COUNTRY TROTTING

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 982, 27 May 1930, Page 12

COUNTRY TROTTING

TRAINERS PREPARING FOR AUCKLAND SUITABLE TRACKS While trotting affairs are quiet at Epsom and Otahuhu during wet weather, trainers in the country are more fortunate, and especially at Te Awamutu and adjacent localities candidates for Alexandra Park winter honours are being assigned the necessary tasks to fit them for the forthcoming campaign. Promising Novice A fair sort of novice seen out toward the end of the autumn fixtures was Belle Wilson, a four-year-old daughter of the Great Northern Derby winner. President Wilson, from a Solon Dillon mare. Belle is owned and trained by C. E. Pennell at Matamata, but there is a probability of the filly next season being an inmate of A. Julian’s Green Lane stable. Not Brilliant but Consistent At Te Awamutu, T. Nicolson is keeping Zealous and Cogent bowling along and the former will no doubt be given a chance to try her ability at Alexandra Park next month. The black daughter of The Pointer raced consistently at several of the country meetings this year, but lack of brilliancy kept her from reaching very high society. Cogent, an aged mare by Bronze Patch, was given ample opportunity at the “smalls” to earn her keep but she was not successful. In her later essays Cogent was always prominent for about seven furlongs, but there are no light harness heats run at that distance. An Improved Trotter W. Pollard is not allowing the grass to grow under Black Magic’s hoofs, and the Hova gelding, who has picked up a tidy amount of prize money during the season, will be in readiness to add to his total when the Auckland winter carnival is in progress. Black Magic proved one of the best of the improving square-gaiters unearthed this season, and there is no saying to what heights the Te Awamutu-owned and trained trotter will yet attain. Should Make Good For a novice trotter Zanzibar, a well-bred five-year-old gelding by El Carbine from f’lora Wildwood, made quite a creditable showing at the Cambridge meeting this month. Without displaying anything in the nature of dash, the Pukekohe-trained trotter made many friends by his solidity, a rare asset this season among Auckland’s moderate trotters. With a bit more experience Zanzibar should not be long in placing a prize to the credit of owner Murray. Not Her Best Form

After her splendid victory at Hamilton last month All Special was expected to win another heat before the country circuit terminated. The A 1 .Mack mare was doing so well in her work at Otahuhu prior to the Tara-

naki fixture that Geo. Mitchell gave her a trip to New Plymouth. She was well supported in her engagements, but failed badly when asked to repro- ; (luce her best. A miss was again recorded at Cambridge, but the trotting mare will improve next year. One to Suit Him Dealer, who showed up well in the Cambridge pictures, without returning his backers a price, is not being asked any serious questions at this juncture. ! The son of Hova—Sunnyside has been

kept in good condition during autumn months and it will not tak* a srreat deal of exertion to fit him £» • again lor the June carnival. Dealer, } a genuine stayer and should find a two-mile heat to suit him next mont£ Gets the Best From Him F. Smith, of Claudelands. i s doing much just now with Gold CaS and Our Nancy, but they are in good shape for topping off if required in visit Auckland next month. Smiths seems to have a happy knack of get ting old Gold Cast to show up prom inently in his races, and particular*" to begin correctly and smartly. Ou~ Nancy made a good beginning in the spring, but went amiss, and since **. joining the active list has not showthe return to form anticipated. Well-Peformed Pacer No ow ner-trainer in the province has had a better run with an improver this season than T. G. Martin, whose pacer Inverness has very seldom failed to , get a slice of prize-money in his vari- { ous races. When “Abaydos” first saw the half-brother to Tony Victor at Hamilton in the early spring, in a rough state, lie was convinced, after seeing the gelding’s effort, that once he struck form there was money awaiting him. The son of Van Coronado paid liis way well. and finished up i running a mile with the weight on top in 2.16 4-5. Not Up to Expectations h A disappointing customer this season j has been the trotter Kopu Boy. whose | initial essay at Te Aroha in January ! caused the knowing ones to tick him off for future reference. But the Florizel gelding was produced several times afterward, but his later displays were less impressive. However, i Owner Wood roof e, who trains the* ! square-gaited customer at Thames, is one of the persevering type of lightharness enthusiast. who will keep , jogging along and give his gelding | every chance to make a success of the business. One of These Days i There is a mare trained at Xgarua- ' wahia which the writer was prepared to see making better progress this ; season, but so far she has not fulfilled expectations. This is Lady Linda, a five-year-old daughter cf Wirihana, by False Alarm, which has ' shaped with a certain degree of enI eouragement on her own track. When • Owner Collins, however. takes the j mare away from home, she evidently ; suffers from nerves, and fails to slow her best form. One of these days , Lady Linda will come home at a counI try meeting to pay a “hatful.” A Useful Pair Joe Edwards lias Andover showing a glimpse of his best form at the re- ' cent Cambridge fixture, and without 1 securing any portion of the stake money, was in a prominent position for the major part of the Farewell Handicap journey. If the Hova gelding strikes his top note again he will repay liis party for their confidence in his ability. Joseph also has the solid old trotter Appeal under hir wing, but has not stepped him out fo~ i some time. The Ghoai gelding mar be waiting for a softer track. Backed and Beaten Amy Dillon was a good mare in her day, and perhaps it was on this account that her aged son, by Great Audubon, who raced at Cambridge as Dillon Audubon, was backed solidly in ! the novice event. T. Smalley’s pacer ! looked the part all right, and for a while was doing his work well, but when it came to real business the Great Audubon gelding faded away, and was not sighted among the first half-dozen to arrive at the tape. He may, however, be seen to better advantage next year.