Nihilist Junr. Is Now at Royal Oak

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 445, 29 August 1928, Page 11

Nihilist Junr. Is Now at Royal Oak

UNDER H. KINNIMONT’S CHARGE PACER’S HISTORY REVIEWED Nihilist Junr., the recent addition to the ranks of Epsomtrained pacers, is an aged gelding by Four Chimes from Woodroof, being now in his 11th year. Four Chimes has sired some top-notch-ers, and in Cathedral Chimes he left one that made splendid trotting history for the Dominion. Woodroof was by Kentucky Yet from a Berlin mare, and possessed fine strains of American blood. Nihilist Junr. was not taken to the races till his fourth year, and then only once was he asked to sport silk. That he had shown promise is evidenced from the fact that he wai made a warm favourite in the saddle race of 12 furlongs (3.50 class) at the Wairaa Jockey Club meeting in January, 1922, but he did not get a situation. The following year .the Four Chimes gelding was stepped out on four occasions, two thirds in saddle being his portion, a 13 furlongs in 4.1 and a mile and a-half in 3.45 being his records. A LENGTHY SPELL For the following two years the Southern-owned and trained pacer was in "easy street,” but he bobbed up again in 1925-26, when he faced the starter three times, taking the second prize in a 12-furlong saddle heat at Beaumont, registering 3.40. The next year he figured on race cards on 8 occasions, scoring two firsts and a similar number of seconds. At Gore he g.ot the small end of the stick in a mile and a-half saddle, and two mile harness heat, tramping 3.36 2-5 and 4.52 1-5 respectively. His successes were secured at Cromwell, both being in saddle, in which he recorded 2.23 3-5 for a mile and 3.1 1-5 for an extra quarter. HIS BUSIEST SEASON Last year was the pacer’s heaviest season at the racing business, as he started 15 times for three firsts, four seconds and a third. The victories were secured with the weight on top, and judging from the history of Nihililist Junr.’s career, he favours this X * 3K * rfe & & & & & H- & rl*

style of the game. His last win was gained in the mile saddle at the Canterbury Park fixture, when he registered 2.16, but at Ashburton he failed in a mile and a-half harness event off a 3.28 peg and was also out of a place the same afternoon in a mile saddle off 2.15.

It is interesting to note that Nihilist Janr., who is now owned by Bridgen Bros, and trained by H. Kinnimont, despite his advancing years has only started 31 times. So as he has not been by any means overtaxed there should be a good kick left in him yet.

GREAT EXHIBITIONS

DURING NATIONAL WEEK bearing on cup carnival After witnessing the recent trotting carnival at Addington, a Southland writer waxes enthusiastic about the prospects of a great function at Christchurch in the spring, when the Metropolitan Club stages its big Cup fixture. He says: *‘As the New Zealand Metropolitan Trotting Club’s national fixture progressed at Addington during the past lew days the list of horses winning hieir way into the fast classes, both Irotters and pacers, grew with a rapidly that surprised and delighted the *Post hardened followers of the lightbArness pastime. Great exhibitions of trotting and pacing piled one upon Jh® other in a fashion that was rather T*wildering and it is only now when effluxion of time has permitted of cooler reflection that the possibilities Qt it all can be summed up and digested. it will tend to many changes marked progress, but the most ‘tßPortant bearing in the meantime to !r e writer’s mind will be its effect on p forthcoming New Zealand Trotting U P fixture in November. Interesting Cup Fixture It 'will direct widespread attention f tha Cup gathering, and, provided ••▼ourable weather and a speedy track tha? ln ’ can be safel T prophesied . Hie Addington grounds will be Vernh t 0 their fullest capacity on No- ® and successive race days, rotting men from every centre of where the pastime is undercut be on hand, with or witha * Qualified horses, and the results ** Lkely to prove of a more sensaonal description that ever. This is then * 3 . ass * ng- fancy or extravagant fact *’ k Ut a statement of concrete those who are privileged to and t ent under the desired weather om f ra ck conditions will find it borne * et -ter. Very many North at were attracted to the sport theiV Cent fixture and found it to turn fking and the majority will re6Q. • t 0 see their numerous improved Soui* 6 re Presenta lives tackling the gro ii Performers on their own . and these Northern visitors snart. be uiore than sufficient to hi,t« ■ te€ a Sobering of light-harness importance.”