TROTTING

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 152, 17 September 1927, Page 7

TROTTING

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“Abaydos”

NOTES AND COMMENTS

DOMINION’S BIG EVENT PREPARING FOR ACTION Nineteen of the New Zealand Cup candidates originally entered for the big contest have stood their ground after the declaration of the initial acceptance. Not a great deal is known yet of the progress being made with their preparation, but the special race at Wellington to-day will serve to throw a bit of light on some of the runners. Great Bingen Great Bingen, the back-marker in the New Zealand Cup, is doing well in his work, and wall sport silk at the Greymouth fixture next month. The champion promises to be in apple-pie order for the big November contest, and he will make the event decidedly interesting.

Loganwood Logan wood will be a fit horse whin the November carnival rolls round, and he will be a tougher proposition than many anticipate. Whatever he is asked to do he does well, and whether sprint or distance tasks are set him, Dransfield’s fine pacer tackles them in real earnest. His heart is in the right place too. Great Hope Great Hope is standing up to his training operations in approved style, and many of his admirers are prepared to see the cup winner make a bold bid for victory again. With so many improving younger horses engaged, the Great Audubon representative will find it difficult to get a share of the money to be divided. Sea Pearl Sea Pearl is reported to be nice and bright, and her admirers—and they are many—are confident she will be in the firing line when the great heat is nearing completion. There is no doubt about her ability to go fast and stay, and if Roy Berry gets her dressed in velvet there will be a lot of fun for the others before the wire is reached. Imprint Nelsonians would draw a sigh of relief when they discovered Imprint’s acceptance had arrived in good time this year. The Denver Muon horse has gone on the right way singe his excellent performances at Christchurch last month, and the light harness enthusiasts of the hop district will not hear of Birkett’s charge getting beat. He will be all right if he gets a short route. Audacious Audacious is a real horse, and when it comes to the actual race he will take a power of heading off. Hooper’s pacer is coming right back to his very best form, and oft the end those behind will have the hardest part to do to pass him. Aucklanders will remember the great race he put up when he ran second to Nelson Derby in the Auckland Cup. and the luck of the running was all against him.

Escapade Escapade, the trotting queen, who will do the honours on behalf of the square-gaited fraternity in the November race, is doing all that her trainer requires. Her splendid performance of last Easter will not be readily forgotten. and many will support the trotter in the belief that she will emulate the deeds of the former trotting queen, Reta Peter. Sheik The fact that Sheik still remains in cup field after the first acceptance has been declared, together with the knowledge that he is in good heart and splendid condition, will cause more notice to be taken of his prospects for the Dominion’s rich prize. He has already won the event once, and the question asked in some circles is, can he repeat the performance? Locanda Mac Will Locanda Mac survive the solid preparation necesasry to fit him for contesting such a hard race, is a question often asked. So far he is doing all right, and his intimate friends entertain hopes in this direction. If Miss Gunn’s pacer comes through the ordeal safely, lie will show a bold front and may repeat his Auckland Cup performance of 1924.

THREE DEFECTIONS FROM N.Z. CUP FIELD

AHURIRI, JACK POTTS AND WAITAKI GIRL WILL NOT FACE STARTER

AF the 22 nominees for the New Zealand Cup, handicapped by Mr. H. Brinkman, 1S stand their ground after the first acceptance. The three missing links are Ahuriri, Waitaki Girl and Jack Potts. The latter was intended to be in the list, but like Imprint last year, was not up to time. The defection of Waitaki Girl from the New Zealand Cup was, of course, a foregone conclusion, the mare’s owner having already openly stated through the columns of THE SUN that owing to dissatisfaction with the adjustment made by the handicapper, Mr. H. Brinkman, the daughter of Harold Dillon—Stanley’s Child woLild not take her place in the field. A BIT OF A SURPRISE Surprise would be fairly general at the non-appearance of Ahuriri’s name, when the acceptances were posted, as despite his handicap of 60yds, there were many of his admirers who considered the son of Cathedral Chimes — Muricata, had a good chance of winning the rich prize for the third year in succession. Generally speaking, however, there was a desire, after the appearance of the handicaps, to stand off the dual winner, and much longer odds were obtainable about his prospects than before Mr. Brinkman put him on the 4.23 mark. J. Bryce still has three representatives figuring in

the list, Acron, Great Hope and Ivohara, but the writer is still of the opinion, expressed at the outset, that the latter will be the elect of the Oakhampton team. The son of Cathedral Chimes —Bright Alice is nicely handicapped on 4.26, and he has won in a fraction better time. DISAPPOINTING CASE General regret will be expressed at the unfortunate incident which caused Jack Potts to be numbered with Uie defaulters, and there will be widespread disappointment that the brilliant American pacer will be unable to take part in the great event. Well handicapped on 4.25, Mr. A. Anderson’s crack-a-jack was one of the ruling favourites, and his connections made no secret of the fact that they expected the son of Walter Direct—Margaret Steiner to be in the front division passing the post. The absence of Jack Potts will rob the race of a lot of interest for some people. AN ECHO OF IMPRINT The missing of the acceptances by Mr. A. Anderson recalls the incident of last year, when Imprint was left out in the cold through his acceptance paper arriving too late. There was a big stir over the affair, but it ended nowhere. After all it seems surprising that owners, who consider their candidates have excellent prospects of success, should leave such an important business till the very last minute. They know very well the rigidity of the rules, and it was the unanimous opinion of all followers of the pastime that the bitter experience of Mr. T. B. Louisson last year would act as a warning to all owners in the future. TROTTING FIXTURES September 17.—Wellington T.C. October 15. —Inangahua T.C. October 15-19.—Auckland T.C. October 22-24.—Greymouth T.C. October 24.—Oamaru T.C. November 8-10-11.—N.Z. Metropolitan T.C. November 19-23.—Otahuhu T.C. November 25-26. —Forbury Park T.C. December 3 —Waikato T.C. December 10.—Northland T.C. December 15-17.—New Brigton T.C. December 27-29-31.—Auckland T.C. NOMINATIONS September 30 —Auckland T.C. October 7—Greymouth Trotting Club

ACCEPTANCES October 7 —Auckland T.C.