NOTES AND COMMENTS

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 287, 24 February 1928, Page 6

NOTES AND COMMENTS

TROTTERS AT EPSOM HOW THEY FARED The final day at Alexandra Park saw some good performances recorded by the square-gaited fraternity, and the racing in this particular section was quite interesting. There is no doubt that the trotter is coming into his own. and the improvement shown by many is a sign that owners are realising this fact and endeavouring to improve the stock accordingly.

Reward at Last Anseline Lotted a sound race in the Suburban Handicap and scored a popular victory at the finish. Joe Gee handled her carefully, nursing the mare over the early stages and when it came to the finish she went on with the business. Joe’s turn has been delayed, but when it arrived the public : warmly showed its appreciation. Bad Breaker Real Todd went another solid race j as becomes, a plodding trotter, but when it came to the final pinch and j his prospects looked rosy, a bad break I spoiled his chance. If the Hawera j trotter would refrain from going in j the air at the critical moment he j would soon place a stake to his credit I in moderate company. Resurrected The manner in which that king of artful dodgers, The Tartar, stepped along in the big trotting heat on the second day. was quite enough to encourage his connections to go on with the game. This is evidently The Tartar’s game and he may not go away < so well, but if he elects to give it a reasonable try at Claudelands there will be a good prospect of G. Baton saluting the man in the box. But The Tartar will have the say.

; Jewel Wave was trottinn nicely in th e Suburb,,, when portion of he- gear aav ' and Garth Robertaon lost of the Waverley mare. She loped up the straight, and tu I fn° w d h,c U h na t'Zr r,> Hr f th * IOr « n which the driver was p looked upon the affair as a i It was not until the clerk c f tw' course went to Garth's assi.f.l * that the public realised thUno,'* tion and he was given due c red t for keeping his place in the sulky. Short of Breath 1.03 Mauritius again gave a fi n . lnbition over 10 furlongs and , with the leaders at this stage Th U!> ' he hung fire and going down ih. 22 the last time the et-Australian dnfw to the rear. Staying is not his W suit and there are no races for trot, .2 ; over eight and 10 furlongs, but one'S j these days he will see out a K-fm-Fn-go. Speed Not Lacking Roez did not take it on over tfc first mile of the slow-trotters’ race c*> Wednesday, but from there on pu : good work. Tom Roe. finding the si* ter to Gold Sovereign was in humour, drove her along juid she showed a fine turn of speed to get inio fourth place at the end. If she be. comes more solid, there will be sorn® money waiting for her. Not Quite Ripe Tamerlane did not produce his beer form at Epsom, but in patches th* Petereta trotter was showing a lot o* pace. He will improve by the r*cini and as he pulled up all right on th« solid tracks the tale of unsouedness can be discounted. He may b© seer, out at Hamilton, and in the Members’ Handicap will kieep all and sundry busy.

So Near and Yet So Far Real the Great flattered her supporters for 12 of the 16 furlongs in th* Alexandra Handicap, and then they could read the writing on the wall from Young Blake. But D. Withers's mare was still going nicely in the straight and it looked as if she was a certainty to pay a second dividend, but Mutu tackled her and the Ameri-can-bred mare hit th© air and her supporters hit the roof (or the rocks) Young Blake’s display on Wednesday plainly showed that his form on the opening day was not up to Plimsol mark. While he was slow to find his feet on that occasion he never appeared to have a ghost of a show and was one of the last to finish. In the Alexandra Handicap on the final day he again lost ground at the start, but once on the journey trotted in faultless style and was a winner three furlongs from home. As he went 4.31, his performances are difficult to understand. Is he a last day horse?