EASTER MEETING AT ADDINGTON

Press, Volume LXXXIV, Issue 25447, 19 March 1948, Page 4

EASTER MEETING AT ADDINGTON

TROTTING

Prospects For Second Day MAORI HOME IN FORM Few pacers have created such good impressions this season as Maori Home and Checkmate, and the meeting between the two in the £2OOO i. H. Williams Handicap should provide one of the highlights of the racing on the second day of the New Zealand Metropolitan Trotting Club’s Easter meeting at Addington to-morrow. A brilliant son of a successful sire in Dillon Hall, Maori Home was educated and trained for his early races by B. Rushton, who gained his first win with him in the first division of the Knapdale Trot Handicap at the Gore Racing Club’s meeting on February 9, 1946. A genuine performer, Maori Home has raced consistently since he began his career as a three-year-old in the 1945-46 season to gain 10 wins and eight minor placings in his 23 starts.

After winning his way to a tight mark in Southland, Maori Home was sent to Addington to be trained by V. Alborn, who" has driven him to finish in the money in nine of his 11 races this season, his record including wins in the Heathcote Handicap at the New Zealand Metropolitan Trotting Club’s National meeting, the Canterbury Handicap and the William Hayward Handicap at the same club’s cup meeting, the Canterbury Handicap at the Canterbury Park Trotting Club’s meeting on January 1, and the Flying Handicap at the Forbury Park Trotting Club’s meeting on January 24. Maori Home’s splendid condition is a credit to Alborn, who rates the gelding as one of the fastest pacers in commission. Maori Home is now assessed on 4min 23sec, and a win for him in the Williams Handicap to-morrow will assure him of a place in the £5OOO Dunedin Trotting Cup field at the Forbury Park Trotting Club’s centennial meeting next month.

A six-year-old son of Jack Potts and, Laurene Wood, Checkmate, which is trained at Belfast by C. S. Donald for Mr H. Steel, cannot match Maori Home’s record for consistency, but he has some sterling performances to his credit, his wins this season being in the Queen Mary Handicap at the New Zealand Metropolitan Trotting Club’s national meeting, the Seiwyn Handicap at the Canterbury Park Trotting Club’s meeting on January 2, the Metropolitan Handicap at the Forbury Park Trotting Club’s meeting on January 31, and .the Farewell Handicap at the Canterbury Park Trotting Club’s meeting on February 14. Checkmate and Maori Home both appear certain to win their way to a tight mark and they will probably dispute favouritism in the J. H. Williams Handicap.

Besides races for improving trotters and pacers, the programme includes the feature races, the New Zealand Pacing Stakes for three and four-year-olds which have not won more than two races at the time of handicap, and the Flying Stakes, a mile and a quarter free-for-all event for the class pacers. Highland Fling and Emulous are included in the field for the Flying Stakes, and the meeting between the two will arouse keen interest.

The following horses will be bracketed oh the totalisator:—lntermediate Handicap, Heir Apparent and Gold Weed, Belmoral and Bellisima; Papanui Handicap, Play Safe and Minoru, Indian Triumph and Pocket Edition; Canterbury Handicap. Red Hussar and Limerick Pride, Golden Shadow and Pre-Eminence; J. H. Williams Handicap, Grattan Drive and Scotch Music; Telegraph Handicap, Mistydale and Range Finder, Sure Harvest and Rerewaka.

Horses in form include:— Intermediate Handicap.—Heir Apparent, Bellisima, Acclamation. Papanui Handicap.—Henry of Navarre, Proprietor, Ace of Diamonds. Canterbury Handicap.—Red Hussar, Commander Scott. Final Count. J. H. Williams Handicap.—Maori Home, Checkmate, Worthy Gold New Zealand Pacing Stakes.—Belmont Hall, South Wind, Aqua Lady. Telegraph Handicap.—Gr'eat Venture, Aerial Scott, Sure Harvest. Wilkin Handicap.-—Good Review, Pimpernel, Right Royal. Flying Stakes.—Highland Fling, Emulous, Integrity. * The following is the programme;— 10.45 a. m.— A INTERMEDIATE HANDICAP

Heir Apparent raced well at the Canterbury Park Trotting Club's meeting on February 14 to beat Bellisima by a neck after receiving 12 yards start from her in the Yaldhurst Handicap, and at his next start he finished half a length behind Bellisima after giving her 12 yards start in the Autumn Handicap at the New Brighton Trotting Club’s meeting on February 21. Heir Apparent meets Bellisima on 36 yards better terms in the Intermediate Handicap, and he should prove capable of holding her safely. Besides Heir Apparent and Bellisima. the field includes likely improvers in Sure Money, Loyal Flier, David Dryden, and Acclamation. A five-year-old daughter of Certissimus and Raclaim, Acclamation has raced consistently this season for two wins and six minor placings in her 11 races. Acclamation is above the average, and she may dispute the finish with Heir Apparent and Bellisima.

Henry of Navarre, which has made a quick recovery from the injuries he received in a fight with another stallion, lost his chance when he broke badly at the start of the Autumn Stakes on the first day of the meeting. The wjnner of three races this season, Henry of Navarre should be hard to beat if he .leaves the mark correctly in the Papanui Handicap, in which he will meet some likely types, including Play Safe, Ace of Diamonds, National Velvet, and Proprietor. Usually a reliable pacer, Ac® of Diamonds surprised by breaking after being one of the leaders at the entrance to the straight in the Preliminary Handicap at Addington last week. A fast pacer, Ace of Diamonds may atone for his mistake, tomorrow. Proprietor, a winner over sprint distances at his last two starts, should not be troubled by the longer distance, and he may show up over the concluding stages with Henry of Navarre and Ace of Diamonds.

Red Hussar gave a splendid performance on the first day of the Easter meeting to finish a haad behind Final Count in a photo-finish for the Craven Handicap. Final Count has been penalised 24 yards for his win and, at the difference in the handicaps, Red Hussar should beat him in the Canterbury Handicap. A handsome son of Jack Potts and JustifiedRed Hussar has gained three wins and three seconds in his last seven starts. Caudray. Commander Scott, and Monagh Leach all showed up in their races at Addington last week and, with Red Hussar and Final Count, they should carry solid support in the Canterbury Handicap. 12.58 p.m.— J. H. WILLIAMS HANDICAP Of £2OOO. 4min 26sec class. Two miles. Elation .. set Captain Gaillard 24 Gamble King .. scr Checkmate ~ 24 Grattan Drive scr Gold Peg .. 24 Scotch Music scr Lady Dawn .. 24 Bel Hamed . 12 Logan Rey 24 Follow Me .. 12 Maori Home .. 36 Worthy Gold . .12 Grattan Drive’s good form this season includes a win over Checkmate in the Islington Handicap at the Canterbury Park Trotting Club’s meeting on January 1, and, on that display, she must be conceded a good chance from the scratch mark in the J. H. Williams Handicap. Bel Hamed, Follow Me, and Worthy Gold Will start from the 12 yards mark, and, of these. Worthy Gold, which has a twomile record of 4min 15 l-ssec to his credit, makes most appeal. A son of Gold Bar, Worthy Gold should be improved by his race in the Express Handicap on the first day of the meeting. Captain Gaillard, a good performer at Addington, won the Express Handicap in 4min 23sec on Saturday. and a repetition of that, form L should eaTfrhim some of the prize-money ' to-morrow. Checkmate and Maori Home 1

both have excellent credentials, and in what should prove an exciting race they should be prominent with Captain Gaillard, Worthy Gold, and Grattan Drive. 1.43 p.m.— NEW ZEALAND PACING STAKES

Belmont Hall’s prospects dominate discussions on the New Zealand Pacing Stakes. A nicely-moulded son of Dillon Hall and Belie Grattan, Belmont Hall has won at his last two starts for J. Richardson, who trains him at Dunedin, and he should have little difficulty in leading this field home. The minor prizemoney may be divided between Aqua Lady, South Wind, and Hilda Scott. One of P, G. O’Reilly’s team at Highbank, Aqua Lady has shown some ability to gain a win and two minor placings inner last four starts. Hilda Scott raced well at her last start to finish second to Belmont Hall in the Charles Cross Stakes: at the Canterbury Park meeting on January 2, and that -form. entitles her to respect.

Trotting up to his best form, Great Venture gave a polished display of trotting to gain' his fifth win for the season in the Stewards' Handicap on the first day of the meeting, and, if he is on his best behaviour, he should race well from the 12 yards mark in the Telegraph Handicap. Most opposition to Great Venture may come from Aerial Scott and Sure Harvest, which finished second and third respectively in the Stewards’ Handicap, and .from Flying Scott, which found the two miles, too far last week. A bold trotter. Flying Scott has some good efforts to his credit this season; and ne may be capable of springing a surprise to-mor-row. Sure Harvest can trot fast and he would’need to show-UttnT inuirovement on last week’s perforrrfence "to win the first prize -for Kir Deegan. On last weeks form, Great Venture, Aerial Scott and Sure Harvest should be in the picture at the finish.

Usually a good beginner. Good Review, which was sent out favourite, surprised when he broke and lost his chance at the start of the Speedway Handicap at Addington last Saturday. A smart five-year-old gelding by Sandydale from Credit Funds, Good Review’s record of three wins and three minor placings in his first six starts for the season is impressive and, if he avoids trouble in the early stages, he should not be extended to add the Wilkin Handicap to hisrapidly growing dst. Pimpernel, which did not race last week because he was recovering from the effects of a cold, has evidently made a quick recovery and, if he takes his place in the field, he should finish in the money. Bonny Clare and Right Royal have both been racing well, and they make most appeal of the remainder of the field:

Highland Fling overshadowed the opposition when he decisively won the A., I. Rattray Handicap last Saturday and, bn the strength of that form, he will probably be sent out favourite for the Flying Stakes, in which he Is opposed to some high-class pacers, including Emulous. Integrity, In the Mood, and Dundee Sandy* Emulous gave a fine display to finish in third place to Highland Fling and Plunder Bar after covering sOme extra ground over the concluding stages of the A. I. Rattray Handicap, and, with better luck -in the . running, he should prove the hardest to beat. Integrity has won his way to a tight mark with some brilliant performances, and he is entitled to respect. On recent form, Highland Fling and Emulous should carry most support when the totalisator closes.

Of £850. Trotters. 3min 50sec class. One mile and ive furlongs. Belle Header . scr Heir Apparent 24 Buncrana . scr Lucky Bill .. 24 Java . scr Jimmy Scott .. 38 Sure Money . scr Acclamation .. 48 Loyal Flier . 12 Belmoral .. 48 Maxee , 12 Bellissima .. 48 David Dryden 24 Gold Weed .. 48

11.28 a.m— PAPANUI HANDICAP Of £900. 4min 37sec class. Two miles. Jill scr Doonholme 24 Hal Derby .. 12 Indian Triumph 24 Henry of Minoru 24 Navarre 12 National Velvet 24 Horatio Nelson 12 Palette 24 Play Safe 12 Pocket Edition 24 Queen Jewel .. 12 Proprietor 24 Ace of Mountmellick 36 Diamonds 24

11.11 p.m.— CANTERBURY HANDICAP Of £1400. 4min 30sec class. Two miles. Red Hussar .. scr Commander Ben Adam .. scr Scott 24 Lord Brooklyn scr Johnnie Lawn 24 Certainty .. 12 Final Count ... 24 Golden Shadow 12 Pre-Eminence 24 Lady VI ..12 Jackie Guy .. 36 Limerick Pride 12 Monagh Leagh 36 Radical .. 12 Caudray .. 12 Safari ,. 36

Of £1000. Three and four-year-olds. One mile and five furlongs. Aqua Lady scr Victory Globe scr Belmont Hall scr Whipster scr Best Globe SCI Antrim Hall 24 Chatta Boy scr Attack 24 Courageous scr Baadin 24 Hilda Scott .. scr Free Style 24 Lady MavourHigh Command 24 neen scr South Wind .. 24 Pierre scr Tudor. Minstrel 24 Sir John scr Wayfarer 24 Tutta Bella .. scr

2.28 p.HIPTELEGRAPH HANDICAP Of £1250. 3min 43seq class. One and five furlongs. mile Bancor scr Great Venture 12 Castigate scr Rerewaka 12 Fire Water scr Toushay 12 Flying Scott .. scr Casablanca 24 Frank Scott .. scr Pardon Me 24 Mine Host , , scr Range Finder . 38 Mistydale .« scr Aerial Scott . 48 Sure Harvest .. scr Blue Horizon . 48 Willie Winkie scr Fantom 48

3.13 p.m.— WILKIN HANDICAP Of £1100. 4min 33sec class. Two miles. Good Review scr Tam o’ Shanter 12 Maida Dillon scr Bonhy Scott .. 24 Pimpernel , scr Bonny 24 Red Setter scr Caledonian Girl 24 Commotion 12 Democrat ,. 24 Mountain Hall 12 Indigo 24 Scholarship » 12 Right Royal ... 24

3-58 p.m.—■ FLYING STAKES Ot *1800. 2min 42sec class. Free-for-all. One mile and a quarter. Acropolis In the Mood Countless Knave of Diamonds Double Peter Nyallo Scott Dundee Sandy Sprayman Emulous Trusty Scott Highland Fling Turco Integrity