EPSOM FORM

Press, Volume LXXXV, Issue 25741, 1 March 1949, Page 7

EPSOM FORM

TROTTING

SURE MONEY AND BATTLE ON IMPRESSIVE Sure Money, an unlucky runner in the February Handicap on the first day of the Auckland Trotting Club’s meeting, gained a well-deserved win for J. Slack, who trains him at Addington, when he led all the way to win the St. Andrews Jlandieap in the smart time of 3min 18 on the concluding day of the meeting at Epsom on Saturday. Driven by M. Holmes, Sure Money set a fast clip, covering the firsf mile in 2min 14 3-ssec. Barrier Reef moved up to challenge Sure Money approaching the entrance to the straight and. trotting solidly, the pair opened up a gap on the field, Sure Money staying on nicely to win by half a length. Seven lengths away came Tatsydale with a gap of’ five lengths l to Super Lady. The win favourite. Gold Horizon, was never prominent after breaking in the eafly stages. Cyone Maid dropped dead before the start of the race. The winner of two races last season, Sure Money, which was foaled in 1941. is by Quite Sure from Haymaker, by the imported Sonoma Harvester from a Harold Dillon mare, which was out of Miss Wildpoole, by Wildwood from Miss Poole, by Blackwood Abdallah. A Big Dividend Taking the lead from the favourite, Lillian Mac, with six furlongs to go, Belworth returned his supporters a dividend of more than £3O when he won the Manurewa Handicap at Auckland by six lengths from Reclamation. Reclamalion finished a length ahead of Cyone Man, which just shaded Indian Wilkes for third.

The winner of the H. J. Palmer Memorial Handicap at the Wellington Trotting Club’s meeting on November 27, Belworth is an aged gelding by Worthy Belwin from a winner at the pacing gait in Nella Dillon, which left another winner in Sir Archie to Ringtrue. Bred at Ashburton by Mr A. J. Nicoll, Nella Dillon is by Author Dillon from Nell Pointer, by Logan Pointer from Gianella, by Quincey from Queen V, by Ken*, tucky. Finished On Well After trailing Old Scotch into the straight, Fan Tan and Tiny Tot ran past the pacemaker in the Rangitoto Handicap, and in a good finish Fan Tan did best to win by a length. Making a good beginning, the win favourite. Old Scotch, took charge early to lead to the mile and a half in 3min 18sec, but he wilted in the run home, and he was beaten into fifth place. Fan Tan. which is trained at Yaldhurst by G. B. Noble for Mr A. R. McKenzie, who alsb owns Highland Kilt, is by a New Zealand Trotting Cup winner in Lucky Jack from the imported Guy Abbey mare. Fantine, the dam of other winners, including Fantom, Valola, and Lucky Meg. Fan Tan, which has two wins and five minor placings to his credit this season, should take a much tighter mark before the Reason closes. A Solid Effort

Battle On brought his record to a win, two seconds, a third and a fourth in his seven starts since being trained at Oamaru by J. M. Bain when, after giving away starts of up to 36 yards, he won the Richmond Handicap by a length from Bexdale. Battle On, which was narrowly beaten by Attack in the Papakyra Handicap on the first day of the meeting, covered the first mile in 2min 9sec. and the mile and ,a half in 3min 12 3-ssec.

Bred at Temuka by Mr A. McFarlane, Battle On is by Sandydale from a winner in Marie’s Pride, which is by Man o’ War from Bramblethorne, by Brent Locanda from Rosethorne, by Great Audubon from Sadie Dillon, by Harold Dillon. Jottings High Time, which is trained at Templeton by C. R. Berkett, is a six-year-old mare by Indianapolis from the imported McGregor the Great mare Linnett the Great, the dam of winners in Princess Linnett and Song Bird. C. E‘. A. Saunders’s team at Addington includes Nova Ann, which gave encouraging displays in her races at Rangiora on Saturday. By Casanova. Nova Ann is out of Capiter, which is by Man o’ War from a Harold Dillon mare. Jack Peterson may leave the maiden classes with a win in the Waiwera Handicap Trot at the Banks Peninsula Racing Club’s meeting on Saturday. Should Win Races Air Mail, which was making -her first appearance since being trained at New Brighton by L. A. Williams for Mr C. G. Cullen, attracted attention to her prospects by her sterling effort to finish fourth after appearing to be unlucky in the running of the Kaikoura Handicap at Rangiora on Saturday. Better placed in the handicaps, Air Mail should soon win a race for Mr Cullen, who recentlj* brought her from Southland. By Light Brigade Fire Brigade, the winner of the first division of the New Year Trot Handicap at the Greymouth Trotting Club’s meeting on January 4, gave further evidence of his ability when he gained a win and two seconds at the Westland Racing Club’s meeting recently. A racy type, Fire Brigade, which has been patiently handled by his owner, F, G. Lynch, who trains him at Rolleston, is a four-year-old gelding by Light Brigade from a winner at the pacing gait in Janet Gaynor, by Adioo Guy from Lady Orange, by Logan Pointer from Seaward Spot, by Sir Hector from a mare by Spot. Before being gelded, Fire Brigade was mated with Lady Ann and De Oro’s Dolly, both of which have produced good-look-ing colts to him. Improving Ipso Facto, a place-gctter at the New Brighton Trotting Club’s recent meeting, gave a good display for T. Thompson, who is now training him at Riccarton for Mr H. Hunter, when he beat all but Loyal Scott in the Kekerangu Handicap at the Kaikoura Trotting Club’s meeting on Saturday. A six-year-old son of Quite Sure and Jean Twilight, Ipso Facto appears to be improving with each race. Has Some Ability

After starting from the 60 yards mark in the Stewards’ Handicap at the Kaikoura Trotting Club’s meeting at Rangiora on Saturday, High Stakes showed a lot of ability to be handy to the leaders the entrance to the straight, but he marred his effort by breaking with a furlong to go. A gelding by Gamble from Bingen Reel, High Stakes should eventually win his way to good company for Mr C. E. SLsson, for whom he is trained at Papanui by A. Leggett. Returned Home

Because of the illness of. his wife, Mr L. Crothers, who owns Castigate, returned to Christchurch after attending the opening day of the inter-Dominion championship meeting at Adelaide. Mr Crothers, who w’as accompanied by Mr B. Grice (Winslow), said that visitors to the meeting were very well treated and that he was favourably impressed with the conditions in Adelaide. Encouraging

Firefly gave an encouraging performance for L. O. Thomas, who is training him at Addington, to finish third to King Pepper and Our Flicka in the First Hapuku Handicap at the Kaikoura Trotting Club’s meeting at Rangiora on Saturday. A six-year-old gelding, Firefly is by Sandydale from Great Treasure, by Rey de Oro frpm Milda, by Prince Imperial from Lady Tracey, by General Tracey from a mare by Blackwood Abdallah. From a Good Family Helali, which finished close up in fourth place in the Coalgate Handicap at the Hororata Racing Club’s meeting on Janu-

ary 29, will probably have his next race in the Waiwera Handicap at thp Banks Peninsula Racing Club's meeting at MotU' karara’ on Saturday. One of M. Holmes’s team at Russley, Helali is a four-year-old gelding by Dillon Hall from Rustic Maid, the dam of a large family of winners. A Lop-eared Pacer Unlike most horses,. Key Spring, a gelding by Springfield Globe from Kilrea, which is related to a large faintly of winners, is lop-eared, and his appearance on the race track always excites comment. In spite of his unusual appearance, Key Spring, which is a Sturdily/Built gelding, should eventually win races for his owner-trainer, L. Skilling. Cheviot T.C. Nominations for the Cheviot Trotting Club’s meeting to be held at Rangiora on Saturday, March 19, 1949, close at 5. p.m. on Monday, March 7, 1949, at the office of Byrne and Company, 193 Cashel street, Christchurch. Advt. BALLOTING SYSTEM Sir, —In reference to some extracts from my letter. Mr P. ■J. Byrne in reply talks about “comprehensive regulations governing balloting.” May I point out to Mr . Byrne that he is representing the Kaikoura Trotting Club, whose printed regulations rule that in the ballot all dual acceptors shall be eliminated first, and then, if the field still be beyond the safety limit, the remainder be balloted. As Mr Byrne holds thp position he does, I am entitled to presume that he can read. Also, Mr Byrqe had the assistance and the supervision of two stipendiary stewards.—Yours, etc., J. ANDERSON. February 28, 1949.