GOOD TRACK AT EPSOM

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 545, 24 December 1928, Page 13

GOOD TRACK AT EPSOM

WEEK-END ACTIVITIES SOME SMART PERFORMANCES _ Assisted by fine overhead conditions and an excellent and fast holding under foot, several candidates engaged at the Auckland Trotting Club’s summer cmrnival, which opens on Thursday at Epsom, registered attractive workouts during the week-end, which were witnessed by a large concourse of interested spectators. Etta Cole, who, thanks to the constant care bestowed upon her night and day by trainer Fred Gilchrist, has made a splendid recovery from her leg injury, was given a spin over twelve furlongs. After warming up to her work, the daughter of Peterwah trotted with her usual freedom and ran home the last four furlongs at a fast clip. Seen some time after the work-out, the mare appeared none the worse for her effort and F. J. Docherty’s mare will now be able to keep faith with the public on Thursday. Direct Action, who claims an engagement on one of the later days of the carnival, stepped over two miles in good style, and the manner in which he finished up the task dispelled doubts as to his ability to get to the end of a journey.

D. "Withers having arrived on Saturday, his champion. Great Bingen, wa§ strapped up and sent aver several circuits at a solid clip. He revelled in his work and showed that he is ready for the fray. Dolores went sore "when in training operations at Christchurch, and was left behind. Talaro (C. Lindsay) and Harvest Child (M. Holmes) were given strong exercise over twelve furlongs, with a good brush home from the three-furlong peg. The Cup candidate gave a pleasing display. Luvan, with J. Cockle on deck, was given sound work in saddle over a couple of circuits, with occasional furlong dashes. A. Julian’s mare is standing up to her tasks on the hard tracks in good style. One of the most attractive work-outs witnessed during the Cup meeting activities was given by Nelson Tasker (C. Fairman), Native Prince (J. Shaw), Jackie Audubon (A. Julian) and Peterwah (R. Fisken). The allotment was ten furlongs, and when the quartet settled down Nelson Tasker was the pacemaker, but under a strong pull. With the first circuit negotiated at fair pace Native Prince was just in behind the leader, with Jackie Audubon and Peterwah about twelve yards away, and in this order they passed the half mile disk, where the speed gauge was let loose. Eveiry horse did his job well, and Jackie Audubon, finishing with his characteristic dash, just topped off Native Prince and Nelson Tasker, Peterwah being a couple of lengths further back. Jackie’s final half was a real effort. Gold Jacket’s Trial Bingen King, Warplane, Peter Grattan and Gold Jacket hit out from the twomile post, and with half a mile traversed The Abbey joined issue, and the pace was slightly increased, although the watch did not register anything outstanding at the mile station. Warplane kept his rivals busy to the half-mile peg, and then eased up, Bingen King and Peter Grattan having done likewise at the end of eleven furlongs. A. Bryce then let Gold Jacket loose, and the local Cup candidate, getting down to his work resolutely, gave The Abbey no quarter and finished a pleasing effort in fine style, being several lengths in front of the chestnut at the post. Jack Potts negotiated two miles soundly, Wally Wright tallowing- the Americanbred horse to run over the concluding four furlongs at a smart clip, Jack Pott.3 is feeling the effects of his foot trouble. Spectators were all attention when W. J. Tomkinson stood Prince Pointer on the two-mile line and set off on the Cup journey. With a mile covered at an ordinary working gait onlookers waited expectantly to see the fine-looking black “speed up” over the remainder of the journey, but his mission for the second mile was the same, and thei'e was no attempt to record time at any stage of the journey. Torpedo Huon, Invader, The Tartar and Kempton were associated in an interesting bout over three circuits, the former, who showed a nice dash in leading the field to the eight-furlong peg, being eased up. The Tartar piloted Donald’s pair over the next round, where. Kempton moved up, with Invader handy. The Southerners overtook the local trotter when the straight was entered, and Kempton finished strongly, slightly in advance of Invader, with The Tartar a couple of lengths further back. The trotters both gave a sound exhibition. Some Absentees With the exception of the Taranaki and Manawatu representatives, which havA: not yet arrived, the other competitors were given jogging and medium pace work. Imprint was an absentee, his leg still causing trainer J. Bryce much concern. Jewel Pointer, who is showing signs of soreness, was not worked, but Terence Dillon, who had the misfortune to pick up a nail in his foot just after arriving in Auckland, was given easy work. The Author Dillon gelding looks to be in tip-top fettle.

A QUIET MORNING

From an early hour this morning there was a large assembly of spectators at Alexandra Park, but it proved an off-morning, only a few trainers electing to spin up their charges. Trampfast made a host of friends by the resolute manner in which he traversed several laps, with a fine - dash over the final half-mile. W. Lowe also allowed Commander Bingen to step merrily over a couple of circuits, and he aid his work well. A bright essay was witnessed when Queen’s Own (O. E. Hooper), after covering half a mile, was picked up by Audacious (C. Donald), the pair traversing twelve furlongs in splendid style. The time registered by the Cup candidate for . the two miles was satisfactory and proved her to be in good form. Nelson McCormack was too good for All Bell over a ten-furlong course. The latter did not go in his usual style, but neevrtheless Nelson gave a much-im-proved display. A solid task was set Lingfield and Glideaway over two miles, the Victorian importation having the better of the argument. The Wellsford pair, Ngatira and Gold Dial, worked steadily over a lengthy journey, running home together at a solid clip over the final circuit. Goldman (F. Gilchrist), after jogging a couple of rounds, set away from the tenfurlong disk to a flat-footed start, and with half a mile covered clapped on some speed. The old fellow kept up his effort and passed the post in smart time for the journey.