TROTTING NOTES

Press, Volume LXXXII, Issue 24802, 16 February 1946, Page 8

TROTTING NOTES

Jottings Calumella is a solid trotter and her ability to begin quickly should be an advantage in the Progressive Handican Star Artist, which will race in the in- ' terests of Mr R. J. Joyce, Tinwald, is a four-year-old gelding by Lucky Jack from Cora Derby. Lady Ngaio started the season well with a win in the Selma Trot at Ashburs loti, but subsequently lost form. Back to her best she would be capable of a fast mile and five furlongs in the Trial Handicap. Stimulant, which was recently pm-, chased by Mr H. H. Drewery. is nicely placed in the Riversdale Trot at Gore today. He has finished out of the money only twice in his nine starts this season Winning form is good form, and Turco has won at his last two appearances. He may add to his record at Addington today. Admiral Scott won the Advance Handicap at Wellington from end to end, and on that performance he must be the hardest to beat over the sprint distance in the Beach Handicap. Scratched Scottish Lady has been scratched for the New Brighton Handicap. Trained at Petone Bel Esprit, which is trained at Petone by D. G. Nyhan, will be driven in the Progressive Handicap to-day by J. b. Pringle. The U Scott mare’s preparation has been restricted by the hard tracks at Hutt Park and she has done much of her work on the beach. Besides Bel Esprit and Rawene Grattan, a winner at the Wanganui Trotting Club’s meeting, Nyhan has 10 young horses in work, including a premising filly by Indiantfpolis from the American mare. Slapfast, the dam of winners in Prince Roydon, Great Fast. Silk Lady, and Gold Flight. Finished Fast Starting from the 36 yards mark in the Harewood Handicap, Scott Axworthy was well back in the early part of the race, but he was noticed doing good work over the last half-mile to be sixth to cross the line. He is set a hard task to give away starts of up to 24 yards in the New Brighton Handicap. but his turn may . come in the Farewell Handicap, where he is well placed on the 12 yards mark. Showed Up ' Bancor began well in the Yaldhurst Handicap to be well placed with six furlongs to go, but *with another two furlongs covered he went to a break and dropped out of the contest. The Methven trained trotter is on the 24 yards mark in the Autumn Handicap, and providing he does no-t strike any trouble in the running he should be prominent when the straight is reached. At Grey mouth ( At his first start this season Colin Waters showed some ability to finish second to Sand Maid in the Brighton Maiden Handicap at the New Brighton TrottingClub’s meeting on October 6. and he may show to advantage in the trotting events on the Grey mouth Jockey Club’s programme to-day. By Nelson Derby from Moranne he is a brother to a speedy pacer in Frances Easton, which also showed form for R. J. Humphreys. Going Home F. Shinn, who arrived at Epsom a short time ago with the pacer Royal’s Hope, intends to return to Adelaide as soon as shipping space can be arranged. He will take with him Stuart Lee, which he recently purchased from Mr-H. Bull, Stuart Lee may do some racing in Australia, but he has been acquired mainly for stud purposes. Shinn was impressed with trotting in Auckland, and he plans to return later with horses which will be more favourably placed in the handicaps than was the case with Royal’s Hope, which had won 16 races and earned £2600 in stakes before coming to New Zealand. Clash of Form The Belfast Handicap has drawn the smallest field at the New Brighton meeting, but with improving horses in Dunmore, Czardas, Marco Polo, Dinghy, Local Gold, and Jackie Guy included in the field, it may prove one of the most exciting events on the programme. Czardas, an easy winner at the Canterbury Park meeting, may be the favourite, but Dunmore, with a record of three wins and two placings in his six starts this season, cannot be dismissed lightly. After a twolength win over Honest Peter in the MciLean Handicap at Ashburton on Boxing Day he followed up with another fine display to win the Lyttelton Handicap going away from Plunder Bar, which has since yon three races, at the Canterbury Park meeting. Marco Polo has shown a return to form to be placed in his three starts this season, while Mr J. H. Parsons's three-year-old filly. Local Gold, has also been consistently in the money. Confronted by such an array of form, investors are set. a hard problem. Likely Improver After being slow away in the Wigram' Handicap at the Canterbury Park meeting, Aberhall showed a fine turn of speed to finish in fourth place behind Plunder Bar, Princess Maritza, afid Red Setter, and with a better beginning in the Eclipse Handicap to-day he should prove the hardest for the local horses to beat. Most opposition to him may come from Vimy Ridge, a sister to Plunder Bar. and from Red Setter, which has been racing consistently to be placed in nine of her 10 starts this season. From Auckland The appearance of the Ringtrue trotter, Fighting Friend, in the Autumn Handicap should add interest to this race as this gelding had some good form to his credit before coming from Auckland. He gave his best display this season when, driven by M. Paul, he finished from well back in the Association Handicap at the Auckland Trotting Club’s meeting on December 30 to win by half a length from Danny Malone with Aerial Scott in third place. Fighting Friend has been in C. S. Donald’s stable for some time, and together with his stablemate. Steel King, he should race prominently. Paying his Way Although Battle Colours has not succeeded in winning a race this season, he has paid his way with minor placings, and his second to Sea Born in the President’s Handicap on Saturday added another £350 to his earnings. Owned and trained at Methven by F. Young, the Wrack gelding is a quick beginner, and he may pick up one of the rich sprints at the Easter meeting. Broke Early With his trainer, M. Holmes, absent at the Auckland Trotting Clyb’s meeting, Flying Scott was driven in the Yaldhurst Handicap by C. King, but he refused to settle down when the barriers were released, and was soon in a hopeless position. He will be bracketed with Max Baer in the Autumn Handicap to-day, and if this pair could be persuaded to race up to their best form they would be worthy of support. In Disgrace Lord Peterson created a good impression early in the season by winning three races and being placed in two others in his first nine starts, but after his refusal to begin in the Lyttelton Handicap at the Canterbury Park meeting and again in the Advance Handicap on Saturday he cannot be supported with any degree of confidence. Not Long in Work „ Sure Lady appeared to be "on her toes as the field lined up for the start of the Aviation Handicap, and it did not cause any surprise when she did not go away correctly. The Quite Sure mare has been in work only a short time and she should be at her best for the Easter meeting. Broke Badly Believe Me was not on his best behaviour in the Yaldhurst Handicap when, driven by R. Young, he lost his chance by breaking at the start. The Quite Sure—Biddy Parrish gelding gave his best performance this season to win the Waitaki Handicap at Oamaru from Royal Dale, but mistakes in his seven races since then have proved costly to his admirers. Promising Youngster The promising two-year-old, Darky Grattan, which ran second in his second start at Omdto at Christmas, should be well-fancied candidate in the Mawhera *Trot at Omoto to-day. Grattan Ixiyal from Superb. Darky Grattan is trained by O Quinlan at Greymouth for Mr M. JBecker, of Ahaura, who recently turned down a lucrative offer for the filly. Sandy Potts w . The form of Sandy Potts at the Westport meeting should justify the Sandydale—Rose Potts gelding being sent out first choice for the Kaiata Trot at the Greymouth Jockey Club's meeting to-day.