UNDER A CLOUD

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 690, 15 June 1929, Page 11

UNDER A CLOUD

jJIRECT ACTION has been out of action during the past week, and the heavy bandages encasing his pins suggests that Trainee Fred Gilchrist is experiencing some difficulty in keeping the game square-gaiter on all fours for the fixture. This is a slice of misfortune for Owner Docherty, as the Don Pronto gelding appeared to have taken a fresh lease of life, and on his Te Aroha display he would have proved a nuisance to the opposiI tion in the Winter Handicap.

light harness sport that Cardinal Logan is not a two-miler, but past records show that A. Hendricksen’s charge can see out this distance with the best of them. Two years ago at Epsom the Logan Pointer beat all but Terence Dillon in the big race, while in the New Zealand Cup of 1927 Avon by Kohara, the Cardinal came from nowhere over the final stages to finish second. During the past three months he has filled the role of runner-up in a 16 and 10-furlong event, so the big fellow must be labelled dangerous next time he steps out over the longer journey. If Right—What Oh Last season Padlock was in the boom and over any distance he proved himself a quality horse. The preparation for the last New Zealand Cup appeared to get to the bottom of the Hal Zolock gelding, and he has not since produced the striking form that justly earned him a reputation of being in the first flight of Dominion handicap horses. If Bill Hughes has worked the oracle since Christinas Padlock would make the more fancied candidates for the big events at Epsom feel sick. After his wonderful trot last season, Gold Jacket cannot complain about his treatment in the two-mile heat at Alexandra Park, in which he has been placed on 4.25, which suggests that he will be near the front of the 1929 New Zealand Cup. The Gold Bell gelding is a real cup horse, as his opponents will be doubly assured of if he competes in the great event at Addington. In the meantime L. McMahon’s charge will keep all hands busy over sprint courses. Tightening the Cord Good horse that he is up to ten furlongs, Logan Chief has demonstrated during the last twelve months that lie cannot go the solid pace set by the present two-milers. In his last essay over this journey Free Holmes’s pacer was well beaten off a 4.29 peg, but the Auckland handicapper evidently thinks that the speedy Logan Pointer gelding is as good as ever at the longer distance, as he placed him on 4.2 S in the Prince of Wales’ Handicap. Consistency Counts For consistency this season Harvest Child would be hard to beat, and in races over all distances from eight to sixteen furlongs the Sonoma-Harves-ter gelding has seldom been out of a place. A plain-looking customer, the public does not appear to fully realise the value of C. E. Lindsay’s pacer, but when he led a field of sprinters

home recently at Forbury Park. Harvest Child went an attractive mile. Off the front of the 2.13 Cornwall Handicap, the Southerner will be decidedly difficult to dispose of. Does She Retain her Dash Time was when Bessie Logan was ! one of the c>isisest pacers in New Zeu-r land, but latterly The daughter of Logan j Pointer has not shown anything approaching her best form. But if Ces Donald gets the speedy mare to effect j j a come-back she will make things very j j uncomfortable for her rivals over a 1 ' sprint course, and there is no reason j why Bessie should not again be i clothed in her best regalia. Showing Good Signals Daphne de Oro was a great three- . year-old, and probably on the female i ’ side the best performer seen out in j this country. The daughter of Rey de j Oro opened her four-year-old session i auspiciously by acting as runner-up at j Addington in August to that great square-gaiter Peterwah. and registering time which qualified her for the New Zealand Cup. Her spring exertoins proved too much for the young mare, and she has not been in the pic- 1 1 ture since, although in her last few ! ; outings Daphne has given signs of ; striking her true form again May Come Right Explosion has been one of the greatest trotting disappointments of modern | times, but despite many failures the | big striding chestnut appears to be ; _ r - r . - -

' doing better since linking up with “Tartar” Julian. A little over twelve months ago the Nelson Bingen gelding was displaying rare speed for J. Shaw, but he failed to reproduce it in his - races and eventually found his way 1 back to Jim Bullock’s collection. His 3 second at Claudelands in December 2 raised the hopes of Explosion’s friends. y but even that form has not since been r exhibited. He may come right howt ever any day now.. Likes a Solid Footing r Evelyn Locanda has been very i much in the limelight since her successful mission to Hawera at Easter, and J. Bryce has succeeded in getting the Brent Lot canda mare to go solid. On top of ■) the ground Mr. Cucksey’s represen--3 tative is more than useful, but her past records show that when the i footing is thick or sticky the e pacing mare is not quite at home. & With favourable conditions Evelyn Locanda would be a big s Adams Memorial Cup possibility.