Good Sport Put On at Hutt Park

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 313, 26 March 1928, Page 10

Good Sport Put On at Hutt Park

TOTALISATOR INCREASE NATIVE STAR PROVES THE GOODS (Special to THE SUXJ WELLINGTON. Saturday. The autumn meeting of the Wellington Trotting Club was held to-day in fine but windy weather and before a large attendance. The course was in good order, and there was plenty of pep in the proceedings. The smallness of the fields did not deter speculators, and in fact business at the totalisator was decidedly brisk. The sum of £27,139 was put through the machine, against £20,089 for the corresponding day last year, when a two-day meeting was held. Native Hero A Good One Free Advice was backed down to a short price for the Petone Maiden Handicap, but struck a useful pacer in the six-year-old gelding Native Hero, who is owned by Mrs. L. K. Page. Native Hero took charge at the start, and never looked like getting beaten. His dam, Limit, was a speedy mare. The winner was bred by the late B. Shadbolt, and is trained by V. D. Cutterbuck, who drove him. Free Advice went a splendid race, but could not reach the winner, who went the first mile in 2.28 1-5, coming home his last j four furlongs in 1.9 1-5, and the concluding two furlongs in 34. His Lordship was responsible for a solid performance. but Toorhead broke at the start, and again when a mile had been covered. Breaking Trotters The Kaitoke Handicap for unlioppled trotters provided an exhibition of breaking, every candidate leaving its feet at least once on the trip. The winner, Real the Great, began quickly, but went into the air before two furlongs, but getting down more quickly than Herbilwyn, who also made a break, she went away from the field, and never gave her opponents a look in. The first mile occupied 2.26 1-5, and the mile and the half 3.40, being 10 seconds slower than the class of the race. Petroleuse and Cannonball both misfired in their gait when the tapes were released, and again five furlongs from home. Elzear also made two mistakes on the trip. Petroleuse finished best and secured second money. Nourmahal was about to take the lead at the end of two furlongs, when she faulted and lost a lot of ground. Real the Great was imported from America by her owner, Mr. J. R. McKenzie, and is trained by D. Withers, who drove her. Stirring Finish The Improvers’ Handicap provided a hot finish among Pageant, Glenaray, Zella and Athlone. Had Zella not lost fully 30yds. by faulting at the start she might have won. Once on the journey she showed a lot of speed. Glenaray began quickly and with Pageant tucked in behind him, led for a mile and a furlong, where Zella drew into second place, and Athlone and Vikota joined the trio. Glenaray and Zella were first into the straight with Pageant and Athlone following them closely. Down the lane Pageant put in his claim and finishing fast beat Glenaray by three-quarters of a length, and in a slogging finish Glenaray managed to reach the wire half a length in front of Zella, with Athlone. who could not get through, going strong in fourth place. Pageant was driven a clever race by his trainer, W. J. Tomkinson. The gelding is owned by Messrs. Armstrong and Johnson, and is by Logan Pointer from Agnes W. The mile was covered in 2.25 2-5, and ten furlongs in 3.1 1-5. Jolly Pet’s Easy Win Messrs. Jolly Bros.’ gelding Jolly Pet made the opposition in the March Handicap look silly. He began swiftly and opening up a gap of eight lengths the first two furlongs, he led all the way to win easing up by four lengths from Jean McElwyn, who beat Dillon Gold by a similar distance. Quality paced for about ten yards, and then put in a break, and High Jinks did likewise. Rey Logan began correctly, but was being hard driven a round from home, and he quite failed to make any impression on his field, being obviously off colour. Lingfield did everything right as usual, but she had no pep, being well beaten a mile, from home. Dillon Gold and Jean McElwyn went pleasing races, but neither could get within coo-ee of Jolly Pet. The winner was driven by his trainer, J. N. Clarke. The halfmile was reached in 1.10 2-5, mile 2.21, ten furlongs 2.54 3-5, mile and a-half 3.28 2-5, and the full journey 4.41. Free Advice Makes Amends The Novice Dash Handicap ended In a soft victory for Free Advice, who had followed Native Hero home in the Petone Maiden Handicap. She was well placed with a round to go, and nearing the far turn J. Bryce took her into the lead, and she came home two lengths in front of Bingenwood, who was the only candidate on hand at the finish to make her go. Drift wave left the mark like a shot out of a gun, and was in front at the end of two furlongs. She led for six and a-half furlongs, and then stopped to a walk. Little Author and Toorhead broke up at the start. Native Star’s Good Trot Mr. W. Fay’s six-year -old mare Native Star added the High-Class Handicap to her already good list of winnings this season. She is a great trotter, a natural stayer, and is certain to hold her own in the best company. Cannonball made a at the start, but Alborn caught him quickly and went away with a big lead, but at the end of a furlong the gelding crumpled up. Bonny Spec then took up the role of pacemaker,

but when Native Star went up to her three furlongs from home, she went in the air. Elzear, who was never farther back than fourth, made her run over the last two furlongs, and while she earned second money, she had no chance of overhauling the winner. Moneyspider whs going well when he broke at the end of a mile. The first quarter was done in 39 3-5, half-mile in 1.13 2-5, mile in 2.23. mile and a-half in 3.31 3-5, and the two miles in 4.39. The last two furlongs were covered in 34 3-5. First Out First Home The aged gelding Matagouri never allowed the Gracefield Handicap to get into the doubtful column. Lfe was first out and first home. Matagouri Is by Wildwood Junior from a Coolgardie mare, and is one of the whalebone kind that can go fast and far. He is trained by J. Davidson, who drove him well. The favourite. Exclusive, nQnad a but she failed to see

out the journey well enough to stall off a challenge by Pageant for second money. Fast, Exciting Race There was a hair-raising contest for first money in the Despatch Handicap, with the speed on all the way. Vesuvius was first out, but before a furlong was covered Sungleam ran to the front. Then going out of the straight. Dillon Gold came along and the three horses raced abreast round the bendOn reaching the back stretch, Sungleam dropped back and Vesuvius and Dillon Gold raced on terms till six furlongs were disposed of, where Henry Logan and Sungleam came at them. Dillon Gold was the first to weaken, but Henry Logan tackled Vesuvius with Sungleam still in the argument. Twenty yards frem the judge Vesuvius broke, and left Henry Logan to win by two lengths, with Sungleam a length behind VesuviusThe time, 2.13 2-5, was an exceptionally good performance, for the conditions were not conducive to fa* times. Additional results:— IMPROVERS’ HANDICAP Of £200; 1£ miles. 1 — PAGEANT. 12yds bhd - J 3—GLENARAY, limit \ 2 ZELLA, 36yds bhd All started. Won by a length. Time, 3.34. MARCH HANDICAP Of £350; 2 miles . 3 JOLLY PET, limit • •• a 2—JEAN McELWYN. 36yds bbd -• - 4 DILLON GOLD, 12yds bhd - •• Won by r four lengths. Time, 4.41. NOVICE HANDICAP Of £150; li miles. 1— -FREE ADVICE. 48yds bhd .. •• ] 2 BINGENWOOD, 7 9—ZOLOCKWOOD. 36yds .. •• •• •• All started. „ , s Won by three lengths. Time, HIGH-CLASS HANDICAP Of £450; 2 miles NATIVE STAR, 12yds bhd 2 ELZEAR, 36yds bhd ~ ; BONNY SPEC, 12yds bhd -• •• •• *' All started. Won by three length*. Time, 4.39. GRACEFIELD HANDICAP Of £225; 2 miles. JT MATAGOURI. limit • 2—PAGEANT, 12yds behind j 1— EXCLUSIVE, 36yds behind •• •* « Scratched: Dillon’s Pride. . 5 Won by six lengths. Time, 4.4DISPATCH HANDICAP Of £250; 1 mile. 2 HENRY LOGAN, limit 3 VESUVIUS, limit I 3—SUNGLEAM. limit *