Wrackler Will Be Early Fancy For Cup Event

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 1058, 23 August 1930, Page 13

Wrackler Will Be Early Fancy For Cup Event

j fine Pacer Should be Suited by Conditions A GREAT FINISHER While the racing in the principal .vents at Addington during the recent trotting carnival would serve to throw a good deal of light on the prospects of many candidates for the New Zealand Cup in November, the absence of the mighty Wrackler from the National fields has left early selectors somewhat puzzled. Many of the admirers of the Wrack gelding contend that if he is to have a winning chance in such a severe race (or races) as the big Spring Handicap. he should have been in action at Christchurch last week. Others aro of the opinion that Wrackler will be well keyed up before Cup day, and the fact of his absence from the National Handicap is not lessening their faith in the ability of the Warren representative to pull the rich prize off. One thing that will be in Wrackler’s favour now is that some of his sturdiest opponents have earned penalties as a result of their forward showing during the carnival just completed. It seems reasonable to expect that Mr. Nicoll’s champion pacer will be on a 4.25 mark in the cup, as he has been allotted that line since his Wellington Cup victory off 4.26. But as far as Auckland followers of the sport are concerned, it is not Wrackler’s Wellington success that is leading them to pin their faith in the ••iron" horse for November’s race. His form at Epsom last December, and especially his finishing effort in the President’s Handicap on the final day. convinced those who witnessed his brilliant dash in the straight, when from practically an impossible position he flashed up to be beaten by a head, that Wrackler was an outstanding pacei. Successful Career The Durban Lodge candidate has raced consistently and well at Alexandra Park, where in 1928 he opened his I Auckland account by winning the Great | Northern Derby—run that year in the spring—while the following month he added the New Zealand Derby to his list In the early days of his three-year-old career, Wrack’s son demonstrated his staying powers at Epsom, and his gameness in a stirring twomile finish with Sunfish, who defeated the ycungster narrowly, stamped him as a great pacer. In the spring of last year Wrackler again came north, and won the “double” at the Auckland fixture, playing with the opposition each day as if they were beneath serious notice. When Don Warren brought Trix Pointer’s sturdy son to Auckland for the Christmas trotting festival, the public expressed an almost unanimous opinion that, in his first start, they would get enough back to pay for their Christmas Day luxuries. It was a case of counting the chickens before they were hatched, as the popular candidate was beaten out of a* place. The go was over 10 furlongs, and M. Holmes appeared to leave his run too late, although it was afterward said he could not get clear in time. When Wrackler did appear on the scene, he was right under the judge’s box, and just behind the third horse Over the same distance on the middle J 8 * ‘Morry” took no risks of a “pocket, ’ and a good way from the judge he ran past the opposition to bid :hem au revoir. As Wrackler jogged

past the post, it made the rest appear cheap. When harnessed up on the final day for the big two-mile event, the Ashburton pacer was made the hottest pot of the meeting, backers accepting very short odds. He was beaten, his victor being the brilliant Dilworth, who, taken to the front early, saved all possible territory, while the favourite was locked in farther back in a hopeless position. L. Berkett had a good lead as his mare swept round the last turn, but when Wrackler got clear, he simply llew up the straight, mowing down the opposition like a reaper in a field of grain. With determination and gameness he fought to the bitter end, succumbing by a narrow margin. Accepting their hard luck in a sporting spirit, his numerous followers praised the young champion for his gallant effort. When he went on to Wellington for the big event at Hutt Park, all Auckland wanted to be with him. but after the short price at Epsom, they considered it would be Gloaming odds in the Empirti City. Strange to say, when Wrackler won the gold cup, he was at a remunerative figure. The great pacer from Don Warren’s stable will next race as a live-year-old, and with the additional year over his head, should show further improvement. On his form at Auckland in December he proved himself equal to Cup class, so that allowing for improvement in the interim, Wrackler is going to be a difficult horse to head off in November. Under the “heats” system of the Cup contest, it requires one of sturdy kind to carry public confidence. In this respect the son of Wrack and Trix Pointer should fill the bill in the fullest degree, and “Abaydos” anticipates that Wrackler will early be the public favourite for the 1930 New Zealand Trotting Cup.