Logan Park’s Duel Win

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 591, 18 February 1929, Page 7

Logan Park’s Duel Win

TROTTING AT PETONE Auckland Trainers Score NAPLAND AND TIGER SALVE (Special to THE SVK) WELLINGTON, Saturday. THE final meeting of the season for the Wellington Trotting Club was held to-day in fine, but unpleasant weather. A heavy gale was blowing, raising clouds of dust which caused much inconvenience to the drivers. The totalisator handled £26,496. compared with £27,139 for the corresponding day last year.

An outstanding feature of the racing was the brilliant form displayed by Logan Park, who is partly owned by the president of the Wellington Club, Mr. R. A. Armstrong and trained by W. J. Tomkinson at Addington. Logan Park won the Champion Handicap in good style and, penalised 24 yards in the Palmer Handicap, got up to make a dead-heat of it with Black Admiral The Auckland square-gaiter Napland and Tiger Salve captured the trotting events, the former securing the Select Trotters’ Handicap and the latter the Armstrong Handicap. They returned useful dividends, but despite this their victories were well received. Outsider Scores Rafa was entrusted with a quarter of the total investments in the February Handicap, but he did not appear to be doing his work to the best advantage for the greater part of the journey, and was decisively beaten by Logan’s Pride at the finish. Nonsuit got away to a flying start, through breaking through the tapes, and was quickly followed by Rafa and Wild Goose The favourite’s supporters thought their cake was dough when Edward’s gelding broke crossing the top. He recovered in good time, however, and j passing the box was again at Nonsuit, I who retired shortly afterwards. Then I along came Logan’s Pride, and in the run home this son of Logan Pointer and Miss Havoc, staved off all chal-

lenges in an impressive fashion to win oy a length from Rafa, who was only half a length in front of the fastfinishing Zella, who ran a great race from the back mark. Gangway, a three-year-old filly by Peterwah—lvy Pointer, was fourth, but Ambleside and Danny Boy put out the wrong leg at the outset. Logan’s Pride was the best horse on the day, as he lost considerable ground at the commencement. Napland’s Fine Finie-h A disappointing field of five paraded for the select trotters’ handicap, in which Kempton was made a better favourite than Happy Rosa. The latter went away smartly at the start and Tiger Salve was next, the other three going amiss at the start. Happy Rosa and Tiger Salve continued at the head of affairs until the entrance to the straight, where Napland threatened to become a nuisance. On the outside, the aged son of Petereta and Dreamland made a fine run, and succeeded in downing Tiger Salve by half a length, with Happy Rosa a length away. Kempton looked to have a good show in the back stretch the last time, but when he switched his tail across the top he soon turned off. Sister Beatrice was a bad last and is evidently not at her best just now. Halmore Again Halmore, who paid an acceptable price at the last Wellington meeting, started ninth favourite when he beat J. Bryce’s fine three-year-old colt, Grandlight, in the Waiwetu Handicap. It was by no means a good race, as Halmore cleared out from the field, and soon opened up a gap that looked impossible to overcome. The driver’s tactics in the back/stretch the last time certainly made it appear as though Halmore had shot his bolt, but when Grandlight went round his field with an electric burst on the outside, and commenced to overhaul the leader, it soon became evident that Halmore was ready for the challenge and he hung on to win by two lengths, with six lengths separating Grandlight and Cora Tacks. Rose Marie, Nelson Dillon and Red Rey did the best of the others. Rafa’s Failure Rafa was backed as though a certainty for the Taita Novice Handicap, but. although he showed a torrent of speed, the grey son of Brent Locanda rendered it useless through pacing a very uncertain race breaking repeatedly on the journey. Nonsuit was again the smartest on the way, but it looked as though Ambleside had his measure inside the distance. Tho Author Dillon gelding ruined whatever chance he had of winning through leaving his feet under pressure. Even then Ambleside finished on fast, when he settled again, and was only a length behind Nonsuit at the box. Roger Lyon was third six lengths away, and then carne Golden Morn, Gang Awa and Meritor. Danny Boy paced very badly and again settled his chance through his old tricks at the start. Another for Auckland The Armstrong Handicap provided even speculation, five of the starters carrying over 1,000 tickets. Trampfast was favourite, followed by Elzear and Moneyspider in that order. Elzear soon put her position beyond doubt and at the same time put her supporters out of suspense through failing to go away right, and she was eventually ' pulled up. Tiger Salve soon opened up a useful break on Napland, who was leading Sister Beatrice, Trampfast and | Moneyspider. With six furlongs to go Trampfast commenced his characteristic run, and found little difficulty in

silencing all opposition, except Tiger j Salve. This Auckland-trained gelding was going great guns for C. G. Lee at the head of affairs, and when heads were turned for home, it was found that Trampfast was not making the necessary impression on him. Tiger Salve stayed on without turning a hair to beat Trampfast by half a length. Eight lengths separated Trampfast and Napland, and then came the tired Sister Beatrice. Trampfast, although beaten, was by no means disgraced and tho Wellington public will wait a long time before they see a better trotter at Hutt Park. A Great Finish Audacious was the only withdrawal from the Palmer Handicap, in which Jean McElwyn was a better favourite than Ahuriri. Black Admiral went away quickly and was soon well in front from Epigram and Jean McElwyn. Jackie Audubon broke after about a furlong had been covered, and never looked dangerous afterwards. Logan Park, who started off 60yds, put in a marvellous run at the far bend, and when the straight was entered, Tomkinson's charge was close behind M. B. Edwards. A spectacular finish ensued, and the judge said that both horses passed him in a line, although | it appeared from the Press stand as though the spoils should have rested with Edwards. It was an exceedingly close finish, however, and the deadheaters collided but not disastrously soon after the line was crossed. Logan Park proved himself a wonderful sprinter, while Ahuriri, who finished third, was responsible for a good effort. Favourite Wins Final The Halmore—Zella bracket justified the support in the Ah Revoir Handicap, the latter winning pulling up by about 12 lengths from Red Rey. A mix-up shortly after the start took a deal of interest out of the race, Halmore, Richore and particularly Star Lady being interfered with. Zella is owned by Mr. J. C. Leadbetter and trained at Hutt Park by J. V. Dyke and was driven by R. C. Alexander. Results: February Trial Handicap, of £200; class 3.40; 13. miles—S Logan’s Pride (J. F. Cotton), limit, L. E. Maidment, 1; 1 Rafa, limit, 2; 9 Zella, 72yds bhd, 3. Also started: 10 Grace Huon, 7 Nonsuit, 2 Ambleside, 2 Hardy Jack, 4 Gang Awa, 11 Wild Goose, limit; 6 El Direct, 12yds: 3 Shirley McKinney, 5 Danny Boy, ?4yds. Won by a length, with half a length between second and third. Gang Awa was fourth. Time, 3.34. Select Trotters’ Handicap, of £250; unhoppled trotters; class 3.29: 1J miles—--5 Napland (H. Kinnimont), 36yds, owner, 4 Tiger Salve, 48yds, 2; 2 Happy Rosa, 36yds, 3. Also started: 3 Sister Beatrice. 72yds; 1 Kempton, 84yds. Won by half a length, with one length between second and third. Kempton was fourth. Time, 3.35 2-5. CHAMPION HANDICAP Of £450; class 3.19; 1J miles I—LOGAN PARK (Armstrong and Johnston), 24yds, W. J. Tomkinson 1 6 JEAN McELWYN, 6yds, R. *B. Berry 2 7 LOGAN CHIEF, 30yds, F. Holmes 3 Also started: Ahuriri, 42yds; 4 Epigram, 6yds; 5 Jackie Audubon, 18vds; 3 Padlock, 24yds. Won by three-quarters of a length, with eight lengths between second and third. Ahuriri was fourth. Time, 3.25. Waiwetu Handicap,, of £200; class 3.32; 11 miles —9 Halmore T. C. Leadbetter), limit, J. V. Dyke, 1; 2 Grand Light, 36yds, 2; 6 Cora Tacks, 24yds, 3. Also started: 5 Loco, limit; 4 Nelson Dillon, 1 Rose Marie, 3 Red Rey, 12yds; 7 Star Lady, 10 Van Cap, 24yds; 8 Chimer, 36yds. Won by four lengths, with six lengths between second and third. Rose Marie was fourth. Time, 3.30. Taita Novice Handicap, of £200; class 3.2; 1$ miles—3 Nonsuit (F. Johston), limit, R. B. Berry, 1; 4 Ambleside, limit, 2; 2 Roger Lyon, 48yds, 3. Also started: 12 Grace Huon, 11 Brent Zolock, 9 Meritor, 5 Gang Awa, 1 Rafa, 13 Gild Goose, 14 Golden Morn, limit; 16 Shirley McKinney, 7 Danny Boy, 8 El Direct, 12yds; 10 Lady Jewel, 60yds. Won by a length, five lengths between second and third. Golden Morn was fourth. Time, 3.0. Armstrong Handicap, of £450; unhoppled trotters: class, 4.36; 2 miles—4 Tiger Salve (T. Richards), 12yds, C. G. Lee, 1; 1 Trampfast, 84yds, 2; 6 Napland, 24vds (inc. penalty), 3. Also started; 2 Elzear, 96yds; 5 Sister Beatrice, 48yds; 3 Money Spider, 96yds. Won by a length, seven lengths between second and third. Sister Beatrice was fourth. Time, 4.42 1-5. Palmer Handicap, of £300; class 2.40; 15 miles—3 Black Admiral (Grant and Winter), 12yds, M. B. Edwards, f; 4 Logan Park (Armstrong and Johnston), 60yds (inc. 24yds penalty), + ; 2 Ahuriri, 36yds, 3. tDead-heat. Also started: 1 Jean McElwyn, 5 Epigram, 24yds; 6

Jackie Audubon. 30yds. Dead-heat for first place. Ahuriri was eight lengths away.' Jean McElwyn was fourth. Times; Black Admiral, 2.48 1-5; Logan Park, 2.44 1-5. Au Revoir Handicap. of £250; class 4.46; 2 miles—l Zella (T. C. Leadbetter), limit, R. C. Alexander, 1; 3 Red Rev, 12yds, 2; 4 Nelson Dillon, 12yds. 3. Also started: 1 Halmore, 48yds, penalty, bracketed with the winner; 2 Richore, 12yds; 5 Star Lady. 36yds. Won easily. Richore was fourth. Time, 4.47 4-5.