TROTTING

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 297, 7 March 1928, Page 11

TROTTING

NOTES AND COMMENTS WAIKATO SIDELIGHTS PROMINENT PACERS Some promising pacers were seen in action during the week-end at Claudelands, apart from those whose qualifications to a higher standard are already well known. Improvers in particular showed appreciable advancement, and some who had to be content with minor portions of the stake money will do better later on. A Good Filly The Man o’ War —Miss Rolfe Lilly, Medusa, proved her worth by winning the first division of the Progressive Handicap in most convincing style. From an outside position she began smartly, and was soon in a handy position. With half the distance covered A. Julian took the Hamiltonowned youngster to the front, and despite a strong challenge in the straight from the more experienced Golden Grattan, the three-year-old finished Zike a tiger and won nicely. Looks Like Staying On Dad’s Hope went a surprising l - good race in the two-mile Raglan Handicap, and half a mile from home he was doing his work so nicely for W. Clifton that he appeared to have good chance of returning a dividend to his few supporters. The Australian-bred pacer weakened over the last furlong, but battled on gamely to secure the smallest end of the stake. The son of Ribbonwood looks as if he will stay on all right. May Burn Again Coal Light, once she settled down in the Progressive Handicap, paced in good style, and while the aged King Coal mare could not make any impression on Signor m the second heat, she beat all the others and secured the twentv sovereigns apportioned for , second berth. Produced in the Raglan Handicap later in the atternoon the Epsom-trained mare was accorded stronger support, but she did not act too with and finished behind the money getters.

By

“A baydos”

Money for Money There was not much support at Hamilton for the aged, gelding Money, but this did not deter the son of O.Y.M. and Drapery from attracting attention in the contest, or stop ownertrainer Greenwood from getting some of the stake money. The gelding was not favoured with any advantage in the early running, but down the back the last time he was noticed putting in good work. He was in fifth place at the home turn, but finished well and supplanted Chiming Pronto and Single Mint in the run to the box, and secured the third prize. There should be some money for Money later on. Up Against It Golden Grattan was turned out in fine condition by E. Paul, and the aged Gold Bell mare was the medium of solid support for the Progressive Handicap. She was up against a tough proposition in the opening division in the improving Medusa, and after running a good race had to be content with second place. Produced in the Farewell Handicap, there was again good money for the Te Awamutu mare, but she struck trouble when the driverless Manna raced across her path and settled Paul’s chance of landing the mare in the money. Never in Doubt Taipare was backed with confidence in the mile dash, and he never left the issue in doubt. A. McMillan let the grev gelding run niong behind Bingen King till approaching the final bend, where he took the lead and ran in a comfortable winner. The pace was not as sultry as when Great Actress romped over him in the concluding item at the recent Otaliuhu fixture. Taipare was the second grey to win on the day, and also the second of the Our Thorpe brigade to gain a first certificate. A Consistent Customer Bingen King has now earned a place among the consistent performeis of the district, and he ran an honest race again on Saturday, when he pulled out a second prize, and his supporters received quite a tidy little return. The »black horse began like a shot out of a gun. and made the pace warm over the early stages. When passed by Taipare the son of Native King kept going right to the post, and was doing better than Mars over the final pinch. Coming Back Gold Cast is coming back to form, and judging by the way the aged Gold Bell gelding performed in the Farewell Handicap at Hamilton, it not be ■ long before his owner will be signing a receipt for a decent cheque. Ha was ; always in the picture, and inside the i distance it looked as if he would re- [ turn his friends a price, but Itohoro wore him down and get the second verdict by a small margin. Gold Cast can go with the weight on top just as , well and is worth keeping in view.

While there was no surprise in Signor winning the second division of the Progressive Handicap, it was surprising to see the good dividend he returned, and readers of THE SUN, who were made fully cognisant of the grey’s ability, would reap the benefit. With the bulk of investments being made on Cornelian, Golden Grattan and Medusa, all of whom were drawn to try conclusions in the first heat, backers failed to realise that at least two of the trio would be eliminated, and that one of the less fancied candidates would give a return in the second division. Signor’s backers were lucky to get the price they did. Looks Like Coming Right Manna showed a glimpse of her old form during the running of the second division of the Progressive Handicap, and had the Petereta mare not put in a couple of bad faults she would have been closer at the finish. Her showing encouraged supporters to be with her again in the Farewell Handicap, and bracketed with S. Groat’s other charge, Profiteer, carried a solid parcel, which made them third in the betting order. The mare was not long in action when she dislodged her driver, and while Profiteer made a big effort to pull backers out of the fire, he was not quite good enough. A Surprise Packet It was Grattan Thorpe’s day out at Claudelands, and the few venturesome speculators who stuck to the son of Our Thorpe were handsomely rewarded. The little pacer did everything right. He was first out, and when Dad’s Hope rushed through young Laver was content to trail W. Clifton’s pacer. Going down the back the last time Grattan Thorpe was again taken to the lead, and despite a determined challenge by Explosion, who momentarily assumed the lead, the usually erratic customer fought gamely and came again to win by a narrow margin. A. Laver drove a very creditable race, showing fine judgment. Although Explosion did not hit out with his usual freedom in the preliminary of the Raglan Handicap, he was taken on trust by backers, and after Mars, who was a warm favourite, the Nelson Bingen gelding was the best supported of the remainder. During the race the chestnut put in good work on the front and back straights, but went very gingerly on the bends. J. Shaw’s charge hit the front in the straight, but he could not hold on to keep Gratton Thorpe from getting the thick end of the wallet. Explosion is evidently on the improve, and looks like coming right ?~ain. Striking Form There was very little support for, Hohora in the Progressive Handicap, but the fact that he finished fourth in the fastest heat, evidently carried weight with some backers, and he «®as better backed in the Farewell, although still standing at a good price. Sam Roe had charge of the ribbons, and he got the Gold Bell gelding away smartly and kept him in a good position till he met with some interference. He came again at the right end and beat everything, excepting the winner, and his supporters collected a neat price.