Weight on Top

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 672, 25 May 1929, Page 11

Weight on Top

Severe Saddle Test

TWO-MILE CONTEST

The Canterbury Park Trotting Club caters well for horses who prefer to race with the weight on top and while the customary mile saddle heat finds a place on the winter card there is also on the opening day a race for weight-car-riers, run over the trying distance of two miles.

For a considerable number of years the Canterbury Park Club has encouraged saddle merchants to engage in a contest where stamina is required as well as speed, and annually at the winter campaign the Lyttelton Handicap finds a place on the schedule. While such an event is a severe test for riders as well as horses, it nevertheless is a popular item with owners and the public, and provides one of the spectacular gems of the June card. .Each year the event fills well, and good fields contest this strenuous twomile bout, and during the last nine seasons some fine performances have been witnessed. Unfortunately at this period of the year the track is usually heavy, militating against fast times being registered, although some high-class essays have been recorded. However, three years ago, under favourable conditions, Winnie Dillon traversed the sixteen furlongs in 4.38 4-5, which is 4 2-5 seconds outside the record in this department ’created by the. Australian pacer Spot at Addington, with Peter Riddle on deck in the spring of 1914. Pointalena, a good soft of saddle horse, succeeded in winning this item twice, scoring in 1924 and again the following year. Prince Burlington secured the honour in 1923 and was preceded by Grand Denver, while that solid pacer Thixendale captured the stake in 1921 when he ran 4.46, and Guy Dillon was successful in 1920. In 1927 the grey gelding, Huon Denver, won from a 4.45 mark, occupying 4.54 for the journey in the heavy going. Last year the son of Denver Huon, handicapped on 4.40. won nicely from a good field, registering 4.38 4-5, thus equalling Winnie Dillon's fine record. Since then Huon Denver has made such progress that this year he figures on the front of the King George Handicap, a 4.31 mark. The Coming Contest

There is every prospect that a field of large dimensions will face the starter in next Saturday’s contest, and backers will have something to do to unravel the liandicapper's skein. On the front Denver’s Doll is a stayer, and may be the pick of this lot. although the” West Coasters, Robert Guy and Alpine Melody, are useful. The trotter. Koro Peter, if he kept on his feet, would be a tough proposition. Editor’s form at Oamaru suggests he will go the journey, and Golden Ore is one to be seriously considered. Ivor is a good saddle-horse, while Donard and Kreisler should prove a nuisance to the opposition. Anon is a promising filly and Apex has performed consistently this season. Black Wattle is a big possibility and Slump will not be neglected. Milo” Minto is a weight carrier, while the back-marker, Bing Boy, may emulate the achievement of the other grey, Huon Denver, last June. Editor Ivor, Kreisler and Apex are a. quartet that will make this event interesting if started. V