AUCKLAND TROTS

Auckland Star, Volume LXXVI, Issue 85, 11 April 1945, Page 9

AUCKLAND TROTS

TEN IN CHURCHILL GALLANT MAID IN FAVOUR ! There are ten acceptors for the Churchill Handicap, principal two miles' race on the Auckland Trotting Club's programme for the patriotic meeting at Alexandra Park on Saturday, and Gallant Maid, which clocked 4.23 2-5 when she finished third to Dundee Sandy and Navigate at the Metropolitan Club's Easter meeting, is the early favourite from Jack High, Medical Student and the visitor, Binky Dillon. Gallajit Maid was a surprise winner at the Auckland Christmas meeting, but she showed that her form on that occasion was no fluke by registering another solid performance for second on the concluding day. She then returned to the Waikato and at Claudelands, on March 10, won the Hannon Memorial Handicap in good style in 4.28 4-5. She is an aged mare by Gallant Knight from Rustic Maid, and her form this season is a vast improvement on her earlier efforts. Jack High is one of the most stylish pacers in the province, and he, too, is on the upgrade. He had two firsts and a third to his credit this season before going to the Hawera Easter meeting, where he won the Waimate Plains Handicap on the second day in 4.25 2-5. He is on 4.35 in the Churchill, and only has to pace correctly to take all sorts of beating. Medical Student has been coming along nicely under F. J. Smith's tuition at Village Farm, Takanini, and he must be treated with respect, for there is no more consistent performer in these parts. In eight starts this season, he has not been out of a place, and his record includes two wins, the last one being in the Stewards' Handicap at Epsom on February 20, when hn beat Gallant Maid half a length in 3.21 2-5. The form of Bmky Dillon was dealt with yesterday, but, although these four horses distinguish pre-post discussions, the winner might well-come from the other division, which comprises Syncopate, Channel Fleet, Dunkirk, Shadow Son, Kitty's Choice and War Guard.