CHAMPIONS ALL

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 828, 23 November 1929, Page 13

CHAMPIONS ALL

N.Z. CUP AND FREE-FOR-ALL OPINIONS OF REINSMEN Among the reinsmen engaged at the present Otahuhu Trotting Club carnival are three who played a very prominent part in the principal events at the recent Addington ! carnival, and they speak in high terms of the keen sport which ' marked the successful function. ■ ss sp<irtsmen r< fi rred to are J. J. Kennerley. trainer and driver <>f the world's race record j ' holder, Peter Dingt n, winner of the ;•“ Cup tinal; \V. J. Tomkin Son, trainer- i 1 driver of Logan Park, winner of one j 1 of the Cup divisions and runner-up c in tiie final: -and W. Hughes, trainerdriver of Padlock, the plain-looking t but speedy pacer which won the Free- ' for-All. louring tin ir stay here for the t Otahuhu fixture, “Abaydos” was able 1 to glean their impressions of the two t races in question, and all are in agree- t nient that these principal events were i won on their merits. c

J. J. Kennerley was naturally pleased with the success of Peter Bingen. He considered that the race for the heat on the opening day improved his charge for the final tussle. Asked what the position would have been had Kingcraft gone away correctly, the Te Awamutu trainer said: “I still think Peter would have won, but Kingcraft would have given us a very hard fight and I am of the opinion he would have finished a good second.” J.J.K. again made reference to comments by Southern writers that Peter Bingen j was not a real stayer, remarking: “I hope his latest performance will now convince them their judgment is all ! wrong.” Speaking of the Free-for-All, j the reinsman offered no excuse for the j defeat and gave Padlock every credit for his fine achievement.

The Addington trainer said he never had any doubt that with a dry track Logan Park would completely settle j the opposition in his division on the first day. When it came to the final heat, however, he recognised that Peter Bingen and Kingcraft would be hard to dispose of. “Logan Park,” he said, “ran a great race at the second time of asking, and was defeated by a horse that was better suited by the division conditions. Had the Cup been run straight out, as in previous years, 1 believe Logan Park would have won, although with a prompt dispatch Kingcraft would have proved a tough rival.” W.J.T., without in any way attempting to detract from the merit of Padlock’s Free-for-All success, expressed the opinion that Peter Bingen did not have any luck of the running. However, lie concluded, “the Cup winner was closer to Padlock a furlong from home than, at the finish, and over the final stage my charge,

The Longburn trainer said*Padlock's task in the Cup was a difficult one from tlio first, but lie ran good races, both in the division and in the final. The Hal Zolock gelding had stood up to liis work well and although beaten out of a place in the Cup, had done remarkably well. The time put up by Pd* r Bingen showed what Padlock would have been expected to do to win. but said the trainer, “when it is considered he went 4.20 to get beaten there could l»e no disgrace in his defeat.” M« r * ion of the Free-for-All Imerston man smile. “I felt,” ho said, “Paddy would make it very warm for all hands, lie began with all his brilliance, and once on the journey I had no misgivings, as he was doing the job so well, and I knew those b-hind him had the hardest part to do from the turn home.” It was quite evident from the remarks of W.H. that while he was somewhat disappointed at missing the big prize, the edge was taken off by Padlock’s sterling run in the race where the top-notchers met on a level footing.