TROTTING

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 648, 27 April 1929, Page 17

TROTTING

(By

ABAYDOS)

Fancies that Failed Badly

trials of punters TE AROHA SIDELIGHTS The failure of favourites at the recent Te Aroha fixture was a regular body-blow to punters, and in fact it must have constituted the worst day trotting enthusiasts have experienced since outsiders were romping home so monotonously at Cambridge last May. The appended comment will give an ,dea How the better backed division shaped in their respective races. t|THILE not the actual favourite in Vf the Waitoa and Hot Springs Handicaps. Benefice was solidly supported as second choice. In the former heat the Rey de ° ro mare was always in trouble, and failed to go kindly at any part of the journey. Next time out she gave an improved display, and was nicely placed throughout. At the home turn it looked as if .T. Shaw was behind a winner, but the mare left her f<»et at a bad time, and although finishing again strongly, was beaten just nut of a place. Her Worst -Display After her performance at Claudelands in running second to Tamahine, and later scoring comfortably at Thames, it was not surprising to find Te Ngutu a warm favourite for the Elston Trot. When the Imperial Child mare hopped away with a substantial ]pad, her supporters were prepared to gc» round and collect, but when she broke badly three times, and was caught half a mile from home by the back-markers, the ticket-holders would have sold out very cheaply. It was a much inferior display to what she gave on her former outings. Done His Dash Don Zolock was second choice in the 32-furlong trot, but his supporters did not get a decent run for their money, ss G. Paton’s gelding struck trouble at the get-away, and lost a considerable amount of territory, which soon made his chances nil. The Hon Pronto representative was produced later in the two-mile contest, but his prospects were not viewed in a sanguine light by ►peculators, and Hon ran according to their judgment. Was It the Track? Nelson Girl was the medium of veryfair support in the shorter race for square-gaiters, and, profiting by a couple of early mistakes by Te Ngutu, Bert Adams was able to be in the ' an with half the journey covered. Then the Nelson Bingen mare decided it was her turn to change the gait, and, going 10 a tad break, soon lost her position, to fin sh well away from the moneygetters. The big, uneven course was not in favour of Nelson Girl. At ths Last Minute There was an eleventh-hour rush to be on Bell Hial In the Manawaru Handicap, with the result that the Wellsford mare finished up favourite. She went a very fair race, but, while she got into a pjace that carried a small prize. It was not close enough to g've her supporters a small return for their investment. Just why the daughter of Gold Bell was backed in preference to Warspite or Hawdler is one of

those mysteries that often spring up at trotting and galloping fixtures. He Dawdled This Time Hawdler was the second selection for the slow two-mile heat, and he aawdled along that slowly that he was neither in the picture nor even the frame. It was the Our Thorpe gelding’s first attempt over two miles, but if that is the best he can do, then it will be better to confine his efforts to shorter journeys. Had the, field last Saturday paraded at either Hawera or New Plymouth, Hawdler, after his fine showings in both centres, would have been an odds-on favourite. Not Good Enough Medusa was elected top of the betting poll in the Cup, but the speedy Man o’ War mare found herself unable to justify such confidence over the long course. Medusa’s best twomile effort was put up at Claudelands last Hecember on a fast track, when she was all out to beat Explosion narrowly, and the subsequent performances of the latter have not tended to make the Hamilton clash stand out as anything specially striking. But with a bit more age, Medusa will probably make amends for some of her failures. Probably the biggest favourite at the meeting to bring disaster to the majority was the two-year-old Great Parrish, but backers would get some consolation when they saw the youngster’s display after he settled down to business. To lose fully 120 yards, and then travel on the outer of a big field to finish fourth in precisefy the time set him, was a wonderful performance. and would convince those who backed J. T. Paul’s handsome colt that the investment was only a loan. If there is a more-quality two-year-old in the Dominion, it would be well worth going a long way to see. The Wrong End After his fine finishing essay in the Thames Cup, which gave him the thick end of the stick, there was justification for the public sticking solidly to Rockburn for the principal event on Saturday. It was freely stated that the Rock Huon gelding had even improved since his success the previous month, but the public got no opportunity to judge the correctness or otherwise of the rumour. Rockburn must have been suffering from heartburn or some other trouble, as he refused to strike a gait, was soon a long way back, and laboured in the rear all the way. The Reason Why Tony Victor was fully entitled to all the support that came his way, and the Mangere-trained pacer gave his backers a good spin, although he could not pull out sufficient energy at the finish to get into a dividend-returning place. At Thames Tony went very close to downing Rockburn in the big heat, and later, when it came to the 10-furlong flutter, he romped home. But the Te Aroha Cup was just a niche too high for Tony Victor’s capabilities. Hard Part to Do There was no scarcity of backers for Gold Treasure in the 10-furlong heat, and when the favourite failed to go away, those who had supported Bob Hall’s gelding fully expected to see the brother to Gold Cast pay a dividend. He failed to reproduce his Thames form, and although the Gold Bell gelding was handily placed over the final stages, he was found wanting at the

business end. It looks as if Gold Treasure will find it hard to break his “duck'’ this season. Too Big a Gap When Anseline came with a rattle to get close up fourth at the finish of the Elstow Trot, a great number put a tick beside her name for the longer distance event later in the afternoon. When the machine closed for the Waihou Handicap, Joe Gee’s mare was a firm favourite, but while she ran a solid race, she never got near enough to the leading pair, Royal Bob and Hirect Action, to have a chance of displacing either of them at the finish. The public overlooked the fact that Anseline was conceding the pair—both good stayers—an extra 3see for the last half-mile. What Might Have Been Having defeated some good ones at New-Plymouth when be lost the stake, a feat he followed up by chasing Concertina home earlier in the day for the Cup, the public could not be blamed for electing Carmel first choice in the saddle field. J. Shaw took the mount, and although it is a difficult thing to figure out, it was quite on the cards he would have been in the firing line at the judge’s box had it not been for striking trouble in the early stages of the contest. On the Wrong Foot Those who saw Silver Link win the mile saddle event at Hawera on Easter Saturday were fully prepared to see him repeat the performance last weekend. That there were numerous followers of the sport of similar mind was amply proved by the solid support accorded the Logan Pointer gelding, and he was a sound second choice. Usually a brilliant beginner, Silver Link on this occasion failed to strike his straps at the psychological moment, and thus a lot of good cash remained uncollected. .

DRIVER’S TROUBLES

FINE AND CAUTION GOOD RECORD SAVES SITUATION Press Association WELLINGTON, Friday. The Judicial Committee of the Wellington Trotting Club reheard charges by the stipendiary steward against J. V. Hyke in connection with his driving of Halmore in the Probationers’ Handicap at the summer meeting. The committee found the charges proved and administered a severe caution in one case, with a fine of <£2 in the other, adding that a repetition might mean a review of his licence. A'rider was added that the committee considered it a regrettable incident, calculated to damage the sport in the eyes of the public, but dealt leniently with the offender in view of his previous good record and comparative inexperience as a driver. At the Wellington fixture on January 19, Halmore, driven by Hyke, finished third in the Probationers’ Handicap to Carmel and Red Rey. After the race, Hyke was fined £2 for erratic handling of his charge, and warned that if the offence was repeated his licence would be reconsidered. Later in the day he drove Halmore home a winner in the Novice Handicap, returning a huge dividend. —(Abaydos.) TROTTING FIXTURES Forbury Park T.C. — May 2. 4. Forbury Park T.C.—May 2-4. Cambridge T.C. —May 4. Oamaru T.C.—May 18. 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.

CAMBRIDGE ACCEPTORS

TROTTING FIXTURE, MAY 4 FIELDS BIG AND GOOD Quantity and quality is the out- ! standing feature of the acceptance list j received by the Cambridge Trotting Club for its annual fixture, which comes 'up for decision on Saturday, May 4. With such high class fields the meeting cannot fail to be as successful—or even more so—than those previously staged by the popular country club. Following is the list: INTRODUCTORY HANDICAP, Of £100; li miles; limit, 3.52. . 1

Nelson Girl Lt. W ikl Downs . . Lt. Special Bell . 24 Motumaoho . . Lt. Sweet Memory Golden Down Lt. Battery Bell . 132 Elego Lt. Royal Bob . . ISO Billy Franz . Lt. Paradigm . . . 24 Temuka . . . Lt. Te Ngutu . . 60 LEAMINGTON HAN DIC A P, Of £100; i miles; limit, 3.43. Single mint . . Lt. Lady Yvonne . Lt. Bell Todd .. . Lt. \V harepoa Moko Fly . . . Lt. Belle .... Oliver Thorpe . Lt. Great Parrish Lt. Thora Thorpe . Lt. Discard .... Lt. Margaret yds bhd Wallace . . . Lt. Ansel Bell . . 12 Great Gold . . Lt. Tawa King . . 32 Golden Stone . Lt. Moko Chief . . 24 Roland . . . . Lt. Bonanza . . . Carnui . . . . Lt. Zealous . . 60 Princess Betty Lt. PRESIDENT’S HANDICAP (Saddle), Of £150; 1£ miles; limit, 2.56. Huon Grattan Lt. Andover ... 12 Lt. Master Lt. Councillor . . 24 Lt. Silver Link . . 24 Benefice . . Lt. Rockaway. • . 24 Hohoro . Lt. High Sea . . . 36 Lt. Brutus .... 60 bhd Scandal . . . 60 Admiral Lock 12 Uncle Bert . . 60 CAMBRIDGE CUP Of £335; 2 miles; limit 4.42. Lt Derby Lynn 36 Lt Great Peter 36 Lt .Joy Bird . . . 36 Cora Tacks . . Lt Daytime .... 48 Lt Concertina . . 48 yds. bhd Great. Delight . 48 Tiimosa . . . . 12 Hal Chimes . . 60 24 Rockburn . . . 60 Carmel . . . . 24 Napland . . . 60 Explosion . . . 24 HAUTAPU PIANDICAP Of £150; li miles; limit 3.4. Lt Roland .... Lt Lt Princess Betty Lt Lt Ansel Bell . . Lt Lady Yvonne Lt Lt Wharepoa Lt Belle .... Lt yds bhd Tawa King . . 12 Lt Moko Chief . . Lt Vanity Boy . . 60 My Thorpe . . Lt Belle Axworthy <2 Discard . . . Lt BARDOWIE HANDICAP Of £200; 2 miles; limit 4.56. Lt Royal Bob . . . 60 Wild Nut . . . 24 Sebisca . . . . 120 60 Anseline . . . . Akenehi . . . 60 Peter McKinney 144 STEWARDS’ HANDICAP OI £100; 1 mile 5 furlongs; limit 3 57 Richmond yds bhd Lass . . . . Lt Zealous . . . . Bell Todd . . Lt ITaroto Moko Fly . . . Lt Benefice . . . . Oliver Thorpe Lt Haldane Polly’s Picture Lt Great Ballin . 60 Lt Dealer 72 Lt Dawdler . . . 72 Haerenga Pai 72 FAREWELL HANDICAP Of £100; 1 mile; limit 2.20 Lt Master Lt Councillor 12 Gold Cast . . . Lt Napland . . . 12 Childe Reremai . . . Lt Nella Dillon 12 Lt Rockaway . . 12 Lt Silver Link Lt Warspite . . . 12 Gold Carmel . . . . Lt Cora Tacks . . Hohoro . . . . Lt Joybird . . . . 60 yds bhd Hal Chimes . . Dawdler . . 12