OTAHUHU TROTS

Evening Star, Issue 19793, 17 February 1928, Page 10

OTAHUHU TROTS

[Special to the ‘ Star.’]

AUCKLAND, February 16. The Otahuhu Trotting Club’s Summer Meeting commences on Saturday, and will conclude on Monday. On all programmes at Epsom the slow class trotters are given the honor of opening the ball, and so it is on Saturday when the square-gaited horses in the Trial Handicap will go to the post. The race is very open, but if Billy Carbine reproduces his run of the final day of the Christmas Meeting, - when be went 3.38 int fourth place, he should go well off 4.41. The public may confine the issue to Billy Carbine, Roma Bingen, and Lochade (the winner of three races last season, including the Great Northern Derby).

The appearance of that good colt Great Peter in the Tamaki Handicap will rivet attention upon him. There is a field of twenty-three, and of the number fifteen are on the limit. . r - eker= are faced with a problem, hut t ■ will bet, and the chances are they will not overlook Great Peter, Great Actress, anti Enawab.

With no less than twenty to select from, backers have none the best of it in trying to pick the Mount Albert Handicap, a race contested by a mixed lot of trotters and hoppled pacers. Without going right through the lot, the numbers in demand should be Gold Sovereign, Bright Light, and Raima. A select field of eleven will line up for the Otahuhu Cup, and the number is just right to allow of all the starters getting a good run. Peter Swift is the only one on the limit, and ho is a trotter, and liable to go to a break at any stage. On 12yds ; a The Shrew and First Carbine, and maybe the prospects of The Shrew will be held in most respect. Black Lila (24yds) should be held safe by some of those further back. Escapade 136yds) is a fine trotter, as is also Peterwah 148yds), but they invariably put in one or more breaks when opposed to good pacers. A strong q artet on 48yds comprises Concliff, Terence Dillon, and the bracketed pair Sea Pearl and Machine Gun, and tho best of these should win. They can all go fast, and stay out two miles. Jewel Pointer (96yds) should find the job too much for him Backers will decide for Ooncliff, The Shrew, Machine Gun, and Sea Pearl.

The goodwinning form he has shown this season will cause Padlock to com© in for solid backing in the Myers Handicap, l}m. in which some brilliant horses are engaged. Three who should bo able to see it out are Padlock, Sea Pearl, and Great Bingen. With only eight accepted for in tho President’s Trot backers have not a great many to choose from, and there should be good support for Waikaha, Sister Beatrice, and Native Star.

With Loch Moigh engaged there is little doubt about him starting favorite in tho Papakura Handicap. There will also be good money for Dalmcny and Rockburn.

Tho concluding event is very open, and the betting is likely to take a wide range. There will be many going for a final recovery on Uncle Bert, Mulwaree, and Liberate. At noon yesterday Nelson Fame, who is to make an attempt on Saturday after the second race to reduce tho mile record of 2min 3 3-ssec, held by Acron, was given a trial by S. 'August. The son of Nelson Bingen—Norice, looking well, was given a light warming up, and then, with the pace on, hit his speed at the mile post. He went the first half in Imin 2sec, and cam© homo the Inst in Imin ssee, making the time for the mile 2min 7sec. ft was a fine effort on the part of the bay horse, but it was not good enough to suggest he would get down to Acron’s record on Saturday. At the time of wiring no information has been given to the Press that Jean M'Elwyn has been rehandicapped for her engagement, in the Railway Handicap at the Otahuhu Meeting. The filly won a saddle race at Addington last Saturday, and one would have at least expected the handicapper to announce any rehandicap he intended to make within forty-eigth hours. It is understood that tho owner of Jean M'Elwyn had to get in touch with him to find out what the position was, and was informed that Joan M'Elwyn would be penalised 24yds, making her handicap 4Syds. In the galloping sport the bandicappers are compelled to announce any rebnndicaps within forty-eight hours, and these are published in the Press. The same should apply to trotting.