TROTTING NOTES

Press, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23478, 5 November 1941, Page 9

TROTTING NOTES

Answer to Correspondent 1 D.C., Spreydon.—(l) No. (2) Sunny Corner is a pacer. Good Acceptances The Metropolitan Trotting Club received a fine response from owners to its call for acceptances last evening for the meeting which will' open at Addington next Tuesday. In the seven races for which acceptances were taken only 16 horses forfeited their engagements, and of these several are still eligible to race in other events on the day. Josedale Grattan and Peter Smith, New Zealand Cup contestants, were allowed to drop out of the Empire Handicap, but Gold Bar still stands his ground in both races. Probably no decision as to which race he will start in will be come to until the day of the race. Gold Bar is one of the early favourites for the Cup and his presence in two races is disturbing to early speculators.

The Cup The field for the New Zealand Cup still numbers 15 of the best horses in training in New Zealand, and though Gold Bar and Josedale Grattan have been the most favoured since the nominations appeared, opinions are generally more varied than before any Cup run in recent years. Josedale Grattan’s Auckland admirers expect him to win. He is every inch a racehorse and many who have seen* him race at Addington entertain a very high opinion of him. He is conceding 12 yards off his assessment to be in the race, but apparently his trainer is pre. pared to give the others the benefit of this.

There is a,feeling that Gold Bar,' if he starts, may clear out from the field at the start and make a one-horse race of it but he is opposed to several brilliant beginners, and one of these is Josedale Grattan. Gold Bar has wonmost of his races by his brilliance in the early stages, but he has not yet met a field within several removes of the class he will be called on to tackle 1 next Tuesday. The draw for positions may have a bearing on the result, for of the 15 starters no fewer than nine will start from the limit mark. The Limit Horses

Kenworthy’s brilliant finishing run in the Hannon Memorial at Oamaru, and the excellent order in which he is at present, have earned him some keen supporters, who regard him as one of the most-consistent horses racing. Nelson Eddy has never impressed as a dyed -in-the-wool stayer, and he would probably be more at home over a shorter journey than two miles. Navy Blue would find a heavy track in her favour. Molly Direct has impressed by some of her efforts at Addington, but she, too, may lack the quality of

some of the others engaged. Ferry Post won two races in August in impressive style, but, not altogether a sound horse, he has caused his trainer some anxiety on occasions. Sandusky will need to improve on anything he has done in public to beat this field, but Peter Smith’s performance in winning the Hannon Memorial at Oamaru left a deep impression on many racegoers. If he is at his best on the day he may prove one of the best of the limit horses.

On 12 Yards Colonel Grattan, a brilliant sprinter, has more than once shown his ability to race two miles and fight out a bitter finish, but in this race he may find his master in Fine Art, who, however, must be favoured by a good track. On his day he i* a great racheorse with stamina, and as much speed as anything else engaged in' the race. The pony, Bayard, cannot be recommended on arching he has done on Canterbury courses, and he seems to lack the brilliance of some of the others., In last year’s Cup Dusky Sound fought a great finish with the winner, Marlene, and was beaten by the narrowest of margins, and this pair had the others well beaten at the end. Dusky Sound had had an Interrupted preparation, and since then he has not done much racing. He is a prospect. Last Year’s Winner

Marlene won the Cup last year after a very determined effort, and it should be remembered that she also suffered from unsoundness and was a doubtful starter up to the day of the race. With a race run to suit her she may provide a problem. The Back Marker

Pot Luck will occupy his lonesome mark on 36 yards behind, and he would need to be. better than ever before to be regarded as a likely winner. He is nine years old and horses that have done as much racing.as he has done do not improve at such an age. The Cup is full of possibilities and is expected to provide a thrilling race. For Maiden Three-year-olds The Rlccarton Stakes is for three-year-olds that have not won a race, and few of those engaged have shown any form suggesting they are in the champion class. Free Bond, Knapdale Lass. Courtcard. and Sandstone, however, have displayed some promise and they may be early favourites with the public.

Trotting Cup Trials Canterbury Owners’ and Breeders’ Association trials for all horses engaged at the Cup meeting, Thursday morning, 9 o’clock. The public will not be admitted on account of military occupation. —fl