N.Z.M.T. CLUB MEETING.

Otago Witness, Issue 2892, 18 August 1909, Page 55

N.Z.M.T. CLUB MEETING.

Despite its deplorably cumbersome title. the New Zealand Metropolitan Trott ingClub continues to flourish and thrive like ■the green bay tree, and splendid attendances were on hand during the meeting. The track -was in excellent order, and fast xaces were of frequent occurrence. The speed rate was not particularly pronounced on .the first day, but on the second day Sling Cole stepped 4.47, and did much to enhance the reputation of his sire. King Col« was handled in a masterly manner by N. Price, who used one of the others in the field as a wind-shield, and drew out in tb.9 last lap to go to the above mark. King Cole is bred on speed lines, as he -was got by Ribbonwood (2.9) from Kola Nut . who was got by a sire of speed in Rothschild. Kola Nut is a daughter of Kola, by Harold Childe (son of Childe Harold) from a thoroughbred mare. Later in the day Florin went a mile in 2.21, after -acting as runner-up to King Cole in the King Edward Handicap ; and then the Burlington Jun pony Cinders -went 2.24 to win the Dash Handicap. Dick Fly (Dictator— Bot Fly) won the National Cup in 4.42, in m&Moh race Durbar got badly away at the start. Bright (Rothschild— Ptarmigan) •went 4.55 in saddle, but was perhaps lucky to beat Woodland Whispers, who "started off the same mark, but put in a couple of bad breaks. Another Rothschild <n Osborne R. went 3.39, and he is such a good looker that it is a pity he was uneexed'. His dam, Black Belle, was got by Blackwcod Abdallah (imp.) from Fanny Bell (imp.), the dam of Kentucky. Still again another Rothschild ' was to the fore in Revenue, who went 2.18 in the Lightning Handicap. Revenue is a half-brother to the crack mare Myosoti», who w«nt 2.13 (on a mile track) last season; but last week's winner is a square trotter, and his fcatf-sister acts in the pacing straps. The Vancleve gelding Verax went 2.56 (one mile and a-quarter) in the International Handicap, and in one of his races a beaten horse in Lord Ehno went a. mile in 2.18. The alterations to the track, it is understood, will be put in hand at once, and daring the (balance of the season no doubt some new records will be hung out. It was fast enough for Ribbonwood to go 2.9, but the writer .has always dubbed it one of the worst-shaped tracks in the world, said the wonder is that such fast times have been put up on the track. To give some idea of the track's shape to these who have never seen its formation it need only be pointed out that the turn out of the straight forms not a " turn," but quite a sharp angle, and the next turn is not much better. The far-away and home turns are better, but it is flattery to call it a speed-compiling track under its existing formation. The club, however, has decided to unlock some of its hoarded thousands, &zui the end of tbe year trill probably find our best horses acting a 2.10 gait on thereabouts.