TROTTING

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 622, 26 March 1929, Page 13

TROTTING

(By

"Abaydos”)

THAMES SIDELIGHTS

SATURDAY’S FORM REVIEWED

among the dividend payers

From every point of view the trotting fixture staged by the Thames Club on Saturday will go down in history as one of the most successful held by the popular country club. No metropolitan body could have carried out arrangements better, while the racing left nothing to be desired.

Although, good prices were returned In several instances, form proved ol' great assistance to backers, and the fact that Dealer and Tony Victor returned remunerative dividends came as a surprise to those who were conversant with their previous essays. Rockburn and Direct Action, who both returned double figures, had .shown sufficient form at recent meetings to warrant better support. Big Improvement Aided by a good dispatch, and Jack Shaw's reinsmansliip, Warspite was soon in the lead for the Hikutaia Handicap, and despite a vigorous effort on the part of Te Wahia, the Man o' War gelding won all out by half a length. He was a firm favourite, and was required to knock 12 seconds off his handicap. A Good Novice Te Wahia, a gelding by Our Thorpe, tpuined by Bert Adams at Tc Awumutu, was a quiet paddock tip for the opening event. Drawing the second row, Te Wahia failed to begin correctly, and was soon several lengths away from the leaders. Going out of the straight he broke and lost further ground. but came with a determined rattle to get second. It was an impressive display, and as Tc Wahia was decidedly unlucky, he will be worth watching. No Trouble to Peter Peter Pirate was a hot pot in the Kerepeehi Handicap, and driven a cosy race by J. T. Paul, the Peter Moko gelding won in a common canter. Hitting the front early, Paul soon steadied him, allowing Regret to talt the lead, but over the last three furlongs the favourite went to the front and strolled home. He paid a short price, due mainly to the withdrawal of Dealer. Dad's Mope Improves To get second in the slow two-mile race, Dad’s Hope put up one of his best efforts since crossing the Tasman, but he had no show of heading the winner at any part of the journev. Under pressure the chestnut broke, but Clifton steadied him to come again j and take second place off the tiri < Regret. Still in the Money Regret again filled a. minor place at I Thames, being third in the Kerepeehi I

Handicap. She was well placed early and had the lead for a good portion of the journey, but failed to stay over the final two furlongs. Consistency is a strong point with the Wild Cry mare, and when the company is easier she will get a winning certificate. | As Good As It Looked The public accepted the per’s tip for Te Ngutu in the Parawai Trot, and the Imperial Child mare won easily. Going away smartly she soon attained a commanding lead, and never looked like being beaten. A hundred yards from the post the favourite left her feet, but settling down again won without an effort. Any Day Now Nelson Girl again put in several skips in the 12-furlong trot, but despite this she had enough speed to beat everything except Te Ngutu. When Bert Adams gets the Nelson Bingen mare to go solid she will win some money for her Te Awamutu owner. Won Easily Although she did not go away smartly, Ursuline, well-ridden by Sid August, won the saddle heat on her ear. After half the journey was covered the Otahuhu mare went to the front and after that it was a question of what would get second. TJrsuhne was full of running in the straight and had a good margin at the box. btle puid a surprisingly good figure. Does Well in Saddle Another second went clown to the ci edit of Dads Hope, who paced in good style all the way. Two furlongs from home the chestnut moved up,

and after a struggle with the ancient Muon Grattan. Bill Clifton’s horse got the decision by a length, returning a very fair price to his supporters. This

is not the first time the Australian ! gelding has shown ability in saddle. Driven patiently and with good judgment by Jim O’Kane, Rockburn won the Cup like a racehorse. The Rock Huon gelding was always well piaced, and when the home stretch was entered his driver let him loose, and with dogged determination Rockburn battled it out to the bitter end, to win by a narrow margin. Considering his forward showing at Epsom last month, he started at a false price. This was Dave Brideson's second Thames Cup victory. A Good Stayer Tony Victor went a stinging good , race in the Thames Cup, and at the home turn looked » a winner, but Rockburn’s challenge was too arduous and Tony suffered a small margin defeat. Sid Groat deserves every credit for the condition of his charge, and the judicious manner in which he handled him. Tony Victor showed promise as a stayer 12 months ago, and can now be looked upon with respect in distance races. Gold Treasure Is All Right After running third in the opening event in smart time, Gold Treasure was the public fancy for the mile and a-half heat, and beginning like a shot out of a gun his backers were early shaking hands with themselves. Half a mile from* home Bob Hall’s charge broke, and lost a lot of ground, but coming again with a good rattle caught second place. He looks sure to do better in the near future. Can Gilchrist Drive? Coming with a great dash at the finish, Ted Gilchrist got Direct Action up to win by a small margin from Billy Carbine in the President’s Trot. The old trotter was never far away from the leaders, and when called upon in the straight battled on gamely to get the verdict by a neck. He was well handled by his driver, who deserves a lot of credit for the trotter,’s success. Billy Out of Luck When Billy Carbine turned into the straight at the head of affairs in the two-mile trot, it looked as if he would lie home and dried, but he failed to stall off the challenge of Direct Action. Garth Robertson’s luck was again out, and he had to be content with the small end of the purse. Billy hung on well under pressure and gave his best display over a journey. Why the Price?

After his splendid showing over a mile at Claudelands recently, and in view of his fine effort earlier, in the day in the Thames Cup, it was surprising to see live other candidates better supported than Tony Victor for the final heat. Driven confidently and with good judgment by S. Groat, the Mangere pacer came at the right end to win easily and return his supporters a very fair price. It was another case of the “second up” system. repeatedly advocated in this column. Still Holds a Strong Hand Dealer, after being withdrawn from the two-mile heat, in which he looked to have a good chance, came out in the Turua Handicap and made hacks of the field. It was surprising that the Cambridge horse was not made favourite. His supporters once again

got a good price, and the Hova gelding will win over a longer course before long. Old Dog For a Hard Row Old Rockaway was the surprise packet in the last race of the day, and hanging on like a tiger to the bitter end W. Nightingale’s pacer secured second position, and his few supporters got a fine return for their outlay. Rockaway began well and soon hit the front, leading the field by several lengths till the home stretch was reached. At this stage it was expected the Van Coronado gelding would close up, but he kept going, to beat all except Tony Victor. No one begrudged Bill his turn at the wheel, as he paj's great attention to his charges, and if he was fortunate enough to have the goods, would be in the picture oftener. ANSWER TO CORRESPONDENT Wager.—Rockburn was 48yds behind when lie won the 1926 Thames Cup. The placings were (2) Rockburn (48 yds), 1; (13) Master Councillor (72 yds), 2; (9) The Pointer (limit), 3. Admiral Bock was favourite. Time, 4.37 4-5. TROTTING FIXTURES 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. Forbury Park T.C.—May 2, 4. Te Aroha T.C. —April 20. For bury Park T.C.—May 2-4. Cambridge T.C.—May 4. Oamaru T.C.—May IS. Hawke’s Bay T.C. —June 1-3. Canterbury Park T.C.—June 1-3. Ashburton T.C.—June 8. Auckland T.C.—June 22-24.