TROTTING..

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 441, 24 August 1928, Page 7

TROTTING..

. By '

"Abaydos”

NOTES and comments EPSOM ACTIVITIES TRACK IN FINE ORDER Track conditions at Alexandra Park have been ideal during the week, encouraging owners and trainers to get busy with their charges. There are a fair number of pacers and trotters now in work, but not many are yet ready for a speeding-up process. The return of those who visited Christchurch will in a few days infuse interest into the proceedings. His Favourite Colour Bert Dyer is evidently impressed with the roan colour and he has acquired the speedy, but erratic Glance as a stable mate for Mulwaree. The former was last season under the care of Dave Bennett at Christchurch, but while showing his usual speed on, t he track failed to race up to form. Bert may be able to induce the Honest Huon horse to settle down and a win for Mulwaree’s owner would be popular. Mulwaree lias been brought in again and he looks as if he will not be long in striking form. Ready for Work Van Rich has wintered well and he will he in good shape for Garth Robortson to start work on. Last season the Van Coronada gelding suffered with corns which hampered him considerably in his operation, but these have been removed in the interval and t he perky little pacer will probably show appreciation of the alleviation of the trouble by making early amends for his failures. Van Rich won a mile race for H. Kinnimont at the Otahuhu summer fixture in a manner that suggested Tie was capable of further successes Addition to Royal Oak Stable The aged Four Chimes gelding Nihilist Junior, who is well-known to followers of the sport in the southern isle, more particularly in respect to his saddle deeds, has made his appearance at Epsom, having joined H. Kin-

niraont’s stable. While he has some creditable performances to his credit over short distances with the weight on top, the ex-Oamaru pacer has yet to prove his ability to go a journey. He will be given every chance to make good in his new homo. Togo’s Trotters Tiger Salve is bearing a very bright appearance and revelling in his work at Alexandra Park. He is acting as instructor to the maiden trotter Golden Huia, and the Gold Bell mare is showing a good deal of improvement as the result of her essays with C. G. Lee’s square-gaiter. “Togo” also has Colonel Thorpe in good condition and both trotters are a credit to the painstaking and capable Epsom mentor. Goldman to Race Again H. Hedloy. who purchased Goldman

at the sale held some time back by the "Well-known owner-trainer Tom Rae, of Mountain Road, Mangere, is pottering about with the old pacer preparatory to placing him on the active list again. The son of Gold Bell is in

& & great heart and may take a fresh lease of life, in which case he will have a splendid chance of more than compensating his new owner for his enterprise. There is nothing looking better or moving more attractively at present at the Park than Peter Grattan, and his fine forward condition reflects credit on his trainer, W. Nightingale. The son of Peter Moko and Golden Grattan is doing a lot of his work free-legged and is hitting out in a manner that is suggestive of something good later on. The gelding is now in his fifth year and will probably settle down to business in earnest. Increasing the Team A. Julian has an addition to his team in Rockburn, who last season did not fulfil expectation. When right the Rock Huon gelding has a turn of speed well up to the average and if “Tartar” succeeds in getting the pacer to come good there should be some money to be had later on. With Nelson McCormac, Medusa and the Great Audubon—Miss Rolfe colt also to attend to, the popular ex-crack cross-country horseman will have something to occupy his time at Alexandra Park, apart from his Ellerslie activities. Related to Gold Jacket H. J. Millan put in a.n appearance during the week at headquarters with a sturdy looking, well-conditioned trotter that is a half-brother to Gold Jacket, being by Peter Moko from Lady S. As a youngster this chap showed a lot of promise, and having been given plenty of time to find his bearings should come to hand all right when put to the game seriously. Royal Bob, another of H. J.M.’s charges has wintered satisfactorily and will sport silk again this season. Consistent Sebisca Sebisca, who was showing good form toward the close of the season, is back at toil under the supervision of G. Mitchell, and the old fellow is bright and healthy. He is doing his daily work as if he thoroughly enjoys it, and the son of Harold Dillon and Alice Wood should be ready for the spring racing. Without breaking the ice last year Sebisca was in a place on five occasions, and he will probably upset this record when the bells are again set in motion. One of the Regulars Roma Bingen, when brought in after her short holiday, was found to be suffering from foot trouble, but this has now been removed and the Nelson Bingen mare is one of the regulars at Epsom. While running in the long acres Roma evidently kept herself in condition, and has not put on much superfluous flesh. Consequently her trainer will not experience much difficulty in having her ready for the early sessions. Now that she has a 1/t of age in her favour Kinny’s mare should race more solid. Not Persevered With Two popular Epsom attendants in W. Morgan and J. O'Kane are just now having a quiet time. The former made every effort to make a trotter of Mokotina. the sister to Betty Moko, but the Peter Moko mare, after being

given every chance, failed to impress and she was labelled “outsky." Jim O’Kane also had a Peter Moko mare that had the appearance of being the goods, but solidity was not one of her characteristics, and she has been consigned to the breeding paddocks, and may visit The Triumph. Another Busy Trainer A. J. Forbes has taken charge of the horses owned by the Klangere sportswoman, Mrs. Collins, consisting of Hohoro and a "Worthy Bond—Lady Hal youngster. The latter is a big chap and looks as if he will require tirfie to develop his speed. Forbes is also handling a three-year-old filly by Great Audubon from Welcome, fullsister to that promising free-legged pacer Festive Moon, who unfortunately went amiss early last season. The notive is a good looker and a nice mover, and has every appearance of making good at the game. Realty May Be Real One W. Lincoln, who has leased the wellbred Realty, has made a start on the colt, who was a starter in the last Great Northern Derby, in which he made a respectable showing. The son of Real Guy and Lady Moreland was educated by S. -Groat, and although an overgrown colt, was given every chance by the Mangere mentor. The son of Real Guy was then given a good spell and is in nice trim for Lincoln to commence operations on.

NATIVE STAR IN NEW QUARTERS CKIPPER PRICE, who took that fine trotter, N.ative Star, to Christchurch for the National Carnival, has left the mare in the South, and she will be under the care of M. B. Edwards at Yaldhurst for the season. The Canterbury reinsman was associated with the daughter of Native King and Muriel Starr in her chief victories last season, a'-.nd he will get her ready for the highclass trotters’ heats that are pending. Native Star made a rapid ascent in the trotting world last? year, winning her first race off a 4.47 mark and finishing up by going 4.30 from a 4.34 peg.

IMPRINT’S CUP PREPARATION THE long association between Leo Berkett, the Hope trainer, and his one-time champion pacer, Imprint, has terminated for the present at least, and the Nelsonowned gelding has gone into Bryce’s stable to undergo a thorough preparation for the New Zealand Cup. A few seasons back the son of Denver Huon was one of the leading lights at the pacing business in the Dominion, and while he has not met with much success of late, the handicappers still retain a good hold on Mr. Louisson’s horse. Although he has never accomplished such times as several he met in the National Cup ho was asked to concede them a start, while he was back with Jewel Pointer, whose record has eclipsed that of the Nelsonian.

ONLY ONE SADDLE START INQUIRER writes: “I understood that Loch Moigh was not a starter in the saddle race on the opening day at Addington, but notice in a Southern paper underneath a picture of the horse after two disappointing displays in saddle. Loch Moigh atoned by winning the Heathcote Handicap in 4.29. Does that signify he started the first day?” Loch Moigh did not face the starter at all on the opening day of the Carnival, being scratched for the Electric (saddle), and Queen Mary Handicap. He was a runner in the saddle heat on the middle day, and after being in trouble several times finished in fourth berth.