METHVEN TROTTING CUP

NZ Truth, Issue 1192, 4 October 1928, Page 15

METHVEN TROTTING CUP

Big Field Will Face Tapes, and, Open Contest Likely

(By "The Toff.")

The whips will be cracking at the progressive Canterbury township, Methven, on Saturday. The chief event will be the Methven Trotting Cup over two miles and out of a field of 37, speculation is rife as to which will score.

LAST season, Loiterer, a pupil m O. E. Hooper's stable, made a promising debut at Ashburton where m a mile and a-half contest, he was narrowly beaten for first money by Delightful. A week later, Loiterer romped home m a mile and a-quarter event at. Petone. In both- his efforts he acted as if. he .could go two miles and off 4.45, he promises to be In the finish at Methven. Firelight; also is a member of O. E. Hooper's stable. Firelight was supported at the recent Wellington fixture, but the conditions did not suit the gelding, which has the ability to go two miles. .--'.. Firelight is on 24yds. at Methven, and while he must be conceded a possibility, it is not improbable that he will be beaten, for first money. For instance, m the Wellington Handicap, of two miles at Petone, Real Light from 4.44 beat Firelight under a similar handicap as he is meeting him under at Methven. Real Light got it m the neck on the trip, and then was up with the leaders a hundred yards from the' judge. At Methven, Real Light must be very hard to beat. He is m receipt of 24yds. from Sunfish, which is 12yds. more than he had from that gelding when he finished m front of him at Petone. -. On that form Real Light should finish m front of Sunfish also. But wait on! The track at Wellington bewildered Sunfish. This was amply demonstrated by the performance of Sunfish at Aahburton two weeks ago where he ran a g<Jod race over a mile and a-quarter and beat all but that, topping three-year-old Wrackler. , Just because Sunfish is called upon to concede Real Light 24yds. it is nq. certainty that he. will not be alongside 1 of Real Light when they wheel for' home. ;/ .iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii|iiiiitiiinmi.iti!

For. the purpose of a comparison between Real Light and Travis Axworthy the Wellington Handicap again enters into the argument. In the Petoiie j_ace Travis Axworthy and Real Light both started from 4.44, Travis Axworthy finishing three lengths m front of Real Light after a ding-dong battle down the straight. At 'Methven, Travis Axworthy has - to give , Real ■ Light 12yds., which should enable Real Light to turn the tables, on his American colleague. At Forbury, Dick Logan ■ was responsible for two good performances, onfe pf them being over two miles, which is proof of his ability to stay. He isi a stoutly-made gelding that is lil-ely to. improve, and for that reason he' will have to be remembered this season, .perhaps at Methven. As for .Invader, his chance is weakened, on account of his tactics at the start, which to date have cost him a lot of ground., Off 4.43 he • cannot afford to lose anything at the getaway;' c J-' 5 . For a, long time White Sun has been uhder the supervision of W. J. Tomfcinson, who 'has a knack of effecting considerable . improvement ln most Horses.. '''■ • . ,; White Sun appears to be doing hretty well ; for the Addington trainer, .but- just, whether he is wound up sufficiently to win on Saturday is doubtful. The. best line on the gelding will be ■on the day, for if he takes his place 'at the barrier he will be well supported; .-''.".; Over two miles there is no form to offer m support of Wrackler, put; being of the tough order andy a promising stayer he cannot be -ignored. . .- .-..-.-. i At the same time, m making a final selection, one feels inclined to depend upon Real Light, Travis Axworthy and Sunfish. j