GREAT NORTHERN STAKES

Press, Volume LXXXV, Issue 25738, 25 February 1949, Page 4

GREAT NORTHERN STAKES

GAY HERITAGE AND MARY WOOTTON FAVOURED

Gay Heritage and Mary Wootton have both shown a lot of ability in their trials at Epsom this week and they are expected to race well in tneir divisions of the Great Northern Trotting Stakes, the first of the season's classics for two-year-olds to be decided at the Auckland Trotting Club’s meeting to-morrow. The Temuka trainer, T. H. Gunning, has always had a high opinion of Gay Heritage, and he predicted some months ago that she would be one of the best of her age. By a successful sire in Springfield Globe, Gay Heritage is out of Bonny Volo, by Lusty Volo from Becky de Oro, which took a record of 2min 13 2-ssec. Mary Wooten, which made her first appearance in public when she paced Highland Kilt in his trial agaipst time at the Canterbury Park Trotting Club’s meeting on February 12, is bred to win in the best company, being by Springfield Globe from a grand race mare in Parisienne, which left winners in Spring Fashion to the same sire and Bohemian to Lucky Jack. A neatly-moulded filly. Mary Wootton has been given a carefully-timed preparation by G. B. Noble, who trains her for Mr J. R. McKenzie. On looks and breeding, she should eventually win her way to good company. Other South Island pacers engaged in the Great Northern Trotting Stakes are Lindy Lou, Pacing Perfection, and Young Charles. The’ last-named worked nicely for C. R. Berkett at Epsom on Tuesday morning. By U Scott, he is out of a winner in Aurie’s Star, by Jack Potts from Minny Yet. by O.Y.M. from Mine Yet. Lindy Lou is by Dillon Hall from Lyndsey, by Red Shadow from Mignonne. by Matchlight from a Hal Zolock mare. Pacing Perfection is by a fine performer in Pacing Power from Prairie Gold, a Rey de Oro mare which left a winner in Fulgent to Red Shadow. North Island Candidates Our Smith appears to be the favourite of the North Island candidates engaged in the race. A chestnut colt. Our Smith, which won a two-year-old parade at Claudelands recently, is by Peter Smith from Our Princess, by Rey de Oro from Bingen Crest, by Worthy Bingen from Edna, by Havoc from Sylvia K. As most are making their first appearance in a race, the breeding of other youngsters in the field is of interest. Village King is by Josedale Grattan from Suffragette, a winning daughter of Jack Potts and Rebel Girl, by Brigand from Ravenschild. Mundanity. which showed some speed at Claudelands, is by Übakim from a winner in Kewpie’s Bond, the dam of a winner in Bold Venture. Wind Rush is by Dan Direct from a winner in Free Machine, a sister to other winners in Bay Machine and British Machine. Harlow, a successful daughter of Jack Potts and Film Star, is represented by Harkaway, which is by Josedale Grattan, and a smart mare in Gold Dredge is represented by a filly by Worthy Belwin. which will race as Spun Gold. Stuart Earl is by Robert Earl from Red Pine; Bar Queen by Gold Bar from Queen High; Gallant Bronze by Springfield Globe from Gallant Ruby; Jersey Joe by Übakim from June Royal: and Our Ida by Master Lawn from Joan’s Jewel. With so many green youngsters engaged. luck in the running will play an important part. If they avoid trouble, Gay Heritage and Bar Queen, and Mary Wootton and Our Smith should be prominent in their divisions. Jottings Fan Tan is one of the favourites for the Rangitoto Handicap at the Auckland Trotting Club’s meeting to-morrow. Fanciful, a winner at Ashburton recently. should add to her record at the Kaikoura Trotting Club's meeting at Rangiora to-morrow. Happy Man travelled at a 2min Usee gait when he won the New Year Handicap. the main event at the Perth meeting on January 8. Lillian Mac. which did not race last week, will probably be sent out favourite for the Manurewa Handicap at Epsom tomorrow. At his best. Encircle should earn some of the money in the trotters’ races at the Kaikoura Trotting Club’s meeting. Record Auction Price An Australian record auction price for a trotter or a pacer w'as made at Dalton (New South Wales), when Centre Fire was sold at the Walla Walla Stud dispersal sale for 2100 guineas. Centre Fire, which was bought by the Sydney trainer, J. D. Watts, is a four-year-old horse by Walla Walla from the Jack Potts mare, Pottapiana, which was bred in New Zealand. Began Slowly Jackie Guy looked well when he was paraded for the Final Handicap at the New Brighton Trotting Club’s meeting on Saturday, but he disappointed his admirers when he lost any chance he had by beginning slowly. _ May Win Soon Driven by D. J. Townley, Mountmellick showed that he was returning to his best form by his solid effort to finish third in the New Brighton Handicap at the New Brighton Trotting Club's meeting at Addington on -Saturday. One of G. S. Smith’s team at Addington, Mountmellick, which races in the interests of Mr J. Fowler, is by Arion Axworthy from a winner in the Waverley mare. Fair Wave, the dam of other winners in Willow Bank, Sea Born, and -Darrington Hall.