TO-DAY’S MEETING AT ADDINGTON

Press, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 25270, 23 August 1947, Page 4

TO-DAY’S MEETING AT ADDINGTON

TROTTING

Berkett’s Bracket In Winter Handicap

SPRAYMAN IN FORM FOR SPEEDWAY HANDICAP

A grand array of sprinting talent will parade in the Lightning Free-for-all, which is one of the feature events on the programme for the first day of the New Zealand Metropolitan Trotting Club’s national meeting at Addington to-day. Emulous, the winner of 10 races in his last 11 starts, has topped oft a careful preparation with good efforts at the Methven Trotting Club’s matinee meeting last Saturday and at the Canterbury Owners’ and Breeders’ Association’s matinee meeting at Addington on Tuesday. Emulous’s record is studded with brilliant performances and he should not be seriously troubled to add the Lightning Free-for-all to his rapidly growing list of successes.

Most opposition to Emulous may come from Integrity (the 1946 New Zealand Trotting Cup winner), Turco, Knave of Diamonds and Highland Fling. Knave of Diamonds, an unlucky runner in the 1946 New Zealand Trotting Cup, won the New Zealand Intermediate Sprint Handicap from In the Mood and Sir Michael at Addington on November 15. A big son of Jack Potts and Nanette, Knave of Diamonds looked particularly well when he raced at Methven last week and he must be respected in his engagements at the meeting. G. S. Smith has Turco looking very bright and his track-work on Thursday morning indicates that the game son of Key de Oro and Wrackoda has good prospects this season. L. F. Beckett’s bracket, Highland Fling and Nyallo Scott, are also engaged in the Winter Handicap, the main two-mile event on the programme. Two of the fastest pacers in commission, Nyallo Scott and Highland Fling headed the list of stake-earners last season and either would be a welcome addition to the cup class.

In the Mood, a place-getter at the matinee meeting at Addington on Tuesday, has come into favour tor the Winter Handicap and, with the race run to suit her, she is expected to test Highland Fling, Nyallo Scott, Aberhall, and Cameronian. Aberhall, which is trained at Gore by his owner, L. L. Abernethy, worked well at Addington on Thursday and he appears assured of earning one of the prizes. Cameronian is also very fit and, in what should prove an exciting race, he may trouble Highland Fling and Aberhall at the finish.

One of the most consistent trotters seen out last season, Jason’s Quest, will probably be sent out a good favourite for the Intermediate Handicap, the opening event on the programme. By Quite Sure, a noted sire of trotters, Jason’s Quest is only six years old and he should eventually race in the tightest classes for Messrs M. S. Turton and J. F. Grant. The field includes other improving trotters in Excalibur, Golden Amazon. Fairy Wings, Betty Maxegin, Max Baer and Royal Dale. Excalibur and Betty Maxegin were both winners at their last starts and, together with the consistent Royal Dale, they may divide the prize-money with Jason’s Quest.

Islington Handicap The Australian-bred pacer, Johnnie Lawn, gave an encouraging display at the rnatinee meeting at Addington on Tuesday, and he may show up from the 24 yards mark in the Islington Handicap. A six-year-old son of a brilliant pacer in Lawn Derby, Johnnie Lawn is trained at Russley by M. Holmes for Mr H. R. Brien, the owner of another smart pacer in Globe Direct.

The Reefton pacer, Horatio Nelson, raced consistently for S. C. Griggs last season, to be placed in 17 races, and that form attracts attention to his prospects. A gelding by Nelson Eddy from Rainstorm, Horatio Nelson has a lot of ability and he may spring a surprise to-day. Other promising pacers in the field include Expensive, Maudeen, Coral Princess, Starshell, Notus, and Baby Grand. A Lusty Volo gelding. Baby Grand, which is trained at Auckland by C. S. Over, won a heat in fine style at Addington on Tuesday, but he may be extended to give away starts of 24 yards to-day. T. H. Gunning has Notus looking well and this consistent son of Dillon Hall should soon top off his list of minor placings with a win. Maudeen and Starshell have been working well at New Brighton and, on looks, they should also carry sol.d support.

A genuine little pacer, Snowflake, which* is handicapped on the 36 yards mark in the Heathcote Handicap, raced well for L. F. Berkett last season to earn £3230 for 12 placings in 15 starts, her record including wins in the Great Northern Trotting Derby at the Auckland Trotting Club’s meeting on December 28, the Bruntwood Handicap at the Waikato Trotting Club’s meeting on January 4, the Campbell Handicap at the Auckland Trotting Club’s meeting on February 1, and the Suburban Handicap at the same club’s meeting on May 17. Although she was beaten into second place by Paddy Potts, Snowflake’s best effort for the season was registered in the Liverpool Handicap at the New Zealand Metropolitan Trotting Club’s Easter meeting, when she covered the two miles in 4min 18sec, clipping five seconds off Indianapolis’s three-year-old record which had stood for several years.

A game pacer. Snowflake races solidly, and, together with Mandrake, she forms an attractive bracket. The field includes other smart performers in Checkmate, Maori Home, Mountain Hall, and Paddy Potts. Checkmate recorded four wins in his last four starts last season for Mr H. Steel, and he may be sent out favourite. Checkmate will be bracketed with Limerick Pride, a Logan Fraser gelding, which won at his last start for Mr W. L. Parkinson. Mountain Hall and Maori Home are both fine pacers, and they appear the most likely to dispute the finish with Checkmate and Snowflake. Attractive Bracket A. Holmes has Sprayman, Belhall, and worthy Gold engaged in the Speedway Handicap, and the combination should prove popular with place-totalisator investors, who will have nine chances of securing a dividend. Dillondale, Radical, Follow Me. and Stimulant will start off the. scratch mark with Sprayman, and, of these, Dillondale and Radical should be handy at the finish. A brother to the speedy Knave of Diamonds, Radical is in good order, and he may win races fdr O. E. Hooper this season. Gold Sheik raced well at Addington on Tuesday, and, together with Gamble King, he makes most appeal of the handicapped horses. A Fast Trotter Misty dale has raced well since being trained at Belfast by C. S. Donald for Mrs E. Berryman, who purchased her last season, for a win, three seconds, and a third. An aged mare by Sandvdale from Sea Mist, the dam of a fast trotter in Sea Max, Mistydale accelerates quickly in her races and she should prove hard to catch over the mile and five furlongs. Rerewaka and Pardon Me both trotted well at the matinee meeting at Addington on Tuesday, and they appear certain 501X16 of the prize-money. The track at Addington is in excellent order and it should provide fast going. Horses in form include:— Intermediate Handicap.—Jason’s Quest, Excalibur. Royal Dale. Islington Handicap.—Notus, Maudeen, Starshell. Heathcote Handicap.—Checkmate, Maori Home, Mountain Hall. Winter Handicap.—Highland Fling, Aberhall, Cameronian. Speedway Handicap.—Sprayman. Dillondale, Gold Sheik. Stewards’ Handicap.—Mistydale, Rerewaka, Pardon Me. Canterbury Three-year-old Stakes.—Sir Vivian, Congo Song, David's Pride. Lightning Free-for-all.—Emulous. Integrity, Highland Fling. The following are the fields:— 10.45 a.m.—

INTERMEDIATE HANDICAP Of £500. Trotters. 3min 48sec class. One mile and five furlongs. Blackdale . j scr Tall Timber 12 Excalibur .. scr Fairy Wings .. scr Betty Maxegin Gold Weed 24 24 Glenlee .. scr Jason’s Quest .. 24 Golden Amazon scr Teddy Gregg .. 24 Jimmy Scott .. scr Max Baer .. scr Kildonnin 36 Royal Dale 36 Strummer .. scr Beverley Volo 12 Frank Scott .. 48 11.28 a.m.— ISLINGTON HANDICAP. Of £600. 4min 38se class. Two miles. Appreciate .. scr Expensive .. scr Horatio Nelson scr Maudeen .. »cr Starshell .. scr Trevathan .. scr Coral Princess 12 Notus .. 12 Sir Raymond .. 12 Symetra .. 12 Baby Grand Hal Derby Johnnie Lawn Leonin Mountmellick Right Royal .. Certainty Indigo Renown’s Pride 24 24 24 24 24 24 36 36 36 12.13 p.m.— _ HEATHCOTE HANDICAP. Of £850. 4min 33se class. Two miles. Ben Adam .. scr Paddy Potts .. 12 Direct Medium scr Traverse 12 Limerick Pride scr Ann Scott 24 Northern Lass scr Imperial Remlap .. scr Grattan 24 Checkmate .. 12 Windermere 24 Chinook .. 12 Absolutely 36 Lady Vi ..12 Golden Shadow 36 Mandrake .. 12 Snowflake 36 Maori Home .. 12 k Mountain Hall 12 Tenpennybit .. 36

12.58 p.m.— WINTER HANDICAP, Aberhall .. scr In the Mood .. 24 Cabin Boy Gold Peg . scr Nyallo Scott .. .. scr Plunder Bar 24 24 Highland Scott scr Acropolis 36 Jack's Son .. scr Battle Colours 36 Local Gold .. scr Dundee Sandy 36 Sir Michael .. scr Highland Fling 36 Trusty Scott .. scr Loyal Peter 36 War Form .. 12 Shadow Maid 48 Cameronian .. 24 Countless 60 1.43 p.m.— SPEEDWAY HANDICAP, Of £1250. 4min 29sec class. Two miles. Dillondale .. scr Gold Sheik 12 Follow Me .. scr Margaret Hall 12 Radical .. scr Pre-Eminence 12 Sprayman .. scr Ribbon Again 12 Stimulant .. scr Worthy Gold .. 12 Alcazar .. 12 Fancy Foods .. 24 Belhall .. 12 Claremorris 36 Bill Scott .. 12 Gamble King .. 36 2.28 pan.— STEWARDS’ HANDICAP, Of £750. Trotters. 3min 43sec class. i 3ne mile and five furlongs. Fire Water .. scr Toushay scr Gelert .. scr Willie Winkle .. scr Mistydale .. scr Forewarned 36 Pardon Me* .. scr Range Finder 36 Rerewaka .. scr Will Cary 3b Sure Lady .. scr 3.13 p.m.— CANTERBURY THREE-YEAR-OLD STAKES, Of £850. One mile and a half. Artful .. scr Quarter Deck .. scr Beckleigh .. scr Red Flight scr Chief Officer . scr Viceroy scr Daisy Bar .. scr Victory Globe scr Gay Knight .. scr Whipster scr Globe Son .. scr Yours Truly .. scr Grand Scott .. scr Congo Song .. 12 Highland Chief scr David’s Pride .. 12 Liebestraum .. scr Sir Vivian 24 3.58 pan.— LIGHTNING FREE-FOR-ALL. Of £750. 2mm 43sec class. One mile and a quarter. Turco Battle Colours Integrity War Form Acropolis Emulous Knave of Diamonds Countless Nyallo Scott Highland Fling Trusty Scott Loyal Nurse Navigate