TROTTING

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 40, 10 May 1927, Page 6

TROTTING

BY

ABAYDOS

LIGHT-HARNESS SPORT AT CAMBRIDGE SOME STIRRING FINISHES FORM AND PERFORMANCES With the exception of the first four horses to pass the post in the Introductory Handicap, the trotters gave a very poor display and even that of Paradigm. Heal Todd, Amberite and Lena Ansel, who filled the placings, was nothing to enthuse over. None of the quartette got within several seconds of their handicap time. Spirited speculation between Real Todd and Paradigm saw the Haweratrained Todd Bells gelding an eight pound better favourite and the public were correct in summing up the situation, as the pair fought out the finish, Paradigm getting the decision. The winner only made one break, but the fault nearly cost him the race. Real Todd did not put in an appearance till the last half and finished strong under punishment. There was an eleventh-hour rush to be on the Henderson-trained Billy Carbine, which gave him third place in the betting, but he was never in the picture. Roez, who received best support of the remainder, gave a poor display and finished well back. Amberite went a solid race and came strongly over the final stages for third money. BRILLIANT BEGINNER From the seventeen starters in the Leamington Handicap, the Whangarei mare Lola Reklaw, whose promising form at Thames was still fresh in the public mind, was .entrusted with the biggest quota on the machine, and the daughter of Harold Dillon fully justified the confidence placed in her. Commencing very briskly, Lola soon reduced the gap and at the end of three furlongs was in behind the leader, Great Eyre. When called upon for a final effort Schon’s mare shot out and looked to be winning easily, when Golden Park came with a rattle and nearly upset the pot. The favourite was shaken up again and answering the call won by a long neck. Golden Park was not sighted with the first division into the straight but she finished with dash and determination. There was a lot of money for Araroa, but the Mangere-trained pacer did not begin well and never appeared in the picture. Great Eyre was supported with confidence and went a good race, being in front to the turn and making a bold bid right to the box, where she was fourth. Signor was well in it a hundred yards from home, where he broke, but recovering made a desperate effort, only to tangle near the tape, and third was his portion. ROCK HINTON TOO GOOD

Festive Morn, Scandal and Uncle Bert were erased from the Cambridge Cup list of contestants, leaving fourteen to face the starter. The public were in good speculative mood and when the tote windows closed down Respect was carrying £33 10s more than Rock Hinton and Lady Dunmore £72 less

than the latter. Goldman was the most fancied of the others. The favourite gave his supporters a good run for their money and although not having sufficient speed to silence Rock Hinton, beat the rest just as easily as the winner beat him. Rock Hinton was in behind the first bunch a mile from home and was shepherded by the favourite, who followed him to the front three furlongs from home. The pair drew' clear, but Rock Hinton won comfortably. Third money went to Heather Girl, who was nearly the outsider of the field. She did not have the best of the luck in the early stages, but was running as well at the finish, although she had no chance of beating the pair in front of her. Bingen King, who was on his toes at the get-away, was early steering the field, but when the pressure was on over the last quarter he could not keep his place and finished fourth. Master Councillor and Ruapere were in the tiring line till the straight was reached, and Lord Nepean and Goldman did best of those further back. AN UNFORTUNATE SPILL Lola Reklaw was penalised 24 yards in the Hautapu Handicap, but this did not prevent backers making the Whangarei mare a firm favourite, Gaza and Golden Grattan being next in order on the machine. Passing the stand the favourite was picking up her field in great style, and it looked odds on Lola hitting the front round the top turn, but she hit Nella Dillon’s sulky, which suddenly collapsed in the favourite’s track, and Lola came down and her chances were extinguished. Gaza went off well and with half the journey covered was leading the field, tie was first into the straight and being proclaimed the winner when Golden Grattan and Charming Pronto headed him. Gratton had Pronto’s measure when Single Mint came with remarkable dash and got to within a neck of Golden Grattan at the box., Single Mint was not near the leaders at the turn, but Cunningham’s mare came with a wet sail and made the finish interesting. Charming Pronto went a fair race for third, Gaza being a length behind him. Pearl Fisher and Boada’s Child were well placed at the turn for home, but failed to see it out. Black Ballin, who was well fancied in some quarters, would not leave when the signal was given, while Dealer also gave a “jig” display at the get-away. UNCLE BERT ARRIVES The saddle race was the signal for spirited speculation, Taipare (£414) High Sea (£354), Scandal (£345)[ Uncle Bert ( £288) being accorded most support, Our Pirate next in demand. The favourite was a big disappointment, as after beginning nicely and being well placed for seven furlongs he dropped back and never rallied again, passing the post well behind the rest of the field. Uncle Bert never gave his supporters any cause for uneasiness, and after laying behind the leading quartette till four furlongs from Home, Broughton shot his mount to the front, and going on full of running the Epsom-trained pacer scored a decisive victory. High Sea did not begin well and was not with the first half dozen goin out of the straight He made no impression down the back but making for the home turn the Southerner began to make up, and was finishing strong in the straight, getting within half a length of the second horse, Our Pirate, while lacking dash paced solidly. Beatty looked being in the money at one stage, but put in a bad skip on the home turn Surveyor was always in a handy posi-

tion, but could do no better than fourth. Percy Dillon was the advance agent for a good part of the distance but got the stitch. KOLMAR GOES KINDLY Nothing looked or moved nicer during the preliminaries of the Bardowto Handicap, for straight-out trotter?, exceptions, would have none of him. than Kolmar, but the public, with few Native Star, fresh from her Southern successes, was the elect of backern, and was the best backed performer during the day. The Native mare made a great bid to retain the public confidence, and while she bent everything else pointless in the event she succumbed to Kolmar by a narrow margin. Fay’s mare was unlucky to strike Kolmar on his "day out.” The winner went away kindly and Willetts drove him steadily and kept in behind the two leaders for a circuit, where he went to the front Native Star came at Willetts’s mount in the straight, but under the whip Kolmar never flinched and keeping a true course gave of his best to win and return his supporters a doublefigure dividend. Direct Action, who got third money, piloted the field for nine furlongs, where a bad break saw him lose the position. Paul hunted him along beside Native Star, but he tangled and showed an inclination to gallop, and from then on had no chance with the other pair. The Tartar, from 168yds. behind, went solidly and was well up at the finish. STIRRING FINISH There was a stirring finish in the Stewards’ Handicap, in which Ix»|a Reklaw, although penalised 36 yards and making her third appearance for the afternoon, was again the medium of solid speculation, being within £l® 10s of the favourite, Red Star, when the machine ceased business, with Festive Morn also in demand. Lola repeated her previous brilliant performances of getting off the mark and before the field was properly warmed up she was in the van. There she remained till well up the straight, when Mars and Red Star appeared on the scene, and in a punishing finish Mars beat* the consistent Lola Reklaw by a neck, the favourite a neck away, third. Although defeated, the Whangarei mare was not disgraced, hut after her outings earlier in the d®? and over a longer journey, it was asking her too much to gather up th e field so quickly and try to win from end to end. Mars was not unduly bustled in the early stages and when called upon for a final burst responded in great style. Red Star did not commence quickly, but once under way went solidly and finished strong. The Dealer and Black Ballin went off correctly, and three furlongs from home were possibilities, but fourth and sixth was their portion at the postFestive Morn made no showing at all and is not yet ready. A GREAT FINALE Backers were looking for a recov ! ery in the last event on the card, which drew nineteen starters, and sorted out Admiral Lock (£698) Tui ZolocK

(£537 10s), and Van Rich (£440) a* the most likejy to bring grist to tn* mill. The race produced a sensations finish and when three heads flashed past the box only the man inside could tell which was which. The three were Admiral Lock, Tui Zolock and Master Huia, and they were placed in th® order, only a head separating Tui Zolock and Master Huia were fighting for the purse, with honours slightly in favour of Shaw’s charge, when Julian brought Admiral Loc* along with a fine sustained effort an got the verdict on the post. Maste Huia put up a great fight and n»» 79 supporters went very close to £ e *" ting a sound return on their * nve f,,i ment. Beatty was in the picture tin the turn, where she skipped, but recovered and went on to finish four-"-Typist was the pacemaker for 8 furlongs, and Surveyor was well plac to the home stretch, where he f°u D the pace too hot. Van Rich was slo* to find his feet and never threaten danger when he got going, Taip*** also finishing in the ruck.