NEW BRIGHTON CLUB

Press, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 25365, 12 December 1947, Page 4

NEW BRIGHTON CLUB

TROTTING

Johnnie Lawn May Win Main Race LAUREATE IN FORM Johnnie Lawn’s decisive wins in the Dominion Handicap at the Forbury Park Trotting Clnb’s meeting on October 11 and in the November Handicap at the New Zealand Metropolitan Trotting Club's meeting at Addington on November 8 stamp him as a high-class pacer. At his last two starts, Johnnie Lawn, which is an Australian-bred pacer by the champion Lawn Derby from Chiming Rose, finished in second place to Jackie Guy in the Durham Handicap and in second place to Direct Medium in the Lightning Handicap on the concluding day of the cup meeting at Addington last month. On the strength of that form, Johnnie Lawn will probably be sent out a hot favourite for the Members* Handicap, the main event for pacers at the New Brighton Trotting Club’s meeting at Addington to-morrow.

Johnnie Lawn, which is trained at Russley by M. Holmes for Mr H. R. Brien, has been nominated for the 4min 26sec class £ 3500 Auckland Trotting Cup at the Auckland Trotting Club’s meeting on December 27. Johnnie Lawn is now assessed on 4min 28sec for two miles; and a win in the Members’ Handicap would find him correctly assessed for the big event at Auckland.

Most of the Members’ Handicap field are engaged in the Au Revoir Handicap, and form show in the main race should prove a reliable guide to the sprint.

With the exception of the Members’ Handicap, large fields are carded and investors will be set some intricate problems. The track is in excellent order and fast times should be recorded.

The'following horses will be bracketed on the totalisator:—Canterbury Handicap, Pacific Boy and High Command; Improvers’ Handicap, Logan Max and Suzerain; Wainoni Handicap, Gallant Thorpe and Hydro Belle, Gold Nip and Rose Volo, Killowen and Mischief; Empire Handicap, Red Hussar and Bien Sur; Au Revoir Handicap, Direct Medium and Liberty Bond. Grattan Drive and Scotch Music. Horses in form include:— Canterbury Handicap: Wayfarer, Indemnity, Worthy Ace. Improvers’ Handicap: Laureate, Sandy Duval, Sure Money. Wainoni Handicap: Cultivator, Wedding Ring, Gallant Thorpe. Members’ Handicap: Johnnie Lawn Grattan Drive, Imperial Grattan. Travis Handicap: Final Count, King’s Messenger, Admiration. Brighton Handicap: Lucky Bill Java. Flying Scott. Empire Handicap: Red Hussar Queen Jewel, Pocket Edition. Au Revoir Handicap: Johnnie Lawn, Certainty, Direct Medium. The following is the programme: 10.45 a.m.— CANTERBURY HANDICAP, Of £350 4min 49sec class. Two miles. Calando .. scr Canny Scott .. 12 Gallant Ruth .. scr Colin Waters 12 Gay Note .. scr Gold Winner 12 Grattan Gold .. scr High Command 12 Indemnity .. scr Leading Man .. 12 Pacific Boy .. scr Lochdornie .. 12 Pampero .. scr Our Babe .. 12 Risingholme .. scr Sure Catch . 12 Substitute .. scr Kimono Girl .. 24 Waroonga .. scr Lyceum .. 24 Wayfarer . scr On Approval .. 24 Worthy Ace .. scr Peter Potts .. 24 Awadale .. 12 Wayfarer, a brother to a splendid performer in Haughty, was lightly raced as a three-year-old ..a§t season, and he indicated that the patient policy adopted with him by his ower-trainer, B. Grice, would pay dividends this term by winning the second division of the Selma Trot Handicap at the Ashburton Racing Club’s meeting on September 13. With 12 horses starting from the mark in the Canterbury Handicap, luck in the running in the early stages will play an Important part. If Wayfarer avoids trouble he should be prominent at the finish.

Likely improvers in the field include Indemnity. Gallant Ruth. Calando. Risingholme, Worthy Ace, Awadale, Lochdornie, and Kimono Girl. A winner at tnc Wellington Trotting Club’s meeting. Indemnity is a stoutly-bred son of Dillon Hall and First Water. Once he learns to begin correctly, Indemnity should make the grade to much better company. Kimono Girl, which raced well at the Wellington 1 rotting Club’s meeting to finish in second place to Cultivator in the Taita Handicap, of two miles, and Worthy Ace. which won over the same distance at Washdyke last season, are both good types, and they may divide the prizemoney with Wayfarer and Indemnity. « 11.28 a.m.— IMPROVERS' HANDICAP, Of £350. Trotters. 3min 57sec class. One mile and five furlongs.

Sandy Duval .. 12 Great Worth .. 36 Sure Money .. 12 Heir Apparent 36 Buncrana .. 24 Metropole .. 36 Contraband .. 24 Bardia .. 48 Laureate .. 24 Ginger Joe .. 48 Loyal Toast .. 24 Logan Max .. 48 Monitress .. 24 Suzerain .. 48 On form Laureate, which has gained two wins and five minor placings in her seVen starts this season, stands out in the Improvers’ Handicap. Driven by her trainer. R. A. Hamilton, who races her in partnership with C. A. Tasker, Laureate looked a model of condition when she worked at Addington yesterday morning. As there are no acceptors on the scratch mark, -Sandy Duval and Sure Money, which are handicapped on the 12 yards mark, win probably set the pace. Sandy Duval and Sure Money are both improving trotters and, together with Buncrana. which was placed in her two races at the Wellington Trotting Club’s meeting, they may fight out the finish with Laureate. 12.13 p.m.— WAINONI HANDICAP, Of £475. 2min 53sec class. One mile and a quarter. Calumet Queen scr Tungsten Steel scr Cultivator .. scr Wedding Ring scr Gallant Thorpe scr Active Service 12 Glen Devon .. scr Bankstock .. 12 Gold Nip scr Dance Hall .. 12 Hydro Belle .. scr Drury Lane .. 12 Killowen .. scr Gan tree .. 12 Mischief .. scr Golden Game 12 Peter’s Pal .. scr Pony Express 12 Razzle .. scr Proprietor .. 12 Rose Volo .. scr Sahara Queen 12 Sir Gaillard .. scr Scottish Brogue 12 Special Agent scr Wee Logan .. 12 True Comrade scr Cultivator’s five placings in his last five starts include two wins at the Wellington Trotting Club’s recent meeting, and on the strength of that form he will probably be sent out favourite for the Wainoni Handicap. The field of 27 improvers includes some promising pacers in Gallant Thorpe, Glen Devon, Killowen, Wedding Ring, Active Service, Sahara Queen, and Scottish Brogde. Gallant Thorpe has raced well this season for G. R. Bates, who trains him at

Orari, to secure two wins and three minor placings in his five starts. He Is a hardy type. Killowen, which is now trained at Prebbleton by S. Hands, has finished in fourth place in three of his last four races. A • son of Casanova and Asclon. Killowen should take a tighter mark before the season closes. Wedding Ring, which is trained at Templeton by C. R. Berkett, is a speedy sen of Gold Bar and Allone. On recent form he should be capable of registering fast time over the sprint riistance. Proprietor has been racing well for C. Nordquist, who trains him at Methven, and he appeals as the most likely of the handicapped horses to trouble Cultivator, Wedding Ring, and Gallant Thorpe at the finish. 12.58 p.m.— MEMBERS’ HANDICAP, Of £1250. 4min 30sec class. Two miles. Lou Hall .. scr Grattan Drive 24 Safari .. scr Imperial Vimy. Ridge - - scr Grattan 24 Certainty . 12 Johnnie Lawn 24 Checkmate .. 12 Maudeen .. 24 Follow Mb .. 12 Traverse .. 24 Although the field is not large in the Members’ Handicap, the 11 horses carded should provide an exciting race. Johnnie Lawn will probably be sent out favourite. but he will need to race up to his best form to win, as the field includes some smart pacers. Vimy Ridge, which is trained at Methyen by M. C. McTigue. looks the pick of the scratch horses. A speedy mare, Vimy Ridge indicated that she was returning to form by finishing in fourth place to Maudeen, Lady Ngaiu and Bel Hamed in the Montgomery Handicap at the New Brighton Club’s meeting on September 6. Checkmate. Certainty, and Follow Me. Vtncn win start from the 12 yards mark, all have some useful performances to L£ r «l lt ’ b 'i t they may be held 2 * yards mar *ers, which include Grattan Drive. Imperial Grattan. Johnnie Lawn, Maudeen, and Traverse. A good performer over all distances. Grattan Pj’*Y’ e £ he Lievre Handicap in t? u . n at the New Zealand Metropolitan Trotting Club’s meeting at Addington on November 8. A repetition of that form would have most of this

field struggling to-morrow. Maudeen raced well in the early part of the season. but she subsequently lost form. At her best Maudeen should be capable of fighting out the finish with Johnnie Lawn, Grattan Drive, and Imperial Grattan. 1.43 p.m.— . TRAVIS HANDICAP, Of- £6OO. 4n)in 40sec class. Two miles. Admiration .. scr Ben Led! .. 12 Confirmed .. scr Carisbrook .. 12 Fair Play .. scr Dandy Grattan 12 King’s Final Count .. 12 Messenger scr Lucky Meg .. 12 Loyal Boy .. scr Real Nugget . 12 Nelsonova .. scr Sypland .. 12 Pinto .. scr Expensive .. 24 Final Count, which followed his third placing to Red Hussar and Highland Dale in the Redcastle Handicap at the Oamaru Trotting Club’s meeting on October 27 with a second placing to Free Fight in the Cashmere Handicap at Addington on November 15, will probably carry most support in the Travis Handicap. King’s Messenger, Confirmed, and Admiration appear to have the best prospects of the horses on -the scratch mark. Driven by G. S. Smith. King’s Messenger finished boldly to win the Visitors’ Handicap of two miles at the Hutt Park meeting on November 22. but on the second day of the Wellington Trotting Club’s meeting he dwelt at the start of the Belmont Handicap and was not sighted afterwards. A gelding by Casanova from Secret Service, King's Messenger is a good stayer and he should be finishing on when most of this field are weakening. Dandy Grattan set the pace for about a mile and three-quarters in the Belmont Handicap at Hutt Park on November 29, but Queen Jewel would not allow him to get a breather, and he was beaten out of a place in the sprint home. If he is allowed tc make his own rules Dandy Grattan may show up at the finish with Final Count King’s Messenger, and Admiration. 2.28 p.m.— BRIGHTON HANDICAP, Of £650. Trotters. 3min 51sec class. One mile and five furlongs. ’TO’Vt ?cott .. scr Songbird .. 24 Not S“ lte • • 801 David Dryden 36 Port Bowen .. scr Golden Amazon 36 Bonny Scott .. 12 Invigorator .. 36 Java .. 12 Maximum .. 36 Sure Note .. 12 Quite Right .. 48 Lucky Bill .. 24 Tall Timber .. 48

a w inner at his last two starts, is one of the favourites for the Brighton Handicap. Driven by D. Townley. who trains him at Hinds, Lucky Bill gamed his first win for the season with a splendid effort in the Tahuna Handicap at the Forbury Park Trotting Club’s meeting on October 18. At his next start, Lucky Bill gave another solid performance to win the Waitaki Handicap in an easy manner from Laureate and Flying Scott at the Oamaru Trotting Club’s meeting. Flying Scott, Not Quite, and Port Bowen, which will start from the scratch mark, are all useful trotters.. Flying Scott showed some speed at Oamaru, but unless the race is run to suit him, he may be troubled by the distance. Bonnj- Scott, Java and Sure Note Will start from the 12 yards mark. Of these. Java may prove the most reliable. Java’s record this season includes wins in the St. Albans Handicap at the New Brighton Trotting Club’s meeting on September 6 and in the Introductory Handicap at the same club’s meeting on September 27. Java is above the average, and he may prove capable of extending Lucky Bill over the Concluding stages. * 3.13 p.m.— EMPIRE HANDICAP. Of £725. 3min 41sec class. One mile and five furlongs. Bonny Clare . scr Doonholme .. 12 Caudray .. scr Indigo .. 12 Leonin .. scr Monagh Leagh 12 Play Safe .. scr Navy Queen .. 12 Pocket Edition scr Positive .. 12 Queen Jewel .. scr Stirling Castle 12 Red Hussar .. scr Latest Edition 24 Tony Grattan scr Northern Lass 24 Bien Sur .. 12 Red Setter .. 24 Darrington Hall 12 Red Hussar, a good-looking five-year-old horse by Jack Potts from Justified, created a good impression when he won the Southland Handicap by a neck from Free Fight at the Forbury Park Trotting Club’s meeting on October 11, and the Redcastle Handicap in 3min 19 3-ssec at the Oamaru Trotting Club’s meeting on Labour Day. Red Hussar finished out of a place at his last start, but if he is at his best, he should prove hard to beat from the scratch mark in the Empire Handicap. Pocket Edition and Queen Jewel, which both won at their last start, are well placed on the scratch mark, and they should be prominent all the way. Darrington Hall, Navy Queen, Indigo and Stirling Castle make the most appeal of the handicapped horses, but they should be set a hard task by Red Hussar, Queen Jewel and Pocket Edition. 3.58 p.m.— AU REVOIR HANDICAP, Of £BOO. 2min 45sec class. One mile and a quarter. Bobby Burns .. scr Imperial Catalpa . scr Grattan scr Certainty .. scr Jack’s Son .. scr Checkmate .. scr Johnnie Lawn scr Direct Medium scr Liberty Bond scr Follow Me .. scr Loyal King .. scr Golden Shadow scr Scotch Music .. scr Grattan Drive scr Traverse .. scr

At his last start Johnnie Lawn registered the fast time of 2mm 39 2-ssec for the mile and a quarter when he finished in second place to Direct Medium in the Lightning Handicap at the Metropolitan Trotting Club’s meeting on November 15. If he repeats that performance, Johnnie Lawn should not be troubled to win the Ai£ Revoir Handicap.

Direct Medium, which is bracketed with Liberty Bond, is now at the top of his form, and he should be handy all the way. Certainty recorded 2min 40 3-ssec when he finished in second place to Limerick Pride on the grass track at Hutt Park on November 22, and on the following Saturday he followed up with a win over Traverse in the Spring Handicap. Certainty has done well since returning to Addington. In what should be a good betting race, he may dispute favouritism with Johnnie Lawn, Direct Medium, and Traverse.

Spelling Mr W. L. Parkinson’s Aspanall, which has disappointed in his five races this season, has been turned out for a spell on his owner’s farm at Kaiapoi. The winner of four races last season, Aspanall is a five-year-old gelding by Lusty Volo from a winner in Loyal Avis, which is by Grattan Loyal from Necessity, by Galindo from Effie wood’s Dillon, by Harold Dillon from Effiewood, by Wildwood. Now at Orari

Nelsonova is a recent addition to R. Stevens’s team at Orari. A five-year-old geldirfg by Casanova from a Nelson Derby mare. Nelsonova, which was previously trained by his owner, S. T. Webster, Tinwald. will have his next start in the Travis Handicap at the New Brighton Trotting Club’s meeting to-morrow.