TROTTING

Evening Post, Volume CXXX, Issue 94, 17 October 1940, Page 15

TROTTING

A BRILLIANT PACER

FERRY POST IMPRESSIVE

(By "Ariki Toa.') I -The New Zealand Trotting Cup candidate Ferry Post, was respond 2 for an outstanding performance in ..ming the Beach Handicap at New Bngnton, and in doing so gave a further display of his brilliant speed. It was a mile and a quarter race, and from 24yds behind be began slowly, with the re{itut that at the end of half a mile l&f had no fewer than 18 horses in front «g him. He made gradual headway in the middle stages, but even at the home turn he still had eight horses to pass before he could secure .victory, His driver pulled him to. the outside as soon as the field were properly round the bend, and the Jack Potts gelding then proved his worth by maKing a wonderful run down the middle of the track to snatch the verdict right on the post. He had previously contested the Thompson Handicap, but m this event he had tangled at the start, and this plus his handicap of 60yds soon put him in a hopeless position, and he never looked like collecting some of the money. Ferry Post has always been recognised as a champion, but in the past he has continually jeopardised his prospects by faults at barrier release, but recent starts have suggested a direct improvement in this respect, and he looks certain to pay his way when classes are suitable in the future. Change for Escalade Escalado, who has been trained in recent seasons by J. Bell, Jun., has now joined the stable of L. A. Maidens at Tinwald. This mare possesses a brilliant turn of speed up to a mile and a half, and if reserved for contests over this journey she should experience little difficulty in paying her way. . ■ . Deaths Reported. Among the recent deaths reported are such well-known performers as Avernus, Huon Voyage, Rapidian, Red Pigeon, and Sphinx. Huon Voyage was one of the best unhoppled performers brought to New Zealand from Australia, and he built up a fine record about eight or nine years ago. Wanganui Permit. The idea of incorporating the cermit of the Wanganui Trotting Club in the Wellington Trotting Club's Meeting next month has been dropped owing to lack of a suitable date, but there is still some talk of the Wellington Club running the meeting later on in the season. Well-related Filly. Among the recent registrations is Gallant Maid, a bay filly by the Americanbred horse Gallant Knight from Rustic Maid, the dam of Highland Scott, who was one of the fastest two-year-olds ever bred mv the Dominion,. but who subsequently developed a nervous trait at the barrier and was worthless as a racing proposition at the time. Set Big Task. Gold Bar was asked a big question at New Brighton on Saturday when he was taken to the front to set a torrid pace for over a mile and a quarter in the Shirley Handicap, and it was not surprising that he began to feel the pinch inside the final furlong to eventually finish fourth. ,If he had been driven a little more patiently in the early stages it is. probable . that he would have been in the money. On the Improve. Black Surprise was responsible for a pleasing showing when she led the field for over a mile and a half in the recent Methven Trotting Cup, and she can be expected to rejoin the winning list at an early date. . She has a mile-, and-a-half record of 3min 16 4-ssec, and although she will always appeal most over middle distances she should not be hard-to place to advantage "invraces of this length. She is an inmate of M. C. McTigue's. stable. Date Dispute. Tht Auckland Trotting Club has lodged an objection to the Waikato Hunt races being held at Te Rapa on October 28, instead of at Cambridge. The second day. of the Auckland Trotr ting Club's.Spring Meeting is.held the same day, and it is considered that the change of venue is bringing the hunt meeting too close to Epsom. The change has been arranged owing to the Cambridge. course being. occupied . ...by. the military authorities. Smart Sprinter. Rowi has been coming into prominence of late with some sterling performances in sprint events, and she is confidently expected to make the grade to a much tighter mark. When trained as a two-year-old Rowi first attracted notice by finishing a good third to Shadow Son and Taiki in the Timaru Nursery Stakes; but she did not measure up to real, classic standard, - her only victory *at\two ahd three years being in the Vincent Trotting Stakes, although she registered four seconds, one third, and a fourth. However, she has improved immensely with age and, experience^ and she is now a very solid type of pacer. Promising Colt. Auckland looks like haying a say in the future three-year-old classics judging by the manner in which Peter's Find won the New Brighton Challenge Stakes on Saturday, and his recent success entitles him to rank as next best to Special Force of the pacers of this age seen out this season. He showed rare determination over the final couple', of furlongs to . stall off strong challenges from Surprise. Potts and Shadow Maid, after being behind the pair at the two-furlong post. Peter's Find is the first classic winner sired by the New Zealand Trotting Cup win-, ncr Peter Bingen, who; before his retirement to the stud owing to restricted opportunities took a two-mile record of 4min 18-2-ssec. Popular Distance. While several mile and a half races will be run at the Metropolitan Trotting Club's Meeting in November it is pleasing to note that three mile and five furlongs events have also been included, and it is expected that at future meetings the mile and a half race will disappear from programmes at Addington. The starting post for races of this distance is too, near- a turn and horses are not given a chance to become properly balanced in a crowded field. The mile and rfive furlongs race gives all runners a straight run for more than a furlong before a turn is reached and is popular with trainers and public alike. The extra furlong, too, provides for stayers and the more long-distance races there are on the programmes the better for all. j