED IN THE BALANCE. Last week’s racing at Forbury Park served to introduce Mr T. Fogg as a handicapper, and he will probably by now have realised that the position is not a bed of roses. One or two of his adjustments for the opening day were subjected to criticism, but when those for the second day were announced the complaint was fairly general that he had erred on the side of leniency in respect to at least two of .the winners on the first day, and so far as Roi L’or was concerned the public gave very definite expression to that fact by making him a cramped favourite. The writer holds no brief for Mr Fogg, and could point out what he considers were faults in his adjustments, but he is confident that with experience he will develop into a firstclass official. Mr Fogg was figuratively weighed in the balance last week, but on his general work it cannot be said that he was found wanting.

A HAZE OF SUSPICION. Seldom, if ever, has the running of a horse in any race at Forbury Park occasioned so much comment as that of one of the runners in the big race on the opening day, and the comment was even more pointed when it became known that the official eye had apparently seen nothing. From the rise of the barrier it looked as though the driver was in a state bordering on somnolence, and when the field had settled down after the preliminary shuffle for places his horse was giving away very much more than his handicap, which was at least surprising, considering that the hors.e is usually a smart beginner. At two different stages of the race the horse pricked his ears, and worked up to his top gait, but for some reason or other they were shortlived bursts, and his ears quickly showed signs of their original limpness. When he came back to the birdcage he looked as though he had merely been doing a little jogging exercise, being as fresh as the proverbial paint. Of course, the apparent somnolence of the driver may have lent itself to a sufficient explanation, but the public would have been satisfied if the driver had been given the opportunitv of giving one. On the face of it, the writer was left with the impression that the horse was figuratively marked “ not wanted on the voyage.” and he will watch with interest the performance of this horse at meetings just ahead. IN SADDLE AND SULKY. Nominations for the Winton meeting close on Friday. Nominations for the Ashburton Club’s meeting on Boxing Day are due on Wednesday. A two-mile journey is beyond Warepa, but Jie has the speed to win over less ground. Acceptances for the two trotting events on the Ashburton Racing Club’s meeting are due to-day. Sid Wilkes is not a good one, but he has sufficient pace to win a loose-class trotters’ race. Hilda Orton has improved a lot lately, and she is capable of gathering a stake on the country circuit. Pamela is improving with every race, and A. M'Lellan should have her at her best for the holiday meetings. Len Wood was right out of form last week, and never at any stage of his races flattered his supporters. El Caron was not at his best last week, and he is not likely to trouble the judge at any of the early meetings. Sunny Bob raced well enough ■ last week to’ suggest that he might be a winner on the southern holiday circuit.

Stamina won his two races for Proud Ata last week. He is not now likely to improve much on his best gait. All Peters is a very solid trotter, but he cannot pull out a little extra speed to land him a winner in a close finish. Mr T. Fogg’s handicapping for the second day of the Forbury Park meeting did not meet with the approval of at least one very prominent trainer. High Jinks paced two fine rhees last week, and he won so well on Saturday that he looks certain to win again before long. Erin's Chance should be one of the shortest-priced favourites at the Cromwell meeting. He showed speed in both of his races last week. Herbilwyn has a nice turn of speed, but he lacks stamina. R. Townley will find it difficult to get him to the end of a soundly run two-mile journey. A ictor Bingen shows every promise of developing into a high-class trotter. In most of his races he has carried his pace on a broken gait, but age will steady him. All Peters is not particularly speedy, but he is very honest, and so may be a winner at any time He finished on well in his races last week, and as he is only a five-year-old he has time to improve. Gardenella looked well when she was stripped for her races last week, but she would do nothing right. The southernowned trotter will do better on the grass tracks down south. Jolly Maid was doing promising work before the Forbury Park meeting, and she should be worth following at the holiday fixtures. She is a half-sister to Jolly Chimes. Nelson de Oro was pacing very easily in his race on Thursday, till lie took fright at the water cart and left his feet. The Rey de Oro gelding is improving very fast. Lenamhor is as well as he ever was, and he paced two solid races last week. Whatever chance he had on Saturday was lost when Kate Thorpe broke in front of him and unbalanced him. Desert Star looked like being a dividend payer at one stage of the RecoveryHandicap on Saturday, but he could not gather the two leaders. The racing he had last week will improve him. Limosa looked in fine condition when she was stripped for her races last week, and the Tinwald-trained pacer won all the way in the slush on Saturday. The Denver Huon mare will win more races. Betty Moko has improved a lot during the last week or two, and according to reports from the north she should be in capital condition for the Auckland meeting.

Dalmeny did not finish on in his races last week, and he will have to show considerable improvement on his two performances if he is to come into favour at the holiday’ meetings. Lee Todd showed some of his best speed last week, and he may yet win another F a S?' he is taken on the southern holiday circuit, however, he will be "ivin<away long starts. ° s Nelson Ata was driven into the ground in the Spring Handicap on Thursday, and was beaten a long way from home. He was handled differently in the Brighton Handicap on Saturday, and despite the deep going he finished full of running. Vesuvius paced a fine race to run second to Silk Thread on the, opening day of the Forbury Park meeting, but in the mud on Saturday- the long-striding gelding paced’ without dash, and quie' drifted out of the race. Although Firpo stepped into a place in each of the two-mile journeys he started in last week he does not appeal as one who is likely to take a tight mark over that distance. Mile saddle races appear to suit him best. Although Koro Peter did not get amon<» the winners last week he will not lose any of his supporters as a result of his performances. He has an effortless action with a daisy-clipper stride, and two-mile journeys will not trouble him. . Silk Thread has settled down into racing with the hopples on, and he paced a mid race to win the President’s Handicap. He looked really well last week, and such a fine stayer as he is should win good races. Roddy is a compactly-built pacer by Rey de Oro from Franzalena, and he is one for whom a bit more age will do a lot. He paced well in the mud on Saturday-, but he had no chance of beating Limosa. Victor Bingen has a somewhat “peacock/” carriage, but age will bring him closer to the ground. He finished on well in his winning effort last week, and as he has all the best of his racing day-s in front of him he looks sure to take a good mark.

Commander Bingen trotted a fine race in the heavy going on Saturday, and it was only in the run home that Nelson Ata took the lead from him. The Nel-

Kon Bingen gelding is now much less flighty than he was, and he should win before the season is over. Sir Author, who is a five-year-old byAuthor Dillon from Alilly C., the dam of Acron, is a very promising pacer with a.” ice . st y le of Roing. C. S. Donald had difnculty in keeping him from Jugging out at the bends, but he showed fine bursts of speed in the straight stretches. In her only race last week St. Bridget was very- slow in gathering her speed, and when the field had settled down she was giving away- much more than her handicap. She was travelling well in third place at the end of three furlongs, but she did not finish on well. With a round to go in the Forbury Handicap on Saturday, Mr B. Edwards k was hard at Harold Thorpe in an endeavour to get him close to the leaders, but the Our Thorpe gelding did not respond, and* was beaten a long way from Jolly Maid was brought up from the south to race on Saturday, and was expected to run well. The Cathedral Chimes niare was credited with being able to handle heavy going, but her performance left the impression that it must be sticky rather than slushy. As usual Brentloc began brilliantly in the Recovery Handicap on Saturday, and with half the journey covered he was just in behind the two leaders. With a furlong to go, however, he began to stop, and drifted back before the post was reached. Dundas Boy- paced well enough in his races last week to show that he is almost at the top of his form, and he should soon get among the winners. He left his feet in the Recovery Handicap when asked tr? go up to Omaha, otherwise he might have been the winner. Maiwhariti was one of the unlucky Tunners last week. He showed fine bursts of speed in the mile saddle races, but on the first day his pilot was anxious t?..* ake tlle to ° soon, and the Harold Dillon chestnut was bustled to a break. In the slush on Saturday he appeared to be a bit nervous on the bends. • Omaha travelled on a hitch-and-nod gait in the mile saddle race on Saturday, and never looked like getting up to the leaders. In the harness sprint he paced x ery smoothly, and could be named as the winner a long way from home. The Tlaro.d Dillon gelding will never be anything more than a sprinter. O. E. Hooper held the lines over Major Domo in the loose-class trotters’ race on Saturday, but after, showing the way for about five furlongs the Wildwood Junior gelding came back to the field, and eventually finished well down the course. He docs not look a good proposition now. Herbilwyn stepped out to a very long lead in the V ictoria Handicap on Saturday, and at the end of a mile had a break of at least 16 lengths on Proud Ata. From then on he began to stop, and in the final run up the straight he was doing little more than going up and coining down in the same place. Journeys of 13 furlongs are quite far enough for him. Jean M'Elwyn set the pace for most of the journey in the Forbury Handicap on Saturday, but the heavy going pulled her up before the home bend was reached, and she finished just outside the money. The Nelson Bingen mare will be all the better for the race, and will snow improvement when racing on top of the ground. Maiwhariti was very unlucky to lose the St. Kilda Handicap. It looked as though his rider was over-anxious to hit the front a long way from home, and he hustled the chestnut to a break at a vital stage of the race. When the Harold Dillon gelding got back to his gait he put in great work, finishing with a fine burst.

One of the warmest favourites at the Forbury Park meeting last week was lonic, and his defeat in the Dominion Handicap was very costly to backers. The Australian-bred gelding trotted a fine race, and looked all over a winner until two furlongs from homef where he began to stop, eventually finishing last. He will win good races later on. Trampcrisp put in a couple of skips in his race on Saturday when moving up to the field, but it was noticeable that D. Withers had less difficulty in getting him back to his stride than he had in most of his earlier races. The American-bred horse has enough speed to carry him much further back in the handicaps.

One of the most popular wins at the Forbury Park meeting last week was that of Author Jinks in the Forbury Handicap, the public realising that he has been a consistent place-getter who has not always been handled with the best of judgment. The Author Dillon gelding is not overburdened with looks, but he has a brilliant turn of speed. Mangoutu lost her chance in the Victoria Handicap on Saturday by dwell ing at the start. She could not have beaten Proud Ata, but she would certainly kave ma de him go faster than he did if she had gone away smoothly. The Galindo mare, has reached a stage when she is not likely to improve, but she still retains sufficient speed to win from the mark she is on. One of the most impressive wins at the Forbury Park meeting last week was that of Real Light in the Caversham Handicap. C. S. Donald allowed him to run along very quietly for over a mile but when he asked the chestnut to gather up theOeaders he did it without apparent effort, and won with something in hand. His performance left the impression that he will eventually step his way into the tightest classes.