TROTTING FIXTURES

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 18594, 3 January 1935, Page 3

TROTTING FIXTURES

Jau. 4, s—Greymouths—Greymouth Trotting Club. Jan. 7—Reel'tou Trotting Club (at Oreymouth. Jau. 13—Wellington Trotting Club. Sunny Maid, favorite in the hack sprint at Awapuni on Saturday, endeavored to lead all the. way, but was beaten entering the straight, where Land Tax took charge. Land Tax was notty challenged in tne last luili-lurking Dy Coienso and lupurangi, but they tailed to get up, the latter just, heading Coianso. Invoice was tourth alter looking'a possibility at Ibe distance. With lucid at a critical stage Coienso .would have won, Wlieriko scored- his first New Zealand success by taking the open sprint at this Manawatu meeting on Saturday in decisive style, lie lay in tlie rear tor hall a mile and then ran past his opponents in the straight in solid style. Lodyline may have troubled him had his rider not lost an iron and steered right into the leader, (Julius, when making his run. The winner is a big horse and a lino galloper, but unfortunately is touched in the .wind. However, he is improving in this respect.

Friesland, winner of the two juvenile handicaps (for two and three-year-olds) at the Taranaki Jockey Club’s meeting last week, is an Australian-bred three-year-old son of Friarsdaie whom the ilawera trainer, O. Cox, bought as a yearling in Australia and whom he has allowed plenty of time in which to mature. Prior to last week he iiacl had only two races, the first at the Taranaki Hunt Club’s meeting and the other at tlie Waverley Labor Day meeting, in both of which he was unlucky in the running. Ho scorns a most likely sort to go on to further honors in the near future.

Mr. It. Trougliton, owner of Kewpie's Guy, Kewpie's Bond, and Kewpie’s King, lias decided Id have bis horse? trained at Epsom and lias placed I hem under the care of K. Bell, who for some time has been associated with the Grey Lynn trainer, .1. Gee. Kewpie’s Guy Imd her first race for Bell last SaUirdav and finished a useful fourth in the Ruufnily Handicap. Kewpie’s Bond fell in her race on the first day when driven by G. T. Mitchell. Kewpie’s King, who was a high-class three-year-old last season, lias not raced this term.

After witnessing the victory of In dianupolis in tlie Champion. Handicap at Epsom on Saturday, the owner, Mr. G. J. Barton, of Dunedin, left for Sydney by the Monowai (o spend a, holiday in Australia. Although Mr. Barton was pleased at tlie success of his horse, Instill expressed keen disappointment at bis form in the Royal Trotting Cup. The driver, ,J. Fraser, stated that when Indianapolis tangled at the start of the cup race, lie dropped the bib and did not take bold of it again at any part of the journey.

The Australian trotting trainer, \V. McKay, lias rearranged his programme for Auburn Lad, and has decided to remain in New Zealand for a few more meetings. After his racing at the Auckland Trotting Club’s meeting ho will take the pacer to Hutfc Park for tile two chief races at the Wellington duo's summer meeting on January *nd will then go on to Christchurch for tho meeting at Addington on January 19." If there are any suitable, races on the Auckland February programme McKay will return to Epsom, but if not fie will probably take bis departure home after Addington. McKay has some engagements ahead in Victoria for his good three-year-old Tennessee Wood, who, he says, is one of the best of his ago seen in Australia for some time, and so far has an unbeaten record.

The most interesting racing result in Australia on Boxing Day, so far as the Dominion is concerned, was the success of Homer in tho December Stakes, a rich two-year-old event at Randwick. llomcr was bred at the Elderslio Stud, being by the young Swynford horse Iliad, from Quadrilateral, an imported marc by Square Measure, who had previously left Quarto, a smart Paper Money filly. Homer, who is trained by G. Price, was sent to Melbourne for tho Maribyrnong Plate. Excuses were made for his failure, apparently with justification, as since his return to Sydney lie has won several races, confirming the early opinion that he is a colt of high class. Iliad comes from a staying line, so there is good reason to expect Ilomer to go on to other successes in the best company. His dam will be represented at Trcntham by a. Night llaid colt, who is credited with being a particularly fi ll <■ youngster, and undoubtedly there will be keen bidding to acquire him.

Mr. G. M. Currie s I luce-year'-old filly Canopy died recently as a result of internal I rouble. Mile was a winner at Feildiug early last mouth, but her form this season had been very mixed, the reason now having been made apparent. Her last race was in the Trcutham -Stakes, in which she ran creditably, though just beaten out of (ho money. * 'A' # , The Great Northern Derby, run at lire Auckland Racing Club’s meeting or. New Year's Day, was a slowlyriui race ami Gay Blonde, second favorite lu Synagogue, proved too hrilliui.il for tlie others in the run home. Kelly attempted to win all t lie way, but he was outpaced by a brilliant filly in tlm run home. Kelly might have done better if the pace had ibcen oft- throughout. He was probably the best stayer in the field and should make a very capable handicap horse when his powers are fully developed. Synagogue had every chance and no excuses can be made for him. Sporting Blood run only moderately, but lie is not himself and when he freshens lip ho will do much better. Like most, of the -progeny of Hunting' Song, Sporting Blood shines in heavy going, but he is also capable of a very solid performance on top of the ground when free from soreness. * * * * The topweights, Vintage and King March, finished first and second in the Auckland Racing Club Handicap, going right away Irom the others in the straight and finishing clear, comments “Archer” in the Auckland Herald. Vintage was the favorite and he recorded a very solid performance. A. K. Ellis had him well placed throughout and he was always a winner over the last furlong. At, the finish he had only half a length to spare, but his winning margin would probably have been a little greater if bis rider had ridden him right out. King March was ridden a perfect race on the rails by 11. Goldfinch, but met a superior horse, who was too good for him at even weights. Grand Jury was never further back than second until reaching the straight, where he weakened. and did just well enough fo keep Culientc from third. Spiral. J locket. and Great Star were well beaten, while The Sun was outclassed. Spiral and Great Star were, in winning position three furlongs from the post, but both weakened in the mu Horne, Spiral commencing to lose ground, from the entrance to the straight.