NOTES AND COMMENTS

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 233, 21 December 1927, Page 11

NOTES AND COMMENTS

SPEED KINGS AT EPSOM PROSPECTS OF PACING SECTION There will be a great collection of pacers in action at Alexandra Park next week, including several of the Dominion’s real speed kings. The tightness of the Auckland card has had the effect of bringing together a good class of pacer, and both in the primary and secondary divisions there will be high-class, interesting and exciting racing, affording plenty of thrills for patrons of the carnival. Ready for the Fight Since his attractive form at the Otahuhu fixture last month, the Florist gelding Florent has done exceptionally well, and trainer Lee has the useful pacer ready to tackle the opposition during the coming carnival. His track work recently has been of an encouraging nature, and it will not be expecting too much to see Florent land a stake before the fixture terminates. Stepping on the Juice

Fled Star, whose consistent form last nionth resulted in his intimate connections receiving a well-earned and welldeserved reward, has not been allowed to go back during the interval, and if he should be required for active service at any time in the near future will be ready for action. He is a smart beginner, and over 10 or 12 furlongs is always worth keeping in mind, and especially when trainer Tom Masted “steps on the juice.” A Bad Habit Auditress, who was expected to do things at New Brighton, was well supported in her engagements, but let her admirers down with a bang. The Author Dillon mare lost her races at the start, a bad policy, and one that if continued will prove expensive to her connections. The mare is endowed with a tine turn of speed, and provided she kicks off on the right foot will make things interesting in her next outing. Pitaroa is. working at Alexandra Park as if he had been under an operation for rejuvenation, and during the last week the aged son of Petereta was giving visitors to the track a taste of his capabilities. Trainer J. Johnson deserves to meet with a just reward, as he has Put in a lot of time and attention on the ponified pacer. Pitaroa is n ear the front in some of the short races at the coming fixture, and his turn may not be far off. Still Going Strong Old Goldman is sticking to his tasks with great gusto, and he should be able to make things decidedly interesting in some of the shorter races at Christmas time. The short limits have brought the Gold Bell gelding well into line with liig opponents, and he should always be within striking distance, and unless he has lost all his punch, the old chap can make a hard dab at the tight end.

A Disappointment Hoon Hay has been one of the biggest disappointments of the trotting r *ng for some time past, and his repeated failures must have caused his connections to lose faith in the son of Great Audubon. He was in the boom several times last season over two udles, and in the earlier stages of the Present period was expected to make Sood. His record so far has not been a . good one, but he may And the conditions and company more suitable later on. If She Comes Right

Lady Joan would only require to reproduce her former speed to declare the Akarana Handicap no race for the remainder of the field. When trained u nd raced in the South the roan mare was a brilliant pacer and could hold her °wn in any society. For some time now the daughter of Logan Pointer — jselette has not been seen to advantage, th Groat gets her back to form ‘■here will be some money for someone.

Bob Logan appears to have been born under an unlucky star, and although he seldom fails to get into the money in his races, he does not get quite far enough to get the thick end of the wallet. However, it’s a long lane that has no turning, and Holmes’s charge must surely break the spell before he is much older. Bob will require to be unlucky indeed if he cannot be the first to return to the man in the box at least on one occasion, at Alexandra Park. Turn Must Come The connections of Mulwaree have been getting very close to a first certificate when the roan pacer has stepped out on the last two occasions, and should W. Dyer get the gelding to the post for the Akarana Handicap on the opening day of the Christmas fixture he should have a good chance of filling one of the monetary positions. The son of Honest Huon suffers with foot trouble at times, and this has been the means of him being kept in the box when a possible stake was in view. A Real Good Sort King Pointer Is a pacer with possibilities, and during the last few months he has made rapid progress. He commenced his winning account last Boxing Day at the Gore fixture, and has reached a higher standard since that period. His best performance was recorded over two miles at the recent Metropolitan carnival at Addington, where he won in good style. Whenever Ossie Hooper starts the gelding during the holidays he will be accorded solid support.

A Suitable Distance Bell Harold claims two engagements in 10-furlong events on the first day of the Auckland carnival, and in which ever heat his connections elect to spin the son of Harold Rothschild he will have many friends. In the Akarana Handicap class) Bell Harold is asked to go at a 2.11 gait, and in the St. Heliers Handicap (2.47£ limit) he is placed on 2.10 mark. He is a solid customer over the distance, but in the latter event will find .some tough nuts to crack on the 2.13 peg. Making it Hard Kelson Tasker is looking handsomer every time he comes to Epsom, and visitors to the park yesterday morning who had not previously seen the Henderson horse were greatly impressed by his looks and bearing. When A. Ayres stepped the Kelson Bingen horse out for steady work they were even more impressed. Good as Mr. Nicholl’s pacer is, he has a stiff problem to win off a 2.13 mark, seeing that he failed from a 2.14 peg recently, and will be meeting a stronger field.

Great Actress is another muchimproved pacer, who opened her winning record last year during the festive season, when she won the Williams Memorial Handicap at

Westport by a short head, defeating Nazimova. Later in the day the Great Audubon mare, penalised 12 yards, essayed to win the double, but was forced to strike her colours to Sahib. Great Actress was towards the dose of last season purchased by the Wellington sportsman Mr. J. S. McKenzie, for whom she has already won a coupie of races. She should not be long in further reducing the outlay on her purchase.