TROTTING

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 298, 8 March 1928, Page 6

TROTTING

• By

“Abaydos”

NOTES AND COMMENTS » FAILURES AT CLAUDELANDS } LATER POSSIBILITIES While there were several square- , gaiters present at Claudelands who 3 failed to produce sufficient speed to secure even a minor portion of the prize money, some at any rate showed promise of doing better, and before the season terminates 1 a few of the unplaced division of IJ last Saturday will probably be reJ turned on the winning list, i On The Improve One candidate in the improvers’ class calling for special mention is Special Bell, an aged gelding by Gold I Bell from Special Diamond. For some =* time A. Julian has been endeavouring to make a solid trotter out of this chap, who was a bad breaker. “Tartar” has affected a big improvement and Special Bell gave a sound display for 12 fur- . longs, and when he began to tire he > went to a tangle. But there is hope j for the Gold Bell gelding yet. 3 Will Do Better 1 Annie Emma, an aged mare by Gol--5 conda—Kotiri, was produced in the t Improvers’ Handicap, and while she did c not appear nearly forward enough to * see out a two mile journey, the Mangiere trained trotter was noticeable for respectable work up to a certain point. When Percy Rogers gets Annie into proper shape, there is every reason to anticipate she will give her connections something to smile about. Not To Be Trusted Colonel Thorpe would make a parson swear, and at the same time break a bank. Prior to leaving for Hamilton he worked two miles for trainer Lee in faultless style, and at good speed. His fine display suggested that the persevering “Togo” had fathomed the mystery of the Our Thorpe gelding, c and the faithful followers of the erratic i trotter again risked another investment. But the Colonel was not on the job, and another failure was recorded Lady Ena was shaping satisfactorily in her race on Saturday till she came to grief and there was a chance that all going well she would have added interest to the contest for second money. The daughter of First Voyage was always handily placed and was running along nicely behind Special Bell in third berth when the mishap occurred. She gave the impression that she has mended her ways, and if the mare goes as smoothly in her next essays owner Hill should not have long to wait. Too Bad To Be True Loehade was the big disappointment among the improvers at Claudelands last week-end and the failure of the Mangere trained mare was pretty expensive to those who noted her forward running at the Otahuhu fixture on the concluding day. The daughter of Our Thorpe did not begin right and was soon in the drift, and when on the journey W. Orange’s mare never looked like making up the leeway. Her form was too bad to be correct. Seems To Be Slipping Wild Nut was produced twice during the afternoon at Hamilton, but he ran as he was backed—very poorly. When George Webb the son of Nut Ansel and Wild Nell in hand before Christmas, he was showing form that suggested he might pick up a stake during the season, but his displays on Saturday would lead to the belief he is getting beyond the stage of possibility. But old trotters have wonderful vitality and powers of rejuvenation and Wild Nut’s owner may get some money with him yet. Not Up To Expectations Gold Sovereign declined his engagement in the Members’ Handicap oft the front, being reserved for the unhoppled heat in which the Gold Bell gelding was on a 4.48 mark. He was made the medium of solid speculation too, the favourite, Billy Carbine, carrying only a few pounds more than Tom Roe’s t.rotter. For 10 furlongs Gold Sovereign was well in the picture, but when he was expected to move forward and take a big part in the dispute he faded and - was well back at the finish.

Old Rio Alto was in good humour when he went out to contest the event for unhoppled horses on Saturday and when the competitors were dispatched on the journey Billy Orange’s trotter trailed the leading pair for a mile and then moved up beside Billy Carbine, and the pair kept Roma Bingen pegging away. Four furlongs from home Rio Alto left his feet, losing a good deal of*ground, but he made a good effort when steadied and was close up to the placed division at the box. He looks like winning before the winter sets in.

Not Her Usual Form Anseline did not trot with her usual consistency at Claudelands, where she made two appearances during the afternoon. In the Members’ Handicap the Nut Ansel mare was slow to find her feet, and then bobbled and lost further territory. She settled better over the final circuit and finished just behind Mutu, who was fourth. In the unhoppled heat later Joe Gee’s mare could not make any impression on the leaders and was never in anything like a winning position. Sti-lI Going Wrong Bingen Star, the converted trotter, added another failure to his fast accumulating list, when he could not be induced to keep his feet in the Members’ trot on Saturday. In patches—short ones —the half-brother to Native Star was showing speed of a high degree, but the efforts were short-lived and he would climb in the air again. When on his home track Bingen Star puts up some splendid performances, but with the colours up there is always a different tale to tell. Lackiewood showed a return of his old time dash when he hopped out and took unto himself the role of pacemaker in the big trot at Claudelands during the week-end. After traversing a circuit Tamerlane headed Bill Thomas’s gelding, but the son of Wildwood Junior, hung on in second position till the straight hove in sight, where he got the stitch and faded out. The black trotter, despite his advancing years, has a kick left in him yet and may in less; pretentious company land a stake for his popular; Ngaruawahia owner. TROTTING FIXTURES Timaru T.C.—March 8, 10. Wyndham T.C.—March 14. New Brighton T.C.—March 15, 17. Oamaru J.C.—March 23, 24. Thames T.C.—March 24. Wellington T.C.—March 24. Wanganui T.C.—March 29, 31. Takaka T.C.—April 7. Hawera T.C.—April 7. 9. N.Z. Metropoliton T.C.—April 7, 11. Taranaki T.C. —April 14. Ashburton T.C.—April 21. Te Aroha T.C.—April 21. Wellington T.C.—April 28. Forbury Park T.C.—May 3, 5. Cambridge T.C.—May 5. Oamaru T.C. —May 19. Canterbury Park T.C.—June 2, 4. Ashburton T.C.—June 9. Auckland T.C.—June 23, 27. RACING FIXTURES March 9, 10—Napier Park li.C March 10, 12 —Franklin R.C. March 15—Waimate R.C. March 15, 17—Wellington R.C. March 17—Opunake R.C. March 17, 19—Ohinemuri J.C. March 21—Otautau R.C. March 21, 22—Rangitikei R.C. March 23, 24—Oamaru J.C. March 24—Bay of Plenty J.C. March 24, 26—Westport J.C. March'2B, 29—Southland R.C.