TROTTING AT ADDINGTON

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

TROTTING AT ADDINGTON

SUCCESSFUL GATHERING EXCELLENT RACING <Special to THE SUN'.') CHRISTCHURCH. Friday. The Winter Meeting of the Canterbury Park Trotting Club was held in dull cheerless weather. The course was in a heavy state. There was a good attendance. Speculation was brisk, the sum of £30,530 10s being put through the machine, compared with £, 25.564 on the corresponding day last year. , The Yaldliurst Handicap ended in a soft victory for the aged trotter. Count Dee. He took charge ten furlongs from home, and. staying on well, he had an advantage of 25 lengths from Tamerlane, who was eased up over the last furlong. Nothing had any chance of beating Count Dee. Elusive, Freeman, Tim Wood and Sea Queen were always in difficulties, due of course to the heavy state of the track. Corwar and Theseus were prominent for a mile, after which they tired badly. Count Dee is coming right, and the son of Petereta and Countess Rothschild will win further races for his owner, Mr. J. Fraser, whose son handled the gelding in a favourable manner. ARIKI MAKES GOOD Desert Star was sent out a hot favourite for the Peninsula Handicap. He drew an outside position, and was squeezed back at the start, which ruined his chance. Richore, Queen's General, Haydock and D’Artagnan were soon in trouble also. Dillon Gold and Stan Wilkes were at the head of the field for a mile, where they were easily accounted for. After nearly knocking a man down at the start, Ariki forged his way to the head of affairs, three and a-half furlongs from home. He was under pressure all through the stretch to win from Bold Bill. Had Bold Bill not been forced to cover a lot of ground he would have won. Sungleam was running fourth with a mile to go, when he met with interference that knocked him back to sixth. But for that he would have been up disputing first money at the finish. Ariki is owned by Mrs. E. L. Pounsford and is trained by M. B. Edwards, who drove him. Ariki is a four-year-old gelding by Cathedral Chimes from Zara. WAITAKI GIRL’S RETURN TO FORM The heavy track suited Waitaki Girl, and half a mile from home in the King George Handicap, Bryce gave her her head, and she flew past her opponents, and was in charge three furlongs from the judge, and on she came to register an easy victory. Waitaki Girl enjoys pacing in mud. She is very well and likely to afford her owner, Mr. A. Aker, further pleasure this season. She is by Harold Dillon from Stanley’s Child. Downcast led for twelve furlongs, where he gave in. Golden Devon galloped the first furlong and then struck his gait, but he was beaten a round from home. Trenand followed Downcast for two circuits, where he too had to submit. Talent was driven a patient race on the fence. He was second into the straight, but after a hard finish Logan Chief beat him by a narrow margin for second money. It was Logan Chief’s most impressive performance over two miles this season. Man-o’-War threatened danger during the trip, but he had a rocky passage—and it was something like the road to Dublin—hence his defeat. Queen’s Own gave a lot of cheek for a mile and five furlongs, where she cried enough. Escapade was going well when she left her feet a mile and a-quarter from home. THE FAVOURITE STOPS Mr T. Cochrane’s grey gelding Huon Denver accounted for the Lyttelton Handicap. He took charge at the start

ing Denver’s Doll was second in each start over a similar distance, and will have a host of friends if started on Saturday. SOME PAST WINNERS Several winners of the popular Maturity Handicap have made interesting trotting history, and of more recent years such well-known performers as Childe Pointer, Pinevale, Waitaki Girl, Haunui, Festive Morn and Pluto wound up their three-year-old career by inscribing their name on the Canterbury Park Maturity roll of honour. Of those mentioned, Pluto, Festive Morn and Haunui have won good handicap events this season, and all look like adding further to their laurels next year. BEST OF MATURITY WINNERS There can be no argument about handing out the palm for later efficiency among Maturity Handicap winners to Waitaki Girl, the daughter of Harold Dillon and Stanley’s Child, who won the Canterbury event in 1923. As a four and five-year-old, Mr. Aker’s mare showed good form, but it was not till her sixth year that she came right out of her shell, and per formed such sterling deeds as set the seal on her fame. From March 13 to June 3 Waitaki Girl was harnessed up on half a dozen occasions for five wins and a third, the first four victories being successive. GATHERING UP SPEED At the Timaru March fixture in 1936, Waitaki Girl won the Cup in 4.27 from a 4.31 mark, and followed this up five days later at New Brighton by winning a mile and a-quarter heat in 2.45, a 2.12 gait. The next day the Harold Dillon mare was placed on a 4.28 mark in the New Brighton Handicap, which she won comfortably in 4.26 4-5, and at the Metropolitan Easter meeting the same plan of campaign was adopted, and Waitaki Girl, on the opening day, won a 10-furlong flutter in the very smart time of 2.41 3-5, equal to a 2.9 clip. BIG TIME FOR LITTLE MONEY The concluding day saw the great mare step out in the big two-mile race from a 4.25 peg, and in a memorable struggle she finished third to Minton Derby and Jack Potts, and when the watches had been examined and checked, it was found the daughter of Harold Dillon had tramped 4.22 for the 125 sovereigns which was apportioned for third place. It was a great performance and stamped Waitaki Girl as a great mare. Her sixth essay was in the King George Handicap at Canterbury Park last June, in which she was asked to go 4.24 by handicapper Mr. F. C. Thomas. Waitaki Girl duly won by two lengths, and registered 4.25. With the exception of a second stake at Christchurch last November, the mare has not been in the picture this season, but she may make amends in the King Edward to-day.

and led all the way. Since W. Begg has succeeded in taming the son of Denver Huon he has performed creditably in long-distance saddle events. Great Form followed him for a mile and a-half, and then tired badly. The favourite, Kreisler, was handily placed for three parts of the trip, and then tired over the last half mile. Kid Logan and Alvira tried to overhaul Huon Denver, but though under punishment all the way, Alvira was hopelessly beaten. Spring Chimes came from a long way back over the last mile to nearly beat Kid Logan for second money. Brigand broke down badly before a round was completed. MONEY SPIDER’S COSTLY MISTAKES But for making two mistakes over the last three furlongs. Money Spider would have won the Aviation Handicap. He was within four lengths of the winner three furlongs from home, when he made his first break. Real the Great joined Bridget Galindo in the lead, and the pair raced on terms for a mile and five furlongs, where Bridget Galindo faulted, and left Real the Great in charge. Her pilot, D. Withers, then made every post a winning one. Rounding the far turn she was being pursued by Duke Bingen. Guy Parrish, Money Spider and Nighborn, but she came on and won well. Randolph lost a lot of ground over the first half mile, and did well to get up in tim£ to secure third money. Nighborn was well and truly beaten. BESSIE LOGAN A GOOD ONE Fight Ever ended his chance in the Stewards’ Handicap by failing to leave the mark properly. Harry Audubon made a fuss for half a mile, and then commenced to fall back. Wharepiana went to the front with a round to go, and was still in the lead when the straight was reached. She stuck to her task better than she usually does, but had to accept third money. Bessie Logan was close to the leaders a round from home, and once in line for home she proved too good for her colleagues. She is a brilliant mare, and will win more races. Macaranda, who likes a heavy track, finished on well to secure second money. Author Jinks threatened to prevail four furlongs from home, but he lost his balance in the going, and could not regain his position. LADY OWNER’S SUCCESS When Fashion Queen took charge three furlongs from home in the Railway Handicap nothing had any chance of beating her. Once on the journey, she is much above the average over any distance. She is owned at Gore by Mrs. E. Pigeon, a patron of J. R. McMurray's stable, who entrusted the ride to the capable horseman, M. Holmes. Haunui led for five furlongs, where she was beaten. Albert Logan made an effort in the straight, but could not come on. After losing ground at the start, Native Chief went a great race to finish second. He is a great miler in the saddle. Mountain Chimes went his usual honest race, and he was fourth when the judge was reached. Locliree went a solid race, but the going told on him over the last furlong, and he was beaten into third place. A BRILLIANT CUSTOMER Harold Thorpe triumphed over a select field of milers in the Au Revoir Handicap, and he was compelled to cover a lot of ground. In addition he received the attentions of a certain driver on the trip. General Bingen led for a little more than a round, where he dropped back in the ruck. Harry Audubon ran as usual. Brutus was in second place two furlongs from home, but at the finish he was beaten into third place. Final McKinney went away slowly. She made a good effort over the last half mile, but fourth was the nearest she could get. Four furlongs from home Bonny Logan was well back, but she finished very fast, and was within a neck of the winner when the line was crossed. Harold Thorpe is owned by Mr. R. Grant and is trained by M. B. Edwards. Results: STEWARDS’ HANDICAP Of 300 bovs.; lj miles. 5 BESSIE LOGAN, 36yds 1 6 MACARANDA, limit 2 1— WHAREPIANA, limit 3 Scratched: Countryman and Jack Potts. Won by a length; same between second and third. Time, 2.56 3-5. RAILWAY HANDICAP Of 250 bovs.; H miles. 9—FASHION QUEEN, It 1 5 NATIVE CHIEF, 96yds 2 2 LOCHREE, It 3 Scratched: Trimmer. Won by three lengths; a neck between second and third. Time, 2.19 3-5. AU REVOIR HANDICAP Of 300 Bovs.; 1 mile. 2—HAROLD THORPE, 12yds 1 4—BONNY LOGAN, 48yds 2 6 BRUTUS, 12yds 3 Scratched: Bingen Lad, Dalmeny, Bessie Logan, Golden Devon. Won by a neck; same between second and third. Time, 2.20 4-5.