TROTTING.

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 500, 1 November 1928, Page 11

TROTTING.

• By

“Abaydos”

NOTES AND COMMENTS ACTIVITIES AT EPSOM PREPARING FOR OTAHUHU RACES After the storm comes the calm and this old quotation has been doubly applicable in connection with operations at Alexandra Park recently Firstly, after the racing at Auckland and Whangarei came a lull in training activities, and this brief respite was followed by a compulsory one owing to the unfavourable weather during the past week. Secondly the elements desisted long enough to allow the training tracks to dry and after being harrowed on Tuesday morning, owners and trainers present seized the opportunity of indulging their charges in solid exercise. Maggie Back at Work Ted Sandall was back again with Margaret Wallace and the natty little mare hit out well over a couple of cricuits. In her essay she showed no signs of the affliction which caused her withdrawal from the Whangarei meeting, but after the work-out the Gold Bell mare was again slightly lame. The seat of the trouble appears to be in the shoulder, and is not considered of a serious nature. If Maragret comes right and keeps sound, sho should run a race on the country circuit for her genial owner-trainer. In Fine Heart Haig; .n a, who is looking a real picture, and a credit to trainer W. Clifton, gave a plea-sing display of pacing over several circuits, without being asked to empty the speed box. The Bingana mare kept an even gait and never looked to do anything wrong and she should not be long in rewarding the Royal Oak mentor for his pains. Bad’s Hope, another inmate of the stable, was stepped out over about a mile and a-half and except for one or two hitches during the bout, performed creditably.

Betty Right Again Betty Moko, who has enlightened up considerably since the Auckland spring carnival trotted several rounds in faultless style, displaying a good turn of speed. The mare has shaken off

the severe cold which recently overtook her and she promises to strip in much better condition next time out. But unlees the daughter of Peter Moko can get a little more consideration at the hands of the Auckland handicapper for the Christmas meeting. owner Brady will find it a more profitable business to put the mare in the matron’s paddock Trustworthy Will be O.K. The three-year-old filly Trustworthy is nice and robust and has made a splendid recovery from the knee trouble which hampered her final training for the Berby, in which event, however, Mrs. Brady’s youngster ran a creditable race. The daughter of Worthy Bond has only to go along the right way to make her presence felt this season, in fact she would only require to reproduce her two-year-old form to win among the improving classes.

“'Togo's” Team In the Pink Nelson Billon was geared up and allotted solid work, with plenty of pace on over occasional quarters. The little pacer revelled in his task, and C. G. Lee has him in excellent trim for future engagements. The Epsom trainer also gave the unreliable Colonel Thorpe rousing work and the big trotter accomplished the task as if he never knew any wrong. One of these days ‘‘Togo,” who has the patience of Job with trotters and handles them to perfection both in training and racing activities, will drive the Our Thorpe gelding home a winner and his few staunch followers will practically lift the machine.

Promising Novice. One of the finest looking novices now at Epsom is the Peterwah— Mahinga pacing gelding, Peter Lloyd, who is in Harry Kinnimont’s stable. Since coming across from the East Coast, the Gisborne-bred horse has put on a whole heap of condition, and the training is no doubt agreeing with him, as he has built up to solid proportions. Peter paces like a gentleman and if he fails to turn out A 1 at Lloyds, the game cannot be reliable.

Still Going Strong Peter Grattan rattled off a couple of circuits in a manner that proved he has been receiving every attention since last seen in public. The speedy son of Peter Moko appears to have benefitted by the racing he had last month and W. Nightingale will have him at the top of his form for the Otahuhu function. The same trainer is pegging away with Rockaway, whose long suit is saddle heats, and he has worked wonders with the pacer in the short period he has been in from the longacres. Well-Conditioned Team

Garth Robertson’s string bears a bright, healthy appearance, and its condition is a glowing testimony to the efficiency and capability of the Epsom trainer and his associate, G. H. Mitchell. Van Rich is very forward and has benefitted by his racing at the Auckland spring meeting, and he will, judging by the manner he got through his task on Tuesday, give a good account of himself when next asked to sport silk. Admiral Lock and Horizon also did their work in a highly satisfactory manner. A Classy Lot Medusa slipped over a few furlongs in a fashion that satisfied track watchers there was nothing flukey about her dual victory at Whangarei. A. Julian’s mare is a smart pacer when under way and promises to reach a high-water mark this season. Her half-brother, Rolfe Audubon, also gave a taste of his abilities in a short

work-out, pacing freely and with precision. The pair are a credit to their trainer, and a. g od advertisement for their dam, Miss Rolfe, who has produced a another offshoot, by Worthy Bond, which for conformation, manners and general appearance is a real beauty. Trotter With a Future

The Gold Bell trotter Golden Huia was responsible for an attractive display over three parts of a two-mile journey, a break during the final half spoiling what would have been a sound effort for the whole distance. When keeping to the correct this mare shows fine promise, but loses a lot of territory when becoming unbalanced. Golden Huia has not yet sported silk but will in all probability make her debut at the Otahuhu fixture. Deserves to Succeed Queen Betty, looking none the worse for her trip to Whangarei had the straps on, but was not asked to. make any time. In her work the ex-South-land mare moves nicely and at times displays a good turn of speed, which if used to best advantage in a race would result in Owner Ward receiving a cheque for a stake. T. Aitkenhead, who attends to the mare’s welfare, also has Bonanza coming along pleasingly, while Satinbird continues to infuse plenty of dash into his track essays. In Good Health

Raima is trotting in good style and in a workout yesterday with the young pacer Warplane, showed that he is coming back to form. The Nelson Bingen gelding is a game little chap endowed with a good turn of speed, and W. Head has built him up to a fine pitch. The kidney trouble, which affected Raima in some of his essays last season, has been eliminated and his future prospects appear bright. The Hasting’s candidate will tackle the more classy trotters at the Otahuhu fixture and will keep them busy too. On a Hard Mark Geo. Phipps has Bick Billon in good shape and the chestnut pacer displayed some of his old dash in a workout yesterday. But Bick is getting on in years and unless the handicappers take a more lenient view of his past ability the Kyana gelding will find it hard to get any money. The four-year-old filly Haerenga Pai, is also coming to hand nicely, and while nothing strenuous is being exacted from her on the track the daughter of Happy Voyage will soon be ready for the races.