Improving Pacers Seen on Hawera Circuit

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 971, 14 May 1930, Page 13

Improving Pacers Seen on Hawera Circuit

A.lso One Promising Trotter nUKJXG the tour of the Wanganui-Hawcra-Taranaki cir- . cuit “Abaydos” kept a keen look-out for .some likely ll !i r ' rovin ? I ,a cers ami trotters, While there was very little offering in the latter department, some promising hoppled merchants were noticed, each of which should reach a still higher standard at the pastime.

, Jl'i 6 Is Usually responsible loi the discovery of some good improvers. and particularly is this the case at Hawera, where a good class of alllound competitor is paraded. Several tiaw era Cup winners have gone on to greater achievements, as revealed hrough Gold Jacket and Linkman, of more recent date. This year’s winner, ogans Pride, is another candidate 1 . a ,, lves the impression he will follow well in the wake of his predecessors, i° select half a dozen seen during the three fixtures that should prove capable of reaching further up the ladder ot success T will take: LOGAN’S PRIDE, b g, syrs, by Logan Pointer— Miss Havoc. HAROLD LOGAN, b g, 7yrs, by Logan Pointer—lvy Cole. KGAHTJIA, b g, Gym, by Huia Dillon —Mahinga. KL DIRECT, b g, 6yrs, by El Carbine —Grace Direct. LLL XtILSO.V, b g, 4yrs, by Nelson Derby—lnora. OLIVE .NELSON', b m, 4yrs by Kelson Bingen—Olive Palm. Logan’s Pride Logan’s Pride is owned by Jlr. .1. *■ Gotton, and trained at Petone by K. MaidmenL Last season, without recordins anything ot a big order, the gelding won two heats, and was several times in a place. His first success was in the Trial Handicap at Wellington, and later he won a mile heat at Wanganui, returning splendid prices on each occasion. But it was at the Manawatu meeting this year where the Logan Pointer pacer began .to attract more than ordinary attention. Driven by the ex-jockey D. Watts, Logan’s Pride came with a dazzling run at the end of the Manawatu Plate to cut the consistent Sir Guy out of first prize. Later in the day, penalised to 24yds over ten furlongs, after losing ground at the start, he came smartly in the run home to finish second to Queen Elizabeth. Produced in the Wanganui Cup, the Petone-trained

pacer finished fourth, but the second day in the chief event, he won decisively in 4.38 1-5 off a 4.44 mark. This effort brought the son of Logan Pointer into prominence for the Hawera Cup, which he duly won in approved fashion, tramping 4.34 3-5 for the two miles. On the second day, Logan’s Pride was beaten narrowly by Enawah in the mtiin heat, but he was disappointed at the entrance to the straight, otherwise he would probably have reversed positions at the judge. These performances were full of merit and stamp the pacer as one that will be found playing a prominent part in higher society. Harold Logan Harold Logan is owned by Miss E. Hinds and trained by R. J. Humphreys at Templeton. .Prior to this season Harold Logan did not prove the success he promised at an earlier stage. Two years ago lie was started only once, in a mile and a-half saddle event at the 1 Waimate District Hunt steeplechase meeting. Ridden by his owner. K. Legg, the son of Logan Pointer won easily. Tie then became associated with R. B. Berry’s stable, but while showing great promise in his work did not race successfully or often, owing to leg trouble. He was purchased by his present owner, operated on for splints and given a good spell, which has evidently had the desired effect. Harold Logan was one of the heroes of the Easter circuit. At Wanganui he started from the end of a 3.40 12-furlohg event, to stroll in, registering 3.33. Ilis next appearance was at Hawera in a 3.36 handicap, from which he succeeded in 3.28 1-5. The second day, placed on 4.47 in a 4.50 two-mile go, Harold Logan gave his. backers a fright by turning the wrong, way at the start, and with a mile gone was still well back. But lie came with a great dash to win easily and this performance quickly installed him favourite for the Taranaki Cup. This race he added to his list, and returned home with an unbeaten record for the trip. Now that Harold Logan has come right, more will be heard of him. Ngahuia Ngahuia was owned by Mr. J. H. Lloyd and trained at Hastings by J. A. Gerrard. After liis triple-crown successes at Taranaki, he was purchased J. R. Corrigan. The son of Huia Dillon has for some time past occasioned his party some concern, proving a difficult horse to keep on his pins. When under Bill Head’s charge Ngahuia showed great promise, and at the Hawera meeting of 1929 won a double in fine style. Later he won over ten furlongs at Hastings in such a brilliant manner that there was no doubting just how good a sprinter he was. J. A. Gerrard produced the pacer in rare trim this Easter, an£ after winning the mile dash on the opening day in a tick under 2.15 off a 2.19 mark, he showed there was no

fluke about the performance, by repeating the dose, after a 24vds penalty, the second day. Then at New Plymouth he demonstrated his brilliancy by a scoring a narrow verdict in the memorable p-arewell Handicap finish. This effort from behind a field of 18 horses set the seal on his fame as a

sprinter. Ngahuia has not yet reached the end of his tether, and if. his new trainer can keep him sound, he will be heard of in short heats, but as a stayer he is not a sound proposition. El Direct. El Direct is owned by Messrs. M. and H. Barraclough, of Opunake, and trained by A. G. Wilson, -New Brighton. He has been racing . for some time without much success, but since going into Wilson’s care, the El Carbine gelding has attracted considerable attention. Before visiting the Hawera meeting El Direct won a saddle heat in the South in smart time, but this did not stop him from paying a great price on Easter Saturday, when he spreadeagled a good field by his dazzling finish in the ten-furlong event, in which he knocked three seconds off his handicap. On the second day El Direct started in the big two miles, acting as pacemaker for a mile and three-quarters. Then at New Plymouth in the Farewell Handicap, after getting a bad run, Wilson pulled him to the outer, and the gelding came with a wonderful dash to be right in the line that passed the judge with noses between them. That his form was decidedly good, El Direct proved last week by winning both the saddle events at Forbury Park and paying great prices. The son of El Carbine will reach a higher sphere, and as he can stay as well as sprint, should prove a good proposition later on. Lee Nelson Loo Nelson is owned and trained at Hawera by C. Le Campion. He is a sturdy four-year-old and perhaps it is no exaggeration to say he is the best of his age seen out on this circuit for some time. “Abaydos” got -fX glimpse of Nelson Derby’s son 12 months ago at Wanganui, when he had his only start of the year. He did not look in anything like condition, but held a prominent - position for 11. furlongs of his mile and a-half task. When produced at Wanganui last month it was a different Lee Nelson that paraded for inspection. Bill Head was given the drive, but how he kept his seat in the antiquated trotting-buggy was a mystery. Even then the four-year-old was only beaten in the last three strides by Capilano, another useful improver. After Wanganui, Head went

to Hawera with Le Campion, and when the Nelson Derby gelding faced the starter on Easter Saturday he was showing marked improvement. With a cast of the real McKay, the youngster won on his head, going 3.32 1-5 from a 3.40 mark. On the second day handicapped to do 3.36, Lee Nelson won again in 3.31, and it was his game and determined finish with Brent Zolock a stable-mate of Logan’s Pride, that gained him the admiration of the crowd. Lee Nelson will probably not be seen out till next season, but when he is ready, well, look out! Olive Nelson

Olive Nelson is owned by Messrs. Simpson, McCabe and Dnrnin, of the Buffer district, and trained by Jim

Simpson at Karamea, 60 miles from Westport. The mare differs from the others already referred to, in the question of gait. being a square-trotter. Although only a four-year-old, she is a sturdy sort, and has won some races on the West Coast of the South Island. She made her first acquaintance with North Island tracks at Wanganui last month, where she was in * pride of place, 132 yards behind. But it was at Hawera, off the front of a 4.50 class that the mare from the earthquakebattered territory showed how she could trot. Without any effort or the semblance of a hitch, she won in a jog, going 4.47. The second day, from a 4.48 mark, she won just as easily, to record her handicap. It was unfortunate there was nothing at the fixture to extend the Coaster. Just how good she is cannot yet be gleaned. In Karamea Simpson only has the beach on which to train, and as she had raced on clay tracks in the South, it was her first experience of the grass. However, there is no getting away from the fact that Olive Nelson is a good trotter ii* the making, and she should reach a high standard.