OTAHUHU FIXTURE

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 274, 9 February 1928, Page 15

OTAHUHU FIXTURE

THE OTHER LEG CRACK-A-JACKS ENGAGED GREAT CONTEST ASSURED What is usually termed “the second leg” of the double at the Otahuhu summer fixture—Myers Hand icap—has drawn a fine field, which includes not only some of the best handicap horses of the Dominion, but also the top-notch speed merchants, which have made, and are still making, trotting history. The Myers Handicap, run over ten furlongs, is a classy event with a limit of 2.47|, equal to a 2.14 mile gait, and promises to furnish one of the most thrilling contests ever seen at Alexandra Park. With sluch champions as Native Chief. Great Bingen, Jewel

Pointer and Nelson Fame engaged, there is material for a great speed test, which will be further enhanced by the appearance of such improved pacers as Concliff, Logan Park, and Terence Dillon. But there are also other speed merchants figuring in the handicap, and Sea Pearl and Kohara, to say nothing of a few further out, will add interest . to this real speed test. Of the limit brigade, which includes Nelson Tasker, Padlock, Direct Morning, Lord Nepean, Landlord and Hue Coronado’ the former will probably appeal most to local supporters of the sport, and off the front the Henderson horse is goihg to be a big nuisance. But on this occasion he will have something to worry him all the way in Padlock, who has recently proved himself a real racehorSe. His finish when he won the Park Handicap on the final day of the Christmas carnival at Epsom, stamped him as a determined customer, and his effort in coming round a big field and winning in 3.21 (2.14 gait) has earned the Long-

burn-trained pacer a place among the good class horses. He will give the opposition, a headache if he starts in this heat. Black Lila has been racing as if she was not just good enough for the class, and from 12yds behind will find the job difficult. Lady Dunmore, however, is a possibility off the same mark, and at her last outing she finished well in ’second place over ten furlongs behind Nelson Fame. First Carbine if back to his form will trouble the lot, while All Bell is still solid and can be depended upon to make it merry. Sea Pearl and Kohara are nicely placed, and Terence Dillon is a brilliant pacer, who must always be kept in wit. Conclift now that he is right can scamper to some tune, and with Logan Park as a second string, W. J. Tomkinson has a good hand. Nelson Fame and Jewel Pointer will worthily uphold the prestige of the North in the fight for supremacy against the? Southern pair. Great Bingen and Na-

tive Chief, and while the latter, on his more recent track showing, is undoubtedly a wonder over short courses, the start at Epsom will be a flat-footed one ,and both he and Great Bingen may be hampered accordingly. What a wealth of speed is bottled up in the backmarkers, and when it is uncorked should be well worth witnessing. At present half a dozen possibilities appear to be Padlock, Lady Dunmore, Sea Pearl, Tomkinson bracket, Nelson Fame and Native Chief.

TROTTING FIXTURES Otahuhu T.C.—Feb. 18, 22. N.Z. Metropolitan T.C.—Feb. 11 Kaikoura T.C.—Feb. 25. Greymouth Jubilee—Feb. 25. Inangahua Jubilee—Feb. 27. Marlborough T.C.—March 2. Invercargill T.C.—March 2, 3. Waikato T.C.—March 3. Manawatu T.C.—March 7. Timaru T.C.—March 8, 10. Wyndham T.C.—March 14. New Brighton T.C.—March 15, 17. Thames T.C.—March 24. Wellington T.C.—March 24. Wanganui T.C.—March 29, 31. N.Z. Metropolitan T.C.—April 7, 11. Hawera T.C.—April 7, 9. Taranaki T.C.—April 14. Te Aroha T.C.—April 21. Ashburton T.C.—April 21. Wellington T.C.—April 2S. Forbury Park T.C.—May 3, 5. Cambridge T.C.—May 5. Oamaru T.C.—May 19. Canterbury Park T.C.—June 2, 4. Ashburton T.C.—June 9. Auckland T.C.—June 23, 27.