TROTTING

Dominion, Volume 21, Issue 123, 22 February 1928, Page 16

TROTTING

FIXTURES. Feb. 22—Otahuhu T.C. summer. Feb. 22 and 23—Gore R.U. (two events). Feb. 25—Greymouth T.C. (Jubilee). Feb. 25 —Kaikoura T.C. annual. Feb. 27—Inangahua T.C. annual. March 2—Marlborough T.C. annual. March 2 and 3—lnvercargill T.C. NOMINATIONS. Feb. 22—Timaru T.C. Feb. 23—New Brighton T.C. March I(l—Hawera T.C. annual. ACCEPTANCES. Feb. 25—Inangahua T.C. Feb. 27— Invercargill T.C. Feb. 27 —Marlborough T.C. annual. .11 arch I—Timaru T.C. March 2 —Manawatu T.C. (By “Overcheck.”) The Otahuhu Trotting Club's meeting will be brought to a conclusion to-day. The fields are not quite as good as on Saturday, but the racing promises to be of an interesting character. The Suburban Handicap is the first race on the programme, and the field is much the same as that which contested the Trial Handicap on Saturday, in which the placed horses were Roma Bingen, Real Todd, and Billy Carbine. To-day’s race is half a mile longer, and so, in seeking jhe winner, one has to consider the staying ability of each horse. Those that have won or been placed at two miles this season are Roma Bingen, who went 4.54 2-5, when she finished second to Gold Star at Northlands; Billy Carbine, who went, 4.53, and finished secong Io Great Change at Otaliulni in November; and Auseline, who did 4.49 4-5 and 4.49 3-5 at the Waikato and Otahiihu meetings respectively. Colonel Thorpe ran fourth at Northlands, but as the third horse was fiOyds. behind Roma Bingen, his performance was not impressive. The place-getters may be Billy Carbine, Auseline, and Roma Bingen. In the Newmarket Handicap it seems to me that the placed horses in the Taraaki Handicap on Saturday are likely to lake part in the decision of this race, but there is a newcomer in Explosion, who should give a good account of himself. At Northlands in December, Explosion won the President’s Handicap of two miles from Speed King and Concertina, when conceding the latter 12 yards. They now meet on level terms. On Saturday, Concertina was fourth, and so, taking a line through her, Explosion should go well. On Saturday Peter Grattau and Concertina met on equal terms; now the latter is in receipt of 24 yards, but I feel rather inclined Io still prefer the Peter Moko gelding, who is a young horse that should be on the upgrade. Our Patch ran a couple of good races at Carterton in December, winning bv a big margin the first day and finishing third to Zella the second day. In the last-mentioned race she -was set to concede Zella 72 yards, and finished about live and a half lengths away. She is racing so consistently that I think she may hold Peter Grattan safe at a difference of 12 yards. Now we come to Great Peter, who is handicapped to go 3.241, which, though smart, may web be within his powers, for he won comfortably on Saturday. A 2.50 clip for a mile and a quarter works out at 3.24 for Hie mile and a half. Those likely to catch the eye of the judge appear to be Explosion, Great Peter, and Our Patch.

Van Rich and Bingen King, on scratch, with Nelson Tasker and Hue Coronado on 3fi yards, form a likely quartet from which the winner of the Sylvia Park Handicap may come. The two firstnamed finished third and fourth in tlic mile saddle race on Saturday, and the field on this occasion is much the same. Direct Morning, Nelson Tasker and Hue Coronado competed in the Myers Handicap on Saturday. Of these three I prefer Nelson Tasker, and he should give the limit horses all they can do to hold him off.

In the big two-mile race The Shrew, Black Lila and First Carbine each meet Sea Pearl and Concliff on 12 yards better terms than on Saturday. Peter Swift, who finished third, meets Sea Pearl and Concliff on the same terms, and though he finished in front of them on Saturday, I fancy that both will beat him to-day. Peterwah was uot in the picture in the Cup race, and I do not assess his chances highly on this occasion.

Kohara took ou the sprinters the first day, and he is also engaged in the short-distance race to-day. If he goes to the post in this event I anticipate that he will run well. Terence Dillon’s performance on Saturday was a very attractive one, but in now being set to concede Sea Pearl and Concliff 36 yards he has been given a pretty stiff task. Apart from this one prefers Jewel Pointer at a difference of 12 yards. When the numbers are hoisted I expect to find those of Sea Pearl, Concliff and Kohara on top.

The trotters will be seen out in the Alexandra Handicap, which is somewhat of a problem. Ngatira, The Tartar, Al Mack, and Peter McKinney are on ■scratch, and of these the last-named is preferred. At Otahuhu in November he event 4.38 1-5, when he finished third in the Visitors’ Handicap, while he finished fourth on Saturday, when the race was run in particularly good time. I imagine the race will have done him good, in addition to which he does not have Sister Beatrice to contend with, while Rose Bingen and AVaikaha are row giving him 72 and 108 yards respectively, as against 24 and 84 on Saturday. Real the Great should account for Mutu now that they are both on the same mark. Great Change went 4.39 2-5 when he finished second to Bingen King at the last Auckland meeting, and is now on 4.41, but taking a line through Native Star, who was beaten by Peter McKinney on Saturday at a difference of 36 yirds, I consider the latter should hold Great Change, as in the race to which I have referred, Native Star was only three lengths away from Mrs. Sweetapple’s gelding when conceding 72 yards. Of the back markers, AVaikaha is preferred, but the winner looks likely to come from Peter McKinney. Real the Great, and Mutu. The Richmond Handicap will probably find’ Peter Swiff mixing it with the pacers, and he should be able to give a good account of himself from a 4.32 mark, seeing that he went 4.30 3-5 on Saturday in the big race. Pitaroa ran well on Saturday in the corresponding race to the one now under review, while Gold Jacket was narrowly defeated in the mile saddle. This pair make the strongest anpenl of the scratch, 12, and 24 yards’ divisions. Dalmeny should again account for Florent and Native Prince, though it has to Ire said that the latter spoilt his chance on Saturday by not going away correctly. Peter Swift I have already referred 10. Last, but not least, we have Padlock, who won the Myers Handicap in easy fashion in 2.44 2-5. He is now handicapped to go 4.30 for the two miles, but if Peter Swift runs up to the time registered by him on Saturday, Padlock u ill have to do about 4.28 Io win. 1 believe this is asking rather 100 much of him, good horse (hough he be. Reducing it to small numbers, I am inclined to select Gold Jacket. Peter Swift, and Dalmcny as the ones likely to share the stake money. Although he did not show up at all promisingly on Saturday, I expect Great Bingen to lake a hand in the decision of tho Coates Handicap. Provided that ho has sustained no injury ns a result of his fall in his record-breaking effort of Saturday, Nelson Fame too should be in the money. Of the remainder Sea Pearl appeals the most. The meeting concludes with the Farewell Handicap, in which Great Actress, Taipat'e and Bingen King on scratch promise to play their part well. Taipare ami Bingen King were first ami second respeeTivcly in the tramway Handicap at the last Auckland fixture, in which race most of the horses now engaped competed. If anything beats these three Native Prince may be the one. to do it.