SADDLE AND SULKY.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume VII, Issue 2026, 12 August 1920, Page 5

SADDLE AND SULKY.

SPORT AT ADDINGTON. AUTHOR DILLON AT HIS BEST. v (By Templar.) The ever-growing popularity of light harness racing found marked evidence at Addington yesterday. Though the weather conditions wore reminiscent of winter rather than early spring, the attendance reached record proportions, mid it must have been pleasing to the executive to see so many prominent racing enthusiasts in evidence. The track had dried up considerably since Monday mid towards the close of proceedings Afforded fair going. Along the back, however, it was holding and when the King George Handicap was rim it must June been quite 6sec to the mile slow. This had little effect on the racing, which was of a particularly high standard all through. Speculation easily eclipsed any former records, the huge sum of £59,409 heing expeditiously handled by Mr MacdougaH's staff, as against £50,939 on the corresponding day last year. In every detail the management was of the usual high standard always associated with meetiugs at Addington. Parkfield at Last. Backers were quite astray in their Selections for the Improvers' Handicap, which attracted a useful field of 14 Btraight-out trotters. Effie Bingen and Succory, the favourites, spoilt their chances by early mistakes, and with half the journey gone Lady Linwood looked all over a winner. Failing to sustain her effort over the last three furlongs she was passed by Parkfield and Miss Patty, the former winning with a good deal in reserve. Miss Patty raced right up to her first day's form, but Delville Wood and Captain Wood faded out after having every chance. The winner was driven a well-judged race by F. Holmes. There were IS starters for the Dash Handicap, with only 2sec between them. Several of the best-fancied candidates, including Retreat, the favourite, failed to go off, while Xavier anticipated his bell. Tho latter was soon out in front and looked a certain winner till he was called Oil" at the end of a circuit. Then Nancy Stair took up the running, with Captain Stanley in hot pursuit. Staying on the better Captain Stanley won by a length, with something in reserve. Of the Others, Frank Traeey, Borke 's Drift and Asturio gave the best showings. It transpires that Xavier was only a length over the line when he started, and from the manlier lie was going when called off, it eoems almost certain that he should have won.

Author Dillon the Brilliant. A particularly select field of eight went cut to dispute possession of the King George Handicap, amongst them hcing five prospective New Zealand Trotting Cup candidates. Author Dillon carried the extreme confidence of backers and quite justified his support. Starting in great style he soon cut out Agathos, and with a mile gone, was only a few lengths behind the leading division, which eonFisted of Krin 's Queen. Sherwood, Emilius .and Whispering Willie, who were raring almost abreast. Throe furlongs from home .Tardea took his champion to the front, and from this out the result was never in doubt. Emilius finished much betler than usual and had the winner doing his be.st at the finish, while Albert Cling and Whispering Willie both raced very well. Though the time was slow it was a great performance on the part of Author Dillon, who is evidently right back to his best form. Judging by their displays, Erin's Queen find Ajathos are both short of work, while ilaiiL'ifata Lass does not appear capable of handling the heavy going. lioya! Step was backed for the Belgium Handicap as if the issue was a foregone conclusion. And so it proved to be, for after laying in a handy position over the first mile Jones drove his charge to the front, and the issue was soon beyond doubt. Over the last furlong Legacy came nloni; with a well-sustained effort and had the favourite doing his best as the post was reached. Royal Step is one of the most improved pacers seen out at the meeting, and should not be long in .joining the select circles. Legacy went a good race, as did The. Whip, but' Schnapps pud Peter Mac would not do anything riehl from the start. A well-fancied candidate in All Bell lost so much ground at the start as to make his task a hopeless one. Downfall of the Favourites. A late commission saw Mara oust Silver Shoe in favouritism for the Lincoln Handicap, this pair monopolising the betting. Backers of the former were apparently on a good wicket, when half the distance had been covered, as at that stage she was pacing aloug freely in front well clear of her field. It was not till within a furlong of the post, that danger threatened , from Coldstream. Staying on better than the favourite, the South Canterbury representative had her measure at the distance, and won in nice style by three lengths. This marked E. E. Jones's second successive win, and his supporters got a double-figure dividend. Prince Burlington ran another of his consistent races in getting third money, while Van Director showed improved form. The Oakhampton stable luck was again out in the Avon Handicap, for, though Paul Huon was entrusted with its confidence, he went a patchy race. Theseus ran past Bon Patch before a mile had been covered, and, trotting in rare stvle, never left the issue in doubt. Now that he has settled down, the Rothschild gelding will always be hard to dispose of, even in the best of company. He has improved out of all knowledge, both in regard to stamina and tractability. Quite the outstanding effort of the race was Keta Peter's final run. Half a mile from home her task looked hopeless, but, staying on in her usual determined style, she defeated all but the wini*r. Homeleigll Dick showed idee action an.l a rare turn of speed. When mote accustomed to the local tnicks. the Australian-bred trotter can

hardly fail to make good. King Capitalist put up a good race, and may be expected to show to greater advantage on Friday. A Keen Finish. Master Hal and Kewpie opened up such a big gap in the early stages of the Canterbury Handicap as to make the chances of the others look remote. When half the distaneo had been covered, both leaders commenced to tire, enabling Silver Nut and Sympathy to close on them. Half a mile from home, Silver Nut put in a great run, and, staying on particularly well, got the verdict by a length from Sympathy. The latter and Asturio lost ground in the early stages, only for which both may have beaten the winner. Captain Stanley refused to go off, while Kewpie shaped like a non-stayer. Trix Pointer's downfall in the Speedway Handicap was a severe blow to the many who thought her practically unbeatable. When she raced to the front, two furlongs from home, it looked "All Lombard Street to a China orange" on her prevailing. When challenged by Moneymaker, 50 yards from the post, she failed to respond, suffering defeat by half a length. It is quite certain, from the way she finished, that the little pacer is short of work, but the race will do her a lot of good. Moneymaker's achievement was a remarkable one. He did not commence any too well, and then was badly interfered with by Strategy breaking across him. It was a well-deserved success, and marked the first scored by the Oakhampton stable at the meeting.

NOTES. Master Strowan was amiss after his race in the Grand National Steeplechase, and, in company with Gang Awa', returned home last evening. For anticipating his bell on Xavier in the Dash Handicap af Addington yesterday, A. Bryce was fined £3. Later in the afternoon he repeated the offence on Bush Boy, in the Lincoln Handicap, for which he was fined £lO, and warned that another such happening would lead to his license being suspended. E. McDermott was also fined £5 for starting too soon on Joyful in the Dash Handicap.

Handicaps for the concluding day's events at the Grand National meeting will be declared to-morrow morning, and acceptances must be in by noon. Mr D. Mangin has given a whip for the rider of the winner of the Grand National Hurdle Race, and the trophy will be presented to-night at the Grand National Carnival being held at King Edward Barracks.