TROTTING

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 311, 23 March 1928, Page 7

TROTTING

(CONTINUED)

Wellington Clubs Autumn Function

SMALL FIELDS ENGAGED INTERESTING RACING While the Wellington Club’s card to be submitted at Hutt Park to-morrow has not drawn a very good response from owners and trainers, the racing gives promise of being interesting, and some good sport should be witnessed, as in several events class is well represented. The fact that the fields will be small at Hutt Park to-morrow should not detract from the value of the racing, and backers will feel a certain degree of safety in supporting their fancied candidates, as the danger of bad passages, interference, and other difficulties so often experienced where fields are congested and unwieldy will be eliminated. Last year the Wellington Club held a two-day fixture at this period of the year, but for some reason or other this season adopted the policy of holding one-day meetings, at intervals of a few months. It may be that the .vmall acceptance recorded tor tomorrow’s function is due to this fact, as owners are not keen on taking their charges to single-day fixtures, where it is possible tlyough the number of permits held by a club to make it a two-day affair. In the two chief items, the March Handicap (pacers) and High-class Handicap (trotters), the response must be decidedly disappoihting to the committee which framed the schedule, and particularly in the square-gaiters’ event the prize and class of the handicap warranted a larger field. Racing will commence with an event for improving pacers, knowji as the PETONE HANDICAP (Harness), Of £200; class 3.42; 35 miles

Of the front lot, Native Hero appears to have the best credentials, and showed encouraging form when beaten by The Abbey at Ashhurst recently. His Lordship was a good third to Baron Bingen and Free Advice in the Eclipse Handicap at New Brighton last week, the finish of which caused a mild sensation. Bingenwood lias been showing improving form on the West Coast, and Free Advice, the back-marker, has come right. NATIVE HERO and HIS LORDSHIP may be the best supported. Trotters get a turn on the circuit in the

Three solid customers figure on the end, and if Petroleuse lias struck form she will be the hardest to dispose of. Nourmalial has not been displaying lier usual dash of late, but the distance will be in her favour. Cannonball has a lot of speed, and should be able to make things interesting. If Elzear could be depended upon to go right from the hop-away the others would know they had been to the races. Money Spider races well on the Ilutt track. CANNONBALL and PETROLEUSE may carry the bulk of the investments. The way will next be paved for several pacers to display their ability in the IMPROVERS* HANDICAP (Harness), Of £200; class 3.35; 1* miles

Glenaray has a fine chance off the and Dillon’s Pride is always a tough customer at Petone. Pageant js an improving sort, and Athlone is likely to bob up at any time. Vikota was in winning form at Nelson. Hard Knocks is a useful customer, and Zella will Relish the distance. She is a likely candidate for further honours. Abundance has been in the limelight recently, but the public fancies may be ZELLA and PAGEANT. After the process of weighing in Is over, t ( he contestants for the big event will bo introduced, seven only being carded for the

Jolly Pet, Quality, and High Jinks

commence off the front, and the latter will probably receive most attention from speculators. Lingfield is now under W. J. Tomkinson’s care, and should have improved since last seen in action, while Dillon Gold has been giving a good account of himself in recent essays. The rearguard comprises Key Logan, who can tramp a good 16-furlong journey when all right, nnd the speedy Jean Mc.Elwyn. Jean w cnt a great 10 furlongs at New Brighton. and is staying on. so the public may plump for JEAN McELWYN and HIGH JINKS. come the improvers again to Parade for the NOVICE HANDICAP (Harness), Of £150; class 3.5; li miles

Honielight and Litle Author look •J e pick of the limit brigade, while His Lordship is nicely placed, and might be too solid for those in front °c him. Bingrenwood, Zolock Wood, *nd Drift Wave are solid customers, seasoned, and will keep those in front busy. Free Advice is bound to ® e in the picture, and when the machine ceases work FREE ADVICE and DRIFT WAVE may be favourites. The pacers disposed of. half a dozen doughty trotters will be harnessed up for the

Cannonball will have the advantage going away first, and if Alboru can ♦ n ep him down be might stay there ml the end. But he will have Native otar to worry him, and when it comes lo the final part of the journey the JJ are will be going better than most. «onny Spec is a possibility. while mzear is suro to be troublesome if she |oes right. Peter Swift and Money * Picier are both going to make it hard .J >r tlle others, and the former may be best at present. It looks as if NATIVE STAR and PETER SWIFT l ** be the public choice.

Slower class tw'o-milers will try conclusions in the CRACEFIELD HANDICAP (Harness) Of £2.5; class 4.50; 2 miles

Of the front-liners. Crusader should make the best splash, but Billon’s Pride nmy have it on the old pacer at the nmsh. Pageant has an earlier engagero.^ nt ; which might earn a penalty, v ikoto also has a previous engagement, and Exclusive is due for a win. Hard knocks can go the distance as well ’’, s anything in it, while the trotter Herbilwyn may find 111,' pacers too solid. HARD KNOCKS and DILLON’S PRIDE may be the most fancied candidates. The curtain will fall on the day’s entertainment with the decision of the DISPATCH HANDICAP (Harness), Of £250; class 2.17; 1 mile

Some speedy customers are engaged in this bout, and on the front is a likely quartette in Vesuvius, Sungleani, Pearl Coronado, and Henry Logan, but preference will most likely be given the Iteeftonite, who won so easily at Ash hurst. Caprice and Lingfield are well placed, and Dillon Gold on recent displays will be a tough nut to crack. Hue Coronado, if he effects a comeback, would have a royal show, and despite her big task little Jean ,McElwyn must not be counted out. Public opinion may make VESUVIUS and SUN GLEAM favourites.

THAMES CLUB'S FINE PROGRESS

ENTHUSIASM, ENERGY, . GOOD MANAGEMENT AMPLY REWARDED Since receiving a permit in 1924 to operate the totalisator at its annual trottipg fixture, the Thames Club has made excellent progress, and now ranks on equal footing for popularity and progressiveness with the bestknown of the Dominion’s country light harness organisations. The good people of the Thames have long been partial to the pastime of trotting, and recognising that it was becoming one of the most popular, spectacular, and exciting branches of outdoor sport, set about the organisation of a club on sound modern lines. Those who were induced to take an 'interest in the

movement soon showed a keenness and energy that could not fail to command ultimate success, and after keeping the game going through the agency of nontotalisator fixtures the reward came per medium of a permit to use the Having won through to this stage, the Thames trotting stalwarts did not stop here, but ambition became a prominent feature of the management, and this, added to capability and energy, saw the country club make rapid strides in the direction of progress. The March Commences The initial meeting under the improved conditions was held in 192 5, when the aged trotter Roto won the first event on the card. The cup went to the grey gelding Gold Sound, wfTo is a likely starter in some of the events to-morrow. On that occasion the machine handled £12,226, but the turnover was increased the following year to £15,059. This was Rocxkburn’s year, J. Shaw driving the Epsom-owned pacer home just in front of the outsider of the 13 starters, Master Councillor. Last March the club held another highly successful fixture, the machine handling the satisfactory amount of £17,945. Gold Jacket, who was trained and driven by Harry Kinnimont, won the chief event in good style, and the Gold gelding claims an engagement in to-morrow’s race. Passing It On As a result of the continued success experienced, and which was well merited, the club effected various improvements, and undertook to assist owners and trainers by providing free stabling for the visiting contingent, and this concession was greatly appreciated by those who benefited through the thoughtfulness of the executive. Following on each success, the club, with commendable spirit, increased the prize money, until the card which is being presented on this occasion has reached a high standard of attractiveness, and compares very favourably with that of many larger trotting bodies in New Zealand. The Thames Club is financially in a sound position, and has a large membership. It has been fortunate in the choice of officials, and enthusiasm

among those who occupy the vantagepoints in the managerial circle has proved of material benefit in making for continued success. Unfortunate Clash In connection with the annual fixture, which will take place on the Parawai racecourse to-morrow, it is indeed unfortunate that the club should find an opposition function at no great distance from its trotting operations. The Tauranga races are also being staged to-morrow, and as the opening of the train service at that e%d is taking place in conjunction with the races, the Thames Club has something solid up against it. It seems regrettable that in a district so situated any such clash should occur, and the holding of two meetings within reasonable travelling distance of each other is sure to affect both to some extent. Every inducement is being made to attract visitors to Tauranga, but followers of the popular light harness sport—and they are ever on the increase in this province—will be found in strong force at Thames, where they are assured of a splendid day’s sport. That the club will have a record function is the wish of all trotting enthusiasts.

Bara Gold . . Lt yds bhd Native Hero . Lt His Lordship . 24 Prince Audo . Lt Bingen wood . . 4 S Golden Morn . Lt Free Advice . . 60 Toorhead ... Lt

KAITOKI HANDICAP (Harness'). Of £300; class 3.30; li miles . Herbelwyiv . . Lt Cannonball . . 36 Petroleusc . . Lt BonnlKsne ... *1S Real the Great Lt Elzear 60 yds bbd Nourmahal . . 12 Money Spider . 96

Glenaray ... Lt Vikota 24 Dillon’s Pride . 12 Zelia Pageant . 1 . . 12 Abundance . . Athlone .... 24 4S

MARCH HANDICAP (Harness), Of £3 50; class 4.3S ; 2 miles Jolly Pet . . . . I,t vds 1-.V»' High JrnKs . Lt Dillon Gold . . 12 Quality . . . . Lt Jean McElwyn 30 Lingfield . . . . 12 Key Logan . . 36

Bara Gold . . . Lt vds hhd ToorheaU . . . Lt His Lordship . 12 Prince Audo . Lt Bingen wood . . Little Author . Lt Zolock Wood . Golden Morn . Lt Drift Wave . . Homelight . . Lt Free Advice . . 4S Rongonui . . . Lt

HIGH-CLASS HANDICAP (Harness). Of £450; class 4.37; 2 miles Cannonball . . L,t Elzear 26 v.*, yds bhd Peter Swift . . 72 £ative Star . . 12 Moneyspider . . 72 Bonny Spec . . 12

Matagouri . . . Lt Crusader . . . 1 it Miss Leda . . Dt exclusive . yds bh<. Dillon’s Pride . 12 Herbelwyn . . S4

Vesuvius ... J,t yds bhd Lincoln Iluou i,t Pa price .... 12 Jolly Pet ... Lt Lingfield .... 12 Sungleam ... Lt Dillon Gold ... 24 Pearl Coronado Lt Hue Coronado. 36 Henry Logan . Lt Jean McElwyn 60