BIG HEAT AT EPSOM

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 695, 21 June 1929, Page 12

BIG HEAT AT EPSOM

PRINCE'S HANDICAP HAS FINE FIELD KEEN CONTEST ASSURED I Four years ago the Auckland Trotting Club held its final fixture I in the autumn in accordance with previous custom, but a change was j then made to the winter session, | mainly to alleviate the long break between the closing and opening of the light harness seasons in the North. The Club was decidedly game in making such a move, as at this period of the year there is always the risk of adverse climatic conditions. Despite this drawback, winter trotting has become very popular in the Auckland province, and each June since the new system was adopted has provided light harness enthusiasts with high • class sport. Until last season the! i principal event on the opening day’s j card was known as the Campbell 1 Handicap, a race that has never failed i to raise keen competition and produce thrilling finishes. Logan Lou was successful in this heat in 1926 and Terence Dillo-n captured the stake the following winter. Some Past Victors When the schedule for last year was prepared, the club erased the Campbell Handicap from the card, making the chief item the C. F. Mark

Memorial Handicap, to perpetuate the memory of the late secretary, Mr. C. F. Mark, who was one of the founders of the organisation, and shaped its destinies successfully for close on forty years. • The -first race under the new name was won by Gold Jacket, who later on placed the Auckland Cup to his credit. This year the C. F. Mark Memorial Handicap has been transferred to the final day’s card and the main event for Saturday will be the Prince of Wales Handicap, which formerly constituted the leading event for the concluding day. This event was always a popular one and in recent years hasbeen won by such good ones as Ivohara, Imprint, Harold Thorpe and Dalmeny. As showing the progress made by the club in the question of tightening up the limits, it is worthy of note that nine years ago the big race tor the final fixture of the season was a 4.39 class, while in tomorrow’s event the limit is 4.29. Tomorrow’s Contest Can the trotter Young Blake foot it with the pacers is a question that is causing much concern to students of trotting at the present juncture. The fact that trainer Tomkinson has left his champion square-gaiter in the heat in preference to Dalmeny should satisfy backers on that . score at all events, and Young Blake will go a sound race off the end. With a move out of the barrier, it would be a move in to the tote for supporters of The Abbey, but ho has to be taken on chance. Vesuvius is a bold looking customer and as he is returning to form must have a good say in • the argument. Torpedo Huon in his two New Zealand starts proved himself a genuine race horse and stayer, and wnile he may feel the need of a race will let the opposition know he is there all right. On recent form Dundas Boy looks the pick of the limit basket, but he prefers the footing solid. Logan Chief has none the best of the deal on 4.28, but his party is evidently satisfied with his chances, and as the one time champion pacer has lately been knocking at the door, he will probably do better than the majority imagines. Ba6k to his best days and Machine Gun would be the hardest for any of liis rivals to head off, while from a 4.27 mark Padlock only needs to be up to his high standard of last season, to give W. Hughes a comfortable drive in front. On the same peg is Cardinal Logan, who revels in the going at Alexandra Park in June, and as -he recently showed himself on the up grade again, his prospects must be favourably considered. This leaves the back-marker Kohara, who like other North Island candidates may feel the want of a race. The black pacer was in line form at the Auckland Christmas carnival, and a reproduction of his effort in the Cup and the President’s Handicap would secure him the thick end of the purse in the Prince of Wales Handicap. The race promises to be one of the keenest ever witnessed at the Park and Kohara, Cardinal Logan and Torpedo Huon will not be lacking friends.

EPSOM BRACKETS "BRACKETS on the Auckland Trotting Club’s card for tomorrow are: Mangere Handicap, Explosion - Great ballin; Hobson Handicap, Warplane - Stoney; Cornwall Handicap, The AbbeyJewel Pointer.