Claudelands Speedway

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 533, 10 December 1928, Page 11

Claudelands Speedway

FAST TROTTING ON SATURDAY Keen Contests with Thrilling Finishes rE fast times recorded on Saturday proved that the Claudelands trotting circuit was in great order, while the spectacular racing, with exciting finishes, in which head or neck victories and a dead heat were special features, demonstrated that handicapper C. E. Gooseman had brought the fields well together.

The Waikato Club was favoured with beautiful weather on Saturday for the summer carnival of one day’s duration, which proved a most enjoyable, „nd. from a racing point of view, successful function. While the attendance was fairly good, it was not up to the usual Claudelands standard, and no doubt the racing fixture at Taumorunui enticed many to visit the latter place, who would have been at Hamilton if a clash had been avoided. In consequence there was a decrease in the totalisator figures of £6,011 10s, the sum of £22,253 being handled with accuracy and precision by the machine staff, against £28,264 10s for the 1027 December fixture. The management of the meeting left nothing to be desired, and every official deserves praise for the efficient and harmonious working of the whole business. President H. W. Burch was here, there and everywhere extending hospitality to the numerous visitors in a manner that caused nothing but favourable comment. The work of the stater, J. Williamson, was tip to the usual high standard that has placed him on the plane of equality with the best known of New Zealand dispatchers, while the judge, Mr. K. V. Sutherland, despite the arduous nature of his tasks through ihe close finishes, was as prompt as ever with the decisions. In the capacity of secretary, Mr. T. G. Reynolds proved a tower of strength, and the club is indeed fortunate in securing the services of *uch a capable, courteous and indefatigable official. Stewards Alert Messrs. R. T. Reid and A. K. Commons, stipendiary stewards, were in attendance keeping a close supervision of the various details. In two instances, when Cervine won the Introductory Trot and Peter McKinney finished second in the Hamilton Trot, an inquiry was held in connection with their galloping almost at the post, but it was the opinion of the judicial committee that both A. J. Corrigan and W. T. Turner had used their best endeavours to bring the trotters to the correct gait, and no action was taken. At the finish of the Hamilton Handicap it was noticed that Anseline was badly interfered with, Joe Gee’s mare almost coming to grief, and an inquiry elicited the fact that the mishap was caused by Mutu, driven by A. W. Brought on, and after heaving evidence the committee entered a fine of £5 against him. A, J. Julian was the only trainer to lead in more than one winner, his successes being obtained with the two smart youngsters. Medusa and Rolfe Audubon, the progeny of Miss Rolfe, by Man O’ War and Great Audubon respectively. J. S. Shaw drove the pair, and with the brace of victories was the mo*t successful reinsman. Good Thing Beaten Great Way £402, favourite for the opening event, was a good thing beaten, his galloping propensities bringing about his defeat. Akanehi £339, Cervine £325 and Don Zoiock £lsl headed the other quotations. Tho favourite broke badly at the start, losing about 100 yaxds. and Red Dennis and Carwood also were slow to strike a gait. The early leaders were Wild

Downs, Akanehi and Cervine, but as soon as he had settled down Carwood lost no time in setting- to the front to lead past the stands from Cervine, Don Zoloch, Red Dennis, Wild Downs, Akanehi, and Great Way. Down the back, Carwood. Cervine. Don Zoloch, Wild Downs and Great Way was the order, and this quintet was a long way ahead of the remainder. Carwood had a lead of a couple of lengths over Cervine at the “turn for home, with Don Zolock a similar distance back, just in front of Great Way. The latter made a big effort in the straight, only to break badly 100 yards from home. In a good finish Cervine defeated Don Zolock by a short neck, while Carwood was but half a length away third, and Great Way and Wild Downs close up, with the others nowhere. Rolfe Audubon Improves Best backed in the second event were Rolfe Audubon £523, Nella Dillon £2Bl, Vanity Boy £240 and Richore £204, Regret carrying only £9S. The favourite was slow away, and Richore lost a lot of ground. Regret went to the front at the start and led past the stands from Nella Dillon. Profiteer. Vanity Boy. Rolfe Audubon and Dealer. Going down the back Regret was clear of Nella Dillon and Vanity Boy, who were together. Profiteer, Rolf© Audubon and Dealer, and approaching the homo turn the favourite moved up into third place behind Regret and Vanity Boy, with Nella Dillon and Dealer following- Finishing strongly Rolfe Audubon collared Regret half-way up the running and beat her by three-quarters of a length. Vanity Boy was also going strongly at the judge, half a length behind Regret, and then heading the remainder were Lord Haldane. Dealer. Nella Dillon and Bonanza. The colt registered a fine Performance to win after being slow off the mark. A Close Finish There was big money for Medusa £SBO and Bxplosion £BO3, and there was a drop to £354 to the third

choice, Andover. And what was more, 1 they finished in the order in which I they were backed. Moko Chief turned { the wrong way at the start, and they j had gope only a little way when Nelson Dillon got up and interfered with Cornelian. When they had settled down Lady Barrington had assumed command, to lead past the stands from Dad’s Hope, Medusa, Alice Axworthy and Explosion. The order was little changed during the circuit, and the second time past the stands Lady Barrington, Medusa, Dad’s Hope, Explosion and Andover were in that order. So they raced along the back, where Medusa took charge and turned for home in front of Lady Barrington, Explosion and Andover. Once straightened up Explosion challenged Medusa, but the favourite managed to hang on to win by a head. Andover was three lengths away, and Lady Barrington fourth. Moko Chief and Dad’s Hope were next, but a long way back. Gold Sovereign Stays On The Hamilton Handicap usaw the downfall of a hot favourite in who carried £9ll. Gold Sovereign £457 and Mutu £292 were both at good prices. Sebisca, Gold Sovereign arid Anseline went away smartly, and they led past the stands from Floraline. Mutu, Peter McKinney and Raima, the favourite being a long way back. Up the straight the second time Gold Sovereign had taken charge from Sebisca, Anseline, Mutu, Floraline and Raima, and along the back the favourite made an effort and was lying second, three lengths behind Gold Sovereign at the home turn, with Mutu, Anseline, Sebisca, Floraline and Peter McKinney following. The favourite stopped badly in the straight, and Gold Sovereign went on to score comfortably by two lengths from the little-fancied Peter McKinney, with Sebisca half a length back in third place. Mutu was fourth and Floraline, Anseline and Raima next to cross the line. Before the field had gone a furlong Tradesman created a sensation by jumping the inside rails, and the horse and sulkly landed on the inside track. Thrilling Finish Uncle Bert staged a remarkable comeback in the sprint, in which he dead-heated with Anselm in a great finish and paid a dividend of nearly a score. Bingen King £ 530, Master Huia £424, Hal Chimes £395 and Anselm £206 carried most support, while only £64 was invested on Uncle Bert. Cornelian tangled at the start, Bingen King, Nelson McCormack, Pitaroa, Uncle Bert, Hal Chimes, Lord Nepean, Gold Dial and Anseline was the order soon after the start, and the favourite still held command going along the back, the only alteration there being that Gold Dial improved her position and Hal Chimes broke badly and nearly came down. Bingen King. Pitaroa, Gold Dial, Uncle Bert and Anselm was the order as they commenced to cross the top and Into the straight, too, where, however, Pitaroa had retired. A rare tussle ensued up the straight. Uncle Bert, Anselm and Gold Dial going over the line together. the first pair dead -heating with their heads in front of Gold Dial. Binsrpn King was fourth. and Pitaroa, Stanmoor. Master Huia and Lord Nepean next. Unlucky Favourite Trustworthy, who was backed as unbeatable in the Presidents Handjcap an event for unhoppled compet.tors, was decidedly unlucky. Dunns the preliminaries the three-year-old tillv collided with a trestle, dislodging driver Gilchrist, and careering at a hard gallop round the cour *®; Trainer J. Shaw promptly mounted tho clerk of the course’s horse and as Trustworthy dashed past the stands effected a clever “hold-up, which gained him rounds of well-merited applause. Before the tapes were released Trustworthy again made a dash on her own, but at the end of a furlong Gilchrist had her in check. Eventually the Ally went away at a gallop and had to be practically pulled up before she would strike a gait, and when the stand was reached she was fully 80yds behind the leading pair. Bell Dial and Lackiewood. At the end of a mile Trustworthy was close up to Bell Dial and Lackiewood, with Wild Nut, ten lengths away, doing best of tho remainder. At the three-furlong disk Bell Dial lost her position and Trustworthy and Lackiewood made for home together under a hard drive. They were fighting out a bitter duel, when Beil Dial, having had a breather, made a final dab to get home by a little over a length from Lackiewood, who defeated the unlucky Trustworthy by half a head. Wild Nut was fourth, with Gold Star and Bingen Starr next to arrive. The favourite carried .11010, while the winner, who was next choice with £2Bl, paid a splendid dividend. Hal Chimes Third Up

Nine in the Visitors* Handicap still allowed 18 to go to the post, the defaulters including Medusa, whose earlier victory over two miles was the reason of the mare’s withdrawal. On the strength of his splendid effort, when he ran Medusa to a head in the Claudelands Handicap, the Hawera-trained Explosion was made a big order for the Visitors’ Handicap, which brought a good day’s sport to a termination. Halgana. making her first appearance, was next choice, and then Marionette and Nella Dillon claimed most attention from backers of the remainder. Hal Chimes, who had started in the two previous events, President’s Handicap (unhoppled) and Stewards mile dash, in both of which he ranked as third favourite, was harnessed up again, but this time nine other runners were supported in preference to the Ngaruawahia-owned gelding. Anselm, penalised 12 yards for his dead-heat in the mile, was also at a fairly long price. Lady Somerset and Enawah did not go off at the signal, Lord Lu, Nella Dillon and Mountain Dell commencing quickly, and this trio led in the early stages, Nella Dillon supplanting Lord Lu as they raced past the stands, where the favourite, who hopped away all right, but broke up badly in the straight, was pulled up. Along the back Nella Dillon, Halgana, Mountain Dell, Profiteer, Hal Chimes and Nelson Dillon were all in the picture, and making for the home turn Hal Chimes and Nelson Dillon dashed to the lead, and once straightened up for the wire a keen struggle ensued. Hal Chimes had too much pace for Nelson Dillon, who looked a certainty for second till Anselm came with a rattle to cut C. G.

Lee’s pacer out by half a head at the post. Nella Dillon, Lord Lu and Halgana were the next to cross the line. The winner, cleverly handled by A. W. Broughton, paid a figure in excess of a quarter of a century. Results are as follow: — INTRODUCTORY' HANDICAP Of £120; 11 miles. 3 CERVINE (J. R. Corrigan), b g, by Audubon Boy—Roeder, 6yrs, limit, A_ J. Corrigan 1 4 DON ZOLOCK, 60yds, G. Paton .. 2 5 GARWOOD, limit, W. T. Turner . 3 Also: 1 Great Way. 9 Carbely, 12 Bella Diamond, 7 Black Magic, 11 Mokopuna. 10 Wild Downs, 2 Akanehi, 6 Red Dennis, and 8 Colonel Thorpe. Won by a short neck, third horse half a length away. Times: 3.46 3-5, 3.41 1-5, 3.47. Winner trained by J. Bullock. Hawera. FRANKTON HANDICAP Of £160: li miles 1 ROLFE AUDUBON (Montgomery and Julian), ch c, by Great Audubon—Miss Rolfe, Syrs, 12yds, J. Shaw 1 S—REGRET, limit, J. G. Browne .. 2 3—VANITY BOY’. limit, R. A. McMillan .. 4 3 Also: 15 Bonanza, 5 Gold Treasure, 7 Chrystal, 10 Profiteer, 14 Moko Chief, 13 Mountain Dell, 17 Roylette, 2 Nella Dillon, 20 Oliver Thorpe, 12 Zealous, 9 Singlemint, IS Red Raven, 15 Koniniwood, 4 Richore, 11 Lord Haldane, 19 Ursuline, 6 Dealer. Won by three-parts of a length; half a length between second and tnird. Times, 3.29 2-5, 3.31, 3.31 1-5. MARK MEMORIAL CUP Of £SOO and gold cup; 2 miles. 1-THE SHREW (J. H. Lloyd), ch m, by Hal Zolock —Ngaraima, aged, 36yds bhd, W. Head 1 5 XELSOX TASKER, limit, F. Gilchrist 2 7—LADY DUNMORE, 24yds, A. E. Adams 3 Also: S Dick Dillon, 10 Stanmoor, 12 Uncle Bert, 2 Daytime, 4 Gold Dial, 11 All Bell, 9 Florent, 3 Laplander, and 6 The Abbey. Won by a neck, third horse two and a-half lengths away. Times: 4.29 1-5, 4.32 2-5, 4.32. Winner trained by W. Head. CLAUDELANDS HANDICAP Of £150; 2 miles 1— MEDUSA (Montgomery and Julian) b ra by Man o’ War —Miss Rolfe, 4yrs, limit, J. Shaw 1 2 EXPLOSION, limit. A. J. Corrigan 2 3 ANDOVER, limit 3 Also started: 10 Alice Axworthy. 9 Warspile, 5 Nelson Dillon, 8 Moko Chief, 7 Lady Barrington, 4 Dad’s Hope, and 6 Cornelian. Won by a head, three lengths separating second and third. Times, 4.36 4-5, 4.37, 4.38 4-5. Winner trained by A. J. Julian. HAMILTON HANDICAP Of £250; 2 miles. 2 —GOLD SOVEREIGN (R. Peacock), br g, by Gold Bell—Black Queen, aged, limit, T. Roe 1 7—PETER McKINNEY, 4Syds, W. T. Turner 2 S—SEBISCA, limit, G. T. Mitchell .. 3 Also: 4 Anseline, 6 Floraline, 1 Raima, 3 Mutu, 9 Tradesman, 8 Rose Bingen. Won by two lengths, half a length separating second and third. Times: 4.44 3-5, 4.44 1-5, 4.45 2-5. Winner trained by T. Roe. STEWARDS' HANDICAP Of £250; 1 mile 11—UNCLE BERT (J. Lynch), b g, by Gold Bell—Merry Kate, aged, 12yds, W. Clifton * 4 AMiELM (Theo. Allen), b g, by Nut Anselm (dam unknown), aged, 24yds, T. Allen * 5 GOLD DIAL, 24yds, G. Williams 3 •Dead-heat for first. Alsor 7 Pitaroa, 12 Nelson McCormack, 1 Bingen King. 10 Cornelian, 2 Master Huia, 3 Hal Chimes, S Lord Nepean, 6 Joy bird, and 9 Stanmoor. The third horse was only a length behind the deadheaters. Times: Uncle Bert, 2.14 3-5; Anselm, 2.13 3-5; Gold Dial, 2.13 4-5. Uncle Bert trained by W. Clifton and Anselm by T. Allen. PRESIDENT'S HANDICAP Of £170; 2 miles 2 BELL DIAL (G. A. Williams), br m, by Gold Bell —Sundial, limit, G. Williams f 6 LACKIEWOOD. 24vds. D. Thomas 2 I—TRUSTWORTHY, limit, F. GilChrist 3 Also: 14 Hohoro, 11 Roma Bingen, 15 Colonel Thoi-pe, 8 Bingen Star, 9- Gold Star, 5 Regret. 13 YVild Nut, 7 Sebisca, 4 Anseline 10 Floraline, 3 Hal Chimes. 13 Peter McKinney. Won by a length and a-hnlf: third horse half a head away. Times: 4.46 2-5,. 4.45, 4.17 l-o. Winner trained by owner. VISITORS' HANDICAP Of £200; limit 2.s7J;ffi lk miles. 10 —HAL CHIMES, Wheler and Booth’s b g, aged, by. Hal Zolock — Twinkle Chimes, 60yds bhd (A. Broughton) 1 7—ANSELM (Theo. Allen’s), 0 g, aged, S4yds (inc. 12yds pen.), owner 2 6 NELSON DILLON (C. G. Lee), b g, syis, 24yds, owner 3 Also: 16 Don Juan, S Lord Lu, 9 Haerenga Pai, 17 Chrystal, 11 Profiteer, 12 Mountain Dell, 4 Nella Dillon, 15 Ursuline, 18 Oliver Thorpe, 2 Halgana, 14 Lady Somerset, limit; 1 Explosion, 5 Enawah, 3 Marionette, 12yds; 13 Bingen King, 60. Winner trained by A. Broughton, Hamilton. Won by a length and a-quarter, with half a head between second and third. Times, 2.49 1-5, 2.47 4-5, 2.53. ANSWER TO CORRSEPONDENT “Stop-watch.”—"Abaydos” never has adopted the system of publishing times recorded by horses in their exercise trials, and does not believe in the policy, which cannot fail to have a prejudicial effect on handicaps. Trotting is entirely different in this respect from galloping, as handicaps for the former sport are based on times, and while a handicapper may not take any notice of times recorded in work, the fact that they are continually placed before him publicly might easily lead to a horse getting somewhat the worst of an argument. Again, in work, the times vary so much according to the nature of the exercise, they do not form an altogether reliable basis for backers to operate on, the best guide, after all, being form, where, of < course, it is consistent.