Country Trotting

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 785, 4 October 1929, Page 13

Country Trotting

Methven Club's Annual Card Big Fields Engaged Tomorrow CANTERBURY’S most popular country trotting fixture—the Methven Club's annual —v ill be staged tomorrow, when another successful function is anticipated ami keen contests can be looked for. A review of the loir fields by ‘■’Abaydos” is appended.

Although it is only two years since ! Methven sports promoters forsook the galloping business in favour of the light Harness game, the change has created a wonderful boom for trotting in the Alethven area, and the annual fixture has become a decidedly popular affair. There is no scarcity of pacers and trotters in the district, and as the card is framed to suit a number of contestants of various shades, Canterbury trainers patronise the function liberally. The result is fields of huge dimensions face the starter and punters are set many intricate puzzles. This state of affairs is very much in evidence for tomorrow’s meeting. WESTWARD HO HANDICAP of £100; li miles; 3.45 limit Novices, restricted to 3.45 or better for 12 furlongs, will contest this heat, ; and with two exceptions the big crowd engaged will start oft' the front line. Grand Canyon, the high-priced son of j Wrack, will have another chance to j prove his worth, and C. Donald will ; also have Brook Pointer engaged. Alac Locanda and Brixton are useful and the i youngsters Sea Alist and Lydia should i be in the picture. Flossie Harvester, | Becky d’Oro, and Royal Iroquois are | likely candidates, while Chrystall, de- ! spite his severe handicap, may have improved sufficiently to head off the best of those in front of him. The favourites may be Donald's bracket and Chrystall. I*> i A DRAYTON HANDICAP rW.-dtU Of £100; 12 miles; 3.50 limit This is a 3.50 class mile and a-half go for square-gaiters, and there is a tremendous field engaged. Of the limit lot Spencer, Manhattan (a blue riband winner), King's Voyage, Bonora, Alerrijigs and Addie Guy (the young American) should make things interesting for the rearguard. On 3.48 come Bon Boy, Nancy McKinney, Great Burton and Great Gleee, and they will be a formidable quartet, while further back Great Way and. Nelson Prince may prove dangerous. Public opinion will probably favour Nancy McKinney, Great Burton (if started) or Bon Boy. It)A MOUNT HARDING HDCP. .(Wl/ Of £115; li miles; 3.2 limit There is another unwieldy field arranged in this ten furlong flutter, for improvers capable of going a mile in 2.26 or better. Two recent disappointments in ULm and Lou Lee are on the front, while the boomed Llewellyn is beside them. Warrenore, Eiffelton Lass, V-al Logan and Bonnie Locanda are mtH*e experienced ones on the same peg. Doric, Rohlena, Rafa and Danny Boy are possibilities off 3.1, with Cyone (3.6), Royal Comrade (2.59) and Real Huon (2.58) all holding rosy prospects. If Llewellyn starts he will probably be favourite over Rafa and Royal Com* radeMETHVEN CUP Of £250; 2 miles; 4.42 limit Twenty acceptors colour the card for the big two-mile go with its 4.42 limit, and off this mark Glenrowan and Ennis Royal appeal most. Tumatakuru should make a bold bid for victory off 4.41, and as he will be coupled with Glendova, will be well supported. Curfew Boy on the same line is entitled to respect while a second further back is Lady Cello, who is an improving pacer. June de Oro and Firpo, on 4.39, are more than useful. The former may need a race to sharpen her up. while Firpo is just the sort to give the favourites a K.O. Avenger is more seasoned than Bay Nut on their 4.37 mark, while Trampfast and Wrackler cannot complain at being on 4.33. In a big pool the best supported may be Wrackler and Bryce’s bracket.

9 AVON? AXDICAP Of £100; 1} miles; 3.40 limit Twelve-furlong horses which can register 3.-10 or quicker, will be seen out here in profusion, and the promising: colt Llewellyn is again at the end and. with Great Huon. is a possibility. Roldena. Warrenore, and Salient are 12yds behind and the latter lone of Vic. Alborn's team) will take a lot of beating:. Tahoe on 3.3 S has been fairly consistent, and should be in the picture, and Cyone and Grace Huon on the same terms are not to be taken lightly. Further back is the speedy Cuslila d’Or. on 3.30. who went just a fraction over 3.30 at New Brighton. The public will no doubt want Cushla d’Or and Salient. O (a VISITORS* HANDICAP »>■ >" i '• £125; U miles; : Pacers of the 2.20 calibre and better will meet in the ton-furlong Visitors’ Handicap and some useful ones in Pearl Logan. Arikitou, Myra Locanda. Ivor and Loiterer are on the front. Just behind this lot is Lough Neagh, and providing he hits the trail smartly the others will be kept busy. Baby Logan (the 17.1 pacer). Brin's Royal

and Becky Mine are on the same mark, and if ready the former will be awkward. Tumatakuru will go merrily from the 2.53 line, and Curfew Boy will threaten danger. Royal Serene and Delightful are a speedy pair from 36yds behind. If Tumatakuru is re - served for this he will probably dispute favouritism with Lough Neagh and Baby Logan. 4-J RIVERBANK HANDICAP • Of £115; 2 miles; 5.6 limit Pure-gaited contestants In plenty will be seen in action in this two-mile event with its 5.6 limit. and Gold Digger and Benora may have most to say of the front lot. Duca (24). Great Glee, Bon Boy and Great Burton (36) are of the solid type and should see it out to tli© bitter end. Great Wav and St. Petrox are placed on 4.59, and if the former goes right, he will clip a lot off that. Scuttle on 4.56 will be going hammer and tongs when manv are throwing out signals of distress. Prime fancies may be Great Burton and Scuttle, but if the former is absent, there will be support for Great Way. MOUNT HITT HANDICAP .tie) Of £110; 1 mile; 2.22 limit. The mile saddle heat (2.22 class) h«s drawn the smallest lield of the programme. but it is none the easier of solution. Off the front Auto Minto will go a smart race and Connaich won a couple of saddle heats in Southland last year. Jessie Huon is another capable of a good effort, while Tannhauser may stage a come-back and upset the pot. Star Lady 2.21 lias an excellent chance of scoring, and the speed)’, but erratic, Satinbird may decide to bolt in from a 2.20 peg. Sonoma Star is well in on 2.19, and Royal Serene has gone much faster than the 2.16 she is now placed on. At the close of business the best supported may be Connaich and Satinbird.