TROTTING

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 50, 21 May 1927, Page 9

TROTTING

(By “ABAYDOS.") NOTES AND COMMENTS FROM NEAR AND FAR Not His Long Suit If Nelson Tasker is kept for sprint events he should be able to rake in a nice piece of stake money for his lady owner, Mrs. K. Nicholls. The son of Nelson Bingen—Sal Tasker is a speedy customer, but judging from his displays on the race track staying is not his long suit. Off the end of a classy mile or ten furlong flutter the Hender-son-trained pacer should keep any field busy.

A Short Shrift After Moko Pete’s inglorious display at Cambridge, W. Evans decided that his room was preferable to his company and he was labelled “outsky.” The Peter Moko —Fanny Maddison gelding, was showing a good turn of speed in his work prior to the meeting, and the manner in which he was behaving suggested a likelihood of the brown gelding being O.K. in his races. When the colours were up however Moko Pete was a horse of another colour as far as manners were concerned, and he acted disappQintingly. In The Long Acres

A. M. Hill, owner of the Ghoai — Mistle pacer Hypo, who appears to be taking a long time to come right, is also owner of the recent Australian arrival Dad’s Hope, who was brought across from the Commonwealth by Geo. Phipps. Mr. Hill has sent his latest purchase to Hinuera to spend the winter months, but when the summer season rolls round Dad’s Hope will be placed under the charge of the Epsom trainer, W. Clifton. Dad’s Hope will be Hill’s hope too.

Mixing The Business R. Hall, the successful galloping mentor at Papatoetoe, finds time to attend to the pacers Stanmoor and Reliance, and it is quite on the cards the pair will be sporting silk at Alexandra Park next month. Stanmoor, an aged son of Wildmoor can keep the dust out of his eyes over ten or twelve furlongs, while his stable companion, who is a son of Gold Bell, can get over a journey. Reliance should be somewhere about the end of the Adams Gold Cup next month.

Finding It Hard The aged chestnut gelding Huon Grattan, who is owned by the lady patron of the sport, Mrs. M. B. Arnott, and trained by A. Morrow, of Remuera, is a difficult proposition for those connected with him. In his more recent essays the son of Grattan Abbey—Lena Huon has shown that he is not class enough from his tight mark and if success is to come his way he will require to have a bit more in his favour.

Roamer Roaming Around Although Roamer has not had a race since the Thames meeting the black fellow is looking the picture of good health and it should not take trainer Roe long to wind him up to concert pitch when the occasion arises. Th.e son of Advance has been roaming around the Mangere track revelling in his easy tasks, but he will be put through his paces again very shortly. Among Gold and Silver IVhen the Papatoetoe-trained Marionette sported silk at Cambridge she did not look as if she was properly wound up, although she carried the confidence of her party. Cutts’ mare is capable of doing better, and the racing should have considerably benefitted her. With a gold Bell sire, a Patch of Gold dam. and blue and stiver chequers as her livery. Marionette is certainly suggestive of a cash connection, and a decent cheque may yet fall to the portion of her owner. A Great Constitution Van Rich has not been asked to do any severe tasks since his unsuccess-

ful run at Cambridge, but the let up should do the Van Coronado gelding the ■world of good. Prior to coming into Kinnimont’s hands, the Southerner was a much-travelled, mucliraced customer, and he is evidently an iron-constituted horse. If the Royal Oak mentor gets him freshened up for June, Van will show the opposition that he has not gone into a long slumber.

Slipping Back The Petereta gelding Peter Brown, who is under the care of W. Stevens at Hamilton, appears to have lost all form, if his few last displays are to be taken as any criterion. Peter is getting to that stage when he will find it pretty hard to pick up any browns for his owner, and his prospects of picking up a stake do not look at all cheerful. Bright And Shining Star

Will Native Star come to Auckland for the June meeting, is a question oft asked by trotting enthusiasts the last few days. The correct answer will be given by Mr. C. F. Mark, secretary of the Auckland Club on June 2, but should owner Foy decide to bring the daughter of Native King north, her admirers can rest assured she will be in rare trim to tackle the opposition. Next season the Feildingowned mare will be a bright star in the trotting firmament. A Pension Applicant

J. Gee should have a good hand in the shuffle for the unhoppled heats at the forthcoming fixture with two such stout representatives as Anseline and Amberite. The former was always in the picture at the recent Cambridge meeting, and should be all the better for her exertions. The Castaway gelding Amberite, who has the distinction of being the oldest trotter racing in the district, has not lost all his punch, and may win another heat before receiving the old age pension. A Tough Nut

Although Peterson was not seen at his best when racing at Cambridge, the Mangere-trained trotter is infusing a bit of dash into his work of late and there is a chance that the Petereta gelding will be showing a glimpse of his old-time ability next month. When wound up to concert pitch Peterson is a bold determined trotter and it takes a solid one to beat him in a hard finish.

A Chocolate Soldier Colonel Thorpe, the big disappointing son of Our Thorpe—Lady Natalie, is still putting in an appearance at Epsom with the other members of H. Kinnimont’s team. The Colonel has a soldierly appearance, but when it comes to racing acts like a chocolate soldier and crumbles up to nothing. His owner, trainer and most assuredly his few consistent supporters must be heartily sick of the trotter by now.

Not Staying The Distance The aged gelding Bluewood in T. Roe’s stable has as much pep as a lot of the young fry. When stepped out in company at Mangere the son of Wildwood Junr. and Blue Rose gives an exhibition that is surprising concerning his advanced years,' and over ten or twelve furlongs can keep the best of the square-gaited fraternity busy. Unfortunately for his owner all the trotting events on the local card 1 next month are over a two-mile journey.

Much Discussed Gaza Judging by the amount of ink that has been spilt over Gaza, owner-trainer Cameron could not be blamed if he considered the son of Our Thorpe a valuable animal. One day he is in the boom, another he is in the hospital, and yet another he flatters te hopes of his supporters, who appear to be fairly numerous in this quarter. The writer only saw the publicity pacer once and that was at Cambridge, but Gaza, if rid of his reported cold, shut up in a manner that was anything but impressive. Of course he may still have that frog in his throat.

A Good Family Followers of the trotting game are well acquainted with the fact that the Canterbury-owned pacer Loganwood is a solid customer, and one that gets some good money for his connections each season. His younger brother, Logan King, while not so far emulating the doughty deeds of the elder son of Logan Pointer—Myrtlewood, is full of promise, and it is interesting to note that owner-trainer Dransfield is working an attractive half-brother to the pair by Author Dillon. This colt, barring accidents, will contest the New Zealand Sapling Stakes next month. Another Sapling Stakes Candidate A two-year-old at present in work in the Cathedral City, and attracting a good deal of attention on account of fine flashes of speed which it shows, is an offspring of Wildwood Junr. and Letitia, a mare by Lord Elmo out of Fatality. The youngster is one of the probable contestants of the Sapling Stakes next month, but may not be forward enough to do itself justice in such a classical field. Interesting Competitions The riders and drivers and trainers’ premiership has also reached a highly interesting stage and several of the leading division in each section are well in the running, and by the time the Auckland meeting concludes some changes may have taken place. In the riders and skirmish, “Drum” Withers is leading with 25 wins, but M. B. Edwards (23*), W. J. Tomkinson (22), are in good positions. In the trainer’s section, M. B. Edwards is in the van with 225 victories to his credit, but W. J. Tomkinson (21) is close on his heels, and J. (“Scotty”) Bryce (18), is also in the firing-line.

Champion Sire Contest With only a few meetings left to decide the sires’ supremacy for the present season, the contest has arrived at a decidedly interesting stage, particularly between the holder of the riband, Logan Pointer, and Nelson Bingen, the difference at the time of writing being one in favour of Logan Pointer. Trotting enthusiasts throughout the Dominion are watching the ultimate result with the keenest interest.

Galloping Trotters The question of trotters indulging in galloping tactics during a race is still causing some concern in the South, and many sporting critics continue to comment caustically on recent happenings in this direction. After citing several interesting cases of horses making up a lot of leeway by adopting a Rapine gait in preference to their own, and incidentally gettting away with it and the stake also, “Mascot” in the “Trotting Journal” of recent issue, says: “Plainly drivers of unhoppled trotters are ‘making a welter’ of the breaking of rules with horses that can break, gallop fast, and catch their gait again.” This practice, he adds, will surely have to be stopped. Peter McKinney’s Best

Peter McKinney, the son of Petereta, who is now located at Auckland, where he is undergoing a preparation for the local meeting next month, is a much performed trotter, and while he has not a great number of wins to his credit, is never far away from the front line. Peter’s best time performance was at Christchurch in February where he finished second to Audobell in a twomile trot, registering 4.35. Subsequently, at the Metropolitan Easter meeting, Peter McKinney was handicapped on a 4.39 mark, and although made favourite failed to get any money. It will be interesting to see how Mr. Turner’s representative shapes on the grass track.