IN SADDLE AND SULKY.

Otago Witness, Issue 4048, 13 October 1931, Page 51

IN SADDLE AND SULKY.

Trampfast is being prepared specially for the Dominion Handicap. If Gun Fire holds his form other wins will come his way very soon. Acceptances for the Oamaru meeting are due on Tuesday of next week. Red King has been shaping as though he will be among the early winners down south. As the result of her recent form. Silver de Oro has come into favour for the New Zealand Derby. Mountain Mist is holding his form, and he has not yet reached a mark that will stop him from winning.

Wally Bingen docs not look too sound, and it is doubtful whether he will be quite at his best for the Oamaru meeting. Denver City is a long way from being right, and his prospects of winning a race are far from bright. The four-year-old pacer Worthy Chief is shaping as -though he will win a maiden race in the Auckland district very soon. The Sungod pacer Sunranes is freely engaged at meetings ahead, and should be a good one to follow. The consistent Rollo is striding out freely in hie work, and he will be a fit horse for the Oamaru Handicap. Nominations for the Metropolitan Club's Cup meeting arc due on Thursday, when a first payment for the Cup must also be made.

Acceptances for the two trotting events on the opening day of the Gore Racing Club’s spring meeting are due on Monday. The useful saddle horse El Direct has not yet recovered from the lameness which has hindered his preparation since the August meeting. Blue Glen is not reliable in a race. If she ran up to her track form she would win easily fiom the mark she is on. Royal Chenault is pacing well at present, and he is likely to be one of the favourites in the Hadlow Handicap at Timaru on Saturday. Lady Antrim looks as though she needs a race or two to bring her back to her best. She has a nice turn of speed, but does not stay well. If Linella could be relied on to pace a smooth race in the Hadlow Handicap at Timaru on Saturday backers would not seek further for the probable winner. Worthy Queen has now been started three times for as many wins. The four-year-old trotter should develop into a highclass performer. Erin’s Pointer is lacking in stamina, but there is no doubt’ about her speed over short courses. She has a lot in her favour in being able to begin quickly.

Jack Hobbs is a very reliable pacer, but he lacks a good finishing run. He will not improve much on his present line mark.

The long-striding pacer Mountain Dweller likes the big grass tracks, and so will have the conditions in his favour at timaru on Saturday. Roddy is being prepared for the Oamaru meeting, but his work does not suggest ; that his chance of winning at the fixture is very bright. Carnui has been pacing impressively in his work, and Epsom track watchers expect him to race prominently at the forthcoming Auckland fixture. Edna Worthj- is coming on nicely in the work that F. G. Holmes is allotting to her, and she may race prominently at the Oamaru meeting. Tarndale has come through a solid preparation, and has seldom looked better than he does at present. He will, however, find it very hard to win at Oamaru. The recently converted Wild Guy has taken kindly to the pacing gait, and he is one of those who appear to hold a chance in the Trial Handicap at Oamaru. Wrackler, Harold Logan, and Roi L’or are the ruling favourites for the New Zealand Cup, while Kingcraft’s supporters appear to be increasing. Real Girl is overdue for a win, but her supporters should not have long to wait now. The Dash Handicap at Oamaru is a race that should suit her.

Speckled Gold gives every indication of being an early winner on the southern circuit. He has come on well since racing at the Otago Hunt Club’s meeting last month.

The Logan Pointer mare Central Pointer is a useful sort who should win a race or two at country meetings down south. She is engaged at the Gore Racing Club’s spring fixture. Modern Girl has sufficient speed to win one of the loose-class races for trotters, but she is very nervous at the barrier and usually fails to strike her gait until her chance is hopeless. War Paint looks particularly well at present, and the Man-o’-War pacer should ■ not be long in getting on the winning list.

She will have her next race at Gore on Saturday week. Sandy Pointer' may win a-race one of these days, but if he does his supporters will get a great price. His record does not encourage the belief that he is anything but a very ordinary pacer. Stowaway is not an easy horse to get to the top of bis form, and the season will be well advanced before he will show what he is really capable of. He does not gather his speed quickly, and so is best suited to two-mile races.

The appearance of Native Prince at this stage of his Cup preparation points to J. J. Kennerley’s charge being a very fit horse on the day. He will probably have his next outing in the New Zealand Cup Trial at Wellington. Ayrmont Chimes will be in the tighter classes before the present season is over. The Four Chimes pacer has speed and stamina, and he has improved a lot lately. The big race at Oamaru should suit him.

Since he won at the Ashburton Racing Club's meeting last month, Plain Silk has been pleasing his trainer, and the Silk Thread gelding will probably be one of the favourites for the Washdyke Handicap at Timaru on Saturday.

Auto Machine is reported to have paced a mile and a-half at Epsom recently in 3,19, the last half taking 1.4. Unless there is a strong entry from Canterbury, he will be the early favourite for the big event at the Auckland meeting. Special Sun, who is now in C. S. Donald’s stable, is a very useful sort for the minor circuit. The Sungod gelding should go to a good race from the front of the Washdyke Handicap at Timaru on Saturday. Honora Bingen is an improving trotter in D. Teahan's team. She is a five-year-old by Nelson Bingen, and her recent form suggests that she will race prominently in the mile and a-half race for trotters at Oamaru on Labour Day. Herod failed to go away right in his last outing, but once he tilled his hobbles he showed a fine turn of speed. J. Bryce has the Key de Oro pacer in rare con-

dition and should place him for a win. He is engaged at Oamaru. King Oscar is a real utility horse, being raced both as a trotter and as a pacer. It is when racing without the straps that he shows his best form, and his trainer would probably find it more profitable to keep him among the free-legged brigade.

Aretotis looks as though he has not been allowed to be idle recently," and he is among those nominated for the two-mile trotters’ race at Oamaru on Labour Day. The Dunedin-owned gelding is a most attractive trotter, and if he stands up to his work he will be a good winner. At the back end of last season Lord Antrim showed promising form, and he gives every indication of showing improvement in one of his early engaagenients. If this pacer ever finds his way into one of the bigger stables he will win good races.

Netta Oro certainly looks like qualifying for the right to be described as the most unlucky horse of the season. She has been pacing very consistently in her races, but in each case has met one just too good for her, consequently working back in the handicaps without getting much money. Free Advice and Logan Park, W. J. Tomkinson’s Cup candidates, are progressing satisfactorily. Were it not for the fact that mares are not to be relied on in November, Free Advice would be in much wider _ favour, for she put up a couple of brilliant performances by winning the big Easter double. Black Watch is in steady work, and he is set down to appear at. Timaru on Saturday. On one or two occasions he has given glimpses of very promising speed, out he has also shown a tendency to hang badly at barrier rise, and his supporters will be interested to see if he has been lured of this fault. Since Great Nelson went into F. G. Holmes’s stable he has registered a succession of disappointing performances, and in two-mile races has been stopping badly over the final stages. There is little doubt that he will eventually come right, but in the meantime he has drifted from favour.