EPSOM SUCCESSES

Waikato Times, Volume 127, Issue 21208, 3 September 1940, Page 9

EPSOM SUCCESSES

WAIKATO STABLES WIN £IO3O IN STAKES TROTTING TOPICS (By “Padlock”) Waikato stables met with signal success at the Auckland Trotting Club's August meeting on Saturday, winning four of the eight races on the programme and providing seven place-getters. In all they accounted for £IO3O in stakes. In both the third event and the big race the placed horses were all Waikato trained. Bronze Queen Bronze Queen maintained her record for consistency when she finished on for a meritorious third in the Massey Memorial Handicap on Saturday. Last season she faced the starter on 15 occasions, for a win and six minor placings, winning prize money to the value of £360. Stable Wins £630 M. Stewart’s three representatives on Saturday, Mollie Direct, Tinker and Mitaya, won among them £630, an auspicious start for the new season. Stewart was leading trainer for New Zealand last season and Saturday’s effort was a happy augury for 1940-41. Belfast Jack

Belfast Jack has proved a disappointing proposition in recent essays and on Saturday he broke up badly at the start and took no part in the race. In the final trials at Claudelands last Thursday Belfast Jack did not put a foot wrong and it was hoped that he would make amends on this occasion. Village Maid Unlucky

Village Maid was unlucky to tangle at a vital stage in the first division of the Mt. Eden Handicap and but for her lapse a couple of furlongs from home she would have made the task of Mitaya more difficult. As it was she was finishing on freely to be a commendable third behind Mitaya and Rockfel. His First Success While he has dead-heated on several occasions in the past for first, the achievement of Bedford in the Orakei Handicap at Alexandra Park on Saturday marked his first straight-out win and he thoroughly deserved his success. Always handily placed he came right away in the straight for a meritorious success wearing down Monty Chimes to beat the latter decisively. Supporters Unlucky The supporters of Kaipaki Bill were unfortunate when the Great Parrish gelding tangled and galloped past the post in the opening event at Epsom on Saturday as at the time he appeared to have the measure of the favourite, Axworthy Star. Had the placings not been reversed the supporters of Kaipaki Bill would have participated in a win return of close on a century.

Tinker at Last Tinker, who raced consistently but unluckily last season, scored his first success for over fifteen months when he won the Massey Memorial Handicap at Epsom to complete the double for the Stewart stable. Tinker, who races in the interests of Mr P. Reid, of Hamilton, and M. Stewart, did not win out of his turn and his success proved a popular one with the public. Confidently handled by Stewart, he came with a strong burst over the last bit to take the measure of Musketeer and win going away. Fine Performance

Whanako put up a fine performance in beating all but Cloverdale in the second division of the Mt, Eden Handicap on Saturday. Beginning smartly from 48yds behind he was sc*n in a handy position and at the half-mile was lying second to Cloverdale. The Peter Bingen gelding came home well but was not quite equal to the winner, whose big break in the middle stages permitted him a two and a half lengths’ advantage at the end. The Cambridge representative was unlucky in meeting such a fit horse as Cloverdale on the day. M. Stewart on Top It was the superb driving tactics of M. Stewart that played a big part in the achievement of Mollie Direct in the big race on Saturday. With a round to go Hillcrest had established a useful break on the field but at the half-mile Mollie Direct was noticeably reducing the gap and she was within striking distance of the favourite as they straightened up for home. In the concluding stages it appeared momentarily that Hillcrest would not be headed, but Stewart, calling for that last ounce of reserve, managed literally to push Mollie Direct’s head in front in the last couple of strides. Her First Success

Capably handled by the successful Te Rapa trainer, M. Stewart, Mitaya scored her initial success in the first 1 division of the Mt. Eden Handicap, at Epsom, on Saturday, going to the lead in the early stages of the running and staying on resolutely when challenged inside the distance by Rockfel. Mitaya was taken in hand by Stewart towards the close of last season and in her first start for him ran third , to Whanako and Clay Pot in the Mangere Handicap at the Auckland winter fixture. Saturday’s success marked only her second start in the familiar fawn and green livery. Cloverdale Cloverdale, who now races in the interests of the Hamilton sportsmen, Messrs J. R. Henderson and A. W. Ebbett, was responsible for two sterling efforts at Epsom on Saturday, thus endorsing the promise he had disclosed in his work at Claudelands in the week preceding the meeting. In the second division of the Mt. Eden Handicap he took up the running at the outset and from then on was always travelling like a winner. Produced later in the day he made a valiant attempt to repeat his earlier achievement and appeared to have the race won when the little-fancied, Winning Post, caught him right on the post to shade him by half-a-head. It was the best form disclosed by Cloverdale to date and he should win further for his connections. FIXTURES AHEAD September 7—Now RriglVton Trotting- Club. September 21—Wellington Trotting- Club. October s—Methven Trotting- Club. October s—Thames Trotting Club. October 1 2—New Brighton Trotting Club. October 26. 2*—Greynjouth Trotting Club. October 28—oamaru Trotting Club. I October 26, 23 or 30—Auckland Trotting Club.