Meagre Fields at Hutt Park

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 589, 15 February 1929, Page 7

Meagre Fields at Hutt Park

DUPLICATION OF RUNNERS THAT owners and trainers do not appreciate the one-day policy adopted by the Welling-ton Trotting Club is fully demonstrated by the meagre acceptances received for the fixture which comes up for decision at Hutt Park to-morrow. A review of the fields by “Abaydos” is appended.

.Several reasons may be assigned for j the dearth of trotters and pacers at ! Wellington, but no doubt one of the I , chief contributing causes is the fact j that the club persists in holding its j meetings in single file. Four permits are allotte'd to the Empire City organisation for the year, and the dates are arranged to allow of four separate fixtures. The expensive transit for horses at a distance proves a stumbling block to owners under present conditions, and few are prepared to foot the bill for the privilege of racing once or twice in the hope of securing some return. It is highly probable that next season will see an appreciable change in respect to Wellington fixtures, and two carnivals extending over two days may be substituted for < the present unsatisfactory procedure. A big feature of to-morrow’s card is the appearance of so many contestants in more than one event, and stay-at-home backers will be greatly puzzled in an attempt to solve the various problems. A certain amount of local interest will be taken in the proceedings, as four representatives from Epsom in Tiger Salve, Napland, Nelson Dillon and Jackie Audubon are billed to appear, each claiming dual engagements. Despite these disadvantages, the sport witnessed should be interesting, as the class of competitors in the principal events is quite good. Such high-grade pacers as Ahuriri, Logan Park, Jackie Audubon, Logan Chief, Jean McElwyn, Padlock, Epigram, Black Admiral and Audacious will make keen contests in the Champion and Palmer Handicaps, while the presence of Elzear, Money Spider, Trampfast, Kempton, Sister Beatrice, Tiger Salve, Napland and Happy Rosa should ensure good racing among the square-gaiters. Proceedings will commence with the TRIAL HANDICAP Of £200; ljj miles; 3.40 class Ambleside . . . Lt yds. bhd. Gang Awa’ . . Lt Rafa Lt Grace Huon . . Lt El Direct ... 12 Hardy Jack . Lt Danny Boy . . 24 Wild Goose . . Lt Shirley Logan’s Pride Lt McKinney . . 24 Nonsuit. . . . Lt Zella 72 A dozen Yunners claim attention, ten [ of whom are engaged in a later heat. The majority are off the front, and position will play its part. Ambleside and Gang Awa’ were winners at Carterton, while Nonsuit and Rafa are a likely pair to make it interesting. El Direct, a dual winner at South Wairarapa, is nicely placed and will command respect. Then there is Danny Boy, who only requires to go away right to have a good chance. Shirley McKinney is a speedy sort, and Zella, if at her best, will be handy when the post is .reached. Rafa and Gang Awa may be the favourites. The straight-out trotters will next parade for the SELECT TROTTERS’ HANDICAP Of £250; li miles; 3.29 class Happy Rosa . "6 Kempton ... 84 Napland ... 36 Trampfast . . 96 Tiger Salve . 48 Elzear 108 Sister Beatrice ... 72 Happy Rosa and Napland off 36 yards have the front row, and it should be hard for anything behind them to take the position from them during the running. Tiger Salve is such a brilliant beginner he must have a royal show, and Sister Beatrice has the speed when at the top of her form. This distance suits Kempton down to the ground, and he is one that will give the front brigade a lot of trouble. Trampfast and Elzear are real trotters, but may be favoured by the longer journey. Backers may vote for Happy Rosa and Napland. The next heat is the chief one of the day, and seven classy pacers will go to the post for the CHAMPION HANDICAP Of £450; li miles; 3.19 class Epigram .... 6 Padlock ... 24 Jean McElwyn 6 Logan Park . . 24 Jackie Logan Chief . . 30 Audubon ... 18 Ahuriri ... 42 Epigram is a speedy customer, but the journey in such company may be just a trifle far for the roan. Jean McElwyn is undoubtedly brilliant, and although she may be preferred over the lesser distance later, if started she will set the rest a merry dance. Provided Jackie Audubon strikes his best form he will be cheeky, while Padlock, fit and well, would be the pick of the bunch. He has not been seen at liis best for some time, although in his last Hutt Park essay he was on the improve. Logan Park is a high grader at the middle distance, and whatever can head him off should win, but he cannot afford to lose any ground at the start. Logan Chief is a good one, and if tuned up will add interest to the race. Ahuriri has a good chance of making amends for his New Zealand Cup defeat, and a repetition of his final effort in that contest would mean taking out. Logan Park and Ahuriri will probably be favourites. Improving' pacers will have their opportunity in the WAIWETU HANDICAP Of £200; li miles; 3.32 class Halmore . . . Lt Cora Tacks . . 24 Loco Lt Great Logan . 24 Red Rey .... 12 Van Cap ... 24 Nelson Dillon . 12' Star Lady ... 24 Richore . . . 12 Chimer .... 36 Rose Marie . . 12 Grand Light . 36 Halmore. who will be remembered for his big return last month at Hutt Park, is on the end, and he will not be allowed to pay anything approaching that figure again. Loco is on the improve, but the consistent Red Rey, will be a nuisance to the limit pair as well as those behind him. Richore is on the improve, and Rose Marie is a promising pacer that will be well in the picture. Cora Tacks has a fine turn of speed, and if she has improved since last seen out will make things interesting. Great Logan’s recent failures may discount him with hackers, and Star Lady will perhaps be preferred. Van Cap if in his old form would settle the lot, while Chimer will probably require a race. Grandlight is a fine colt, and if he gets a good run should be

thereabouts at the end. The selections may be Red Rey and Cora Tacks. The novices, nearly all of whom are engaged earlier, will parade for the TAITA NOVICE HANDICAP Of £200; 1J miles; 3.2 class Ambleside . . Lt Rafa Lt Drift Wave . . Lt Wild Goose . Lt Gang Awa’ . . Lt El Direct . . 12 Golden Morn . Lt Danny Boy ... 12 Brent Zolock . Lt Shirley Grace Huon . . Lt McKinney . . 3 2 Meritor .... Lt Roger Lyon . . 48 Nonsuit . . . Lt Lady Jewel . . 60 The farm in the Trial Handicap should be a good guide for selectors when this heat comes up for decision. Drift Wave, Golden Morn and Meritor are newcomers that will give the opposition trouble, while the back-markers.

DUAL ENGAGEMENTS r FHE following horses claim dual engagements at Wellington to-mprrow:—Pacers: Ambleside, Gang Awa, Grace Huon, Wild Goose, Nonsuit, Rafa, El Direct, Danny Boy, Shirley McKinney, Zella, Epigram, Jean McElwyn, Jackie Audubon, Logan Park, Ahuriri, Halmore, Red Rey, Nelson Dillon, Rich’ore, Rose Marie, Great Logan, Star Lady and Chimes. Trotters: Happy Rosa, Napland, Tiger Salve, Sister Beatrice, Kempton Trampfast and Elzear. The only square-gaiter with one engagement is MoneySpider. Hoppled horses only appearing once are Hardy Jack, Logan’s Pride, Padlock, Logan Chief, Loco, Cora Tacks, Van Cap, Grand Light, Audacious, Black Admiral, Drift Wave, Brent Zolock, Golden Morn, Roger Lyon, Meritor and Lady Jewel. Backers are set a nice contract in trying to make selections with so many on a two-up plan.

Roger Lyon and Lady Jewel, are more than useful, and the latter’s Nelson form indicates that the mare is well. If Gang Awa or Rafa should be reserved for this flutter, they would carry the public confidence, but with either missing El Direct will be in demand. The square-gaited fraternity will again takfe the track when they meet in the ARMSTRONG HANDICAP Of £450; 2 miles; unhoppled trotters; 4.36 class Happy Rosa . Lt Trampfast . . 84 Napland . . . Lt Money Spider . 96 Tiger Salve . . 12 Elzear .... 96 Kempton . . 48 Sister Beatrice ... 48 Happy Rosa and Napland figure on the limit, and if either fails to earn a penalty earlier they will make it interesting for the back-markers. Tiger Salve is such a solid, genuine trotter that he is sure to be in the picture all the way, but he has two real good ones not far away in Kempton and Sister Beatrice. The Rowe Cup winner is well placed and should go a sound race, while Sister Beatrice was showing a .return to form at Wellington last month. Trampfast on last Saturday’s essay will be a dangerous customer when it comes to the business end, and the same will apply to Elzear, who is a great mare. Money Spider is always a tough nut to crack, but the machine may indicate the fancies as Sister Beatrice and Tiqer Salve. The speed merchants will have another flutter when the tapes are released in the PALMER HANDICAP Of £300; 1J miles; 2.45 class Audacious . . Lt Jackie Black Admiral 12 Audubon . . . 30 Epigram ... 24 Logan Park . 36 Jean Ahuriri . . . 36 McElwyn ... 24 Audacious has the front to himself, and if the going is firm he will keep the rest of the field busy. Black Admiral races most consistently at Hutt Park, although he is somewhat unlucky. Epigram and Jean McElwyn are a fine pair at the journey, and the latter in particular will take a heap of beating. Jackie Audubon will be suited by the journey, and Logan Park is a cracker jack over ten furlongs, but Ahuriri may find the distance too short. If Logan Park is penalised Jean McElwyn and Audacious may find most favour. The day’s card will be brought to a conclusion with the AU REVOIR HANDICAP Of £250; 2 miles; 4.46 class Halmore .... Lt Nelson Dillon 3.2 Zella Lt Great Logan . 86 Red Rey . . 12 Star Lady . . 36 Richore .... 12 Chimer .... 48 Rose Marie . . 12 The field is not large and all the runners are engaged earlier in the mile and a-half heat. Halmore should get the journey all right and Zella, if she is in the mood, can make it awkward for the rest. Red Rey may have earned a penalty, and Richore will take a lot of stopping. Nelson Dillon and Rose Marie are smart pacers, but the journey may not suit them. Great Logan should have a chance, while Star Lady is more than useful. Chimer, if in his best, would hold rosy prospects, but the elect may be Great Logan and Richore. TROTTING FIXTURES i Wellington T.C.—-February 16. Kaikoura T.C.—February 23. i Otaliuhu T.C.—February 23, 27. Invercargill T.C.—February 27, 28. | Marlborough T.C. —March 1. Waikato T.C.—March 2. Timaru T.C. —March 9. YVyndham T.C.—March 13. Manawatti T.C.—March 13. New Brighton T.C.—March 16. Thames T.C.—March 23. Cheviot T.C.—March 25. Takaka T.C.-—-March 30. Hawera T.C.—March 30, April 1. N.Z. Metropolitan T.C. —March 30, April 3. ! Taranaki T.C.—April 6. Wanganui T.C.—April 11, 13 Ashburton T.C.—April 20. Te Aroha T.C. —April 20. Forbury Park T.C.—May 2, 4. Cambridge T.C.—May 4. | Oamaru T.C.—May IS. Hawke’s Bay T.C.—.Tune 1, 3. Canterbury Park T.C. —June 1, 3.