NOTES AND COMMENTS

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 165, 3 October 1927, Page 7

NOTES AND COMMENTS

j NOMINEES FOR AUCKLAND GOOD PERFORMERS ENGAGED The nominations received for the ! spring fixture include several candidates who were successful at the October carnival last year, and it will be interesting to watch their efforts to repeat the performance. Some may sucsucceed, but the presence’ of many improved pacers and trotters will make the task exceedingly difficult. “Abaydos,” in the following comment, mentions a few that may prove worth while keeping in mind. Greatly Improved Pacer Harold Thorpe, who won the Improvers’ Handicap at the Auckland spring fixture last year, is among the entrants for the thousand pounders this year. The son of Our Thorpe ha*very successful season, concluding with a win at Auckland in the big handicap on the final day of the winter meeting. He should win some good races for M. B. Edwards this season. A Cup Preparation Sea Pearl, who won the Spring Handicap, the chief event on the opening day of the October programme last year, is on this occasion nominated only in the sprint races. If she makes the journey North, Mr. G. Macmillan’s speedy mare will be worth keeping an eye on, as in view of her New Zealand Cup preparation, she should be in nice trim to contest eight or ten furlong heats. Imprint Will Do Better Of the 12 competitors which faced the starter last October for the £I,OOO Spring Handicap, Imprint is the only one appearing in the list for the big event this year. The Nelson-owned and trained representative on that occasion was on a 4.25 mark, and had a similar compliment paid him the second day, but he found the tasks set him beyond his powers. Can Ben Do it Again? Ben Lomond was successful in the mile dash at the last Auckland spring fixture, and has been accorded a nomination for the same handicap this year. Ben will find the company on this occasion a bit more select, and he will require to be at the top of his form if he wished to repeat the performance. As the result of a good work-out on Saturday, he has a lot of admirers, who are confident that Ben can do the trick. A Good Free-Legger The Remuera Handicap, for unhoppled horses, which is one of the most popular items on the Auckland spring card, was won last year by Festive Morn, who returned to Alexanda Park a month later and performed a similar feat at the Otahuhu carnival. The Great Audubon mare, who is now trained at Te Awamutu by A. W. Broughton, is again in the field of freeleggers, and if started will add a lot of interest to the event. Waikaha May Not Be Ready The Mangere-trained trotter Waikaha was highly successful at the Auckland spring fixture last October, where he landed a double for ownertrained J. T. Paul. On the opening day the son of Gold Bell annexed the Mountain Trot, and on the concluding day he lifted the thick end of the prize in the Hillsboro’ Waikaha has been nominated for these events again, when he will meet his old solid rival, Money Spider. There is a doubt about Paul’s-charge'being dressed in his best by the deciding date. Good Money for Money Spider Auckland trotting enthusiasts will not have forgotten the sound performances put up last October at Alexandra Park by Money Spider, and his form at Addington in August and Wellington last month will cause his stocks to rise still higher in the local market. When here last spring, J. Bryce’s fine square-gaiter won a two-mile handicap in a pacers’ field, and coming out in the following race finished third to Waikaha (48) and Ngatiri (scr), from 120 yards behind. On the concluding day, after being beaten in the pacers’ heat, he went to the post with the trotters and, from the same mark, ran second to Waikaha (72yds). Reserved for Sprint Events Black Lila secured her only victory for the 1926-27 season at the Auckland spring fixture, when she led home a field of good pacers in the Manukau Handicap, after failing eqrlier in the day in a two-mile hustle. S. Phipps’s mare will confine her attention to the ten and eight-furlong flutters this time, but it is doubtful if she will be in such forward condition as when she last sported silk. There is a warm class engaged in the sprint events at Alexandra Park on October 15. His Only Two-mile Success It is almost 12 months since Nelson Fame won the Junction Handicap at Alexandra Park. The event was run over a 16-furlong course, and the Nelson Bingen horse won in 4.35 1-5. It was a bad day for his connections that the speedy miler showed ability over the longer journey, as he has been asked on several occasions since to try and win a two-mile heat, but without success. He is entered for the sane event at the forthcoming fixture, and also in the shorter heats, which should be mor& to his liking. Will Bob Up Shortly The well-known Canterbury owner and trainer, Free Holmes, has nominated his six-year-old son of Logan Poinetr, Bob Logan, for several events on the Auckland programme, and he will in all probability be included in the team which Holmes is bringing North. Last season Bob went a merry 12 furlongs at Addington, when he won the Templeton Handicap on New Year’s Day. He also ran several third during the year. He has set the ball rolling again with two third placings and promises to bob up serenely when he next faces the music. May Redeem Lost Laurels Aucklanders, who formed a high opinion of the Australian pacer, Conj cliffe, when he raced successfully at • Alexandra Park in March. will be pleased to see his name among the list of entrants for the approaching fixture. The chestnut son of Childewood has lost cast with a good number on account of his failures at Addington during National week, but Tomkinson’s charge is pleasing track watchers in the South again, and he may prove when he steps out at Epsom that his clay track form was all wrong. Auckland’s Solitary . Candidate Jewel Pointer, the handsome Logan Pointer horse in Jack Shaw’s stable, is the sole Auckland provincial candidate in the £I.OOO heats, but it must be admitted the representative is in good hands. The racing Jewel Pointer had at Christchurch in August improved him considerably, but unfortunately he has not been able to do a great deal of work since returning home. With suitable conditions during the next week or two, Mr. Moodabe’s horse will come on nicely and should be bale to make a bold bid to retain some of the prize money in Auckland. Look Out for Dolores Among the square-gaited fraternity entered for the forthcoming troting carnival is the bonny American-bred filly Dolores, who is trained by D. Withers. The daughter of Peter Chenault —Esperanza faced the starter twice last year, her first outing being at Oamaru, where she was made a warm favourite, but failed through ipexperience. Next time up was at Ashburton, where in a big field she was again the elect of backers, and finished a close second to Mickey Audubon. The young lady promises to do well at the business this year. Luvan won the Newmarket Handicap at Auckland last October in a

manner that impressed the public to such an extent that it appears to want to be with her whenever she goes to the races. Although the Lulu Boy mare failed in her next three essays, the public stuck to her and she won at the Otahuhu summer meeting. Luvan was not presented again till the winter fixture, where the Adams Memorial Cup was her mission, and it is now a question of history* how Uncle Bert and the muddy track beat A. Julian’s charge*. The mare is freely entered for th€ spimg card.