NOTES AND COMMENTS

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 428, 9 August 1928, Page 7

NOTES AND COMMENTS

ADDINGTON ON SATURDAY With the 1928-29 season opening at Christchurch on Saturday, affairs generally in the trotting world are assuming real shape, and the fixture mentioned promises to be most successful. The presence of several of Auckland’s leading representatives lends additional local interest to the proceedings and is creating a keenness among followers of the popular pastime in this province. Among the Trotters If Great Change does not change his tactics at Addington there will not be much change left for his supporters. Sarsaparilla is coming right and promises to get enough to treat his party to champagne. If Lady Fan gets the breeze with her early she will make things pretty warm for the opposition. Maxegin will find twelve furlongs just to his liking and being such a brilliant beginner he will give those behind him something to do if they wish to get the money.

Kerrwood Bell made such a bis improvement toward the end of last season that it will not be surprising if she is the “belle of the trotting ball” this year. If Proud Ata will put on less side and attend to his work on race day more generously he should soon make amends for past failures. Lazarus evidently has been asleep for two years, but if he has been properly resurrected may affect a surprise, but he will find a big improvement in his opponents. Real the Great is to take on the real stuff on Saturday, having been paid up for in the two-inile trot. Consistency more than greatness is her strong point Tamerlane is left in both trotting events, and his followers are wondering what Bussell has in view. They will be left wondering, but whatever the trotter starts in he should put up a fine showing. Nighborn wasn’t born yesterday, and he knows all the tricks of the game. It is a question now of how his pace compares with a lot of those who have practically improved out of sight. Cannonball only wants to be fairly and squarely on his shot and a lot cf the others will be wounded before the battle is ended. He is improving all the time and promises to reach the inner circle. Elzear is a beauty w*hen she decides to go right and there are not many in the first flight of trotters that can afford to give her much latitude when on the warpath. Young Blake is set to tackle the pacing division on Saturday, and while he is meeting some classy exponents cf the geared-up business, he will be sure to make them scamper fast to keep out of the way. Although Native Star is not an acceptor for Saturday, the Palmerston North mare is on the scene and will tackle the opposition before the carnival closes. And when she does, remember she is a star of brilliance. Saddle Exponents Backers of Direct Morning were looking for a return on Saturday in the saddle race, but the Aucklander is •an absentee from the acceptors’ list. Perhaps they are lucky he is not in. Parkwood has not shown much form since being recommissioned and at Auckland his displays were mediocre. He will be tried in saddle now and may elect to do his best with the weight*on top. Tommy Direct will attract attention In the saddle events and those who direct their attention toward Tommy may find it a source of pleasure and Profit. General Bingen will command a lot cf respect and a good following on Saturday when saddled up for the mile dash. If he does his drill right the cpposing forces will be routed. Bespite a succession of failures last season, the connections of Succession are hoping that he will succeed this year in returning to his former good standard. King Pointer will have stay-at-home backers in a tangle, as he is en gaged in both the mile saddle and 2-mile harness events. Which ®yer way Ossie Hooper points, the King will give the opposition a taste of his qualities. The Big Chiefs Harold Thorpe is a quiet tip for the

August Handicap, but unless he has improved a lot on his Epsom form of June there should be quite a number finishing in front of Harold. Zenith lias not yet reached the Zenith of his form and the grey pacer will not be long in reaching the highwater mark. Four first in eight starts last year was his tally. Daphne de Oro put up a great record last season for a three-year-old, and while she is set a very stiff task in tackling such a classy field as that engaged in the August Handicap, the filly looks like starting favourite. Gold Jacket is reported to be doing all right since going South and if the track is any way firm on Saturday he has a splendid chance of bringing more gold to the mill.

Logan Chief will tackle the twomile event in preference to the sprint on Saturday, and if the footing is firm he will play a prominent part in the decision of the thousand-pounder.

Three seconds in his last three starts is the tally of that good trotter Peter - wah, and if track conditions are in his favour on Saturday he will have a splendid chance of breaking the spell. Peter Bingen has been one of the popular selections for the fast mile at Addington, but his party have knocked pre-post backers back by preferring the two-mile heat. Their judgment may be a good guide for speculators on the day. Waitaki Girl is still going strong and the first day there is a slushy track at Addington she will be a good friend to the boys. Looking for Promotion Don’t forget that Kingscraft is a King pin youngster and while he is tackling a better lot than on any previous occasion he will make them do their very best if they expect to head him off. Sarella is an everyday sort and she can stay for a week. Then she has a whole lot of speed and is just the sort to win a race early in the session and reach a high circle before long. Vesuvius is an improving pacer and threatens to burst forth like a sudden eruption. The Reeftonite promises to climb well toward the top of the mountain this season. Jackie Audubon should be at home in the Queen Mary Handicap, the journey being selected for him in preference to the ten-furlong flutter. He will be one of the best-conditioned pacers at Addington, and that will be worth something.

Trimmer will trim the opposition up to some tune before the National fixture draws to a close. The Reeftonowned pacer was never in better nick and if he fails to get the money, then his heart is not in the right place. Ariki opened the season twelve months ago by winning a two-mile event in a manner that suggested he would achieve distinction before the season finished. However, he failed a dozen times afterwards, but may start off the new season in similar fashion. Bankhead is no blockhead and when he is thoroughly tuned up for the races the “heads” connected with him will have something well worth putting in the bank afterwards. Great Actress has surely satisfied her friends that she is not the “star” in a long play, but when the part staged is brief, such as ten furlongs, she can play a leading role to perfection. Speedy Sprinters Talent will give a good account of himself in the sprint events at Addington and he should gather in some acceptable talents for his admirers during the carnival. Western King is looked upon as likely to receive his first New Zealand crown on Saturday. If it happens to be a wet day and the track soft and greasy, there will be no coronation ceremony. Jean McElwyn is a little daisy and when it comes to sprinting is in the first flight of the Dominion’s speed merchants. She will make the sparks fly and the watch hands travel this season. Fight Ever is as full of fight as ever he was and he is shaping as if he will be on deck during the forthcoming bouts. Epigram may not get his monogram on the honours list of classy twomilers, but when it comes to short courses the roan will hold his own with the best of them. Logan wood won the International Handicap last August, going 2.9 3-5. On the second day he won the King George Handicap, registering 4.27 2-5. Will he repeat the performance?— touch wood.