AMONG THE TROTTERS

NZ Truth, Issue 1238, 22 August 1929, Page 15

AMONG THE TROTTERS

(By "The Toff") In the mile and a-half Improvers' Handicap the second day of the meeting, Koro Peter, handicapped at 3.30, went 3.25 for the journey, and this after a bad break at a critical time.

THE race was a good contest and Herbilwyn, as on the first day, showed a lot of speed and stayed on better than usual. He just failed to withstand Koro Peter's great finish, but the South Canterbury-trained trotter was m his best form. Aileen "Wood did not seem to be able to go at the speed, although she went steadily throughout. -Peter Lin at one stage looked like being troublesome. Audo Bell went further and faster than m any of his recent efforts, but a mistake two furlongs from home settled his chances. . Wild Hebe got into trouble going out of the straight the last time which cost him ground, but be put up a fine race. /Young Carbine went one of the best races of his career. He seems to be sounder than usual and may be a winner m the near future. Clonmel looks like a back' number. He will neither begin right nor keep steady m his races. The two-mile event was a very fine race and ' noticeable for the way m which the whole nine m the field kept to their feet. Western Voyage was always prominent and he took charge at half the distance. He trotted very solidly all the way, .although Tomkinson had to use the 1 greatest of care m keeping him to his gait. In the concluding stages he showed a lot of stamina and drew away to win comfortably. Western Voyage may now go on to better things as ne is racing with more confidence and his stamina is a valuable asset. Lee Todd trotted another of his most solid races and was only beaten for speed. He did not make a mistake. Audominion, which is not yet quite ready, trotted well till the last quarter of a. mile, and when he is quite right will see out the journey better. Nighborn, like Lee Todd, was steadiness itself, which is somewhat of a novelty for him, but he did not have sufficient speed. Native Star is not going at her best and. although Money Spider looked bright and wel1 ( he was not noticeable at the, end. of the journey. Kempton did not stay as well as

usual, but he showed a lot of speed m patches. Bingen Star, which got third, made a bad beginning and was inclined to mix his gait more than once. The. new system of handicapping gave Koro Peter his third victory when he won the Midwinter Handicap on the third day of the meeting. Practically the same field contested the first race on each day and curiously enough Koro Petor looked to have the hardest task m his initial effort. Young Carbine, put up quite a good showing, but Herbilwyn, as on the other days, did not stay. Duke Bingen raced most consistently and m his third effort was a dividend earner. ' Koro Peter seemed' to improve with each race and there is 'no doubt but that he is certain to show even further improvement. Bonny Belmont, racing on the second and third days, was very different to his showing m the niud on the opening day, but the Australian trotter is a very erratic customer. - Aileen Wood was a big disappointment. She seemed unable to muster up any speed at all m her races. , The two-mile race saw Money Spider from the back mark get up to win a good race by a length and pay a dividend ribt usually received by his backers. The previous J-aoing evidently improved Bryce's trotter as he went *r>isrllv, ooveHnjar the .distance m 2.25 l/ssecs., becoming another horse elisibie for the Cup. Bingen Star trained off somewhat and did not seem to be so good on the' last day as m the mud on the opening day. He has not yet thoroughly settled down to trot at his best speed: Nighborn has never looked better and trotted well, but had not enough speed, nor had Lee Todd. Western Voya-je may have beaten Money Spider if Tomkinson had gone on faster over the last half-. . mile. Native Star might have been made more use of over the earlier, stages. She was set an almost impossible task over the last half-mile, but trotted very fast and eventually got third place.