ROYAL HANDICAP

Press, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 25092, 25 January 1947, Page 4

ROYAL HANDICAP

MANDRAKE MAY BE FAVOURITE

With four wins, three second placings, and a third placing in eight starts this season to his credit. Mandrake is the form horse in the Royal Handicap at the Forbury Park Trotting Club’s meeting, which will conclude to-day, and he should be prominent all the way from the 12 yards mark. Driven by C. R. Berkett (who trains him for Mr W. E. Stickings), Mandrake recorded a comfortable win in the Southland : Handicap on the first day of the meeting. A hardy type of gelding by Dillon Hall from Fortunate, Mandrake appears to be thriving on racing, and he should take a much tighter mark before the season closes.

Bien Sur, Copper Trail, and Doonholme appear to be the best of the scratch division. Bien Sur has been placed in his last four races, and his prospects cannot be lightly dismissed. Bel Hamed, Absolutely, and Mandrake stand out amongst the horses on the 12 yards mark. Bel Hamed showed a brilliant burst of speed after making a slow beginning in the King George Handicap last week; but she struck trouble with six furlongs to go. and she had to be pulled up when one of her sulky wheels was buckled. Punctual (the winner of the King George Handicap on the first day), Safari, and Wade Lane are handicapped to give away starts of up to 24 yards. Safari would have been closer to the winner but for receiving a severe check at a critical stage of the race last week, and with better luck in the running this week she may divide the prize money with Mandrake, Bien Sur, and Copper Trail. Jottings

Stirling Castle worked well on the Forbury Park course during the week, and he will probably be sent out a good favourite for the Telegraph Handicap today. Mountmellick is the latest edition to G. S. Smith’s team. Mountmellick, an aged gelding by Arion Axworthy from Fair Wave, was not impressive in the Southland Handicap at the Forbury Park Trotting Club’s meeting last week. Blackdale has been running good races since he joined M. Holmes’s team at Russley, and he may add interest to the February Handicap at the Auckland Trotting Club’s meeting next week. Now trained at Nightcaps by J. Malcolm, Jimmy Dillon looked well when he raced in the Otago Handicap on the first day of the Forbury Park meeting. If the race has improved him he may show up at the finish of the Crescent Handicap to-day. Direct Heir

Direct Heir’s two wins in his last three starts, and his forward showing at wie Auckland Trotting Club’s matinee meeting, have attracted attention to his prospects, and he will probably be one of the favourites for the Wairakei Handicap at the Auckland Trotting Club’s meeting next week. Trained at Nightcaps.

The Nightcaps trainer, R. W. Townley, has the promising four-year-old Quite Sure pacer. Trustee, engaged at the Forbury Park Trotting Club’s meeting to-day. After being unplaced in his first two races this season. Trustee finished in second place to Senate in the Stewards’ Handicap at the Gore Trotting Club's meeting on Boxing Day, and at his next start he won the second division of the Novice Handicap from Glenhead at the Winton Trotting Club’s meeting on December 28. Trustee’s last appearance was on January 1, at the Wyndham Racing Club’s meeting, where, after setting the pace in the Victory Trot Handicap, he was beaten by a head by Loyal Chum. A fresh horse. Trustee may be seen to advantage in the Stewards’ Handicap today. Placed Three Times

Driven by L. F. Berkett, Great Worth 'registered three third placings in his four starts at the Auckland Trotting Clubs meeting last month, and on that form he should earn one of the prizes in the Improvers' Handicap at the Auckland Trotting Club’s meeting on February 1. Owned and trained by W. Millner, Sockburn, Great Worth is an aged gelding by Great Bingen from Miss Worth, an imported mare by Axworth from Miss Alma Mater.

By Erin’s King Happy King, which will make his first appearance in the Royal Handicap at the Forbury Park Trotting Club s meeting today, is an aged gelding by Enn s King from a Four Chimes mare. Driven by J. T. Looney, who trains him at Winton for Messrs M. Moloney and R. Gay, Happy King recorded a game effort at his last appearance last season when he won the Southland Handicap from Lou Hall and Fancy Goods in 4min 29 l-ssec, at the Invercargill Trotting Club’s meeting on March 2. At his first start this season, Happy King pleased by his performance to finish in fifth place in the Farewell Handicap at the Winton Trotting Club s meeting on December 28, after giving away starts of up to 72 yards. Consistent Record One of the most consistent pacers seen out this season, Horatio Nelson, has finished out of a place in only one of the 16 races he has contested. Trained at Reef ton by S. C. Griggs (who also has the promising trotter. Loyal Flier, in his stable), Horatio Nelson’s record includes two wins, six second placings, four third placings, and three fourth placings. Horatio Nelson, « gelding by Nelson Eddy from Rainstorm, is off the scratch mark in the Telegraph Handicap at Forbury Park to-day, and he may add another placing to his list. His dam, Rainstorm, a winner herself, is by Frank Worthy from Bell Harvester, by Sonoma Harvester from Rainbow, by Harold Dillon from Stormlet. a Wildwood mare. Believe Me’s Prospects

Believe Me trotted well when racing against the pacers, to finish in third place to Mareeta and Mandrake in the Travis Handicap at the New Brighton Trotting Club’s meeting; and a repetition of that form should find him prominent all the way in the Campbell Handicap at the Auckland Trotting Club’s meeting next Place Proposition

Brown Shadow gave a solid display to finish in fifth place in the Electric Handicap on the first day of the Forbury Park meeting on Saturday, and if she has been improved by the race she should earn one of the prizes in the Stewards’ Handicap at Dunedin to-day. Trained at Prebbleton by C. C. Devine for Mr L. Duff, Brown Shadow, which is a six-year-old mare by Red Shadow from Balaclava, showed her best form since coming to Canterbury when she led all the way to win the third division of the Glendore Trot Handicap at the Hororata Racing Club’s meeting on December 14. Won at Cambridge

Vera Lyne, which returned her supporters a dividend of more than half a century when she finished fast to win the Visitors’ Handicap in 3min 23sec at the Cambridge Trotting Club’s meeting on January 11, is nicely placed off the 12 yards mark in the Wairakei Handicap at the Auckland Trotting Club's meeting next week. If she avoids trouble in the early stages, she should be prominent at the finish. Canterbury Park T.C.

Nominations for all events at the Canterbury Park Trotting Club's meeting to be held on February 8 will close at 5 p.m. on Tuesday. Advt.