Trainer Recalls Nell Volo's Fine Trotting Effort

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 152, 30 June 1939, Page 12

Trainer Recalls Nell Volo's Fine Trotting Effort

It happened at Alexandra Park a little over five years ago. Xell Volo, champion American-bred trotting mare by Peter Volo—from Katie O'Neill was at the judges box as the rest of the field were entering the back stretch. Pursuit looked hopeless. F. J. Smith thought otherwise. Ho sent his bonny mare along; her speed electrified the crowd. Distance lent enchantment. How nice it would be. thought Nell, to reverse the positions, ami put tile margin behind her. To think with Xell wan to achieve. And so it was. Xell won, "'on the bit.'' Another champion. Wliv not another Nell? was a natural thought. But Xell Volo has returned after three seasons at the stud to the race track without having earned a bonus for propagating her species. It is thought by the mentor of '"Village Farm'' that she will stage a "come-back," and he is giving her a s|>ecial preparation at Takanini to fit her to race against the South Island trotting cracks at Addington in August. She is responding well after her life of ease and luxury. When she stepped out with another Peter Volo. Swordsman, on Smith's private track during the week, Xell Volo's action could not be faulted. except for a slight stumble towards the end of a mile and a half run. She was not sent at top, but she did everything that Smith asked of her. He has five weeks to get her ready, and knows exactly what is required. "F. J." Looks Back. It was easy to see that Smith is wrapped up in Xell Volo. He gazed at her fondly and asked Mr. J. P. Stratum, president of the West Australian Trotting Association, "What do you

think of her?" The visitor thought her! ''grand." "Grand is not the word for her."' retorted "F.J." "She is one of the greatest trotters—if not the greatest— that ever stepped out in this country. Why, that day at Kpsom, when she was at the judge's box and the rest of the field turning into the back stretch, nobody except the driver gave her a dog's show. It was just sheer bad luck that she was in that position at that stage. Something had disturbed her at the start and she would not go off correctly; so much so, that she was thought then to be out of the race. When she stretched out. going to the back straight, you'd have thought that the others were standing still. She had the race won at the turn for home, and was not out of a jog afterwards. Match Falls Through. "Xell Yolo ran the last mile that flay in 2.5, just a little worse than the 2.3 3-5 recorded by the South Island champion, Worthy Queen. Immediately there was talk of a match, and 1 offered to back Xell Volo for £500 to beat Worthy Queen the best three out of live, or the best two out of three, in trials over a mile. The match would have taken place, unfortunately, Worthy Queen went wrong." Xell Yolo is not the only bow to Smith's southern venture. He is also taking Swordsman, who still makes a noise when working. Swordsman is an improved horse. The black stallion won at Auckland over two miles in heavy going on August 27 last, and it is by no means improbable that he will win at Addington. Also for the South. King's Warrior and Ironside will make a quartet, and it is in their favour that the "nelds in their classes next month will not be the strongest the South Island » capable of producing. Some of the best class southern pacers will be better when the spring comes round. Ironside has done particularly well in the South during the present season, his victories including the Speedway and Xational Handicaps at Addington and the Dunedin and Ashburton Cups. King's Warrior is in nice condition, but continues to knock himself badly. He won the Xational Challenge Stakes, a race over two miles between trotters and pacers, at Addington in August last. In a, try-out over a mile and a half during the week. King's Warrior just shaded Ironside at the end, after the latter had made all the running. A Horse of Quality. Of the young horses in Smith's stable at the present moment. Josedale Grattan is the pick of the bunch. He was bred in America, by Grattan McKinney. 2.4, from Miss Belwin, 2.2, and as his sire recorded 2.0 when beaten in a race run in 1.59 3-5, it wil> be realised that

Preparing For Addington: F. J. Smith Will Take Four Horses South

Josedale Grattan is bred for speed. Hfc possesses stamina, too, as he demonstrated when he gave Television lOOrds start and a beating over the last six furlongs of a novice race at the recent Auckland fixture. That was a truly remarkable effort, as Josedale Grattan lacked race experience and was driven flat out until he had the measure of the leader a furlong and a half from home. •losedale Crattan i< a rich bav horse with black mane and tail, and his IS«J is magnificently proportioned. It would lie very difficult to fault him. He is raced in partnership by Dr. M. (i. Pezaro and Mr. K. Bridgens. president of the Auckland Trotting Club, and should win many races for them. Youngsters of Promise. Mr. Bridgens also has a nice type of youngster in Robert Huon, a rising three-year-old by Koltert Derby from Klla Huon. and another interesting inmate <>f the stable is a three-year-old full-sister to Ironside. She is a line big mare and. unlike her brother, favours the trotting gait. Wilbur's Heiress, an Australian-bred horse, takes the eye as one likely to do well on the race track, while there are possibilities in Josedale l>>n (also by Grattan McKiniieyl and Dell Potts, a four-year-old by .lack Potts. Two Van Derby youngsters, one of them a yearling, resemble their sire in conformation, and they will need only to be half as good as him to pay their way. Bexley Girl, who has been suffering from a throat affection, and Francisco, who was given a short let-up after her fall at Epsom last month, have rejoined the active brigade and will be got ready for spring racing. The Great Bingen—Doldrums mare Crocus, owued by Mr. W. A. Eddowes,

is believed to be in foal to the American stallion Cloverdale. Crocus, who is on Mr. Eddowes' property, was a good winner during the 1937-38 season, but was sparingly raced during this term.