TROTTING

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 14, 7 April 1927, Page 6

TROTTING

No Champion With half the season gone Dillon’s Pride has competed in seven events. The Wanganui Cup candidate cannot lay claim to being a champion, although he has winning form, for in his last achievement on a fast track at Marlborough last month he took 2.23 3-5 to cover a mile, and will have to do better than that to pay his expenses in the event of being taken to Hawera. In the Wanganui Cup Great Actress, who figures in the Wanganui Cup, is a five-year-old daughter of Great Audubon and Nance O’Neil. It was at the Manawatu fixture that Great Actress registered her last victory, and she was then returned to Timaru, where she ran unplaced in a two mile event. The daughter of Great Audubon is nicely treated, being asked to go 4.47, and if a starter at the meeting should perform well. Nicely In Logan Park, who has been accorded an entry for the Hawera Cup, is one of W. Tomkinson’s team, being owned by the Wellington sportsman, Mr. R. A. Armstrong. At the Timaru fixture last month the son of Logan Pointer ran home an easy winner in 4.40 2-5. .A repetition of that form off a 4.41 mark in the two mile event at Hawera should make the others hurry. Karma’s Engagements So far this season Karma has started on two occasions and notched third money each time. Last season she faced the starter eight times, winning once, being second three times, and third once. As Karma is now a five-year-old she should be properly matured, and being by Nelson Bingen —Mahinga may be able to extend her winning record. Karma is booked to compete in the Wanganui Cup. Taking It Easy While the Mangere trainer, J. T. Paul, is away South with Great Peter the other members of his team are on the easy list. Paul is doubtful if he will ask anything further this season of the good trotter Waikaha, and he is to be subjected to a lengthy spell. On the Improve There is a youngster racing in the South called Sunspeck. Being by Sungod from Merce, by the imported Galindo from Authoress, by Wildwood, he has breeding enough to suggest that as a trotter he may do something of note. Has A Chance At the Marlborough meeting last month the Hawera trainer P. Green won the Trial Handicap with his pacer Lou Pronto, who was credited with stepping the mile and a-half in 3.41 3-5. In the Aurora Handicap at the Hawera fixture Lou Pronto is handicapped to do 3.43, and should have every chance to record another vicStill A Maiden Paradigm, who ran second to Mollie Park at Thames, has not had much racing; in fact, has only started twice in his career. He trotted a fair race to go under unluckily, perhaps, at Thames, and may be seen in a more favourable light next time out. The opposition he is to compete against

at Hawera is more formidable than he met at .Thames. At the former place he figures on 12yds. in the Matapu Handicap. Handicappers Differ Mr. Brinkman, in framing the handicaps for the Wilkin Handicap at the Metropolitan Easter gathering, has placed Kotuku Jack on 4.40 and Logan Park and Hoon Hay each on 4.38. For the Hawera Cup Mr. Paul is asking Logan Park to do 4.41 and Kotuku Jack and Hoon Hay 4.39, which means that Logan Park is asked to do three seconds slower, Hoon Hay one second slower, and Kotuku Jack one Second faster at Hawera than what they are set to do at the Metropolitan meeting. On those figures Logan Park’s connections should be the first of the Southerners to accept for Hawera. Something In Hand If anyone is picking a winner for the Wanganui meeting on previous times and performances he would sort out Ben Bingen in the Kirkwood Handicap as the one to invest on. At the Manawatu meeting this trotter ran second to Native Star, registering 3.44 for a mile and a-half. In the Kirkwood Handicap Ben Bingen is handicapped to do 3.51, and has seven seconds up his sleeve. Naturally most people will think the race for him is a foregone conclusion, but it remains to be seen whether he can reproduce that form again, for like others well treated in the handicaps he ■ is liable to fail, despite the pull in times he has. A Likely Southerner The four-year-old pacer Marshal Neil is one likely to be seen in the firing line again before the season closes. His winning effort at the Auckland summer fixture, when he defeated Nimble Direct and Buz Buz in the Telegraph Handicap, ticking off 4.37 for the two miles, is one worthy of mention. Marshal Neil is likely to be seen at Hawera, and in the Cup is asked to do 4.37. When Buz Buz ran third to him she was in receipt of 24yds., and since then the mare has accounted for the Northland Cup, and now meets Marshal Neil on 12yds. worse terms. Her "chances alongside those of Marshal Neil do not read well. Well Looked After When Machine Gun raced in Auckland he proved he was above the everyday sort and it was only through striking trouble that he did not earn more money. He won the Timaru Cup in good style, going 4.31 3-5 off a 4.33 mark. Just to prove how that performance impressed Mr. Brinkman it may be stated that in the Empress Handicap at the forthcoming Metropolitan Easter gathering Machine Gun is handicapped to do 4.30. Mr. Brinkman has earned the reputation of

being a handicapper who does not believe in extending leniency to any winner, and the instance quoted amply bears that out. Still it appears as if Machine Gun is a little harshly treated and it would not be surprising to see that pacer declining his engagement. For Taranaki and Wanganui. The Wellsford trainer, G. Williams, left at the beginning of the week with Gold Dial, Bell Dial. Nellie Bramley, and Ngatira. W. Clifton, with Halgana, Uncle Bert, and Royal Arcads. and A. Hill, with Lady Ena, went by boat on Tuesday to be on liand for the Wanganui and Hawera meatinga One To Remember Included among the big list of nominations for Hawera is the throe-yeax-old pacing filly Meb. For one of hex age she has given a taste of quality and with time and experience may develop into one of our best pacers. Meb began her career last season as a two-year-old and in three starts failed to gain a situation . A better beginning was made this season, for the filly in her first cuting ran a creditable second, to follow this up with a victory In her next attempt, accounting for the Little River Handicap and covering the mile and a-half in 3.37. In her next, eight starts Meb accounted for two more races, her latest success being in the Belfast Handicap at the New Brighton meeting, where she improved considerably on her time, stepping the mile and a-half in 3.27, and winning comfortably by four lengths. Second place in the Waiwhetu Handicap at Wellington also was one of her performances and in that event she was timed to go 3.30 1-5, her fastest performance to date. Meb was got by The King’s General from Pastime, and is trained by her owner in the South. As the pacer claims engagement at the Metropolitan meeting she may not be seen out at Hawera. COMING EVENTS April 9, 11—Wanganui Trotting Club. April 16, 18—N.Z. Metropolitan Trotting Club April 16, 18—Hawera Trotting Club. May 7—Cambridge Trotting Club. June 18, 22—Auckland Trotting Club.