FINAL COUNT

Press, Volume LXXXIV, Issue 25449, 22 March 1948, Page 4

FINAL COUNT

EASY WIN AT ADDINGTON Final Count, the winner of the Craven Handicap on the first day of the New Zealand Metropolitan Trotting Club’s Easter meeting, followed up with another fine performance at Addington on Saturday to win the Canterbury Handicap in an easy manner from Red Hussar. Red Hussar was the quickest to begin, but he soon surrendered the lead to Ben Adam, and at the end of half a mile these two were closely followed by Limerick Pride, Caudray, Golden Shadow, Certainty, Final Count, Lady Vi, Monagh Leagh, and Pre-Eminence, which had made his task harder by breaking at the start. Final Count worked Ills way into the lead with three furlongs to go, and he carried on to win with the greatest of ease. In a fine finish for the minor places. Red Hussar just shaded Monagh Leagh, with Commander Scott and PreEminence practically in line. An aged gelding by Jack Potts from Encounter, Final Count is a high-class pacer and he should not be troubled to win more races for Mr F. McKendry, who trains him at Methven. Commander Scott’s effort to finish in fourth place was exceptional. Beginning smartly from the 24 yards mark, he was in seventh place at the end of two furlongs, but he struck trouble and broke. When he was balanced again he had 14 horses in front of him, but once he settled down to do his best work he showed more speed than anything else in the race. A smart pacer over all distances, Commander Scott appeals as an early winner. Jottings

Play Safe lost his chance when he broke at the start of the Papanui Handicap at Addington on Saturday. , Doris Grattan, the winner of the Waikaura Trot Handicap at the Oamaru Jockey Club’s meeting on Saturday, is a four-year-old mare by Grattan Loyal from Doris Nelson.

Castigate was always well back after breaking at the start of the Telegraph Handicap at Addington on Saturday. Scholarship lost his chance when he failed to leave the mark correctly in the Wilkin Handicap at Addington on Saturday. Volodale was allowed to pay a good dividend when he won the Urenui Handicap at the Taranaki Trotting Club's meeting on Saturday. A well-bred gelding, Volodale is by Sandydale from Widow Volo, both of which were imported to New Zealand. Widow Volo, which took a record of 2min 6Jsec, is the dam of another winner in Noble Scott. Draw for Barrier Positions

Because of frequent requests, the New Zealand Metropolitan Trottihg Club has made a change in publication of the draw for barrier positions at its meetings. The draw is made an hour before the start of tlie first race, and in the past it has been the custom to acquaint trainers and drivers of their barrier positions just before they go out to compete in the race. The committee of the club can see no reason why the information should not be made available at any time of the day, and it has suggested to the clerk of the scales that he should display the whole of the barrier positions on the notice board. From a Good Family

Mountmellick improved on his second placing to Free Fight in the Preliminary Handicap on the first day of_lhe Easter r-ieeting to win the Papanui Handicap at Addington on Saturday. Mountmellick began slowly, and when he settled down he had 10 horses in front of him. Hu trainer-driver, G. S. Smith, gradually manoeuvred him into a better position, and after following Henry of Navarre, Minoru, Jill, Ace of Diamonds, and National Velvet with two furlongs to go. Mountmellick finished strongly to win by half a length from Proprietor, which also stayed on well. By Arion Axworthy, Mountmellick is out of Fair Wave, which left other winners in Willow Bank and Sea Bom. A winner herself Fair Wave is by Waverley from Fair Lady, by Our Thorpe from Lady Rothsoon, by Harold Rothschild from Too Soon. No Action Taken „An inquiry was held after the J. H. Williams Handicap at Addington on Saturday into alleged interference bv V. Albom, the driver of Maori Home, to Scotch Music, which was driven by G Holmes. After hearing the evidence, the stipendiary stewards decided to take no action. s»iid Performance

Good Review atoned for his mistake at the start of the Speedway Handicap on the first day of the New Zealand Metropolitan Trotting Club’s Eiaster meeting with a solid effort to win. the Wilkin Handicap at Addington on Saturday. Good Review was always in the first four and t t e ., rnanner in which he responded when challenged by Right Royal with a furlong to go indicates that he should carry on to much better company. The. winner of four races jthis season, Good Review a . Ave-year-old soh of Sandydale and Credit Funds, which took a record of 2min 44 l-ssec. By Nelson Derby, Credit Funds is out of Credit Slip, the dam of other winners, including Willie Derby, Cracksman, and Credit Balance. In L. A. Williams’s Team

Minstrel HaU has been acquired by Mr C. G. Cullen, who has sent him to New Brighton to be trained by L. A. Williams, Who also trains Monagh Leagh for the same owner. A flve-year-old gelding, Minstrel Hall, which showed his best form last year to win the Upper Clutha Trot at the Cromwell Jockey Club’s meeting on March 7, is by Dillon Hall from Nigger Moko, which is by Peter Moko from a Four Chimes mare. Westland T.C.

Withdrawals for the Westland Trotting meeting close to-day (Monday), March 22, at 8 p.m. Advt.