TROTTING.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 50, 28 February 1940, Page 16

TROTTING.

TOOK POT LUCK!

AND REAPED HARVEST.

PACER'S ITHE RECORD. Bought for ,£3OO when he was .a novice, the South Island, pacer, Pat Luck, has proved a bargain for his owner, Mr. H. Stafford, for whom he has won £7437 in stakes.

When trained as a two-year-old 'by his ■breeder, J. D. Smith, at Xew Brighton, Pot Luck showed that he had the makings of a good stake-winner. Be possessed a doubtful-looking pair of hocks, and many woukUbe purchasers turned him down on that account. Mr. (Stafford-and his trainer, M. Hoknee, were confident that, with treatment, the gelding's hocks would stand up to racing, and in their own words, "took "She riek." »

At two years, Pot Luck contested three races without gaining a place, but in the next season ihe secured six -firsts and three seconds in seventeen starts and won £1072 in stakes. During the 1836-37 period, he faced a starter on twenty-eight occasions for six finste, six seconds and two thirds, for £ 1645 in prizes.

His tasks for the next twelve months were lessened, and in eight races he was twice first, once second and once third, but these yielded £2850 in stakes. He then ihad a ibad run of hick, chiefly through his failing to leave the mark, and so Ibad did he behave at the barrier tlhat he was threatened to be placed on the schooling list. In that year he competed in fourteen races for a second and a third, for which hie owner received £180.

Pot I>uck was then given * long spell, and <tihis proved most beneficial, for since •being recommiseioned early in the season he faes won the Wellington Trotting Cup of £700, Jubilee Handicap of £1000, and hae been seven times in a place.

Since Ihe began racing m 1035, Pot Luck has been first home in sixteen races, has been fourteen times second, and seven

time* third. He ie by the champion sire, Jack Potto, from _Hope Dillon, who also was bred by J. D. Smith. (Hope Dillon (5.33) is a daughter of Harold Dillon and Raven'* GH, the dam of Mae Dillon (2.45 1-5), Dark Girl (2.54 2-5), and Eureka Boy (2.42).