TROTTING

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 1037, 30 July 1930, Page 12

TROTTING

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"ABAYDOS."

CLASSY PACERS IN AUGUST HANDICAP

NOTES ON COMPETITORS KEEN CONTEST ASSURED Although acceptances for the Addington August trotting carnival do not close till Tuesday next, keen interest is being taken in the approaching fixture. The chief item on the opening day is the August Handicap, and some highclass pacers have been handicapped fer the £I.OOO item. Comment on the entrants is appended. Great Logan Great Logan did not justify his inclusion in two-mile races until well on in the winter, when, in a gruelling finish with Pluto and The Shrew, he stayed on remarkably well to win the Ashburton County Handicap and tramp 4.33 4-5. Previouslj\ Great Logan had registered 4.27 3-5 at Addington, but on that occasion was well beaten by

Omaha on a fast track. Great Logan only seems to be coming to his best two-mile form, and one of his build would be expected to require age. Omaha

Since Omaha went 4.24 2-5. he has repeatedly failed to show anything approaching his best form from a 4.30 mark, and his chances of bringing off a surprise are. not enhanced by anything he has shown in his recent track efforts.

Muriel de Oro When Muriel de Oro won the Paparua Handicap on the first day of the Canterbury Park Trotting Club’s winter meeting, she slipped her field six furlongs from home to put a break of several lengths between herself and The Shrew and Vendome by the time tho half-mile was reached. Just when the others appeared to be gathering her. she shot away again to score decisively. No doubt, the tactics of F. G. Holmes were the big factor in the success. allowing the mare, not a dj*ed-in the-wool stayer, a breather between the half-mile and the furlong post. At the same time, the tendency to discount Muriel de Oro as a stayer altogether may be a mistaken one. She is only rising five years old and therefore there is good reason to respect the improvement she is making in her work at headquarters. Pageant

Pageant indicated at the Canterbury Park winter meeting that there is little likelihood of his regaining the form that made him something of a star a couple of years ago- Even if he does survive a preparation, it is hard to imagine his being brought in a winner of the August Handicap. Pluto Pluto raced with a big measure of success at the last August meeting, eventually qualifying for the New Zealand Cup hv bettering 4.25, and then having to be content with third place. He gave a glimpse of his old self by running Great Logan to a neck in the Ashburton Handicap after meeting interference in the last furlong, and on that showing he cannot be discarded. Harvest Child

Harvest Child has not sported silk since early autumn and the best he will be capable of on a short preparation may find him unable to give away anything in this class. In his best shape, he is a good stayer who can always be depended on to go over the right stages of a two-mile journey. However, he is a hardy type who will be better suited by a race or two before being calculated in anticipations. Maiwhariti Maiwliariti has gone a good deal faster than his handicap, and a repetition of his best would make him a danger to the best of those engaged. When holding a dozen lengths’ break on the field three furlongs from home in the King George Handicap, at the Canterbury Park Trotting Club’s winter meeting, Maiwhariti compounded badly, but he had made the pace such a cracker up to that stage that it would be a mistake to judge him on the showing. When the going is at all sticky, he cannot be depended on to maintain a steady gait, and this fault has also been in evidence lately on

solid going. So far as condition j« concerned, he is “in the pink.” Zenith Zenith has gone some real fr&od two-mile races, and also his fair sliaxe of bad ones. He requires everything in his favour to see: out two'miles with such good opposition. Athalone The best has not been seen of Athalone. and the fact that he failed eo badly after leading into the straight in the Ashburton County Handicap should not be taken too much notice of. The Harold Dillon pacer was showing the effects of staleness consequent upon a hard racing se«.soa, and his performances at Washiyto and Petone, when he was narrowly defeated by Jean McElwyn. art indications of this powerful pacer’s stay* ing capacity. Carmel Bonny Logan is hardly likely to upset calculations, and seems to be safely held by Carmel. The claims of the Our Thorpe pacer to Metropolitan class are not to he passed over lightly, on account of his sterling victory in the Ashburton Cup and Prince of Wales Handicap at the Forbury Park winter meeting. He still has’something in his favour, and reads like a place-filler. Jean McElwyn Jean McElwyn's consistency during the season eventually qualified her for the New Zealand Cup when she ran third to Travis .Axworthy and Emlrmfn in the King George Handicap at the Canterbury Park Trotting Clubs winter meeting to clock 4.24 2-5. She is now on 4.28. and is always a possibility, no matter what class she is called on to measure. Daphne de Oro ; Daphne de Oro has done well in her preparation for G. Washington, but the chances of the Rev de Oro mare giving away 36yds in a field of this description are not enhanced by anything she has shown of late. The remainder of the 36yds division represents the strongest link in the field, and the popular belief is that the winner will come from Travis Axworthy, Link* man, and King Pointer. When Travis Axworthy beat Linkman over two miles at the Canterbury Park winter meeting, he was receiving 12yds from the Matchlight pacer, and now at equal terms, the positions might easily be reversed. Both pacers have wintered well, and are going along well in their preparations at Addington. Travis Axworthy became eligible for the New Zealand Cup by winning the Canterbury Park Trotting Club's King George Handicap in 4.24 4-5, and by reason of the fact that he is assessed at 4.27, he will be out to earn further laurels before November. King Pointer King Pointer, except for one sprint success and a few minor placing* over two miles, did not race up to exI>ectations this season, and several times lost good chances by breaking in his races. According to reports, he was carrying several homely maladies at the one time during the summer, and if his recovery from these is a permanent one, he will yet justify his qualification for Cup company. Dundas Boy Dundas Boy has tramped 4.22 1-5 into . a place, which presents him as a decided possibility from a 4.26 mark, providing C. S. Donald can get hi® ] back to his best shape. When suffering from kidney trouble in November ! last, Dundas Boy went two game race* 1 to qualify for the final of the New Zealand Cup, and finish third to Peter Bingen and Logan Park in the deriding ; heat. The last half mile of a true-run 1 race has seldom found him wnntin?. Imprint i Imprint will he remembered for hi* surprise showings in the last New Zealand Cup He is a good stayer, whoee suspicion of unsoundness has not ! vented L. F. Birkett from turning him • out, ready to challenge the Ijest society to some purpose. Quality Quality will be better suited by the .shorter limit of the National Handicap and may not be a starter. If go to the post, she wil be coupled m.. Carmel and Dundas B *y. Logan Park Logan Park is more forward than tia stable-mate Prince Pointer, who l* on the jolly side. Tb s running ot th pair will be watched with interest, view of their engagements »■ * National Handicap on the final . TROTTING FIXTURES August V. 13. 1 Ta August 30, September I—Auci»*» vßelief Fixture)^ September 6—New Brighten T.<~. October 4—Methven T-C-October 11—Waikato T.C. October IS—Northland TA- T October 25 and 27—Gre>mouth - October 25 and —Auckland October 27-Oamaru T.t. Metro**!*** November 11. 13- 14—N.Z Memo* November 22. 76—-O Uahuhu _'- ’ T n December 27. 3u. 31—Auckland T.b-