FRACK TALK.

Otago Witness, Issue 4074, 12 April 1932, Page 50

FRACK TALK.

By

Adonis.

ASHBURTON GOLD CUP. The Ashburton Club's enterprise in staging the Gold Cup, with a stake of 650sovs. was deserving of a better response than nine nominations, but the horses who go to the post will all be real champions, and the contest should be a thrilling on?. Out on the front is King Pointer, who showed a glimpse of his best form when he stepped into a place on the second day of the Addington fixlure. The Young Star Pointer gelding will be coupled with Satin King, who, with the glamour of his recent brilliant wins on him, looks the pick of the handicap. Royal Silk did not race up to form at Easter, and it may be that he is a bit jaded. Free Advice is at the peak of her form, and is the most likely to upset backers’ calculations. Travis Axworthy is an unlikely starter. At his best Carmel would give trouble, but he is not by any means consistent, and Jewel Pointer should beat him from the same mark. The racing he had at Addington would place Wrackler right at the top of his form, and he is one who will be doing his best work at the end. The backmarker is Harold Logan, and if his driver is less anxious than usual to hit the front he will take all sorts of beating. Recent form, however, points very definitely to Satin King, with Harold Logan and Free Advice making him do his best. FINE FIELD OF SPRINTERS. The Farewell Handicap at Ashburton drew a nomination of no fewer than 29 smart splinters, and as there is not likely to be a very big shrinkage when acceptances are received to-day, the task of .he backmarkers will be made doubly hard. In looking for something on or near the front that is likely to race well, backers are sure to consider the prospects of Baron Bingen, who has for some time been holding out the promise of better things, and will only need to start on the right leg to be one of the leaders throughout. The only one on the same mark who is likely to trouble him is Royal Drusus. Of those further back. Gold Country and Princess Mauritius appeal most, and at the present stage it looks as though Baron Bingen. Gold Country, and Princess Mauritius will be the most prominent at the finish. CRAZE FOR COLT RECORDS. Two and three-year-old champions come and go. year in and year out—and for the most part, it must be owned in all truth, are not long remembered. With world-champions how different it is! As long as there is anybody really interested in trotters the names of such performers as Lady Suffolk. Flora Temple, Dexter, Jay-Eye-See, Maud S.. Nancy Hanks, Cresceus, Lou Dillon, Uhlan, and Peter Manning will continue to hold their interest (says an American writer). So will those of the historic champion trotting stallions and champion trotting mares. And this is right—for their supreme achievements are the supreme ones of the breed. There is no doubt whatever that throughout the past decade —and even, indeed, preceding it —altogether too much emphasis has been placed upon colt records and altogether too little upon world champions. The sensational colt's interest is, in the last analysis, chiefly confined to those who belong to what might be called the “ colt cult.” The larger public, upon which we really depend for the support of our sport, is fond of the colts — ■who is not? —but it is still fonder of the great mature champions which really represent the acme of harness speed. The neglect of this type, in the overenthusiasm about the colt, has had and is having a deleterious and even disastrous effect upon the breed and upon the sport as a whole. The absolute and irrefutable proof of this was provided at the recent “Old Glory” sale, when aged performers like Tronia Britton 2.04, and Allie Pluto 2.14 were led before the block and sold for paltry prices, despite the urgent efforts of the auctioneer. Before the colt interest became truly a craze, such trotters would have brought up to ten times as much as they did upon the occasion mentioned. Others in the same category are sold for export as fast as possible and hustled out of the country, where there is no longer room for them—a strange commentary, indeed, upon “ things as they arc.”

It is the great tendency in all spheres of American life to “run to extremes.” It may be said to be the real curse of our

civilisation. Just at present otir entire social and economic fabric is under a terrific stress from precisely that cause. It has also affected the light-harness horse in no small degree, and conditions with him will not be improved until the leaders in our sport face the facts and take steps to rectify them.