TROTTING

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 759, 4 September 1929, Page 13

TROTTING

By

ABAYDOS

EPSOM REFLECTIONS AMONG THE STRAIGHTOUT TROTTERS HOW SEVERAL SHAPED Included in the square-gaited fields at Epsom, last Saturday, were several runners, who did not get close enough at the finish to return their backers a price. However they shaped sufficiently well to give the impression they will prove capable of doing so before the season is much further advanced. There were others again, who were undoubtedly not quite tuned up for the occasion anti would benefit by the racing. Many had been given a holiday at the conclusion of last season, and with the promotion of the early fixture at Auckland, were taken up .again at short notice. They may tlo better later on, particularly on the country circuit. On the Down Grade Old ago is evidently playing its part with Sweet Memory, and while the grey daughter of Sweet Patch held out hopes to her backers of a prospective second dividend for a time, she cracked up when Peterson carried her along crossing the top and Sam Roe had to keep the mare busy right to the box to capture the twenty sovereigns attached to third berth. Her days of usefulness look to be a thing of the past. SH’owing Promise Te Ngutu went a fairly good race in the Karamea. Handicap and over the early stages the Imperial Child mare was showing the way to the opposition in great style. The Hamiltontrained trotter hung on to Rangitero for a short period, when the pressure found her out up she went in the air and her chances of returning backers

a dividend were nullified. She finished just behind the third place getter. However, K. McHarrie need not be disheartened as his mare should do better on the country circuit. Difficult To Train There was solid support for Paradigm in the twelve furlong trotters’ handicap on Saturday, but while the son of Childe Audubon stepped along handily for a mile, his effort was nothing to caxise his admirers any enthusiasm. Paradigm was making his first appearance for Claudelands trainer Freddie Smith, who is finding his square-gaited charge a difficult proposition on account of leg trouble. Once “Smithie" can get him sound. Paradigm should prove a useful type of trotter for the smaller fixtures. Back To The Trot Togo’s Promise, who when raced at Epsom some years back, was among the pacers and usually seen in saddle heats, gave a partially good showing of the square gait in the Karamea Handicap and until a break put him out of court, Flibbonwood’s son was putting in some work that will probably encourage trainer Lincoln to keep his churge going. Togo’s Promise was earlier tried at the trotting business in Australia and now that he has been put back to it he may take a new' lease of life. Wants A Long Journey There was not much promise about “Togo” Lee’s drive. Golden Gate, in the mile and a-lialf trot, although the Gold Bell gelding was closer at the finish than any other stage of the contest. One of the plodding type, the Penrose-trained trotter makes no headway in the earlier stages of the journey, but when warming up to his work, the old gelding can get a move on. He is better suited by a twomile contest, but there are not many such events of a class to suit him. Still Showing Fight Anseline found her contract too solid in the Karamea Handicap, but the run did her good as the Nutansel mare gave a lot of cheek for a long time in the two mile trot later in the afternoon. Joe Gee got her away smartly in this heat and hitting out in good style, she was well in the picture as the field raced along the back the last time. However, when it came to the final screening, her lights were dimmed and the popular old mare failed to get a place. But Joe keeps on smiling and thinking about some of those country programmes later on. Etta Cole once more got into the money and is bent on keeping up Her reputation for consistency. The daughter of Peterwah was not seen in her best dress either, and it was not till the last half mile was entered upon that she warmed up t'o her work. F. J. Docherty s mare went along the back in fine style wit i Tiger Salve, who she left crossing the top, to go after the leaders. Fred Gilchrist wasted no ground making for the straight and just as Etta’s backers rose in their seats, she faulted, and third place was her portion. There is no doubt about the mare’s ability, despite the bad luck that seems to fcll’ow in her trail. Trotted A Steady Race Rose Bingen, making her first uppearanco for J. J. Kenner ley. trotted a steady race in the two mile heat, and at one stage of the proceedings was

S^BisX*«!BasMs leading pair buV tEZ x ? v . ertako the m-n-F. u-ni ’ Uut t,le kelson Bingen sniufl end "of e thn close to taking the when the i-itm i purs ? e ofC K Ua Cole post It ri!? L . b ,r°k° m the run to the Canterburv t~ l , nly looks as the ex--f-V-., v- n trainer will pick up a season. Se Binfiren during; the Was In The Picture

xr. ,J |' radeK ,'I la . n - went solidly In the * Handicap, and after roit" K T % r % PeCl / .established on the ... 1 • Ttcl . Randall s trotter .showed up t ■ " n iZ ,ly " as alw ays in the ti,. Jln< * * or the major portion of tin, journey &am Hoe had the First Oo ,l S s„™!" S in , th lr d berth behind andwhSrS and Peter McKinney, bSekcViZfZi ds Y ere turned for home hone?.,? Z i h ? od square-gaiter were nopeful that he would put in a dab at the finish that would land him into m .nZm", . P ! acc ' , H °wever, Trades•in.l lair i ia Y e the necessary punch Bingen llnlshed , lust behind Hose Tiger Salve Striking Form orirnSZ, Sah ' e i?st no time in getting under way m the two mile trot, and ‘" U ‘“ middle stages of the journey the son of Rock Huon showed a wonderful tu.n of speed. With a round to go. driver Leo had his charge well up in tho field. and ho further improved his position along the back and his name being loudly called as a probable winner. But the effort had been too much for the sturdy trotter and lus usual, finishing rally was missing, and he was well back at the post. Considering that Tiger Salve has not been up long, bis rendering of the part was quite creditable and he will not be long in improving on last Saturday’s display. Behaved Well Again The Tartar was in good humour last week-end and he trotted generously, but found the task of conceding start to Peter McKinney, Gold Sovereign and Co. beyond liis capabilities. His showing was quite satisfactory and judging by his last two displays. There is still hope that the son of Wildwood, Junr. and Emmeline will turn over a new leaf and go square for the remainder of his career. If he does there should be some more money for his connections when the season is more advanced. When He Gets Ready Direct Action plainly showed when paraded for the Karamea Handicap that lie had been right out of action since the June fixture, nevertheless, the aged son of Don Pronto did not by any means disgrace himself and he beat a number of his more forward associates on the journey. If Fred Gilchrist can get the sturdy trotter to stand form with training he should again show up prominently in his later engagements. Will Make Amends Akenehi was the sad disappointment of the big trot on Saturday, and the grey mare went just as bad as when she was first taken to the races. Her admirers, however, should not be in a hurry to condemn the daughter of Peter Moko lor last week’s showing, which was all wrong compared with her form toward the end of the late season, when she gave promise cf turning out one of the best improvers in tho province. AVhen she squares up again, Akenelii will make amends in no uncertain manner.

TRCTTING IMPROVEMENT AMERICAN TRAINER’S VIEW GOOD NEWS OF NOVICE COLT Writing recently to the Chicago “Horse Review," trainer R. B. Plaxico mentions two improvements being made in the New Zealand light-harness sport, which he considers cannot fail to prove satisfactory for all concerned. One of these is the conditions governing the next New Zealand Cup race, which he says “in the past has been for a purse of three thousand pounds, and usually drew from 20 to 24 horses, making it impossible for a back-marker to have any chance of going around the big field in front. It will be worth four thousand pounds and will be raced on the preliminary heat plan. Each preliminary heat will be for one thousand pounds, and the first four in each of the preliminary races will make the eight that will start in the final, which will be worth two thousand pounds.

Under old conditions only four horses could win money, but under the new ones eight horses will share in the division of the money. And instead of the totalsisator being opened once for a big race like this one furnishes, it will be opened”three times, a great advantage to tho club, as the people here bet more money on a good horse than on a green one. The now conditions also permit every horse that starts in the event a fair chance. “Then a new handicapping system is also about, to be adopted under which a. horse can be penalised only so much, no matter how fast he goes. I think this will bo found much more satisfactory than the old method, for it will permit a good horse to have an earning capacity." A Useful Novice After describing his successes with Silk Thread, which he hoped to see qualify for the New Zealand Cup, the Canterbury trainer commented as follows on a promising colt: ~I have several young, green ones to start with next season, among them being a very handsome tliree-year-old colt called Llewellen, by Guy Axworthy 2.82. dam Miladi Anne, by San Francisco 2.71. He is the best bred one in New Zealand, is perfect mannered and fast. I have been in 2.15, half in 1 5, quarter in Slsec with him. I have not asked much of him and have given him a lot of time because he has the appearance of having real high class. T will not race him before next October. Mr. McKenzie bought this colt from Frank Cares last summer when he was in the United States.”

pack of forward^led by “Bunny’' Finlayson and W. Rika, and it was probably realised that a strong set of forwards was necessary to hold them. However, the pack that will meet Taranaki is composed of a set of hardworking forwards in Palmer, Fletcher, Wanoa, Anderson, Peacock, and Satherley, and with McWilliams for a leader they should do well. Easy Come, Easy Go Ranfurly Shield history has a knack of repeating itself. The last and only other time that Southland held the coveted trophy was back in 1920, when a strong Wellington side created a similar sensation by tailing the shield to Invercargill, and there losing it. There were no more shield matches that season, .so Southland retained possession through the summer months. After staving off a challenge by Otago early in the following season, Southland, instead of seeking protection behind the rules, and insisting upon defending the shield on its own hearth, sportingly decided to take it on tour as Wellington had done, and by a happy coincidence it was Wellington that took it away again. Now, after winning the trophy from Hawke’s Bay on a decision of the New Zealand Rugby Union, and after staving off challenges from strong teams from Canterbury and Auckland, Wairarapa has gone under to a team that has been beaten on the present tour by South Canterbury, Canterbury, and Wellington. The side drew against Otago, and its only win was when it won the Ranfurly Shield. The moral of the story is, of course, never to underrate your opponents. Yet to be Played On Saturday Auckland will play a re-, turn match with North Auckland at Eden Park and on the following Saturday will meet Wellington, also on the home ground. This will conclude the province’s representative fixtures, and attention will then be paid to the senior competition, which has yet to be concluded. The classic Rugby event of the year, North versus South, will be played at Wellington on September 28. Tennis players wear eyeshades and cricketers find that a peaked cap comes in very handy when fielding in bright sunshine. The question that naturally follows is why can’t fullbacks wear suitably made caps to afford them the same help when fielding high kicks. During the greater part of the season a cap is unnecessary, but in August and September, when most of the big games are played, the sun becomes a big factor. On Saturday the sun was very strong, and in the first half it was obvious from the way that Harris, the Canterbury custodian, was shading his eyes