TROTTING

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 221, 7 December 1927, Page 11

TROTTING

By

“Abaydos”

motes and comments WAIKATO FORM REVIEWED UNSUCCESSFUL CANDIDATES

While it was not possible for all those engaged at Claudelands on Saturday to secure prizes, there were several who made a bold bid for honours in such a way as to suggest they will not be long in collecting. But there were a certain number taking part whose form was either too bad to be right, or suggestive of no form at all. trotting section jmtKRK was some quiet talk at Claudelands about a trotter named Charles Black, an aged gelding by Hora [rom a Judge Beldon'mare. owned and trained by F. Ireland. He was given a trial run in the Introductory Handicap but Charles Black was soon in the black list with his few admirers. He did not give a very impressive display. Condition Not Lacking * The aged Rotomanuka gelding Roto, under the care of C. L. Lowe, the Gordonton mentor, was turned out in good condition and in his preliminaries was hitting out as if he meant business. When it came to the earnest call. Roto would not go right, and never threatened to get any money. Did Not Handle the Track free Advice did not appear to beat home on the left-handed course, and she did not at any stage of the conteat give her admirers any reason to figure out the dividend. However the race experience should benefit the voungster, who was well behaved at the barrier. Her fault was in not keeping to the correct gait when on the journey. Too much notice must not be taken of the defeat as she is only a baby yet. An Improving Mare Lochade. who is now under the care of the veteran Billy Orange at Mangere, showed unmistakeable signs of having received a solid preparation, and her condition did the trainer credit. She was hitting out well prior to the race and came in for a good deal o'f support. She was always in the leading batch and finished a neck behind the third horse Gold Star. There is a reasonable chance of the Our Thorpe mare setting a race on the country circuit. lEncouraged a Few Esculator, a six-year-old son of St. Kevin and Mayflower, who raced at Epsom last June for W. Orange, was produced on Saturday by T. i’- Grim-

‘°nd and as far as appearances went, •« looked fitter than a lot of the field. bile exercising round the circuit he *** noticed trotting nicely by a few the “everwa tchfuls” and a few stray Pounds were invested his chances. Hieulator w is not sighted, however. ° n the voyage. Tracey Not Solid Yet Outside of the favourite, Call Boy, Te Awamutu-trained Peter Tracey °oked the pick of the moderate troteri and he came in for some fair He looked in better racing than when he visited Alexandra “ark last month, but when parading Jo was inclined to get on his toes. u uring the race the Petereta gelding Put In some good flashes, but just as

he would make up a bit of leeway, up he would go in the air and he wa-s well away from the money at the post.

Not At Luna Park T. Allen, who drove Joy Ride in the Introductory Handicap on Saturday, could not be said to have had much of a joy ride, although the Peter Moko mare did not go as fast as some of the whirligigs at Luna Park. Never at any time did the trotter give her supporters any hopes of realising a big return on their modest outlay, and she did not strike the experts as a future Rowe Cup winner, despite her. youth. Joy Ride is four years old.

Bob Still Bobbling Royal Bob seems to be getting further away from the place where dividends are returnable and had he been good enough the Auckland trotter should have cleaned up the opposition in the Introductory Handicap. Bob hobbled and shuffled equally as much as ho trotted, and his owner-trainer, H. J. Millen, must bo finding his patience, which is of a Job-like nature, becoming exhausted. Neither Barrel Went Off Trainer “Togo” Lee started both Carberly and Colonel Thorpe on Saturday, drivng the El Carbine gelding himself. Part-owner Winter held the ribbons behind the Colonel. The bracket was not altogether neglected on the machine,* but it was early discernible that those who put the cash in were not likely to take any out. Carberly is only a four-year-old and may turn out all right with age. At Claudelands it was not a good double-barrel shot.

In the Early Picture Lena Ansel represented the Te Rapa owner-trainer J. G. Browne In the slower class trot and for quite a while she was doing as well as anything in the race, the leaders, Call Boy and Real Todd excepted. When it came to the last quarter Lena drifted and finished well back. Still Showing Fight Gold Cast is no spring chicken, but all the same he can still muster a fair amount of speed. Th© son of Gold Bell did not disgrace himself in the big field of the Franklin Handicap, and later on when contesting the saddle heat, he made a bold bid for second money, and only for W. Dyer’s vigorous finish on the tried Huon Grattan, Gold Cast would have given his backers a good return.

When Things Suit Golden Park, without doing anything desperate, ran sufficiently forward at Claudelands to suggest that she is liable to salute the man in the box at some fixture where the class is just so-so. In her outings during the weekend Cunningham’s mare was always in the firing line to the straight, which gave the impression she was a bit short of the necessary work. A Possibility Beauty Spot was one of the few among the big field in the Frankton Handicap outside of the place-getters that made a respectable showing, and on her display it is reasonable to assume the Wildmdor mare will be a winner before the season is much further advanced. The mare is under R. Woods’s care at Taupiri, and has made good progress. The Paul Stamp ! Nelson Dillon, a fine looking four- | vear-old by Nelson Bingen from Tui Dillon, was produced at Claudelands, and as he possessed the hall-mark of the J. T. Paul brand, the attracted a good deal of attention. W hile he did not give his backers any cause for enthusiasm. Nelson Dillon, who was a bit green, gave the idea that with a race or two he would make things interesting in suitable company. Not the Right Bower Although there was a good deal of talk about Dealer since his showing at the Waikato Show recently, there was not much money floating about his chance. The son of Hova was not on his best behaviour at the barrier, and was slow to strike a gait. He never got within striking distance of the leading bunch, and finished well back. One of these days he may hold the joker if the cards are well shuffled. Found it Strang* Medusa found it all so strange being at the barrier with a whole lot of horses round her that she thought it was a circus, and began to take a hand in the show. She gave driver Julian a lively time, and in consequence did not make the best of the get-away. The Man'o’-War filly was well back in the

early stages, but was seen putting in good work over the last pinch and finished sixth. Not Quite Good Enough Peter Grattan had every show in the Frankton Handicap, and did not get a prize because he was not quite good enough. There was a lot of bother at the start, but when the official cried "Away,” Percy Rogers got the Peter Moko gelding out in front and supporters of the Mangere pacer looked pleased. Peter was still in the picture at the home turn, but in the run home was beaten out of a place. The race should do him good. Finding it Hard Willie Mac’s people were confident the son of General Mac —Manuka would give the public a big surprise at Claudelands, but the Te Aroha pacer although started on two occasions did not look like causing a sensation. He was with the invisibles in the novice field, but was sighted during the Claudelands Handicap, in which he finished closer up. The aged gelding is finding it hard to get among the bouquets. PACING DEPARTMENT There were several present at Hamilton during the week-end who had a recollection of the encouraging displays given by Boada’s Child at Cambridge last May, and they accordingly had a little gamble on the gelding’s prospects. The son of Native Child did not get away well in the Frankton Handicap and his signal was sighted from the deck. R. Jobson may get a race with Boada’s Child when the company is not very select.