TROTTING NOTES

Southland Times, Issue 23377, 8 December 1937, Page 10

TROTTING NOTES

Royal Guy’s Long

Absence NORTHERN HORSES IN CUP RACES Handicaps for the Gore and Winton meetings will appear on Saturday. Several novices produced at Wairio on Saturday appear to be out of their depth even in this company.

Blue Logan is now being trained by N. Gatley, who was responsible for the early education of the Logan Sun gelding.

Escapade (4.27) the dam of Intrigue, has produced a colt by U Scott and will visit him again. Rustic Maid, an unraced sister to Gold Country foaled a filly by Gallant Knight and will be mated with U Scott.

Irish Aggie, who is engaged at southern meetings during the holidays, is a solid type of mare but her efforts so far have not been anything above the average. She is a half-sister by Great Bingen to Red Shadow. Lynwood’s nomination for the Cup races during the holidays was rather a surprise, but he was taken up by E. Todd, at Wyndham, some time ago and is credited with having done well. It is almost two seasons since he last raced. The Waverley gelding has a host of fine performances to his credit, one of these being in the Winton Cup from 72yds back. Lynwood can both sprint and stay and if he is able to produce his best again he appeals as one capable of winning races. His present marks will give him little chance at the local meetings.

The square-gaiters this season appear to be in greater numbers than for some time and a good standard of racing is promised in this section during the holidays. The most surprising part of Big Author’s success at New Brighton on Saturday was the price he paid. When he won at Forbury Park he had to register a track record and there was a good deal of merit in his performance. He has always been regarded as a stayer through and through and this and a reputation for being a difficult horse at the mark, are two reasons why he may not have been favoured in the betting at New Brighton. His sire Author Dillon could both sprint and stay, and Big Author may be following in his footsteps.

The northern opposition for the Gore and Winton meetings is no stronger than usual. In the past home-trained horses have more than held their own with outsiders, which are usually regarded as the best in their class in Canterbury. Apparently Dundee did not race well enough at New Brighton to bring south for the Gore and Winton Cup races as at the recent Forbury meeting definite arrangements were made for the halfbrother to Lucky Jack to do his holiday racing in Southland. War King is an addition to P. Gordon’s Invercargill team. He is a five-year-old gelding by Erin’s King from Miss Adonis (a half-sister to Nelson’s Victory and Erin’s Fortune) and has yet to race. He is inclined to work rather greenly as yet.

Two additions to J. Walsh’s Gore team are Golden Miller and Aqua Bond, both being engaged at early meetings. Judging by her successes at the Southland and Wairio meetings Aqua Bond will play a big part among the improvers during the holidays. Golden Miller, a son of Jack Potts, raced badly at Forbury Park, and has yet to live up to the reputation he brought with him from Canterbury. It is a long time since Royal Guy has raced but he has been nominated for the sprint races at both Gore and Winton. He is now a member of J. Walsh’s team and the idea is held that after a long absence he will stand up to preparation. The success of Adioo Guy’s stock in recent seasons gives further support to the high opinion held of Royal Guy as a sprinter. Very few horses in Southland have shown as much early promise as the Gore pacer and it was extremely bad luck that he would not stand work. It is given out that Picotee has changed hands and will now face for the Invercargill owner, H. Booth. Picotee is a half-brother by Guy Parrish to Tritoma, Arabis and others, but has not always raced as well as expected on his work. With preseverance he may develop into a useful sprinter as he has plenty of ability. Dusky Sound, Donald Dhu and Dark Hazard were all good three-year-olds in Canterbury last season and their form over two miles will be followed with some interest. Dusky Sound contested the Invercargill Cup and was considered by a number to have been unlucky. The De Soto incident at New Brighton may be the subject of an appeal, but whatever the outcome an important question has been opened up, quite irrespective of whether the horse was run on its merits, says The Timaru Herald. Everybody knows that it had become a custom at New Brighton for horses to be given a workout in loose classes from impossible marks, with the object of tuning them up for more important races in their proper classes, and in the past no exception has been taken to this. Saturday’s incident will put an end to this, and there will be no further appearances of the cracks at New Brighton unless limits are tightened appreciably. Indianapolis was an acceptor for the race in which De Soto was involved in trouble, but did not start. Bing Crosby’s appearance at Gore and Winton will attract more than ordinary interest as the American horse has the ability to reach the best company in the land, although he is far from a finished racehorse as yet. On the opening day at Forbury he did not make a mistake and went on to win handsomely. On the second day, however, it was a very different story. From the back mark he refused to line up and his wayward behaviour must have caused some concern to his party. Finally he jumped round the wrong way when the signal was given and took no part in the race. It was not the first occasion that Bing Crosby had acted in such a manner and until he settles down little confidence can be placed in him. The opinion has been expressed in some quarters that the American horse is capable of anything. His sire Grattan at Law comes from the same sire line as Grattan Loyal, at present at the stud in Southland.