THREE-YEAR-OLDS

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 62, 4 June 1927, Page 15

THREE-YEAR-OLDS

THE FINAL TEST HIGH-CLASS YOUNGSTERS MEET AT CANTERBURY PARK There is an interesting event scheduled on the second day of the Canterbury Park Trotting Club's meeting, which opens to-day, that demands more than passing notice, as it gives the prominent three-year-olds of the season a final chance of testing their powers against each other before retiring on their winter vacation. When they next enter the trotting arena they are past the juvenile stage, and have no further event confined to themselves. MATURITY HANDICAP The race‘referred to is known to the light harness fraternity as the Maturity Handicap, and the matter of bringing the three-year-olds together is left to the handicapper. In the classics during the season about to close, the youngsters met on a common level, and a few proved their superiority over their comrades, but in the heat set down for decision at Christchurch to-day over a mile and a -half, the better-performed contestants will be required to concede their less fortunate opponents such start as the adjuster thinks will meet the case commensurate with their times and the limit conditions of the race. TWENTY-ONE ENTRANTS That the heat under review justifies its inclusion on the Canterbury Park menu is demonstrated by the fact that 21 entries have been received for this year’s contest. This excellent response further proves that the Maturity Handicap is popular with owners and trainers, who evidently appreciate the opportunity of testing the three-year-olds after the seasons’ work. PROFICIENCY EXAMINATION This event coming at such a suitable period—toward the termination of the season’s activities—can be truly designated a “proficiency examination,” and the handicapper in reviewing the work of the candidates for the year, allots the marks from which the final test is made. In the event coming up for settlement this week-end there is excellent material for the examiner to work on, and the result of his efforts as reflected by the ultimate performance of the contestants will be awaited with interest.

NOTABLE ABSENTEES A glance through the list of entrants for the 1927 contest shows that the champion three-year-old, Great Peter, winner of the Northern Derby and Champion Stakes, is missing, but it was hardly to be expected that Mr. Tims would take his fine son of Nelson Bingen—Bertha Bell back to Canterbury for this event, and the youngster having earned his oats for some time to come, was allowed to rest on his laurels. Shadowland, winner of the New Zealand Derby, is another absentee, and the Realm gelding, who trained off after his visit to Auckland in the summer, is also on the easy list. Richore, winner of the 1926 New Zealand Sapling Stakes, is also numbered with the missing. The son of Rey de Ora has been a disappointment in his races as a three-year-old and has not fulfilled either his two-year-old or training promise. PROVED PERFORMERS Among the big list of nominations, however, some young pacers, whose performances this season have proved their high class ability, are worthy of special notice. Included in this category are Author Jinks, Rey Logan, Asset, No Fear, Achray, Hay dock, Denver’s Doll and the less successful, but promising, Brent Fire, Helen Firebrand and Nan Brent. These comprise the best-known of those engaged, but some of the maidens may be capable of adding interest to the struggle for supremacy among the three-year-old division. AUTHOR DILLON’S STRONG HAND In Author Jinks, Achray and No Fear, the young sire Author Dillon has a trio that will make a bold bid to place their parent’s name on the list of winners of this event. Achray and No Fear have each won on the Golden Coast, and while the company encountered may not have been of a high standard, they accomplished their tasks in a manner that suggested being capable of better things. A maiden named Author Wood will also assist in making things interesting. A REAL CRACK-A-JACK From the North Cape to the Bluff, it will be readily admitted by all followers of the popular light harness pastime that Author Jinks is a real crack-a-jack three-year-old. and could reasonably lay claim to being the champion of his age this season. His owner was evidently ambitious as far as the classics were concerned, but the son of Author Dillon—Lady Jinks has put up some rare performances that stamp him as an out-an-d----out high-class youngster. His performance at Dunedin in running close up third to an older and more experienced pair in Logan Holme and Final McKinney, and registering 2.12 3-5 for the eight furlongs, was sufficient to warrant him annexing, the three-year-old supremacy honours. A VALUABLE ASSET Of the others with winning performances, none appeal so much as the bonny Harold Dillon—Petrova filly Asset, who is owned by Mr. J. McCreanor, formerly resident at Karamea. at the extreme end of the Buller district, but now in the City of the Plains. Asset made her initial appearance at Westport last Christmas, where she recorded a win and a second in two starts, registering smart time on each occasion. At Hororata the filly repeated this performance, and recently at Forbury Park, after finishing fourth the first day, Asset won the Royal Handicap on the concluding day, tramping 3.50 for the 13 furlongs. The filly will prove a tough nut to crack in this year’s event. A GREAT CHANCE In the light of his form at Oamaru quite recently, the Rey de Ora —Locality gelding Rey Logan will command a lot of respect if sent to the post for the stake. In the President's Handicap at the white stone city, Rey Logan was in the picture for the greater part of the two-mile journey, and finished well up third to Harold Thorpe and Terence Dillon. At the Otahuhu summer fixture Holmes’s charge made a favourable impression when he led a big field home in the Sylvia Park Handicap, covering the mile in 2.16. AFTER IT AGAIN Last year W. J. Gudsell, who during the last few years has sprung into prominence at the light harness business, won the Maturity Handicap with the Denver Huon—Princess Dolly gelding Pluto, and this year he will make an attempt to again land the stake with Pluto’s three-year-old sister, Denver's Doll, who races in the ownership of his brother, J. W. Gudsell. The fillly showed fine form at Invercargill in March, when she won the Maiden Handicap. going 3.27 2-5 for the mile and a-half. At the Hawera Easter meet-