TROTTING

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 130, 23 August 1927, Page 10

TROTTING

(By "ABAYDOS.") NOTES AND COMMENTS FROM NEAR AND FAR BIG COMMISSION AT EPPING With the hustle and bustle of the National carnival over, most of the horses who took part in the racing are having a short let-up, after which the preparation for October and November activities will be commenced in real earnest. A good many Southern pacers and trotters will be got ready for Wellington next month. Not His True Form Logan Holme was not seen at his best during the recent Addington fixture, and he started at long odds each time out. When right he is a bold and dashing pacer, and it takes a remarkably good one to top him off over a sprint course. His fine performances at Forbury Park last winter have not been forgotten, and when the Southerner begins to give a glimpse of his best, he will not be neglected by followers of the sport. The son of Logan Pointer —Golden Lily should be right by the summer time. Will Reach a High Mark Fight Ever will be a hard proposition later on in some of the big twomile handicaps, and he should prove a good stake-earner this season for his owner-trainer, J. J. Kennerley. The roan son of Honest Huon —Mascotte, tramped 4.29 1-5 for 16 furlongs last week, doing it comfortably at the finish, while in the 10-furlong flutter on the final day the half-brother to the Australian pacer Trust Me, put up a creditable showing among the crack-a-jacks.

Putting Things Right Bell Harold’s admirers were beginning to think the big gelding had done his dash, but with grim determination stuck to him right to the finish of the National fixture. Probably the fact that the son of Harold Rothschild was bracketed with Concliff would account for the heavy support accorded Tomkinson’s stable. Jack McLennan drove the big fellow, who showed all his old dash and got the verdict after a hard tussle by a narrow margin. His companion was never in the picture. Talent Will Get His Reward Talent deserved to meet with better results at the finish of the carnival, as he raced consistently. In getting third in two of the chief events on the schedule, he put up a creditable performance, and a win for the son of Calm would have been popularly received. H. Frost made a bold bid to get the thick end of the purse in the Farewell Handicap, and Talent gave a lot of cheek to the opposition and was only defeated by a small margin. He will rake in some shekels in the not distant future. Not Over-Raced The Hal Zolock—Rawene gelding Padlock, who had not raced last season, was taken to Christchurch for the National fixture, but her owner, Mr. J. A. Mitchell, of Palmerston North, was not satisfied with the adjustments and did not start the pacer. Padlock is a useful sort, and in the spring of 1925 was started three times for a win and a second. The previous year the son of Hal Zolock was returned the winner of the Poverty Bay Cup at Gisborne. Methven Club’s Fixture The sub-committee of the Methven Trotting Club appointed to go into the question of a suitable date for the fixture, reported that after conferring with the Owners and Breeders’ Association, and going fully into the subject, it recommended October 8 as the date for the annual race fixture. The club decided to anply for the date in accordance with the recommendation. The Methven Club has recentlv changed its - constitution from racing to trotting. Some Bad Smashes Though more horses fell, the Epping smash of two weeks ago was not the worst that has occurred on the track. Before altering the method of starring from seconds to yards, 28 horses fell at 37 meetings Naturally, in so many falls, there were some miraculous escapes. The fall with the most disastrous results occurred at the turn out of the straight, when Bankstown Lad, Some Spin. Werrina. Eldorado. Wee Derby, Mentor and FUieribbon piled up one on top of the other. Billy Burke received such serious injuries that for some time his life was despaired of, and he never fuly recovered from the fall. A Mighty Plunge # Ft. Miller, of Windbag fame, was responsible for a mighty plunge on Sheik at Epping, N.S.W., recently, and when Sheik got within striking distance of Breakwood it looked a certainty, but McDonald put in one of his great efforts and fairly lifted Breakwood home by half a head. When the numbers went up the bookmakers cheered loudly. The commission on Sheik was one of the biggest yet put on a horse at Epping. Sheik was driven by his owner. P. Riddle. Up In the Air Happy Rosa, a member of P. Riddle’s team, looked a winner three furlongs from home at Epping, N.S.W., recently,, but just as her supporters were counting on a good win she went in the air, and so did their money. She did that on plenty of occasions in New Zealand, when racing, and the daughter of Great Audubon was a costly proposition to her followers. Unless the troting male alters her tactics, she will cost her Australian admirers a fine parcel before she is finished.