TROTTING NOTES

Press, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23323, 8 May 1941, Page 11

TROTTING NOTES

Reminder , Nominations for all events at the Ashburton Trotting Club’s meeting on May 24 close at 8 o’clock to-night, —0 Useful Trotters The Bayfield Handicap, the first event on the opening ddy of the Forbury Park Trotting Club’s meeting, has attracted a good sized field, but recent form suggests that the serious betting on the race will be confined to Royal Worthy on 12 yards and Parrish Gipsy on 36 yards. Both raced at the Oamaru meeting on Saturday and performed with credit. Royal Worthy conceded 36 yards to a field of novices, but he had no difficulty in winning in 3min 32 2-ssec, exceptionally good going on a track that was not fast. In the Waikaura Handicap later in the day Parrish Gipsy met a much stronger field in the Waikaura Handicap and while she was beaten by Jock McGrath his effort stamped Ijer as, a good solid trotter. Over the mile and five furlongs she trotted in 3min 50sec, a mile and a half rate of about 3min 31sec. Parrish Gipsy is by Guy Parrish from an O.Y.M. mare, and though she has developed form late in life her latest performances have been consistently good. Novice Pacers Glenlee, a four-year-old gelding by Wrack from Alpha Bingen, opened his winning account at Oamaru on Saturday by an impressive win in the Advance Handicap of a mile and a half in 3min 29 2-ssec, and the manner in which he carried on at the finish after making all the running suggests he is well up to the average. In the Domain Handicap at Forbury Park he has been penalised 48 yards and he will be without the opposition of Catalpa and Swagger Jack, who filled the minor places at Oamaru. Coleen Travis and Serapeu'm may prove the hardest for Glenlee to dispose of. A Select Field Only seven horses have been paid up for in the Ritchie Memorial Handicap, but the size of the field does not lessen interest in the race. With Acuity, Royal Surprise, Worthy Need, Bronze Eagle, Gold Bahk, Gold Bar, and Huguenot engaged there is the material for a splendid race, for all these horses haVe raced well in recent months and any one might be expected to improve on any previous performance. The favourite will probably*be Gold Bar, whose win in the Free for All stamped him as a pacer of the highest class, but on the same mark is Bronze Eagle, one of the most improved pacers during the present season. Bronze Eagle is a fine stayer, and the small field will be all in his favour. Huguenot has raced very consistently and v/hile she, is not a quick beginner she is another fine stayer and in her case, too, the limited number of runners will give her a better chance than she has had in some previous races. Gold Bank, who at Addington last year won the All Age Stakes, showed a return to form at Oamaru on Saturday when he finished third to Foremost Junr. and Happy Locanda. Royal Surprise is another that has shown brilliance, and his second to Special Edition over a mile and a half at \ddington in 3min 19sec was form to recommend him in any class of race. Acuity and Worthy Need have not done anything exceptional of late, hut at their bpst both are capable -of i very fast.time. While speculators may