METROPOLITAN CLUB

Press, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 25139, 21 March 1947, Page 4

METROPOLITAN CLUB

TO-MORROW’S PROSPECTS A solid effort in the Farewell Handicap at the Canterbury Park Trotting Club£ meeting on February 8, and a sparkling display at the Ashburton Trotting Club’s matinee meeting on March 4, indicate that Efnulous is not far from the form which enabled him to earn £8534 m stakes last season, and the President’s Handicap, the main event on the programme for the first day of the New Zealand Metropolitan Trotting Club's Easter meeting, which will be held at Addington to-morrow, should prove a stepping stone to Cup company for him. The carded field of 16 pacers includes some of the best horses in commission, and the mile and five furlongs race should provide a thrilling spectacle. Cameronian, In the Mood, Navigate, and Wai* Guard will start from the Scratch mark, and the presence of the firstnamed two should ensure that the race is run at a fast clip. A speedy son ot U. Scott and Alice Dillon, Cameronian has shown fine form this year to record four wins and four second placings in his *last nine starts, and his form entitles him to solid support. The nippy In the Mood raced well at the trials at Addington on Tuesday and she should be seen at her best ovtr this distance. Navigafte’s record this season includes a win over Pre-Eminence in the Frey berg Handicap at the New Brighton Trotting Club’s meeting on September 7, a win over Margaret Hall at the same club’s meeting on December 21, and a win over Plunder Bar and Turco in the Canterbury Handicap at the Canterbury Park Trotting Club’s meeting on January 1. In the last-named race he finished brilliantly to register 3min 36sec for the mile and five furlongs, and if H. J. Smith can get a good position with him in the early stages of the President’s Handicap tomorrow, he should be prominent .all the way. Besides Emulous, Battle Colours, Great Belwin, Knave of Diamonds, and Loyal Nurse will start from the 12 yards mark. These pacers all have some splendid, performances to their credit, and luck in the running will be the deciding factor. Clockwork, Countless, and Turco make most appeal of the five horses on the 24 yards mark. G. S. Smith has Turco looking well, and if he avoids trouble during the race he may show up in the sprint home. The back-marker. Haughty, which is giving away starts of up to 48 yards, showed that age has not dimmed her brilliance, by recording 2min 36sec when she finished in third place to Sir Michael and Cameronian in the Farewell Handicap at the Canterbury Park Trotting Club’s meeting on February 8. Winner of the New Zealand Trotting Cup in 1942 and 1943, Haughty has few equals on the race-track, and in spite of her handicap, she may fight, out the finish with Emulous, Cameronian, and Great Belwin. The New Zealand Trotting Stakes, which was inaugurated by the New Zealand Metropolitan Trotting Club in 1943, has attracted a field of 10 three-year-old trotters; but as only nine of them have raced at totaiisator meetings, investors will have little form to guide them. Of the nine youngsters which have raced, Pat Review is the only one to secure a placing. His effort to follow Doreano home in the second division of the Domett Handicap at the Cheviot Trotting Club's meeting on Saturday was outstanding. A gelding by Josedale Dictator from a winner in Peggotty, Pat Review will probably be sent out a good favourite. Conceit has shown some ability in his races, and Stray Shot, which is trained by D. Teahen, Pleasant Point, takes the eye as a likely type. Nothing has been seen of Sirius, which is trained at Palmerston North by D. W. Hansen, but her breeding is of interest as she is by Josedala Dictator from First Axworth, by Calumet Axworth from Native Star, which took a record of 4min 28 3-ssec as a trotter. Bred by B. Shadbolt, Native Star is by Native King, which won the Dominion Trotting Handicap in 1923. The first three races for the Trotting Stakes were disappointing; but the officials of the New Zealand Metropolitan Trotting Club were undaunted, and their efforts to encourage the square-gaiter, which plays an important part in' the light-harness spori, were rewarded last year when Acclamation, Flame, and Belmoral provided an interesting race. The struggle to establish the race is by no means over, but ultimately it should become one of the most important events on the trotting Excellent fields are carded throughout the programme, and, with the prospect of fine weather and a fast track, some highclass racing should be seen. Horses in form include:— 10.45 a.m.—Preliminary Handicap: Notus, Mountmellick, Certainty. 11.28 a.m.—Express Handicap: Globe Direct, Gold Sir-Michael. . 12.13 p.m.—N.Z. Trotting Stakes: Pat Review, Conceit, Stray Shot. 12.58 p.m.—President’s Handicap: Emulous, Cameronian, Great Belwin. 1.43 p.m.—Craven Handicap: Mareeta, Lady Ngaio, Lou Hall. 2.28 p.m.—Autumn Stakes: Doctor Ted, Maori Home, Sprayman. 3.13 p.m.—Stewards’ Handicap: Hidden Note, Aerial Scott, Willie Winkie. 3.58 p.m.—Speedway Handicap: Logan Rex, Globe Direct, Navigate.