TROTTING ITEMS

Southland Times, Issue 23390, 23 December 1937, Page 10

TROTTING ITEMS

DRAW FOR GORE CUP

ACE POT WILL HAVE TO BE CONSIDERED

Lady Ita is now being trained by A. Smyth at Mataura. A Gore book is acknowledged from the secretary with thanks. Ingle Chenault is a half-sister to Ann Parrish, who won a number of races for R. Townley. Lawn Derby’s best time over two miles is 4min 28sec. He is assessed on 4min 22sec.

Great Chenault holds the Gore Cup record of 4min 32 2-ssec. The winning record in the Winton Cup is 4min 30see, which stands to the credit of Double Great, who won 12 months ago. On the strength of his Reefton success, Ace Pot cannot be ignored in his engagements at Gore and Winton. He won over a mile and a-quarter in 2min 45 4-ssec, which would be considered good time for this company at Addington, let alone Reefton. Seaward de Oro is now trained by G. Stevenson, Moa Flat. Until this season the Rey de Oro mare has raced from J. Walsh’s stable and while she has shown great speed in her races, she has not been an easy mare to handle. A sound race is credited to Refund at the matinee meeting at Addington on Saturday and he is expected to show up in the Champion Stakes. Lawn Derby is described as a fine type of horse by Robert Derby '(a son of Globe Derby) from Roselawn, by Childe Wood (a Ribbonwood horse) from War Van, a mare by Rob Roy. O’Shea, who is in charge of Lawn Derby, drove him to victory in the 1934 Sydney Derby, and he also won the 1928 Melbourne Derby with his sire, Robert Derby.

The following brackets appear in the Gore bookCroydon Handicap and Mataura Handicap,—lngle Chenault and Native Kowhai. Gore Cup.—Erin’s Chief and Mokochild, Civic and Donald Dhu. E. A. Pigeon Memorial Handicap. —Rollalong and Irish Aggie, Grand Meteor and Royal Guy. President’s Handicap.—Master Garry and Master Potts. Final Handicap.—Royal Guy and Tritoma, Civic and Donald Dhu. The draws for starting positions in the principal races at Gore on Boxing Day are as follows.—Gore Cup. Limit horses.—Erin’s Chief (1), Embark (2), Civic (3), Night Voyage (4), Bing Crosby (5), Frisco Silk (6), Loyal Sun (7), Norma Grattan (8), Dark Hazard (9), Mokochild (10). Horses on 12 yards.—Ace Pot (1), Roan Duke (2). Horses on 24 yards.—Coherto (1), Donald Dhu (2), Silver Laddie (3), Vologda (4), Monty Chimes (5). Horses on 36 yards.—Blue Spark (1), Harold Guy (2). Final Handicap. Limit horses.— Royal Guy (1), Lindrum (2), Master Potts (3), Rollalong (4), Seaward de Oro (5), Prince Charles (6), Walter Gay (7), Tritoma (8), Labour Chimes (9), Royal Crescent (10), War Betty (11). Horses on 12 yards.—Dark Hazard (1), Carver Doone (2), Night Voyage (3), Civic (4), Bing Crosby (5). Horses on 36 yards.—Donald Dhu (1), Vologda (2). After ample time for mature and serious deliberation, involving a serious penalty, the stewards of the New Brighton Club have confirmed the original decision to disqualify De Soto and his connections for three months. It has been stated that the term of disqualification is too brief for such a very serious transgression, but even the brevity carries a "big financial consideration, states The Otago Daily Times. It is not, however, the financial aspect or the stigma of the disqualification that calls for serious consideration. It is the fact that a driver under the eyes of two stipendiary stewards and several honorary stewards could handle a horse in such a manner as to incur the displeasure of those in control of the running. Did the driver consider that his questionable tactics would escape official notice, and If so, why?

An addition to G. Mouritz’s team Is Moana Tama, a Sapling Stakes winner, who has proved a disappointment. As a two-year-old he was an honest performer, leading up to his classic win, and his form was of a standard to warrant a bright future for him. However, his subsequent efforts have fallen a long way below expectations, and although he managed to win a minor race last season as a five-year-old, he shares the unenviable distinction, with Sonoma Child, of being the only Sapling Stakes winner to fail to go on to good company. Before the recent New Brighton meeting he beat De Soto over two miles in his work, but his performance at the races was poor.

Violet Potts, who is engaged at coming meetings, is a member of the same stable as Master Garry, Master Potts, Parrish Chimes and Silver Laddie. Violet Potts is bred on lines which command attention at the present time, as she is a half-sister to Plutus and Avernus, both outstanding winners. She is by Jack Potts from Fanny Logan, a Logan Pointer mare who has to be included in the non-standard category, but who gained admittance to the Stud Book by having produced at least one 2.10 winner.

In some quarters Roan Duke’s Gore Cup prospects are being highly rated, but so far the Wellington Direct pacer has not impressed as one likely to see out two miles to advantage. It may be a different story on the day but both races he won last season were over sprint distances.

At Addington on Tuesday, Golden Eagle, who is engaged at Ashburton, trotted a mile and a-half in 3min 39sec, just a nice work-out for a mare of her class. Aide de Camp, who is one of the favourites for the Ashburton Cup, did two miles in 4min 38sec, and Southern Chief, not yet in the best class races, did the same journey in 4min 37sec. A mile by Repeal in 2min 14sec drew attention to his prospects in the near future, and other work accomplished was as follows:—Esther, a mile in 2min 20sec; Cloudy Range, two miles in 4min 31sec, the last mile in 2min 15sec; and Evicus, Colonel Bogey, and Harlequin a mile and a half in 3min 25 4-ssec.

Quality is the feature of the Cup field, and the race should be a splendid one, states an Auckland writer in discussing the Auckland Cup. F. J. Smith has a strong hand with King’s Warrior, last year’s winner, and the brilliant Bonny Azure. The latter took the lap prizes in the New Zealand Cup, and will be improved by the racing. King’s Warrior struck trouble at Addington when going well, and if the fall has not left any ill-effects, he will go close to scoring his second success in the race. Willow Wave’s chance depends on his behaviour at the start, but if he goes away right he will make things interesting for all concerned, as he is a genuine stayer. Speedy Boy is giving away a little to be in the race, but may still be good enough for the contest. Tempest has never shown better form, and his third in the New Zealand Cup and his win in the Ollivier Handicap point to his prospects. He will be bracketed with the mighty Indianapolis, who, although he has not shown his best on the right-handed track, won the race in 1933. The combination will not be neglected. Lucky

Jack, winner of the big race at Addington, will again be very hard to beat. He is a young horse susceptible to improvement with racing, and he may be favourite. Lawn Derby has been set a hard task for a horse who has no two miles winning form, but he may be equal to it, as he is brilliant at shorter journeys. Roi I’Or, holder of two Epsom records, completes a great field and may repeat his 1934 form. The favoured are: Lucky Jack, King’s Warrior and Lawn Derby. ,