NOTES AND COMMENTS

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 232, 20 December 1927, Page 8

NOTES AND COMMENTS

SQUARE-GAITERS FOR EPSOM PROSPECTS REVIEWED The handsome manner in which the Auckland Trotting Club caters for the square-gaited fraternity is appreciated by owners and trainers, with the pleasing result that the heats confined to followers of this particular code have filled well. Two items are confined each day solely to horses of this gait, and they can also mix it with freelegged pacers in the unhoppled events. A Big Puzzle The Tartar continues to puzzle his trainer, and his connections remain in a state of perplexity. He shows enough form to encourage them in the belief that he will pull off an unhoppled heat any day. but each time he does the wrong thing. Either he will not go avyay, until it is too late to be of use, or after going away correctly and raising the hopes of his supporters he tangles and goes to the pack. There is no doubt about him being a real tartar.

Greatly Improved Trotter Happy Rosa has improved a great deal since crossing the Tasman and Peter Riddle has met with a good measure of success with the trotting mare. While racing in New Zealand the daughter of Great Audubon and Santa Rosa would not go solidly, and many a stake and wallet of notes went west through her instability. Patience and perseverance have evidently been rewarded and Happy Rosa, who is returning again to fight some battles on New Zealand turf, may give her old opponents a big surprise. Petroleuse is one of the most improved trotters in her class at the present day and her effort at Epsorn last month, when after meeting with interference in the unhoppled race, she came through to win in fine style, stamped her as one to earn promotion before the season is much further advanced. She will not get a chance to pay such a remunerative price again at the Park. Anseline Consistent Very few of the square-gaiters in this province have been as consistent and unlucky as Anseline, who has been in second or third place on several occasions this season. If consistency is to be rewarded—and it generally is—then Joe Gee will soon have the man in the red coat as an escort into the bird cage. And when that happy day arrives, the grandstand will rock with the applause of the multitude, which will delight in seeing the patient, painstaking owner-trainer rewarded. Operation Successful

Gold Sovereign is getting through a fair amount of useful work under the direction of T. Roe at Mangere, and the Gold Bell gelding is infusing real dash into his tasks. He has always been endowed with a good amount of pace, but the best was not seen of this trotter on account of throat trouble. This however ha.s been remedied successfully, and Gold Sovereign is a different horse entirely. He may not be quite ready for the summer fixture, but it will not be long till he gets the gold sovereigns all right. A Sturdy Pair Wimmera King and Marble Star are a solid pair of square-gaiters and their appearance is a credit to their ownertrainer R. Millan, who has put in a lot of time and attention on the two. Neither has sported silk so far this season, and may not face the music until the powers that be grant Robert his driver’s licence. Whenever Wimmera King or Marble Star put on a numbered saddle cloth, they will add a lot of interest to unhoppled events. Native Star is a great trotter and over two miles, in her class, there are not many in the Dominion that would care to try and give the Native King mare a start. Each time out she eclipses her previous performance and wins in such a manner that gives the impression she still has something more in the speed box. Auckland enthusiasts will get a taste of her capabilities when she steps out at Alexandra Park. Another Chance Tradesman Is to be given another chance to distinguish himself under silk, and it is whispered that he will have another driver in his Christmas engagement. He has had a few already this season, but the other dav he went nicely in a work-out for the Mangere reinsmait. T. Roe. Tom got Roez to go right off the front with good results, and he may succeed in repeating the dose with old Tradesman.

Will He Do Better? When Raima last visited Auckland he gave two shockingly bad but the Hawke’s Bay trotter was suffer: ing from rheumatics. Latest report.show that he is on the improve but he will require to do a whole heap better if his numerous followers wish to get their money back.

May Shine Soon Bright Light cost Auckland backer? a good parcel of cash at the recent meeting at Epsom, but he showed up prominently enough to suggest there might be a possibility of a return in the not distant future. The Taranak: horse should be benefitted by the racin? he received last month and a Christina? box should be in store for his p&rtYSean Triubhais has not been in the racing limelight for some time, but the Taupiri-trained trotter made his presence felt at the Hamilton Show, where he gave a sound exhibition of trotting. When he sported silk at the Auckland winter fixture Wood’s charge was knocking each day and he will be one of the tough nuts to crack during Christmas week.