TROTTING

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 480, 9 October 1928, Page 10

TROTTING

* By

“Abaydos”

NOTES AND COMMENTS ACTIVITIES AT EPSOM FORM FOR AUCKLAND FIXTURE The excellent weather experienced during the past week, together with the fact that the training track at Alexander Park has been in fine order, has encouraged many trainers to give their candidates fast work. Most of those taking part in the Auckland carnival are coming to hand nicely as a result of these improved conditions, and there is every reason to believe that a flair share of the prize money will remain in the d istrict. Native Prince is in great buckle, and the line looking son of Native King is hitting out in good style for his forthcoming engagements. He has done a lot of work unhoppled, and in every essay with the brilliant hoppled pair. Jewel Pointer and Western King, the Prince has held his own. He is not a smart beginner, however, and this may discount him in a short burst like a mile heat. Wei I-Conditioned Pair C. G. Loe has Tiger Salve and the little pacer. Nelson Dillon in nice shape for the races, and their appearance is a feather in Togo’s cap. Their work is done mainly in the early hours of the morning, their trainer believing that the “early bird catches the worm.” Tiger Salve is trotting with solidity, and his turn is not far off. while Nelson Dillon is a bony pacer that will not be long in securing a victory.

Stepping Freely Roma Bingen was stepped out on Saturday over 12 furlongs and the mare trotted faultlessly, and with sufficient dash to make her prospects of being early in the money a distinct possibility. Harry Kininmont’s mare has a lot of speed, and providing she goes as well on the grass (which she is not quite inclined to do) there will not be many in her class that can finish in fron* of her. Retaining His Dash Old Sebisca is a marvel at the trotting game, and appears to be getting better as he gets older. G. Mitchell had the Harold Dillon gelding very well toward the end of last season, and evidently he has retained that form during the interval, as in a workout over the week-end he displayed a lot of dash, suggestive of success in the not distant future. Good Double Gaiter Lord Haldane, while not engaged at the Auckland meeting, is showing fine form, and Bob Saunders lias the doublegaiter in rare heart. The son of Good Gift has been trotting solidly in his work, but does best with the straps on. He is a genuine stayer and one that will be well in the picture at country fixtures. Owing to ill-health owner Saunders is not able to put the time in with the gelding that he requires, and Lord Haldane will probably change hands at no distant date.

In Good Condition While nothing exacting has been requested from the trotter Marble Slab. R. Millan’s horse bears a well-seasoned appearance. The son of Marble Arch is not an attractive gaited customer, but there is no getting away from the fact that he has a rare turn of speed, and if started on Saturday will require to be taken into serious consideration for the 12-furlong trotters’ event. Rousing Work-out During the week-end visitors to Epsom were afforded an opportunitv of seeing Jack Shaw’s three tine pacers, Jewel Pointer, Western King and Native Prince, extended over a mile and a-half course. The Prince made the pace a cracker, and three furlongs 'from home was leading Jewel Pointer iby a couple of lengths, with Western ; King a length further back. Up the ; straight the trio was allowed to race i out, and Jewel Pointer had a slight , margin in iiis favour at the box, but | the three pacers acquitted themselves remarkably well. If J. Shaw can’t get some money with this lot, the gamo isn’t fair. Jim Bullock’s Team Jim Rullock and Alex Corrigan are due early this week with Koharu, Dillon Huon, Sister Be.#.rice, Mokana and Jasper, the latter pair being engaged at Whangarei on Saturday. Richmore may also make the trip north for the country fixture, although he has so far disappoined his Hawera o\v ner. Phe weather conditions during the last three weeks have not been

favourable for the trainins operation, of the Taran.fci horses, hut they in Red condition and should soon com. right with a bit of racing. Realty May Come Right T. Grimmond is pegging away at Otahuhu with Master Hula and the half-brother to Lady Dunmore is thriving on the treatment. The Mangers enthusiast is also handling a novice from Master Huia’s dam by Peter Moko. Others noticed at work the other day were the promising colt Realty (J. Lincoln). Gold Sovereign Roez, and Great Gold (Tom Roe). jj 0 . bora (W. Collins), and a Van Coronada maiden, who is being educated to the pacing business by A. Henwood sen. The excellent work-out on Thursday morning by Western King and Jewel Pointer, as reported in last evening's Sun, filled the fans at Alexandra Park with enthusiasm and admiration. it was easily the finest piece of work achieved at Epsom for many a day, and probably has never been eclipsed at any period. Both horses revelled in their task, and when it is considered that two furlongs from home Western King was a couple of length* behind his associate, and finished almost on terms with the little wonder tho Australian-bred pacer’s performance is all the more striking. They are a pair that anyone would be proud to own. A Fine Future

By sticking gamely to his task of going a mile with the bold pacer Native Prince, the four-year-old Warplane attracted considerable attention last week. The black son of never made an ei**or. and unravelled a boxful of speed that surprised the natives. If this young pacer fails to reach high-class company later on there is something wrong with the game. Like the rest of J. Shaw’g team. Native Prince is in beautiful condition, and his work during the week proves that he is ready for the fray. Encouraging Display

G. 11. Mitchell deserves a lot of credit for t£e manner in which he is persevering with the big pacer Horizon. and in a work-out the other day with Admiral Lock as an associate, the son of Huia Dillon put up a performance that would suggest success for his owner later on. Horizon let his connections down last season on & couple of occasions in saddle, but made amends at To Aroha when ho won in harness. Well-conditioned Lot

A. Julian’s team, comprising the Derby colt Rolfe Audubon. Medusa Nelson McCormack, Rockburn. and Luvan, are looking in fine spirits, and have profited from the careful attention bestowed upon them. Medusa, although inclined to become unbalanced over the first two furlongs in lier work, soon settles down to business, and paces beautifully. Rockburn ha* picked up in great style since joining Tartar’s’* stable, and Nelson McCormack is enjoying his daily toil Although Luvan has not been up long she is standing up to her work well! and last week was responsible for a fin* sprint over four furlongs. A Speedy Customer

Joy Bird gave promise when she ran third in the novice race at Claudelands last December that she would see * much better day and the daughter of Our Thorpe set trotting fans talking before the season terminated. After her essay at Hamilton, A. McMillaa won with her at Whangarei and later Hawera the mare accounted for a saddle heat, and in a similar event at Cambridge dead-heated with Uramic. But probably her finest exhibition of speed was given at New Plymouth in a mile and a-quarter flutter when sh« cleared right away from Dillon Huon and won by nearly a dozen lengths. - Will He Take To Harness

That the Ngaruawahia-owned Hal Chimes is likely to prove useful in harness is evident from the fact that he figures in the improvers handicap. If he can display the same speed qualifications between the sulky shafts as he does with the man on his back, the Hal Zolock gelding would prove a nuisance to a lot of those who think the prize-money is within their reach. Hal Chimes was only produced on ono occasion last season, a saddle heat, and although well backed was also well beaten.

Encouraging Form Daytime’s form towards the close of the season was encouraging and the Nelson Bingen gelding should be a much improved pacer this term. The last time he sported silk was at Alexandra Park and In a sea of mud he ran like a good one and beat all in the mile and a-quarter except Dillon Huon. That form was sufficient to suggest that the chestnut pacer will require to be reckoned with in races of a similar description at the beginning of tho new season.

Performances That Count When Harvest Child visited Epsom in June he ran a couple of fairly sound races over a mile and a-half, although he did not have the winning ticket pinned on his gear. Since then the Sonoma Harvester gelding has developed into a genuine stayer, as he demonstarted at Addington in August when he defeated the more than useful Kingscraft. The latter had his turn on the final day, but was forced to improve his handicap nine seconds, while Harvest Child was lucky enough to win on a slow track. On the day of the fast run, Lindsay’s horse was close up fourth, so this go was good enough to warrant him being made favourite this week in the 4.37 two mile event. Still In the Picture Free Advice will not lack friends when she steps out again at Epsom. It is just on twelve months since the daughter of Blue Mountain King attracted attention by nearly pulling off a surprise in the Great ‘Northern Derby and her subsequent form has been convincing. The Auckland-owned filly has been very much in the limelight in other directions besides racing, hut her chief performance was ia winning a mile and a-half heat at Addington in 3.25. She is nicely placed on 3.26 Jin the Improvers Handicap, but may court more admirers in the ten furlong flutter off the front. More Than Useful Taipare’s solid form of last season will find him again much in favour with trotting fans at Alexandra Park and the grey son of Our Thorpe should make his presence felt during the progress of the spring fixture. He won a couple of two mile events toward the end of the season in a manner that impressed good judge® with his ability, while his capabilities over ten furlongs arc well known to followers of the game in this locality* If reserved for the shorter event on the opening day Talpare will show a bold I front.