Racing and Trotting.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18901, 28 October 1929, Page 2

Racing and Trotting.

(BY

racing notes.

Several New Zealand Cup candidates were seen on Saturday in the Wellington Handicap, but the outstanding performance was that of In the Shade. He was not in the picture in the early stages and he had a lot of ground to make up m the straight, where he came with a strong run, which landed him a winner in the last stride. He was travelling as well as anything in the field at the end he is worth keeping in mind for Riccarton. Seatown showed up in the straight and he was finishing on well in third place. Tcheka, Talisker, Piuthair and Black Mint, on the other hand, were tiring. Star Stranger ran a decent race and as one who is sure to stay he cannot be dismissed altogether from Cup calculations. Hoylake gave a creditable display, and as the race will do him good, his Cup propspects have in no way suffered. • * • * The Wellesley Stakes was a triumph fos- Hawke’s Bay, the places being filled 1 by Watch Officer, Chrysology and Simba, all of whom are trained at Hastings. The result was a surprise, as of the three, the winner, Watch Officer, was not regarded as having much chance of beating the other pair. He was well placed all the way and he made an exhibition of his opponents over the last two furlongs. It was an impressive performance. Chrysology ran a solid race to finish second and was going better than any of the others at the end. Apparently he is improving with racing and he may be high-class later on. The much-boomed Simba was squarely beaten. * * * * Satisfy did not run up to expectations in the Wellesley Stakes. She began brilliantly, but she was steadied at the entrance to the straight, where several of the others were setting a hot pace, and when required to go on over the last furlong she failed to respond. It is hard to credit that this was her best form and probably she will do much better later at Riccarton. # * * * Beaumont’s form at Trentham on Saturday made him look a good hurdler. Up to a mile and three-quarters he is well worth keeping in mind for other jumping engagements. ♦ * ♦ * Aberfeldy registered a very attractive performance when he ran second in the Glen Hurdle Handicap, but lack of a race made all the difference between winning and losing. The most pleasing feature of his display was his good jumping. It was the first time he .had jumped well at Trentham since his serious fall in July of last year. He will be much harder to beat in his next start. Faulty jumping in the early stages of the Glen Hurdles completely - settled the chance of Novar, while Brigadier Bill failed for a similar cause, though he moved up again later in the contest. * 4; * * Elysianor was strongly fancied by his connections for the Glen Hurdles. After getting off well he was allowed to drift back and he never was given a real chance. He will improve on this form very soon. Chief Ruler is making a great name this season as a sire of early speed. He sired the winners of both the two-year-old events at Trentham on Saturday. * * * * Gesture, the winner of the Taita Handicap, is trained by Mrs A. W. M’Donald at Awapuni, and she was successful a week earlier at Masterton. She is a very speedy filly, who shows promise of reaching decent class later on. She is by Chief Ruler, while her dam Nottava, is a half sister to Anitea, the dam of Rapier, so that she is a member of the famous Stepfelt family, of which Elevation and Reputation were two famous members. Gesture’s pedigree thus contains a mixture of brilliant speed and stamina. * * m * Tray Bond is worth keeping in mind now for a half mile tw’o-year-old handicap. She showed great speed in the Taita Handicap. * * * * The Taranaki two-year-old, Chief Link, by Chief Ruler from Silver Link, is a high-class youngster. He carried his big weight like a good horse in the Taita Handicap, and only went under to two speedy light weights. * * * * The Riccarton two-year-old, Ball Dress, ran a good race in the Taita Handicap. She was one of the smartest out of the barrier and though she did not hold her place, she never was far back, while she battled on well at the end, finishing just behind the placed horses. She should get some money at Riccarton next month. * * * * Commendation was responsible for a good performance when he won the Wainui Handicap. He has not forgotten his bad habits at the barrier and he was largely responsible for the delay at the start. Once on the journey, however, he was always in the picture and he finished on strongly. It was his first race since he ran in the Awapuni Gold Cup last autumn, and he should be even better from now on, with great prospects of winning in the best company. * Hs * Prickles was unlucky in the Wainui Handicap. She was hampered by the riderless Atholspear, and she did remarkably well to finish second. She tackled Commendation a hundred yards from the post and was beaten by the narrowest of margins, while she was going better than her big rival over the last bit. SfS * * -1The three-year-olds, Admiral Drake and Night Lad, showed plenty of pace in the Wainui Handicap, but were bustled too much in the early stages, with the result that they failed to run on. Differently handled, they should win very soon. * Jf: sfc sj: Black Duke ran a solid race in the Wainui Handicap, in which he was forced to cover a lot of extra ground at the home turn. He will not go much longer without winning a good stake. * * * * Lucky Light put up a good performance when she won the Rimutaka Handicap. She was one of the leaders all the way and she stuck on well to score very decisively. Bred by her owner, Mr W. T. Hazlett, she is by Paper Money from Simper, the dam of Affectation, Gold Light, Razzle Dazzle and Beacon Light. She was very erratic as a two-year-old. She seems to have settled down now, and she looks a likely sort for better class races. * * * # Latin Quarter looks a decent prospect for a race at Riccarton next month. He was one of the pacemakers in the Wainui Handicap and only faded out in the straight.

“ARGUS.”)

The Riccarton three-year-old, Semper Paratus, ran a good rafe in the Rimutaka Handicap. After missing the jump out from the barrier, he gradually drifted back, but held his place on the rails, where he came through on reaching the straight. He made up a lot of ground, and a hundred j yards from the post he looked a possibility for a place, but he faded out again. Racing will improve this Winning Hit colt. He should be hard to beat at Trentham to-day, and he should go on improving. m * * * Paganelli’s performance in winning the Shorts Handicap was that of a high-class sprinter. ’He was one of the front division all the way. Toxeuma challenged him a furlong from the post and was gradually wearing the top-weight down. Fifty yards from the post it looked as if Toxeuma would win, but Green gave Paganelli a kick a few strides from home, and he responded gamely, to gain a narrow victory. He will be hard to shake off in the Stewards’ Handicap. * * * * Aspiring showed great speed in the Shorts Handicap but just failed to see the journey out. Her form was far ahead of what she showed at the Dunedin meeting and her winning turn should come soon. Her stable mate. Silver Paper, seemed unable to hold his place in the early stages, dropping back a few lengths, but he was travelling on well over the last furlong. * * * » Clarendon was a disappointment in the October Handicap, the concluding event at Trentham on Saturday. His earlier form had gaftied him a reputation and he was sent out a hot favourite in a moderate hack field. Pie jumped out well and had every chance, but he was in difficulties a furlong from the post. * * * * Juggle, the winner of the October Handicap, is a four-year-old mare by Joculator, who is passing on the speed of his sire, Absurd. Juggle was one of the leaders all the way and the ease with which she settled the opposition in the straight was impressive. •% * * * Taurua ran a good race when he finished second to Juggle in the October Handicap. He was travelling on well at the end and he should stay much further than six furlongs. This brother to Te Monanui looks a good sort and he may be a winner at Riccarton next month.

The New Zealand Cup candidate who was showing up prominently at the finish of the Wellington Handicap at Trentha mon Saturday.

iiiiiiiiiiimiiiiimiiiiiiiiiiimmniuiHiiiimiiiimuiiiiminnimiinimiiiiiiiiminm TROTTING NOTES. Grand Canyon made amends for his previous failures by winning the Introductory Handicap at Greymouth easily. He was favourite for the event, and although not pacing too well in the early stages, had too much speed for his opponents in the concluding stages. He is in C. S. Donald’s stable, but was bred by Mr H. F. Nicoll, being by Wrack from Nell Pointer, and a substantial price was paid for him. * * * * Ratloc, who finished third in the Introductory Handicap, was a good second favourite. He is by First Favour from Geonv, and is a promising pacer who will do better with racing. He did not quite see out the journey. * * *. * Jock Bingen trotted very solidly in the Petrie Handicap and this gave him the victory. It .is the trotter’s first win for his new owners. He is a useful sort by Nelson Bingen from Annie V., and was bred in Southland. He is now trained by J. Bryce. * * * * _ The Nelson-owned trotter, Nelson Parrish, went another of his honest reliable races in the Petrie Handicap and fought out the final issue with gameness. He is not a good stayer, however, and was in trouble a furlong from home, but was only beaten by half a length. He came ut again in the Royal Handicap and .ed the field all the way, staying on better than in his first race, and won decisively. It was a couple of good performances on the part of the Guy Parrish trotter. * * * * Great Way, who was favourite for the Petrie Handicap, trotted in greatly improved form and is evidently better on a dirt track. If he had kept to his gait he could hardly have got beaten. The Peterwah gelding should benefit by his racing. * * * ** Nelson Gara is owned in Nelson and is in Berkett’s stable. She is a wellbred mare, being by Nelson Bingen from Phingara, but is never likely to be more than useful. * * * * Flora Golding paid a big dividend when she beat Royal Comrade in the Mawhera Handicap. She was a speedy mare some time ago, but has not raced Well in her latest efforts. She was somewhat lucky to succeed, as she got a run on the rails in the concluding stages. * * * * D. Bennett did not drive a good race behind Royal Comrade in the Mawhera Handicap. He made up his ground fast and went round several horses to get a position. He came into the straight with a good lead, but drew away from the rails and looked to be winning easily. Bennett evidently thought he had the race safely won and appeared to be watching Cyone when Flora Golding dashed up on the rails to win. Judiciously driven Royal Comrade looked as though he would have won rather easily. Great Adventure, who won the Blaketown Handicap, is a big mare by Great Audubon and has a fair measure of speed. She went away smartly and won easily. She is locally owned and her success was popular with the crowd, although she was paying a good dividend. Great Way went a much better race in the Royal Oak Handicap than in his first race. He showed a lot of speed in both races but cannot vet properly control it. He stayed out the iournev well on both occasions.

Winner of the Wainui Handicap at Trentham on Saturday. It was his first success for more than twelve months and his first start since last autumn.

IlillllllllllllllHllllllllllllllllllllllllH Imprint on more than one occasion has given evidence of his ability to begin well, and in the Greymouth Handicap he went away best of the field. He trailed Free Advice till a little less than half a mile from home, when Berkett took him to the front, and he lasted long enough to win by a narrow margin from Cardinal Logan. The Nelson Cup candidate looks well forward and the rain which had fallen earlier in the day made the track to his liking. * * * * Cardinal Logan did npt have any the best of the luck in the Greymouth Handicap, as for a mile he was pocketed in on the rails and was not able to get out except by losing a lot of ground. In the final run up the straight he was giving away too much to the improved stayer Imprint. That he finished so brilliantly is evidence that he is in his best form, and his defeat was no discredit. ale * * * Danny Boy, who has failed to race up to expectations in the past, easily accounted for the saddle event. He did not get away too well but was allowed to get into his gait before being sent along at top. A little less than a furlong from home he had the race well in hand, and finally won easily. He was well ridden by G. Caddy, who was seen to advantage during the race. # * * ♦ Brook Pointer has been racing well recently, and he ptit up quite a good performance in the saddle event, but had no chance with the winner, who is a much improved pacer. * * * a Cyone, who won the Aviation Handicap, is owned by Mr W. J. Moir, who bred her. She is only a four-year-old, and can be expected to show considerable improvement. She put up quite a good race in the Mawhera Handicap. Royal Comrade was evidently feeling the effects of his race in the Mawhera Handicap as he lacked dash at the finish of the shorter race, although he was driven much more judiciously than formerly.

OPENING DAY OF AUCKLAND TROTS. SOME NOTES ON SATURDAY'S FORM. (Special to the “ Star.”) AUCKLAND, October 26. Though Wrackler’s winning margin at the end of the Spring Handicap was •only a length, Mr H. F. Nicoll’s four-year-old had a comfortable win, and he is bound ito gather in plenty more money owner. Maurice Holmes had him nicely placed on the fence in lourth position for a little over a mile, but when the field began to close up Holmes was not going to be boxed in, and he moved Wrackler up on the outside of Sister Beatrice and within range of Nelson Tasker and Native the two leaders. At the home turn Wrackler was asked to go up and win, and in a few strides he put the issue bej-ondt doubt. He is a good one, who can go fast and stay. Seeing that he went 4.32 2-5, off a 4.31 mark, he should not have done himself much harm in future handicaps. Bad luck comes along in many forms, but rarely does it hit as in the case of Peter Bingen, who was brought down from Te Awamutu to contest the big races at the meeting. J. J. Kennerley had Peter Bingen and others of his team quartered at M’Kendrick’s stables, where other horses were also accommodated, among them being a novice trotter by The Triumph, who is being educated by S. Selkirk. This trotter became ill yesterday and a veterinary surgeon was communicated with and requested to do what he could, fie attended and administered a ball, but as bad luck would have it, he put it down the throat of Peter Bingen, instead of the maiden trotter. Peter Bingen’s owner, Mr W. Johnstone, and the trainer, J. J. Kennerley, were naturally not pleased with the mistake, as it prevented Peter Bingen from fulfilling his engagement in the Spring Handicap. No matter what may be claimed for the southern three-year-olds, it is safe to say that when the field lines up for the Derby at Addington next month there will be plenty of badkers in Auckland who will think a £2 dividend about Great Parrish a great price. The half-brother to Great Bingen to-day met some fairly smart pacers in the Parnell Handicap, and he disposed of them as though they were nothing at ail. He did not leave the mark too well, but he was in a handy position at the end of half a mile and he was content to hold his position till a couple of furlongs from home. Then J. T. Paul moved him up to Belle Axworthv, in the lead, and in the run up the straight he just jogged in. He is the best colt Auckland has claimed, and if he gets beaten in either Derby it will be worth going a long way to have a look at the three-year-old who can beat him.

Although there was nothing outstanding in Linnett the Great’s performance when she finished third in the W'aitemata Trot, there was sufficient merit in the run to warrant the prediction that the imported mare will very shortly be leading her opponents home. It may possibly be at her next start, but the chances are that if F. Smith is content to wait till the Christmas meeting she would win a couple of races and good stakes. She was easily the best actioned trotter in to-day’s field, and though not nearly ready, she had the pace to go with Peterson over the last half-mile. At Christmas the light introductory classes will suit her nicely. The Brent Locanda gelding Salient carried big money in the Improvers’ Handicap but he gave his supporters a poor run. At the “ off ” he tangled badly and again before a furlong was covered he was doing anything but pacing. He was really never going righ* and was soon with those at the tail of the field. He looks the sort who, when he goes evenly, will be hard to beat. When Tamahine went away tangling and broke up again after settling down in the first furlong, backers who took a short price about the Nelson Bingen mare were not feeling comfortable. However, W. Hughes got her down again and allowing her to become properly balanced she then showed speed which took her to the front. Paradigm was alw r avs hand'* but while he went his best race to date he could not quite get to the favourite, Tamafcine winning by a neck, a margin that might have been increased had her driver been called on to drive her vigorously.

Despite the fact that Jackie Logan received a bad kick from Wrackeen and was very lame on Friday, punters were not shy of planking their money on him in the Improvers’ Handicap. In the race he was always a long way back and in an apparently hopeless position. Along the back the last time he made a forward move but he was too far away from the leaders to have any chance and in the straight, when the position was hopeless, Berry did not xnock him about. If produced on Monlay he may be seen to better advantage.

One of the surprises of the afternoon was the price returned by Joy Bird in the October Handicap. On her run at the Waikato meeting the chestnut mare should have been favourite but when backers got busy they preferred the Warplane-Carmel bracket and Linkman. Joy Bird, driven by W. Saunders. soon ran past Warplane, who broke up, and once in the lead the chestnut stopped there to the end. Sunfish trailed her all the way' but had no chance of reaching her and she won by over a length in the good time of 2min 13 1-osec. It will be harder for her next time, as she will not be so nicely treated as she was to-day.

Big Money went on Linkman in the mile sprint but the Matchlight gelding never looked like getting in the money'. Yesterday afternoon, just after four o’clock, V. Alborn worked Linkman a mile and a half with Torpedo Huon (A. Bryce) and Great Delight (11. Garnett). Linkman stood his companions up 2sec start but he had no chance of beating them and Torpedo Huon and Great Delight beat him by a length. They were both going comfortably' at the end but Linkman was driven right out and he took 3mip 31 l-ssec to run the mile and a half, the last half mile taking him lmin Bsec. The track was not

fast but even so Linkman’s effort was far from a good one. Once more Etta Cole has cost her admirers solid money and no excuse can be offered for her failure to-day. She left the mark brilliantly and held the lead till the last quarter was reached, when Peter M’Kinney dashed up to her and the pair began to draw away-. Then Etta Cole left her feet and dropped back to fourth place and she was there at the end. But for the break she possibly may have won but that she should go to a break when asked to sprint was not encouraging.