TRACK WORK AT ADDINGTON

Press, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 25363, 10 December 1947, Page 4

TRACK WORK AT ADDINGTON

CONGO SONG IMPRESSIVE Congo Song, which is now back at West Melton in the care of J. D. Litten, w r ho educated and trained him for his early races, impressed by the easy manner in which he covered two miles in-4min 34 sec at Addington yesterday morning. Congo Song, which was under a strong hold, covered the last half-mile in Imin 3 3-ssec.

Driven by Litten, Congo Song started the season with a second placing to Gay Knight in the Canterbury Three -year-old Stakes at the New Zealand Metropolitan Trotting meeting on August 23. After being transferred to the care of A. Holmes, who races him in partnership with Mr P. Symes, when Litten was forced to enter hospital in October, Congo Song followed up with wins in the Riccarton Stakes, the New Zealand Derby Stakes, and the New Zealand Metropolitan Challenge Stakes at the New Zealand Metropolitan Trotting Club’s cup meeting. Congo Song, which looks a model of condition, wifi have his next start in the New Zealand Champion Stakes at the Ashburton Trotting Club’s meeting bn Boxing Day. If present intentions are carried out, Congo Song will leave by float immediately after the race to be loaded on the steamer express at Lyttelton, and he will then be taken to the Auckland Trotting Club’s meeting on December 30 to race in the £1250 Great Northern Trotting Derby. Lucky Dan at Addington

Lucky Dan, which was trained for his races last season by his owner, A. MeKendry, Methven, is a recent addition to V. Alborn’s team at Addington. . Driven by Alborn, Lucky Dan gave a - smooth performance when pacing Congo Song in his trial. A five-year-old gelding, Lucky Dan is by Gamble from Rapido, which is by Author Dillon from an Advance mare. Good Displays of Trotting

Sure Lady and Acclamation attracted attention to their prospects when they worked over a mile and a half with Larry Grattan, Bomber, and Gallant Rdth in 3min 20sec, the last four furlongs in Imin 3 3-ssec. Sure Lady set the pace in the early stages, and, with Acclamation, she finished well clear of Larry Grattan, Bomber, and Gallant Ruth. At her last start, Sure Lady finished in second place to Hidden Note in the Dominion Trotting Handicap at the New Zealand Metropolitan Trotting Club’s meeting on November 14, and on the strength of that performance she may be sent out one of the favourites for the Ashburton Trotting Cup Handicap at the Ashburton Trotting Club’s Boxing Day meeting.

Acclamation, a promising daughter of Certissimus and Raclaim, should win at least one race for Messrs A. and R. Bruce at the Auckland Trotting Club’s Christmas meeting.

Trainer Injured D. A. Morland, who suffered a compound fracture of the left leg when Incredible fell with him during a workout at Addington recently, was present yesterday morning to see his team working. The team includes Nofilia, Special Agent, Glenhead, and Incredible. Glenhead, a gelding by Jack Potts from a Man o’ War mare, looks well and he appeals as an early 'inner. In Form

Certainty was not troubled to beat Nationalist at the end of a mile and a half in 3min 22 2-ssec, the last half in Imin 5 4-ssec. Certainty is now at the top of his form and he should prove hard to beat at the New Brighton Trotting Club’s meeting on Saturday.

Worked Alone Sure Money, J. Slack’s candidate for the Improvers’ Handicap at the New Brighton Trotting Club’s meeting on Saturday, worked alone over a mile and a half. A gelding by Quite Sure from Haymaker, Sure Money trotted fast over the first mile, but he weakened over the last half mile, taking 3min 30sec for the full journey. Marcia looked well when she was worked unhoppled over a mile and a half by H. M. Allan. Jackie Guy finished on nicely when working over a mile and a half with Dolly Fraser and King’s Messenger in 3min 29 sec. the last half mile in Imin 6sec. Grattan Drive, Logan Rey, and Scotch Music covered a mile and a half in 3min 28sec. the last four furlongs in Imin 6sec. Grattan Drive is very well and she should add to her consistent record at Addington on Saturday. Admiration and Starshell pleased by the manner in which they covered the last six furlongs of their trial in Imin 40 2-ssec, the last half mile in Imin 4 3-ssec. Logan Max, which is now trained at Addington by J. Young, led Alcazar and Sir Vivian for most of the way in a twomile trial in 4min 45sec. Once the straight was reached. Sir Vivian had little difficulty in taking the lead. Doonholme and Loyal King, from L. O. Thomas s stable, were let off with a mile and a half in 3min 30sec. Paddy’s Choice and Follow Me covered 'the last half mile of a mile and a half trial in Imin 7 l-ssec. Paddv’s Chome; a trotter by Rey de Oro from Bright Eyes, appears to be on the improve and he may win a race at the holiday meetings .

A Lusty Volo Trotter Lee Volo, which is now trained at Addington by D. A. Withers, gave an encouraging display when working over a mile and a half with Jean Grattan. Lee volo appears to have settled down to trot solidly and he should not be long in winning a race for his new trainer. A black gelding, Lee Volo is by Lusty Volo from Gipsy Lee, by Lee Norris from Arran Maid, by Lord Derby from Ninian, by Commander from the Windsor mare, Glenoware.

Maori Home paced Dundee Sandy over two miles in 4min 37sec. the last half mile in Imin ssec. Voco Power and Willie Winkle, which trained by G. S. Smith, gave solid displays when working over a mile and a half.

The Sockbum trainer, W. Millner, was a visitor with- Tall Timber and breat Worth, which worked over a mile and a half in 3min 33 2-ssec. the last four furlongs in Imin 10 3-ssec. Both trotters marred their effort by breaking in the last two furlongs. Paced by Lady Helen, Pampero completed the last half mile of her trial in 11mm 7sec.

Razzle, which will probably have his next race at the New Brighton Trotting Llub s meeting on Saturday, covered the last half mile of his two-mile trial in Imin 9 3-ssec. From Kurow

Ginger Joe, which is trained at Kurow by A. T. Valentine, worked over two miles in 4min 44sec with Bonny Scott, the last half-mile in Imin lOsec. An aged gelding by Quite Sure from Glaora, Ginger Joe showed his best form last season to win the Progressive Handicap from Jimmy Wharton at the New Brighton Trotting Club’s meeting on February 15. Ginger Joe, which appears to be well forward in condition, will have his next start in the Improvers’ Handicap at Addington on Saturday. The Rolleston trainer, F. G. Lynch, visited Addington yesterday morning with Kimono Girl and Northern Lass, which are both engaged at the New Brighton Trotting Club’s meeting on Saturday. Kimono Girl and Northern Lass were not extended to cover two miles in 4min 42 2-ssec,*the last four furlongs in Imin ssec. Should Race W’ell

Paced by Theabell, Sandy Duval and Waroonga covered a mile and a half in 3min 27 4-ssec, the last half in Imin 5 l-ssec. L. O. Thomas has Sandy Duval looking particularly well, and he may be sent out one of the favourites for the Improvers’ Handicap at Addington on Saturday. Bohemian and Dandy Grattan, which were not asked to do their best - , sprinted home the last two furlongs of their mile and a half trial in 33sec.

Golden Amazon trotted in fine style when working with Calando. If F. G. Holmes can persuade him to show his best form, Golden Amazon would be capable of taking part in the finish of the race for improving trotters at Addington this week. Jottings '

D. A. Withers has Accord looking well, and she should pay expenses at the West Coast meetings over the holiday period. Flame showed a lot of speed to finish in third place to Dame Durdin and Tatsydale after breaking and losing at least 60 yards at the start of the Introductory Handicap at the Oamaru Trotting Club’s meeting on Labour Day. With a smooth beginning she should prove hard to beat in the Winslow Handicap at the Ashburton Trotting Club’s meeting on Boxing Day. Indigo’s second placing to Communique in the .Electric Handicap at the New Zealand Metropolitan Trotting Club’s meeting on November 14 indicates that he is near his best form again. He should race well from the 12 yards mark in the Empire -Handicap at Addington on Saturday. Superb, which left a winner in Darkle Grattan to Grattan Loyal, is rearing a colt foal by the same sire. Ballotted Out

As the committee of the New Brighton Trotting Club reserved the right to reduce the fields at its meeting on Saturday to the safety limit by ballotting, the following horses were eliminated from the Wainoni Handicap: His Excellency, Lucky Potts, Make Believe, Worthy Jack, Henry of Navarre. Winners in Melbourne

The brilliant pacer, Amorous, which won the main event on the programme at the opening of the night trotting meetings in Melbourne on November 15, was successful in the main race on the second night of the meeting on November 29. Silver Peak, a New South Wales pacer with a big reputation, started favourite for the O’Shannassy Handicap in Melbourne on November 29 and won comfortably. Many good judges who have seen him race believe that Silver Peak will prove capable of pacing a mile in better than two minutes Sir' Michael Injured

Sir Michael lost some skin from his shoulder and legs when he got down in his float when being taken to Belfast on Monday, and he is on the easy list for a few days. If he makes a quick recovery, Sir Michael, which gave a dashing display to win the New Zealand Sprint Championship at the New Zealand Metropolitan Trotting Club’s meeting on November 15. will probably start at the Canterbury Park Trotting Club’s meeting on January 1 and 2. Transport Difficulties

Hopes that Australia would be strongly represented at the Inter-Dominion trotting championships in Auckland In February are fading because of transport difficulties. Para Derby, Winsome Bobby, Van White, and Derry Down are all booked to travel on the Kurow, but as that ship has been delayed in Melbourne it is doubtful if she will be available in time to take the horses to the meeting. Mrs A. Eley, the owner of Bandbox, which won the Inter-Dominion championships at Perth in February, has decided that her mare is not fit to travel, and she will be withdrawn.