TROTTING

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 530, 6 December 1928, Page 10

TROTTING

(By -ABAYDOS.*) CLAUDELANDS CHANCES FUNCTION ON SATURDAY EPSOM PREPARATIONS MANGERE REPRESENTATIVES The tracks at Alexandra Park have been in capital order during the last few days, giving trainers who are making the trip to Hamilton this week-end and every chance to try our their charges. Nothing out of the ordinary, however, has been recorded, but the majority of local-trained candidates are ready for their respective engagements. Trustworthy has pleased the track watchers this week, and the Penroseowned filly is in fine shape; On Tuesday morning she ran a merry mile, leaving her companion, Betty Moko, well in the rear. The daughter of Worthy Bond revels in her unhoppled efforts, and provided she can see out the two-mile journey, will have something to say in the Hamilton Handicap on Saturday. A Real Sort Nothing has proved more attractive at Epsom than the three-year-old colt Rolfe Audubon, and he will count many friends from this end if started at Claudelands during the week-end. The handsome son of Great Audubon and Miss Rolfe is showing no ill-effects from his nasty spill of a couple of weeks back, and the other morning, with J. Shaw in the sulky, Rolfe ran nine furlongs in approved style. Eased In Her Work Halgana contracted a cold after her first day’s run at the Otahuhu fixture and W. Clifton has not been asking the mare any serious questions during the week. The Bingana representative is, however, well forward and slipped over a few furlongs recently in nice style. If she would reproduce her Mangere Handicap run at the Waikato fixture, Halgana would be a big possibility in the ten-furlong flutter. Prefers Large Track Lord Haldane elected on Tuesday morning to have a w r ork-out with Margaret Wallace, and they covered a mile and a-half at a fairly sound bat. Margaret was always going smoothly, but Lord Haldane tackled the bends gingerly, and appeared inclined to leave his feet. While he may put up a good tussle in the Franklin Handicap this week-end, Bob Saunders’s charge would be better suited by a larger race circuit. Good Looking Mare J. Nicholson has Koniniwood looking a picture, and the black mare, while doing her work in saddle, is infusing an appreciable amount of dash into her essays. There is a suspicion that the daughter of Wildwood Junior prefers this style of locomotion, but at the same time she can put up a creditable display when in harness. The mare claims two engagements at Claudelands on Saturday. What an old marvel is Wimmera King. Like his owner-trainer, Bob Millen, he appears to have the happy knack of retaining his punch, and they are a happy combination. The King Harold gelding celebrated his 24th birthday recently, and since then he has been showing real good form or» the track. Wimmera King is engaged at Claudelands, but until his owner can get his driver’s licence granted, it is doubtful if the King will be a starter. Not Solid Yet Mountain Bell was given a spin over several circuits unhoppled the other morning, but the Blue Mountain King filly gave a very mediocre display, leaving her feet on the least provocation, and refusing to revert to the right gait till a lot of ground had been covered. When going evenly the mare showed promise, but on recent essays it does not look as if the daughter of Whispering Bell intends to settle down to real business at present. Misfiring At the Start Nelson Billon’s recent racing seems to have agreed with him, and the little pacer is hitting out with freedom in his work. He lias been showing a disinclination to begin properly in his races this season, which is prejudicial to his prospects, and hard luck for painstaking owner-trainer C. G. Lee. The son of Nelson Bingen is a good pacer when under way, and when he leaves the mark smartly in a race will keep the opposition busy. Still In the Regiment Colonel Thorpe, in the same stable, is working better than ever, and new arrivals at the trysting grounds, unacquainted with the Colonel, are seen making‘a note of his track displays, which are decidedly good. As the Our Thorpe gelding is racing from the back mark at Hamilton he may take it into his head to do the right thing, in which case it would be hard on those who consider the race as good as won, and do not count on the Colonel as being in the regiment. Hard Row To Hoe The Abbey thrives on his work, and is certainly none the worse for his recent touring and racing. The Gold Bell gelding is a game, tough customer, and in a bout the other morning with The Shrew gave her no quarter at any part of the journey, and finished stronger at the end. Consistency has marked the career of the mystery horse this season, and over a distance he has not run a bad race. Ona tight mark now The Abbey does not appear to have any th* best of the argument at Hamilton off a 4.30 peg, taking a line through Laplander on 4.33. Mangere Trials The Otahuhu tracks, clay and grass, are in fairly good order and during the prsst couple of days there has been a fair amount of interesting work enacted by some of the Mangere candidates who are under orders for the Waikato meeting on Saturday. With the exception of one or two visiting horses, work has been on the dirt circuit. S. Groat’s team are all in good heart, and the string has been strengthened with the addition, temporarily, of that good performer Laplander, who, with Profiteer, will form the Mangere trainer’s representatives for Claudelands this week. Laplander has not taken kindly to his new location, and is not handling the Otahuhu circuit to the best advantage. But when he gets to Hamilton it may be a horse of another colour. Old Profiteer is hitting out with renewed vigour, and he may soon land a stake. On the Grass H. Ivinnimont took a trip to Otahuhu on Tuesday morning to give Great Way and Clirystal a run on the grass, and the pair acquitted themselves in good style. The three-year-old trotter went away from a stand, and except for one mistake, gave a fine display, the time being highly satisfactory. The pacer Chrystal pleased the few onlookers by the resolute manner in which he accomplished his task over 12 furlongs, and after being allowed to find his feet in the early ! stages came over the last mile at a splendid gait. The Royal Oak mentor j should soon break it fox- a win with [ this promising pair.