Trotting.

Putaruru Press, Volume VII, Issue 278, 7 March 1929, Page 8

Trotting.

WAIKATO AUTUMN MEETING. Notes on Running. The popular Waikato Trotting Club provided followers of the light harness sport with a capital day’s racing on Saturday. The fixture was particularly well managed, and the secretary (Mr. T. G. Reynolds), president (Mr. H. W. Burch) and their hard-working and capable committee are deserving of congratulations. The course was in splendid order, and some fast times were recorded.

The form of many of the performers had been somewhat exposed at the recent Auckland meeting, so that, big dividends were not the order of the day; in fact, the two largest dividends Wfcre paid by horses which filled second places, Te Ngutu in the Improvers’ Handicap and the Tartar in the Dominion Handicap. On the other hand there was only one really short dividend for first place, Tamahine being at odds on in the Improvers’ Handicap. The Canterburytrained one trotted like a good one and justified the public confidence.

Carmel and Mountain Dell cleared out from the field in the Progressive Handicap, of one and a-half miles, and had the real race to themselves. Carmel always looked the winner of the pair, and gave J. S. Shaw the first of his three winning drives of the day. A hot bracket, Warplane and Torpedo Huon, was the most popular choice for investors in the Cup. Warplane did not go well, but Torpedo Huon early got into good position and led over the last circuit. The Australian importation had to be shook up, however, to stall off a strong challenge from Gold Dial, which was paying double figures for a win. Lady Dunmore went well throughout, and should soon reach the winning list again. Future prospects will depend a great deal on how the handicapper views the time recorded. If he makes allowances for the fast track both Gold Dial and Lady Dunmore will have excellent chances at forthcoming country fix- ' tores.

The three-year-old Koro Peter quickly took up a good position ir. the Members’ Handicap for unhoppled trotters, but the erstwhile-Matamata-owned Anseline ranged alongside before they had gone many furlongs and fairly worried the youngster into a break on the last circuit. But for this fault Koro Peter would have won, for he was going better than Anseline When the post was reached. Peter McKinney was some lengths back third. Anseline is a very fit mare just now. Koro Peter as a two-year-old was not known to put a foot wrong. He has now developed a practice of faulting under pressure, and it may be a wise policy to keep him away from the race track for a while. The Tartar was another that broke his gait in this race. Mutu improved very little on his handicap of 96 yards. Rolfe Audubon was a hot one downed in the Raglan Handicap, ol two miles. The son of the Great Northern Derby winner did not get away well and never looked like a winner. Cornelian got out with a big break and the next to sort itself out was the Tirau-owned Limosa. Mr. Horscroft’s mare got within striking distance of Cornelian, but the latter had a bit in reserve. Rolfe Audubon came very fast over the last furlong to get third. The second favourite, Andover, cracked up at the start. Hughie Wallace, recently disposed of by Mr. Jack Tims, looked like creating a surprise in the middle stages of the journey, but could not see it out.

Medusa was a pronounced favourite for the sprint, with Tony Victor second choice. The latter quickly got position and was not troubled on the journey. Medusa, running second, broke an the straight, and Gold Dial, which had made very little improvement from the 36 yards mark, for three-quarters of a mile, came with a terrific burst of speed to get second. Nella Dillon was a fair fourth.

Anseline was penalised three seconds for the Dominion Handicap, for which Trustworthy was made favourite, with Bell Dial (full sister to Gold Dial) second favourite. Lady Linda and The Tartar were the outsiders of the field of nine. The Tartar quickly made up his 108 yards, hut each time he was favour-

ably placed to take the lead he messed it and Trustworthy hugged the rails for a win from The Tartar, Anseline and Wild Nut. Bell Dial did not look ready for a long journey, and the outing should do the mare good.

The Farewell Handicap saw Mountain Dell backed down to nearly even money, with Regret carrying a few more pounds than Nella Dillon. In a clinking race Nella Dillon pre- : vailed by a half-length from Mountain Dell, with Regret a neck away. Admiral Lock was well placed tq have a winning chance but broke when the pressure was app od in the straight.

Etta Cole, which Was to have been a starter in the Members’ Handicap, was brought from Auckland by motor, but owing to a breakdown did not arrive on the course until the horses were at the post. Meanwhile the mare had the scratching pen put through her name.