CHECKMATE

Press, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 25135, 17 March 1947, Page 4

CHECKMATE

TROTTING

GOOD PERFORMANCE AT RANGIORA

Driven by C. S. Donald, who trains him for Mr H. C. Steel, Checkmate justified his selection as favourite for the Mina Handicap at the Cheviot Trotting Club’s meeting on Saturday when he finished well to win by a length from Troubadour in the fast time of 3min 16 3-ssec. Starting smoothly from the 12 yards mark, Checkmate had Gallant' Ruth, Roman Wings, Gold Strike, Sure Spec. Stop Press, Gantree. Troubadour, and Tunis Victory in front of him when the field settled down. Donald gradually improved his position with Checkmate, and with a mile covered he had him in third place to Troubadour and Stop Press. Troubadour led into the straight for the sprint home, .but Checkmate soon had his measure, and the result was not in doubt over the last 100 yards.

Bred by B. Grice, Tinwald, Checkmate is by Jack Potts from a winner in Laurene Wood, which took a record of 3min 17 l-ssec A Nelson Derby mare, Laurene Wood is out of Mavis Wood, by Rodgerwood from Lyonnais, which was out of a mare by Manlicker, a thoroughbred. Checkmate’s effort on Saturday was impressive. and he should win again before the season closes. Jottings

Volodale showed some ability to finish in second place in his division of the Trial Handicap at Rangiora on Saturday, and a winning turn for him should not' be far away. Trained by S. Wright for Mrs t. Brown, Volo Audubon showed his best form for the season to win the Ikamatua Trot at the Reefton Jockey Club’s meeting on Saturday. A six-year-old gelding, Volo Audubon is by Lusty Volo from Florrie Audubon, the dam of other winners in Salute and Idanoe. A. R. has Golden Sheaf looking well, and this Gold Qar gelding should soon top off his list of minor placings with a win. Leonin, the winner of the Wyndham Trotting Cup on Saturday, was bred by Mr E. F. C. Hinds, Christchurch. By Jack Potts, he is out of the Matchlight mare, Lady Effie, which left other winners, including Effie Parrish and Three Tens. Patience Rewarded

Zulu’s win in the fourth division of the Trial Handicap at the Cheviot Trotting Club’s meeting on Saturday was a tribute to the patience and ability of his owner, R. D, Manson, who trains him at Charteris Bay. A three-year-old gelding by Grattan Loyal from Singe, Zulu proved a problem in his trials at home and in his early races by refusing to begin correctly, and for some time his prospects appeared hopeless. Aided by his wife, who acted as starter, Manson gave the gelding a long course of barrier practice, and in his last two races Zulu has begun fairly well. Retired

The 17-year-old Beethoven, which had not had a set of harness on him since he raced at the Timaru Trotting Club’s meeting on March 8, won thfi first division of the Domett Handicap at the Cheviot Trotting Club’s meeting by a neck from Olympus, which set the pace for most of the journey. Beethoven was handy to the pacemaker at the entrance to the straight, but he lost some ground when he went to a break with a furlong to go. Quickly regaining his balance, Beethoven finished well, and in an exciting finish he just got up to earn the first prize. A gelding by Michael Galindo from Connie Audubon, he is owned and trained by W. L. Harris, Tai Tapu. Harris said on Saturday that his trotter was to be retired, and that he was giving him to Miss Thelma Newell, a schoolgirl at’ Tai Tapu, who has kept tflte old horse fit by hacking him about between race meetings. In spite of his age, Beethoven has raced consistently this season to record two wins, a third placing, and two, fourth placings. Consistent Novelda, which dead-heated with Decreed in the Southland Three-year-old Stakes at the Invercargill Trotting Club’s meeting on March 1, had a clear-cut win in the Juvenile Stakes at the Wyndham Trotting Club’s meeting on Saturday. A sister to a useful pacer in Notus, Novelda has been placed in four of her five races this season.

Easy Win Making his first appearance since being trained at New Brighton by M. B. Edwards for Messrs G. R. Hunter and P. C. Webb, Scottish Brogue led practically all the way when he scored an easy win in the first division of the Trial Handicap at the Cheviot Trotting Club’s meeting on Saturday. Scottish Brogue’s time, 2min 46 3-ssec, was particularly good for this class of race, and he should have little difficulty in winning amongst the improvers. In L. F. Berkett’s Team

Implacable, which was purchased at a large price by Mr F. Whitehead from B. Grice, after he had recorded two easy wins at the Wellington Trotting Club’s meeting on February 2, 1946, has failed to reproduce his good form in his seven races this season, and he has now been transferred from J. T. Paul’s stable at Mangere to L. F. Berkett’s team at Templeton.. A six-year-old gelding. Implacable is by Jack Potts from Regal Voyage, the dam of other winners including Haughty and Traverse. Led All the Way Swazi Queen, which was driven by W. R. Butt for Mr W. Bowen, led all the way when she won the third division of .the Trial Handicap at the Cheviot Trotting Club’s meeting by a length from Golden Sheaf, which trailed her over the last six furlongs. An aged mare. Shvazi Queen is by Grattan Loyal from Belle Pointer, which is by Logan Pointer from the Prince Imperial mare, Imperial Polly. A daughter of Polly, which was supposed to have been a thoroughbred, Imperial Polly left Imperial Pointer to Logan Pointer, and in turn Imperial Pointer left Imperial Gold, the dam of Gold Bar, to Rey de Oro. By Jack Potts * After following Our Babe, Black Sand. Charmy Downs, Ann Volo and Real Brigade in the early part of the second division of the Trial Handicap at the Cheviot Trotting Club’s meeting on Saturday, Double Deck was taken into the lead by his trainer-driver, T. Gleeson, and he carried on for a three-lengths win over Ann Volo, which has recorded three second placings and a third placing in her last four starts. A showy four-year-old gelding. Double Deck is by Jack Potts from Rose de Oro, which is by Rey\ de Oro from Dandy Bose, by Wildwood Jun., from Rose D, by Rothschild from Daisy D, by Cycle. N.Z. Metropolitan Trotting Club

Withdrawals for the first day of the New Zealand Metropolitan Trotting Club’s Easter meeting, to be held on Saturday, 22nd instant, must be received by 5 p.m. To-day (Monday). —Advt.