WORTHY ACE

Press, Volume LXXXIIi, Issue 25302, 30 September 1947, Page 4

WORTHY ACE

TROTTING

GOOD PROSPECTS AT METHVEN

Worthy Ace was the unlucky runner in the Shirley Handicap at the New Brighton Trotting Club’s meeting at Addington on Saturday. Sent out 3-4 in the betting, Worthy Ace, which was driven by M. Holmes, who trains him for Messrs H. and C. Stafford, lost ground when he went to a break at the start and when the field settled down he was following Lucky Potts, Dillonia Queen, Dilbar, Grattan Gold, Gold Strike, Makarewa, Ikaroa, Gold Case, Henry of Navarre, Gantree, Peter Potts, French Gold, and His Excellency.

Worthy Ace still had eight horses in front of him with half a mile to go, but he made a fast run in’ the back straight which carried him up to .be handy to Grattan Gold, Dillonia*Queen, and Gantree at the entrance to the straight. Worthy Ace finished resolutely, but in an exciting finish he had to accept third prize, a nose behind Grattan Gold, which was beaten by a head by Gantree. Now a six-year-old. Worthy Ace attracted attention to his prospects when he won the second division of the Seadown Handicap at the Timaru Trotting Club’s meeting on March 8 by 10 lengths from Canny Scott. After being unplaced in his next five races. Worthy Ace finished the season with a fourth placing to National Velvet, Dillonia Queen, and Gallant Ruth in the first division of the Kekerangu Handicap at the Kaikoura Trotting Club’s meeting on May 24, and with a third placing to Village Trince and Play Boy in the first division of the Discovery Handicap at ’ the Wellington Trotting Club’s meeting on June 7. Worthy Ace, which was bred by Mrs Duff, Springston, is by Jack Potts from Rose Worthy, which is by the Americanbred Frank Worthy from Rose Warton, by First Fashion from Theda Bara, by Van Coronada from Norice, which took a record of 2min 20sec before she was imported from America in 1903. During her 15 years at the stud in New Zealand, Norice left Lady Derby and Lord Derby to Rothschild; Derby Chimes and Derby Bells to Abbey Bells; Queen Cole and Cole Queen to King Cole: Theda Bara to VMn Coronada; Native King, Nelson Derby, Nelson Fame, and Bingen Boy to Nelson Bingen. Besides being good performers, Native King, Nelson Derby, and Nelson Fame all left , winners when retired to the stud. Now M at the stud in the Ashburton district, Nelson Derby, which was foaled in 1917, is still leaving winners, the latest of his progeny to be successful being Wayfarer, which l won the second division of the Selma Trot at the Ashburton County Racing Club’s meeting on September 13 by 20 lengths from Gallant Thorpe. Worthy Ace appears to have inherited the family speed, and his 3min 36 2-ssec for the mile and five furlongs on Saturday indicates that he should prove hard to beat over the same distance in the Mount Harding Handicap at the Methven Trotting Club’s meeting on Saturday. Jottings Silverlight, the favourite for the Bowhill Handicap at the New Brighton Trotting Club’s meeting at Addington on Saturday, broke at the start and he had 11 horses in front of him at the end of the first four furlongs. Once he settled down, Silverlight showed a lot of speed, and eventually finished in fourth place. Reclamation, which finished in third place to Great Venture and Legionnaire in the Innovation Handicap at the Auckland Trotting Club’s meeting on Saturday, is a five-year-old gelding by Bill B from Bingen’s Best. Although he was not favoured by the luck in the running. Pampero gained two second placings in his two starts at the Reef ton Jockey Club’s meeting on Saturday.

Sure Note lost his chance when he broke with just over a furlong to go in the H. F. Nicoll Handicap at Addington on Saturday

Solid Display Bardia gave a solid display from the 48 yards mark to finish in third place to Java and Sandy Duval in the Introductory Handicap at the New Brighton Trotting Club’s meeting at Addington on Saturday. Driven by D. Bennett, who trains her for Mr H. Morris, Bardia had Buncrana, Great Victor, Java, Port Bowen, Silver Volo, Monitress, and Sandy Duval in front of her with six' furlongs to go. Bardia stayed on well over the last four furlongs to earn the third prize of £32, and on this display she should prove hard to beat from the 36 yards mark in the Riverbank Trot Handicap at the Methven Trotting. Cllib’s meeting this week. Finished Fast

After being well back in the early stages of the Bowhill Handicap at Addington on Saturday, Starshell still had Pocket Book, Volo Audubon, Navy Queen, Bonny Scott, Dandy Grattan, Darrington Hall, Admiration, Carisbrook, and Volo Lad in front of her with ’half a mile to go. Bryce improved his position with Starshell in the back straight to be in fifth position with 'two furlongs to run, ap,d the mare finished on well to beat all but Darrington Hall and Navy Queen. Starshell’s performance was attractive, and she aopeals as an early winner for Mr W. G. Deyell. , Broke Badly Vimy Ridge, the second favourite for the President’s Handicap at Addington on Saturday, was always well back after breaking and losing a lot of ground at the start. M. C. McTigue has Vimy Ridge looking well, and she may atone for her mistake with a win in the Methvep Cup this week.

Victory Song Lowers Record A race record for trotting stallions was set at Springfield, Illinois, on August 13. when Victory Song, which was driven by S. Palin, trotted a mile in Imin 57 3-ssec in the second heat of the Nancy Hanks Stake the "Horseman and Fair World”). The previous record of Imin 57Jsec was held by Volo Song, a brother to the new record-holder. One of the most successful reinsmen in America, Palin, who drove Victory Song, has now driven 13 two-minute performers, three trotters and 10 pacers. The record-breaking mile came in the last heat of the day, and under unfavourable conditions as a strong breeze came up just as the horses paraded to the post-. A son of Volomite and Evensong, Victory Song won the first heat of the Nancy Hanks Stake in an easy manner in 2min 2 2-ssec. In the second heat, he accelerated quickly, trotting the first quarter in 29 2-ssec, the half-mile in 59sec, the six furlongs in Imin 28sec, and the mile in Imin 57 3-ssec.

Palin did not use any strenuous means to urge Victory Song on, the stallion being 10 lengths clear of his field with two furlongs covered and 15 lengths clear at the finish. Promising Mare

Wairiri Girl, which is engaged in the trotting events at the Methven and Reefton Trotting Clubs’ meetings, is a promising five-year-old mare by a fine trotter in Pilot Peter from Bonny Drusus, by Drusus from Bonilene, both of which- were imported to New Zealand.

Dunedin Renominations The following renominations have been received for the Forbury Park meeting:— Fantom in the King George and President’s Handicaps; Commander Scott in the Peninsula and Royal Handicaps; Gantree and Grattan Gold in the Southland and Domain Handicaps; and Darrington Hall in the Dominion and Victory Handicaps.