SULKY and SADDLE

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 2, Issue 353, 14 October 1932, Page 2

SULKY and SADDLE

WAIKATO JOTTINGS COMMENTS AND NOTES ON CURRENT FORM MANY IMPROVED T1MES

Despite the drizzly weather, the Claudelands course on Saturday was in the best order, §s was ghown by the improved times put up hy most of the placed runners. s>. % He Por instance, in the Introductory Handicap, the winner, the imported mare Nell Volo, who was set to run 3.50, went 3.46 to win, Indolent, 'on the same mark, took a fifth' longer, and Wiriwhata, who was set • to go 3.45, went 3.43 for a third pdacing. That was bad luck for him. * * * In the Frankton Handicap, Taniwha, off a 3.5 mark, went 2.56 2-5 for a win, Roylette, off the same mark, 2.57, and Co'gent 2.59 for third. Don Juan went two s'aconds worse than his handicap, taking 3.0 off a 2.58 peg. In the Mark Memorial, Direct Morning, handicapped to go 4.36, won very easily in 4.32 1-5, and Brentlight notched another second in 4.34 1.5. The sterling performance was that of Peter Firate who in a fast run race off the 108 peg went 4.26 4-5, just a tiek under a second more than his handicap. Carnui did fairly to notch 4.35 2-5 off a 4.36 mark and then get fourth. * =|: * Homeward, in the Stewards, ran 2.54 l-5s off a 2.59 mark and Lady Coronado went a good bit better than her handicap, running the 1| "miles in 2.51 4-5 off a 2.56 handicap. Pukemiro also improved, going 3 4-5 better than his previous best. He also ran a great race to win the next race, the Claudelands Handicap, going 3.26 4-5 from a 3.36 .handicap, a big improvement on his previous running. ❖ * * The outstanding feature of the meeting from the trotting point of view was the double win of Direct Morning. "Bill" Cockbill's gelding showed" such determination that there was no question about his superiority on the handicaps and though' he has improved it seems as if he Still has a race or two in him. There was an impression abroad that he had not gone two milcs, hut as a matter of fact he ran a close second at Thames a year or two ago to Gold Jacket in the Thames Cup, and the winner then went on to win the Auckland Cup. Those who remembered this profited accordingly. ❖ * * The most promising of the straightout trottisrs seen out was Nell Volo, the imported mare winning comfortably in her first start. She had. the advantage of the piloting of Fred Smith, than whom there is no better reinsman in the Dominion. Fred has quiekly made good here, though when he first came out from England some of the would-be's were inclined to turn up their noses at his methods and particularly the gear he used. They know better now. Nell Volo was slow to strike a trot, hut when she did it was "Good night, nurse!" * * Indolent trotted surprisingly well for a novice and as he is only 5 years oid may yet do better in the squaregaiters' class. He is in A* J. Forbes' stable at Morrinsville, which formerly sheltered Homeleigh Girl. The latter is now in Ges Lowe's hands. * ^ * Grand Triumph did not settle down at all, and seems uncertain; Te Awamutu were on him to a man and as he is only 5, he may redeem their faith. * * * * Homeleigh' Girl hardly trotted a yard, and unless Ces Lowe can find the secret to her feminine ways she will be an unhealthy proposition to follow. * ^5

Denis Johnstone, son of Wilfred, made his first appearance as a reinsman and struck that bundle of trouble Kohewah. He did his best and inade a better fist of it than most, but he had no show with the cranky Peterwah — Edenchild gelding. The other leg of the bracket, Mattie Herbilwyn, is also trained hy Geo. Mitchell, and she would not settle down to trot either. * * * * La Triumph ran very greenly, but is the makings of a useful sort. A bit more experience will see the four-year-old daughter of The Triumph' — Le Merial in the money. Her r7am was a good one. * :|= ^ *■ Waskasu did not repeat her Cambridge form at all. It is said that she was not herself and, though she was on terms at the top of the straight, she would not finish at all. Later in the season for h'er, perhaps. * * V Geo. Stubbs has got hold of a nice improver in Autumn Lu and she went very nicely into fourth berth without being at all ready. When she has had a bit more worlc she is likely to give . George a bracket or two, especially in the country meetings. * * * x'eter Tracey is a bit long in the tooth, though he trotted as well as anything in the race. Age may be too much of a handicap for him. * * * * Te Ngutu was ohviously not ready, and finished well back after trotting unevenly. * * * * Wiriwhata was just not good enough for the first two, but he looked Very pretty and will improve with a bit more work. He has been a terrible disappointment in the past hut it looks as if the ide'a of adding him to the list has solved the problem. He trotted soundly and *did not show his previous bad temper at the post. * * * * Hue Coronado was a better pacer than trotter. He has the hardest part part to do Uow he is so far back in the handicaps. Ilt is prohable that he would do better at the pacing gait at some of the smaller meetings, though he is getting no younger. ***** C'ogent weht a fair race to get third in the Frankton, but had little chance. with either Taniwha or Roy-

lette. However, he looked as if he needed a race or two and will probably pay his way on the country cireuit. He is now in Tom Nicholson's stable at Te Awamutu. * * * * " Neither Free Gift nor Our Summer Saunders' pair, impressed mUch. Free Gift never v^ent off and "Our Summer was travelling better half-way than at the finish. ,* * * * Pedlar was a wash-out. The first time, he fell after going a couple oi furlongs and the secOnd time he was well heaten. -It was an exp'ensive day . for his supporters. * - * * * ■ Roylette did reasonably well enough to suggest that the Gold Bell — Miss Dujce gelding is improving. He is in the same colours as Pukemiro these days. * * * * Regina Derby looked toh'ave a show for six furlongs, hut did not go on with it. * * * * Stormy Maek had all the worst of the luck. He was up with the leaders to the turn, but broke when the pressUre was applied and loSt a lo't of ground. He was flying at the finish. He will keep. * * * .* Th(en there was Taniwha. Mxs. Burch is to be congratulated for her perserverance in sticking to the son of The Triumph' — Vora Ena, and the two years she has kept hiln is likely to be repaid. Bob McMillan drove a fine race. * * * * Thelma Mack did not look like doing any damage. She is one of the washy chestnuts and ran like it. * * * * Don JuaU got the stitch early this time. He appears to b6 getting worse. A mile is about as far as he seems ■ to care to go. i* Alexis was the surprise. Though he was lame on going out he went well enough the first time out to bear watching, an'd when he all hut Won the second time the 23 people on him had a royal win. Incidentally, the tickets were held by less than half-a-aozen people. * * * * Glandore was very gross and though he went off right and led for six furlongs in the Park Memorial, he blew up and stopped very quiekly. He seems better ahle to compass a short sprint nowadays. The fact that he struck a gait is a novelty. * * * * Oliver Thorpe is just good enough to get -licked. He was, with his brother Nathaniel, broken in by a local resident and so far he has just been out of profit over the horse. * * * * Brentlight added to his string of seconds and must be accounted a!n unlucky gelding to strike Direct Morning in the form he was. He will sooner or later pay his way, but thene is a lot of leeway to make up. * * * * Carnui is not in "Misere's" opinion a horse to follow. He breaks watches on the traek but when it comes to business with the silk up he fails again and again. Fred Smith is heartily sick of him by this time, but probably the E1 Carbine gelding will do it when he is least expected. S|C 5^ Te Wahia is not ready yet, but when he is he will be worth following. ❖ H* # # First Flight was not herself and her running was the subject of an, inquiry which was answered satisfactorily. * * * *

Sid August h'as Homeward pretty well and he should pay his way in the smaller meetings to come. * * * * Margaret Wallace did the same as usual; went Off like a train and stopped like a cur. * * * * Pukemiro \^as consi(stency itself. A third and a win were his portion of the prize-money ,and he will win more yet. One to watch, this chap. : * * * * J'ersey Thorpe went better than for ; a long time past and may be improving with age. * * * * Rector came with' a big reputation | from Hastings, but the left-handed | track did not seem to' suit him, for he hung out at the bends. I * * * Eleawah jigged on the mark ' and even so finished fairly well up. When she does go away she will he hard. * * * . ; ; Lady Coronado, after b'eing h6mmed in all the journey, h'ad to pUll outside three horses and then tvas flying over everything at the finish. In her second start she fell. She was most unlucky. Rey de Quest finished a bad last and the change of Stable does not seem to have cured hihi." He is ahowing a distinct inclination 'to "turn it up" wheii pnessed nowadays. Howover, if he can be cured, Norm Vernall will probably do it. • * * * Donee went well for his third to Pukemiro and Alexis, bflt has no't the hlOom he had when in McMillan's charge. ijt ifi • • Lislea went moderately ahd was ohviously not ready. • He will be- worth watching later "on.' He is in. McMillan's stable at Tamahere. * sf * * Sister Chris went like a hairy. goat for the first three furlongs, paced the next two, and died away at the deathknock. . .***_* It is time Laurier was allowed to» /eat the oats of idleness, the old warrior has had enough knocking about. . * . *. * * . Moko Bells had every * "chance but could not foot it with- E1 ifeerit or Carh Mack. He is now on a particularly hard mark. j * * * _ . E1 Merit won hy sheer grit and S* "" v ": ' '

solid trotting. She improved a bit on her handicap. ^ Carl Maek broke twies and is still not a betting proposition. • ' ❖ ^ 1 ; AdjUtant is not a had sort hut is hardly fit as yet. He- paced smoothly enough, hut did not see it out. ^ ❖ Winshow upSet the hig spec in Pegaway, outstaying-him and winning under the whip without a falter. "She improved close on hine seconds on her handicap and still has a few up her sleeve when re-handicapped. Incidentally, J. B. Pringle, Mr. Corrigan's new trainer, produced the 'goods both in condition and driving and the combination will win more races. * * * * It will not be long hefore Inverness takes the eye. He is as ugly as a gate-legged table, but nevertheless he is the goods-. Just a matter of time oefore he salutes the judge. # ❖ ^ $ Explosion gave a shocking exhibition. He trotted, then he paced, theh he galloped, and finally he came in in a walk, half • a mile behind the rest. "Bill" Clifton has a job to p'lace thfe Moodabe cast-off to any advantage nowadays. * . * * .* Pegaway should have won but !was badly driven. First he was kept back, then -he covered tWo furlongs at top, then he slackened in behind.

and finally he ■ made his run far"troo soon and was naturally well stoushed. *i *, ■>*' * Dad's Hope is still going just well enough to get fourth, and that's aS far as he gets. * * * Free Logan lost fully 100 yards through jigging on the mark and then Went' u^) -very ffaSt. ; Moran to'Ok him in on the rails and was hemmed in and had to pull out. He then finished fifth so it looked a's if he was a good thing beaten. Next time for him, perhaps. •j- *t*. *5* ^ Master Huia went for the lick of his life and opened " up a ten length break on the field only to blow up with a bang at the end of seven fux4 longs. * * * ! Real Girl went well enotigh, but could not foot it With Direct Morning. Oliver - Thorpe went his usual race to he just topp'ed off. Auckland is the next to consider, and of that more later.