THRONGS WITNESS THE RACING AT TAKAPUNA

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 886, 1 February 1930, Page 15

THRONGS WITNESS THE RACING AT TAKAPUNA

mising form at Wingatui next month the youngster’s Sydney trip may be cancelled. Due Shortly Disorder ran a really good race in the Apprentices’ Plate at Trentham, but in the Douro Cup she did not get a good passage and missed a place. She is engaged at the Dunedin meeting next month where she may atone for recent failures. Night march continues to make steady progress, and if it is decided to start him in the Hazlett Plate at Wingatui next month lie is certain to be an odds-on favourite for the weight-fcr-age race. it. Heed will be associated with Night march in aLI his engagements. Great Star ran badly in his Wellington engagements. He is suffering from an attack of kidney trouble and J. Prosser has, decided to give the gelding a rest. Gay Ballerina In view of Gay Ballerina’s win in the Adrian Knox Stakes last Monday, the following, from the pen of a Sydney writer last week, is of interest: —- After Gay Ballerina’s easy win with 9.12 at Moorefield on Saturday, many people expressed wonderment at the fact that the filly had been withdrawn from the Challenge Stakes, especially those who had supported her in the early ante-post market. Trainer C. O’Rourke, however, thought that a hard race in the Challenge might prejudice her chance in the richlyendowed Adrian Knox Stakes, and the d«scision that to run her in the handicap might be throwing away the substance for the shadow seems to have been a wise one. The Moorefield race added another £133 to Gay Ballerina’s stake-winnings, apart from what was won from the bookmakers. Since Mr. H. G. Kirkpatrick purchased the lilly in. New Zealand last season for £2.100, «. l n *‘ ias won* stakes totalling i. 3,780, of which £IOO went to her breeder. The £1,500 Adrian Knox Stakes now appears to be at her mercy, as it is difficult to visualise Malvina, who was considered to be of her strongest opponents, finishing ahead of her. On Saturday Gay Ballerina carried 9.12 in the first division if the Three-Year-Old Handicap, and cut out the six furlongs in whereas Malvina was a second slower in the second heat, in which stie carried only 8.10.

A Big Sprint This year’s Newmarket Handicap at Flemfngton is expected to provide a plash of champion sprinters. Seldom nf Ve 80 . man >' good horses appeared in ine nominations for an important race. Greenline, the Sydney crack sprinter, Jf* doing well since his arrival at Caul!h \? n d Figure, which ran second in jne Newmarket and Oakleigh Plate x ear ’ also looks in good heart, ine Queensland crack. Wise Force, is a work at Mentone, and it is understood that he is pleasing in his efforts. . has High Syce and Highland •imong his representatives. Recent winners in Agu Khan, which scored in n f?' a,l d Birdcage, which won the Handicap at Flemington, are ikejy f Q ] ie we u j n the picture, while Gay Ballerina. Merab, Habashon, Amour is and Ramulus represent interw -j orm of the very best order. It • Kj Ui< * 1)0 no surprise if with faveurconditions, the Newmarket reheld by St. Ardent, were Miattered this year. Misfired three-year-old Ruling 'Aief. by Chiet Klller frt , nl Hoynette, '*?* Produced at Trentham on WedwVxu" . -According to Aucklanders r seen him in action he was Tha as a Silt-edged investment. I,i_ r 0 was nn air of mystery about a ? r not c< >me South with Aln k'-rs other horses, Mervette and Inc n *’| 7 » k>u t arrived later in the meethirt; k E :,A-- Keesing was very alert on *u® the barrier, and with some of Playing up Ruling Chief imfew Places. Probably it stiv /i have been as well if he had u .v' ed , i. n his correct position, for on e P.“ e jumped out two horses closed anrttv. lm and tent him bade, and bump sent him back to the th the field. it has been reported rinnKw , . trainer expressed himself .uApt-ul about him, but it is significant s " a Prominent patron of the stable ‘ ported him for a solid three-figure \’ft2*u wh i ,e re Bable judges from the Vo J 1 *\ re P re Pared to go on with him. Tint* timo will tell, and, despite pki * r 8 reported pessimism, Ruling ... ® will continue to have plenty of fcU P P c ru— “Vedette.’,

was sighted doing useful work in the initial stages of the Waitoa Handicap, but he did not get very far on the journey before he faulted and became lost in the crowd. The brother to Cannonball, who is trained at Otahuhu by B. T. Beesley, may show to better advantage when more experienced at the game. Green—But May Improve A green sort of pacer in Myrtlene, a live-year-old daughter of Peter Moko add Cluster, was given a couple of outings at Te Aroha. Although never looking like a stake earner at any stage of the proceedings, the mare went along sufficiently well to suggest that when Garth Robertson has given further attention to her education she will hit out much more attractively. Nearly Succeeded As suggested in this column prior to the Te Aroha fixture, there was nothing in the novice classes that had anything on Gaza when it came to hitting the> trail from the barrier. The Our Thorpe gelding, who is now owned and trained by the Onehunga sportsman. J. Mahoney, soon took the lead in the ten-furlong handicap, and he was still the pilot when the home turn was negotiated. He battled on gamely enough, but the last pinch saw him in distress and both Pavlova and Lady Yvonne headed the ex-Cameron representative off at the box. It is seldom that the improvers race among the square-gaited fraternity provides such a keen contest and exciting finish as was witnessed in the Elstow Handicap at Te Aroha. Furthermore, it is a rarity to find more than one novice of promise in these fields,, but in the event mentioned three at least gave indications of one of these days achieving some measure of trotting distinction. What Might Have Been In this direction the palm must be given to Black Magic, an aged gelding owned, trained and driven by W. B. Pollard, of Te Awamutu, who , has previously been associated with some fair square-gaited material. Black Magic was unable to get away from the mark and from the stand it looked as if an attendant at his head was unaware the race had begun. After being in what appeared a hopeless position with a mile gone, Black Magic, trotting soundly, made up a lot of leeway. He was in fourth berth at the turn, and nearly off the course, and with a determined effort participated in a neck-and-neck finish with Lord Haldane and Paradigm. For a tenner the Hova gelding went a race that warranted earning ten times that amount. Full of Promise Joyride, another of the Peter Moko tribe, from a mare whose breeding is unknown, gave a pleasing and promising display each time. T. Allen hitched her to the sulky. While slow to find her feet, when the barrier was released, Joyride trotted fairly well throughout. In the shorter event she was in the firing line practically all the way and finished a good fourth. Meeting much advanced society in the two-mile, the Xgahinepouri-trained trotter went a sound race for three-

when he reached the crowded lane left his feet, losing his position. Wiriwhata is a quality-looking colt, and when age plays its part he should do well at the game. Not Right Yet Carl Mack, another handsome and sturdily-built representative of the American horse, A 1 Mack, was expected to make a prominent showing In the shorter distance trot. lie missed a correct commencement and was never happy afterward. So far this young trotter has been lAtther disappointing in his public essays, but on occasions he can muster up a use - ful turn of speed at his training quarters. If T. McQuoid gets the colt to “go all-square” he should be a possibility at a country fixture. TE AROHA TROTTING SWELLING THE TREASURY POPULARITY OF THE SPORT .From Our Own Correspondent ... AROHA, Friday. As the result of last week’s trotting meeting the Treasury has received in taxation, levied on the people’s pastho Government, the sum of 2s 3d. This total was made up from the sources: —Totalisator tax, £681) 3s; dividend tax, £382 19s 9d; siakes tax, £SB; amusement tax, £2O 19s Od. The club was formed a few years ago by several trotting enthusiasts, whose optimism must have been largely developed, for at the time the district possessed at the most about tin eo trotting horses. However the •support; Of owners and trainers "of Auckland. Thames, Hamilton and Cambridge was soon in evidence at the trotting- meetings, and now the Government has a contributor to the ex- °/ over a thousand pounds annufrom a district which for many years knew nothing of the now decidedly popular sport of trotting. Members of the local club also give a fair share of the credit for the increasing interest in their fixture to ihe bun, and many expressions of appreciation have been tendered bv various officials for the publicity given to the meeting and the space devoted to the interests of the club and the sport generally by The Sun

second day, a similar race, valued at £7OO, has been arranged. The speed merchants who will grace the big two-mile events with their presence are given a further opporunity of paying expenses in the Moss Davis and Coates Handicaps, run over a 10-furlong course, and valued at £350 each. Improvers, and those gradually stepping up the ladder to high rank, are well catered for over every distance, and no race is worth less than £2OO. The Otaliuliu Club also caters well for pacers that prefer the weight on top, and the Railway Handicap (first day) and Sylvia Park Handicap (second day) will give saddle merchants their chance to prove their ability over eight furlongs. In each instance the stake is £2OO and the limits 2.17 and 2.16 respectively. The square-gaiters have not been overlooked; in fact, th<i addition of another item for this section proves that the suburban organisation realises the fine part the straight trotter is playing in the advancement of the sport throughout New Zealand. Trotters of 4.40 calibre are attended to, the slower brigade within the vicinity of 2.30 to the mile have two chances, while the middle section, who can go 4.48 or better, are given a race. Such a well-balanced card is sure to meet with the support of owners and trainers, |md when Secretary “Bob” Absolum compiles the entry list after five o’clock on Friday next, February 7, he should be able to announce record nominations. The fact that Mr. C. E. Goosman, who has the confidence of all sections of the light harness fraternity, is making the adjustments, will be a further incentive to owners to patronise the progressive club. The handicaps for the opening day will appear on Tuesday, February 11, while three days later the club’s secretary will be on deck to receive acceptances. The Card (First Day) Trial Handicap of £2OO (trotters only), IS miles; 3.45 limit. Tamaki Handicap of £2OO, 1| miles; 2.57 J limit. Papakura Handicap of £3OO, 2 miles; 4.37 limit. Otahuhu Cup of £750, and £SO cabinet, 2 miles; 4.30 limit. President’s Handicap of ££so (trotters only), 2 miles; 4.40 limit. Mount Albert Handicap of £ 200 (trotters only), 2 miles; 4.48 limit. Moss Davis Handicap of £350, li miles; 2.47 h limit. Railway Handicap (saddle) of £250, 1 mile; 2.17 limit. Second Day Suburban Handicap of £2OO (trotters only), 2 miles; 4.58 limit. Newmarket Handicap of £2OO, IX miles; 3.30 limit. Sylvia Park Handicap (saddle) of £250, 1 mile; 2.16 limit. Dominion Handicap of £700; 2 miles; 4.30 limit. Alexandra Handicap of £350 (trotters only), 2 miles; 4.40 limit. Richmond Handicap of £250, 2 miles; 4.3 S limit. Coates Handicap of £350, 1£ miles; 2.461 limit. Farewell Handicap of £250, 11 miles; 2.511 limit.