ASHBURTON TROTTING CLUB.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Issue 1573, 17 June 1920, Page 14

ASHBURTON TROTTING CLUB.

WINTER MEETING. SILVER NUT WINS PRINCIPAL EVENT. CHILDE POINTER WINS N.Z.. SAPLING STAKES. (From Our Christchurch Correspondent) The weather was ideal for the Ashburton Trotting Club’s meeting, and there was a record attendance for a winter fneeting. Though decidedly holding, the track was in fair order, and big fields were seen out in every event. Several of the starters in the Trial Handicap refused to strike a gait from the start, and Petrix was soon out in front. . When half the journey had been covered, Petrix was going comfortably in front from a. well-bunched division, which included Belle Logan, Edie Mac, Dusky Locanda, Cammie, and Elsa Nore. Till - the distance post was reached, Petrix looked a winner, but when asked for a final effort she failed to respond. By a brillia.nt effort on the outside of the field Dusky Locanda got up in time to defeat Cammie by a good length, with Edie Mac and Elsa Nore handy. The winner is a four-year-old filly by Brent Locanda from that speedy mare Dusky Morn, trained by W. Warren. She has a fine turn of speed, and promises to do well with racing experience. Petrix went a good pace for most of the journey, but so far is deficient in stamina, as are the Oakhampton pair, Herd Laddie and Roscray. The Oamaru representative, Effie Bingen, . was backed with the'utmost confidence for the Longbeach Handicap, but she gave her supporters a poor run for their money. Breaking soon after the start, she never got near the leaders, and her display was a disappointing one. Peter the First was in charge all through the first mile, with Moving .Picture, . Wonder Why, and Lady Esma most prominent of the others. The leader held his position till

the distance post was reached, where Moving Picture joined him. In a good finish, the Dunedin representative outstayed Peter the First, and won by nearly a length. Both horses went nicely all through, and showed more than average promise. Wonder Why, who finished well back in third place, went fast in patches, but it still unreliable. None of the back markers could make the least impression on the limit horses. Betting took a wide range in the Ashburton County Handicap there being plenty of money for Master Hal, All Bell, Gleaming, and Agathos. Rorke’s Drift began smarter than the other limit horses, but before half the distance had been covered he faded out in favour of Hoymetta, Silver Nut, and Master Hal. Half a mile from home Silver Nut had Hoymetta’s measure, with Sympathy and Gleaming' handy. Silver Nut was first into line for home, just heading Sympathy, Gleaniing, and Hoymetta. From the distance Gleaming put up a fine effort, but though he got away from his immediate attendants he was still a length behind Silver Nut as the post was reached. The winner, who was driven a well-judged race by E. McDermott, stayed on much better than in any of his previous efforts, and is acquiring stamina with age. He was one of the least fancied candidates of the field. Gleaming put up another solid race, while of the back makers, Vice-Admiral showed to most advantage. After losing his position in the early stage, G. M. Dillon was putting in good work at the finish. A splendid collection of ten two-year-olds lined up for the New Zealand Sapling Stakes, all of whom got through satisfactory preliminaries. Though showing signs of lameness, Nelson Derby was elected favourite, with Copa de Ora Junr., who was not looking at his best, next in demand. After Childe Pointer. Ben Ohan and Phil Smith had made the early running. Nelson Derby raced to the front half a mile from home. So nicely was he striding along in front at the home turn as to make his success seem assured. When challenged by Childe Pointer a.nd Taraire at the distance, Nelson Derby stopped very quickly, and could only struggle on into third place. An interesting setto between Childe Pointer and Taraire ended in faivour of the former by a length. The winner is owned by Mr. H. F. Nicoll, president of the club, and was accorded a great reception. She is a. neatly-turned filly by Logan Pointer from Pearlchild, and for a first effort gave much promise. Taraire broke up badly in the early stages, and did remarkably well to defeat all but the winner. He is by Four Chimes from Muricata, and in appearance favours his dam. He is likely to develop into a really high-class three-year-old. Neither Nelson Derby nor Copa de Oro Junr. raced up to expectations, both being at a disadvantage through having been -stopped in their work. Phil Smith showed a nice turn of speed in the early stages, as did Ben Chan, but as yet both are deficient in stamina. Wastewood established such a useful lead in the early stages of the Acton Handicap as to make his chance of success look bright. At the end of a mile he tired, and Imperial Junior, the favourite, took charge. From this out he had matters much his own way, though he had to be shaken up over the last bit to head off Madeline. The latter did not get too good a passage all through, otherwise she may have been very dangerous. Wastewood, First Carbine and Goldstream all showed plenty of speed for a mile, while of the back makers, Guynemer did best. Effie Bingen and Sally Dillon started very smartly in the Stewards’ Handicap, and with half the distance gone they were right out by themselves. What looked like providing a very interesting contest between the pair was spoilt by Effie Bingen going to a bad break a furlong from home. This made matter easy for Sally Dillon, who trotted a faultless race all through. Effie Bingen showed to much more advantage than in her earlier attempt, and is one of the most promising young trotters seen out this season. Wahinepai went a good race, but Ballin, who carried a lot of money, was never prominent. Nancy ■ Stair was made a strong favourite for the Winter Handicap, but though well placed all through, she faded out at the business end. After Kewpie ha.d taken up the early running, she faded out at the end of six furlongs. Then Frank Tracey drew away, and scored a popular win by three lengths from Legacy, who stayed on better than Nancy Stair. Stockade did not commence well, but was putting in such good work at the finish as to suggest that with a nice run from the start he would have been very dangerous.