TROTTING.

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 155, 21 September 1927, Page 11

TROTTING.

By

“Abaydos”

notes and comments

PACERS AT PETONE FORM REVIEWED With the exception of the big time improvement recorded by the placed horses in the Novice Handicap on Saturday. there was nothing outstanding from a time point of view in the performances of the pacers. The display of Prince Pointer, New Zealand Cup candidate, and Vestas, Derby representative, were the chief features, outside of the much-discussed exhibition of Daphne de Ora, another Derbyite, and the form of these three will give food l'or thought in connection with their important engagements ahead Not Quite Ready Great Eyre, although not very forward, ran a splendid race at the Hutt ~n Saturday, and her showing would suggest that in her class some: stakemoney will come her way when the provincial circuit begins. To fill the i-ole of pacemaker in a warmly-con-tested heat, such as the Novice Handicap proved, will be sufficient guarantee l'or local enthusiasts that the Great Audubon mare will be an early winner. A Nice Youngster Jean McEfcvyn, the tliree-year-old sister to that promising pacer Nelson McElwyn, justified the high opinion expressed about her in this column recently. Although beaten by Daphne de Ora, while in receipt of 48yds, Jean tramped a solid 12 furlongs, and her time would be just a shade over 3.32, which from a 3.45 peg was a big lump off the handicap, and certainly a hardluck performance for the smaller end of the purse. Jean will be making the trotting enthusiasts talk before the new season expires.

A Solid Chap Remember Menernber in September, was THE SUN’S advice recently, and those who followed it would have nothing to cavil at. The aged Logan Pointer gelding ran a great race, and was unlucky in striking the trotter Moneyspider right at the top of his form. Menernber is one of the solid type, and can always be relied upon to give his supporters a good spin for their money. And the Southerner will come again, perhaps in October or November, and his friends will feel pleased they stuck to him. Still Getting Third

Wakefield, the elder brother to Napland, trained by Dan Nyhan at the Hutt, was responsible for a sequence of thirds toward the end of last season. This achievement was recorded at Blenheim in May, when the Petereta

—Dreamland gelding was a warm favourite at each start. He made his reappearance again on Saturday at the Wellington fixture, and opened the new season as he closed the old, registering a third place performance. Dan and Wakefield should get a bit of prize money later on. Why Was lit Done? Marshal Neil had to be content with third money in the Bollard Memorial on Saturday, and driven by a shorter route, there :is just the possibility that the Nelson horse would have won. But Berkett knows his own business best, and while covering the extra ground may have made all the difference; between the first and third purse to him, the Hope owner-trainer evidently had some motive for the policy adopted. Marshal is a long while in getting past that third mark.

Forgetful Public There is no accounting for the trend of public opinion on a racecourse. As we pointed out last week Dillon’s Pride won the Wanganui Cup, in April, and with a handicap of 12yds behind the limit brigade, which was composed of a motley crew, had a chance of tramping on the heels of those in front unless they kept out of the road. Kyana kept clear of Dillon's Pride, but he beat all the rest and got second. What beats everything Is that he was allowed to start 11th favourite in a field of 13. Kyana Makes Amends Kyana, the Australian geldirg who, last season failed to secure a firstclass certificate, although two seconds and one third prize came his way, cleared away from the opposition on Saturday when he won the Bo rough Handicap. Produced later in the day, and subjected to a 34yds penalty, Kennerley’s charge made another told bid for victory, but found the three-year-old Vestas carrying too many guns. Kj ana paid a lucrative figure w hen he

Hurd to Place The connections of Hoon Hay should be well satisfied that the son of Great Audubon—Cora Dillon is not a solid two-mile horse. The field on Saturday w.js not a very serious one, and from the limit O. Hooper’s charge had every chance to make good. He was in front for 14 furlongs, and then drifted and failed to even finish in a place. Trotted out in the mile saddle, Hoon Hay ''as unable to do any better, and it looks as if Ossy Hooper will have a Job in placing him where he can pick up a race. Wil * P»y Them Back

Sahib, who won a double at Westbort last. Chriistmas, and picked up another stake at the Waikato fixture held on Alexandra Park in March, was made a hot pot for the saddle event on Saturday. As the Logan Pointer gelding was racing in the colours of the young Westport enthusiasts O. O Neill Comerferd, and had the services 0t J*^ ave Bennett, Bullerites would be °? *.° a Whether the weight or Coast money proved his undoing:, is n °- known, but Sahib will soon make •fiends for the week-end failure.

A False Price With her saddle performances at >«inganui and Hawera last April as Wu^ ide * was surprising to see the /v llamoor mare Caprice paying such a 1 rice at the Hutt on Saturday. She >n easily from end to end, and there _ is no fluke in the victory either. R. in r *des the pacer to perfection, and ■irt , “ ca P**ble hands she promises to ,QCI further to her winning record,

INTERESTING DERBY STAGE

FOUR CANDIDATES NOW EQUALLY FAVOURED IN NEXT MONTH’S CLASSIC

YVTITH the Great Northern Derby * * less than a month away, and several candidates showing winning form, keener interest is being aroused in the classic. While the four most favoured contestants are from foreign parts, Auckland still holds out hope of having at least one representative able to upset the outside monopoly. suggested in THE SUN last week, the Wellington fixture has thrown fresh light on the Great Northern Derby, which 'will be staged next month on the opening day of the spring fixture of the Auckland Club. While several candidates have been mentioned as possibilities, it has been the general opinion that the real issue lay between the Gisborne-owned filly Enawah and i the Canterbury-trained Harvest Child. TWO MORE MAKE GOOD Vestas, if able to regain his two-year-j old form, was also expected to be- in the money, while Daphne de Ora, Nella Dillon and Bonniewah were mentioned as likely to add some interest to the* conI test. Vestas proved by the manner in which he cleaned up the opposition on Saturday in the two-mile event that he is back to his form of the autumn, which was pretty good and caused him to be regarded in many circles as unbeatable in the Sapling Stakes, in which he was however not seen at his best. The striking performance, however, was that of Daphne de Ora, the filly that filled third place in the Sapling Stakes behind Enawah and Harvest Child. In coming from the back of such a field in the Novice Handicap at Petone, and winning at the right end in the fast time of 3.28 from a 3.41 mark, was something to make the crowd talk, and the filly made a host of friends for her classic engagements. In fact, if the contest was staged in Wellington Daphne de Ora and Vestas would be the public elect. AUCKLAND’S HOPES Bonnie wall’s rendering was not at all attractive, but the filly could not be ready for such a race as that undertaken, although she looked well to the eye. Even with the few weeks at her disposal the Auckland-owned candidate cannot be forward enough to hope to finish in front of the pair that showed up so prominently on Saturday, or the other pair that have been ruling favourites during the past few weeks. In fact her showing at Hutt Park would lead to the belief that she will not be in the picture when it comes to the final issue. Another Auckland-owned Derby representative in Nella Dillon, the handsome well-bred filly by the great Author Dillon, will in all probability sport silk at Ashburton on Saturday, and her essay will be watched with interest. A victory for Nella would make Derby affairs even more interesting. Another candidate in Monopole also claims an engagement on Saturday next, and if he is as good as his supporters claim will cause a further tale to be told before the Derby day arrives. WHO’S WHO Harvest Child is in rare trim, and his connections are confident that he will turn the tables on Enawah at their next meeting, and also finish again in front of the others he defeated in the Sapling Stakes. Good reports continue to float around about Enawah, and Gisbornites will not hear of the Derby honours being located anywhere but Gisborne. The Peterwah filly was not quite all right when she won the two-year-old test, but still it was an impressive performance, and her admirers have good grounds for their optimism. With Enawah’s two-year-old record and Harvest Child’s Sapling effort, and his fourth to Logan Park and Co. a.t Addington last month, and the winning achievements of Daphne de Ora and Vestas at Wellington, the public is at present engaged in solving the problem from this quartette. At. present it certainly points that way, but it will be judicious to suspend calculations till after the Ashburton fixture on Saturday. ANOTHER TEST Vestas and Harvest Child are down to meet over ten furlongs during the week-end, and while there are a number of other contestants, chief interest will centre in the doings of the Derby ptiir. The 12 furlongs will see Nella Dillon and Monopole also having a preliminary Derby bout, and if either or

both can head off Jean McElwyn, they too will command respect for the October classic. Apart from the fact that the Derby will not give Aucklandtrained youngsters much opportunity to display their prowess, it promises to provide a stirring contest. If, however, conditions remain as at present for training operations. Warplane and rhe Blue Mountain King filly will take their place in the field, and probably make a creditable showing. One thing will be certain, when the candidates parade, nothing will attract more attention for handsome appearance than the Man-o’-War —Air Raid colt Warplane. But that won’t make him win. The issue is an open one, and in the meantime Vestas, Harvest Child, Daphne de Ora and Enawah all hai*e a. large following.