FLYING SCOTT

Press, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 25367, 15 December 1947, Page 4

FLYING SCOTT

SOLID PERFORMANCE AT ADDINGTON

Mr N. Matyasevic, who races a team including Flying Scott. Slavonic, and Mala, secured his first win since January 27, 1945, when Flying Scott returned to the winning list with a splendid performance td lead all the way in the Brighton Handicap at the New Brighton Trotting Club's meeting at Addington on Saturday. Confidently handled by C. C. Devine, Flying Scott began quickly, and at the end of the first furlong he was leading from Not Quite, Port Bowen, Java (in a break), Songbird, Sure Note, Lucky Bill, Bonny Scott, Maximum, Quite Right, Tall Timber, Invigorator, and Golden Amazon. A. F. C. Rushton moved Bonny Scott up to be handy to Flying Scott with a mile to go, but Devine cracked the pace on shortly afterwards and with half a mile to run he was three lengths clear of Bonny Scott, Songbird, Sure Note, Port Bowen, Golden Amazon, Lucky Bill, Quite Right, and Java.

Approaching the entrance to the straight, Flying Scott was eight lengths clear of Lucky Bill, Songbird, and Java, but he weakened over the last furlong, and he was being rapidly overhauled by Lucky Bill as the winning post was reached.

Flying Scott was successful when trained in the early part of his career by M. Holmes at Yaldhurst, but after winning the -Vauxhall Handicap at the Forbury Park Trotting Club’s meeting on January 27, 1945, he subsequently became unreliable in his races, and his 19 starts in the next two seasons yielded only two minor placings. Flying Scott was transferred to W. Baker’s care at Tai Tapu in the early part of last season. Baker who confines his team to two or three horses, has a successful record with difficult horses, and under his patient guidance Flying Scott has gradually developed into a solid trotter. Although he is not a good stayer, Flying Scott should continue to pay his way this season. An aged gelding, Flying Scott, which was bred in 1937 by the late W. J. Morland, is by U Scott from a winner at the trotting gait in Escapade which left a family of winners, including Diversion, Intrigue, Milestone, Tall Timber, and Tam o’ Shanter. By the imported Nelson Bingen, Escapade is out of the 1915 New Zealand Cup Handicap winner. Country Belle, which is by Wildmoor from Bonnie Bell, by Lincoln Yet from an Arab mare. Jottings Our Babe, which is trained at Pukeuri by J. M. Bain, lost his chance when he began slowly in the Canterbury Handicap at the New Brighton Trotting Club’s meeting at Addington on Saturday. Metropole lost his chance when he broke before two furlongs had been covered in the Improvers* Handicap at Addington on Saturday. Flame Will probably be sent out a good favourite for the Mitcham Handicap at the Ashburton Trotting Club’s meeting on Boxing Day.

C. T. Stewart was fortunate in • escaping injury when his horse. Pony Express, fell at the start of the Wainoni Handicap at the New Brighton Trotting Club’s meeting at Addington on Saturday. Led all the Way Sure Money returned his supporters a double-figure win dividehd when he led all the way in the Improvers’ Handicap at the New Brighton Trotting Club’s meeting at Addington on Saturday. Driven by his owner, J. Slack, who trains him at Addington, Sure Money started smoothly and at the end of the first furlong he was followed by Sandy Duval, Buncrana, Laureate (in a break), Contraband, Suzerain, Logan Max, Loyal Toast, Ginger Joe, Heir Apparent, and Great Worth (in a breaK)

Sure Money, Buncrana, and Sandy Duval were about four lengths clear of the field with half a-mile to go, and when the straight was reached Sure Money and Sandy Duval settled down to a hard fight, Sure Money finishing gamely under pressure to win by half a length. A six-year-old gelding by a noted sire of trotters in Quite Sure from Haymaker, which is by Sonoma Harvester from a Harold Dillon mare. Sure Money should improve with age, and he may eventually reach good company. A Smart Mare

Wedding Ring gave a fine performance at Addington on Saturday to win the Wainoni Handicap in 2min 42 l-ssec from a 2min 52sec mark. Tungsten Steel was the quickest to begin, and with half a mile covered he was followed by Wedding Ring Gold Nip, Calumet Queen, Hydro Belle, Peter’s pai, Special Agent, Gallant Thorpe, Killowen, and Active Service, which settled down quickly after breaking in the first furlong. Wedding Ring worked her way into the lead, and three furlongs from home she was clear of Tungsten Steel Hydro Belle, Peter’s Pal, and Cultivator. Once the straight was reached, Wedding Ring stuck to her work in fine style to carry on and win by a length from Peter’s Pal, which returned his supporters a dividend approaching double figures on the place machine.

A four-year-old daughter of Gold Bar and Allonne, Wedding Ring is above the average, «and she should soon win more races for Messrs A. E. Laing and J. E. Bisman, for whom she is trained at Templeton by C. R. Berkett. Final Count Wins

Final Count followed his second placing to Free Fight in the Cashmere Handicap at the New Zealand Metropolitan Trotting Club’s iheeting on Novemebr 15 with a win in the Travis Handicap at the New Brighton Trotting Club’s meeting on Saturday. Admiration set the pace in the early stages, but F. G. Holmes steadied her and surrendered the lead to Fair Play. At the end of the first half-mile they were closely attended by Real Nugget, Final Count, Carisbrook, Nelsonova, Lucky Meg, and Pinto. Real Nugget took the lead with six furlongs to go, and he was followed by Admiration and Confirmed, which showed a lot of speed after losing ground when he broke at the start. After taking the lead in the back straight. Admiration looked like carrying on for a win, but Final Count finished fast to get the decision by half a length. Final Count, which is trained at Methven by his owner, F. McKendry, is by Jack Potts from Encounter, which left Two Stars, the dam of a winner in Constellation, to the same sire. A winner at the pacing gait, Encounter is by Man o' War from Erin’s Isle, by Lord Chancellor from a Prince Imperial mare. Canterbury Park T.C. Nominations for all events at the Canterbury Park Trotting Club’s meeting to be held on January 1 and 2 must be received by 5 p.m. to-morrow (Tuesday). —Advt.

Ashburton T.C. Withdrawals * Withdrawals in connexion with the Ashburton Trotting Club's Summer Meetfnn are + ? U ? 'Yl th the Secretary, AshburP ot x lat x er than 8 P- m - on Tuesday, the 16tn instant. Advt