NOTES AND COMMENTS

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 247, 9 January 1928, Page 6

NOTES AND COMMENTS

PACERS AT THE PARK HOW THEY FARED At the recent Auckland carnival a number of pacers who, prior to the fixture, had shown promising form in the South, failed to race up to expectations at Alexandra Park, several proving highly costly to their supporters. Let His Backers Down Bob Logan, despite his consistency at Southern meetings which led to him being well supported at Alexandra Park, could do no better than secure one second. Bob’s displays at Epsom would not cause anyone to be very enthusiastic about his prospects in the near future. Not a Solid Mare Auditress was a rank failure at Epsom, and the Author Dillon mare proved an expensive problem for her supporters. She failed to begin correctly in her races, and although it was generally conceded that Donald’s charge was unlucky on the opening day in the running, subsequent form did not suggest that Auditress would have given an auditor any work on that occasion. A Losing Proposition D’Artagnan did no better and probably no worse than was generally expected in his races at Alexandra Park. The black son of Brent Locanda looks the part, and it is stated in some quarters that he has a lot of speed, but so far he fails to reproduce it on race day. It must cost something to take this chap round the meetings. He is now in A. Bryce’s charge at Epsom. Concliffe is not as solid as his connections would like him to be. In the big race on the second day the speedy chestnut had everything in his favour, but when it came to real business he crumbled up like a weak lava in an earthquake. A slight injury precluded him from starting on the last day, which was perhaps a blessing in disguise for his constant admirers. Not His True Form Tom Thumb failed to strike any form while in Auckland, and in all his races he lacked the dash that characterised his more recent displays. The son of Logan Pointer looked all right to the eye, but there was evidently something amiss as he never indicated any possibilities of giving his supporters any return on their outlay. Backed and Beaten Kohara was not the same Kohara at Auckland that cleaned up a good field in the New Zealand Cup last month. In the big race on the opening day. Mr. Webb’s horse never looked like a winner, and even on the second day with the “going easier” he did not impress. However on the concluding day he was made a good favourite, but left his backers high and dry. His turn will come later. Opposition Too Hot The public stuck to their idol Great Bingen in approved style throughout the fixture, but he was not equal to seeing them through on either day. He ran well enough each time, but the opposition was very warm over short and long courses, and the crack found it impossible to concede starts to some of the runners. Sheik was a sad disappointment to a large army of followers, but more so to His popular ownertrainer, Peter Riddle. Prior to coming to New Zealand the Bonnie Chief horse was doing great work and it was generally expected he would get on the winning list. Sheik did not begin with his customary dash on the first and second days, but in his final encounter was in the picture and giving a lot of cheek when he struck trouble at the home bend. Not of the Best Quality, on her Epsom showing, is not 18 carat, and would not do her work at all well on the right-handed course. For some time Cec Donald had a lot of trouble with the halfsister to Cardinal Logan, but eventually she came right and earned some stake money. Now she has moved into higher society, the daughter of Denver Huon is not behaving herself as well as could be desired. • The Bubble Burst Great Actress did not deliver the goods at Alexandra Park and allowing for the fact that she fell the first day, she was going to the pack when the accident occurred. She was started each day, and after being in the van for 12 furlongs always closed up. The writer inclines to the opinion that all was not right with the mare and that D. Withers will land her home a winner shortly. The form of Orphan at Epsom was not right, and this the son of Nelson Bingen will prove in the not distant future. In any case he ran sufficiently forward to suggest a better day, and when W. Warren places him right in the South his friends should not forsake him. Not a Dalnahine % Dalmeny is not yet back to his best form, and there is not much prospect of him proving as good as his brother Dalnahine, who has signalled his comeback by winning four big handicaps this season in five starts, being third in the other. W. Tomkinson intends to persevere with the Brent Locanda gelding, and may one of these days get him on the winning list. A Spent Light The displays given by Hue Coronado during his recent visit to Auckland would lead to the belief that he is a light of other days. The once speedy son of Prince Coronada was devoid of the dash that formerly marked his setoff from the tapes, and his connections were decidedly lucky, through the bad luck of others in the mix-up, in securing a portion of the prize money. A few of those which picked up some, decent stake money during the three days showed form that would suggest further laurels in the course of the next two or three months, and followers of the popular pastime would do well to keep an eye on some of these. Put In—Take Out It was a clean game of “put and take” with Scoty Bryce and Ahuriri, and the dual New Zealand Cup winner was only engaged in one heat at the carnival. This showed that his connections were sanguine of success, and the canny Scot took no chances, as he even brought feed and water for his charge. Ahuriri amply repaid the attentive and cute trainer, by winning the Auckland Cup in great fashion. Next Row Now King Pointer’s dual victory at the recent Alexandra Park fixture has placed him in the higher row of pacers and Hooper’s horse, who is a cut above the ordinary, will soon be measuring strides with some of the best class horses in the land. When he does step out in select society King Pointer will not fail to make his presence felt.

More Confidence \V. Head, trainer of that brilliant mare The Shrew, was another optimist that visited Auckland, and the Hawke’s Bav candidate made no mistakes and duly landed the only heat she was asked to take part in. The Hal Zolock mare went fast to do t-’ trlc \k* but still she won decisively. \ i will win a good handicap before the year 192 S is far advanced. Bell Harold’s record of three firsts in four starts at the Auckland fixture was a very fine one, but the most surprising part of the whole performance was the price Tomkinson's pacer was allowed to pay in the speed merchants mile. He was given every encouragement to win the fourth time by the handicapper, and it was not the penalty of six yards that stopped him in the final heat on the card. Was He Unlucky? The opinion of many who closely watched the contest for the Auckland Cup was that Jack Potts was unlucky not to have won. His subsequent form might be taken in some measure as strengthening this opinion, but ’Scottv” Bryce, who drove Ahuriri. stated' after the race that the little horse had it well won three furlongs from home. In any case if Jack Potts was unlucky the first day his luck was right in on the third day.