TRACK WORK AT ADDINGTON

Press, Volume LXXXV, Issue 25896, 31 August 1949, Page 7

TRACK WORK AT ADDINGTON

TROTTING

STAR ROSA IN FORM Star Rosa attracted attention to her prospects in the Metropolitan Stakes at the New Zealand Metropolitan TYotting Club’s meeting at Addington on Saturday by the bold manner in which she paced when working over a mile and a half yesterday morning in 3min 23 4-ssec, the last four furlongs taking Imin 3 3-ssec. Star Rosa, which was accompanied by Lady Mavourneen, was under a strong hold all the way. A shapely daughter of Gamble and Star Ace, Star Rosa, which is trained by S. A. Edwards for R. A. Hamilton, showed fine form as a three-year-old last season, her record including a win over Black Diamond in 3min 16sec in the New Zealand Champion Stakes at the Ashburton Trotting Club’s meeting on December 27, and a win over Perpetua in 3min 29 3-5 sec m the New Zealand Pacing Stakes at the New Zealand Metropolitan Trotting Club’s meeting on April 9. Star Rosa has developed into a fine type of mare. On looks she could prove capable of winning her way to the best classes.

As the ground was slippery after a heavy frost, the main track at Addington was not opened until 10 o’clock, when it provided fast going. The trestles were out. and all work was done about three sulky widths from the - rails. Vigilant, Relight, and Mistydale, which were not timed, were the first horses to work on the main track. Vigilant, a candidate for the Metropolitan Stakes, paced boldly. The winner of two races as a two-year-old, Vigilant subsequently lost form, finishing out of a place in his seven races last season. If he is back to his best form. Vigilant may earn some of the money in the Metropolitan Stakes this week. Trotted Boldly J. Taylor was a visitor from Templeton with Great Venture,’ which gave a bold display of trotting when working over a mile and a half with Velvet Brown in 3min 29 l-ssec, the last half mile taking Imin 4 2-ssec. The winner of £3135 in stakes last season. Great Venture must be conceded a good chance from the 36 yards mark in the Winter Handicap, the 'main event for trotters on the programme for the second day of the National meeting at Addington. Baby Grand paced Right Royal over two miles in 4min 45sec, the last four furlongs taking Imin ssec. Bonny Gamble, a member of J. Purdon’s team, gave an encouraging display of trotting when working over a mile and a half. Chance, an improving Lucky Jack gelding, paced Golden Shadow over a mile and a half in 3min 25sec, the last four furlongs taking Imin ssec. Worked Alone Working alone, Pirouette covered a mile and a half in 3min 27sec, the last half mile taking Imin 6 3-ssec. Bonny Brogue and Bonny Scott were let off with an easy two miles. If the race is run to suit her. Bonny Scott may finish in a place in the Queen Mary Handicap at Addington on Saturday. Fortuna set the pace when working over two miles with Dundee Sandy. They covered the last mile and a half in 3min 28sec, the last four furlongs taking Imin 5 l-ssec. Paddy Potts was always going easily when covering a mile and a half in 3min 31 4-ssec. Jimmy Dillon trotted solidly when setting the pace for Trustee and Systematic over two miles in 4min 46sec. They finished together after sprinting the last half mile in Imin 6sec. Single Task and Novacord finished in line after sprinting the last two furlongs of their trial in 33 seconds. A consistent performer with a record of three wins and four minor placings in her 10 starts last season, Single Task may race well from the 60 yards mark in the Addington Trotting Stakes on Saturday. Doreen Ax worthy finished well clear of Jack Daw and * Chinese Gold at the end of a mile and a half in 3min 37sec. In Good Order Driven by his trainer, J. Purdon, Gantree, which finished a close third to Duncraig and Whipster in the Islington Handicap on the first day of the National meeting on Saturday, sprinted the last four furlongs in Imin 4 2-ssec when covering two miles in 4min 39sec. An improving son of Lucky Jack and Alice de Oro, Gantr.ee probably be sent out favourite for the Improvers' Handicap on the second day of the National meeting. Fair Isle, which is engaged in the Addington Trotting Stakes this week, finished on well when working over a mile and a half with Billy McElwyn, in 3min 30 4-ssec, the last half mile taking Imin 8 4-ssec. A half-sister by Light Brigade to winners in Jill, Super Globe, Fillmore, and Fortuna. Fair Isle shows a lot of ability at the trotting gait. She may eventually develop into a high-class trotter for Messrs E. August and V. Alborn. Jack Peterson and Calando sprinted the last four furlongs in Imin 7 l-ssec when working over a mile and a half in 3min 38sec. Worked on Small Track Horses worked on the half-mile training track before the main track was opened, included Super Globe, Harmonist, Decreed. Two Step. Maori Home, Sir Michael, Cameronian, and County Antrim. Two Step, which is one of the favourites for the Addington Trotting Stakes on Saturday, gave a particularly attractive display when he finished close to Super Globe and Harmonist after sprinting the last two furlongs of his trial in 34sec. A Light Brigade gelding. Two Step should take a tight mark this season. Maori Home was worked alone over two miles in 4min 40sec. He appears to have benefited by his race on the first day of the National meeting. Dillondale was worked at a gallop. A game pacer, he should soon add to his record for Mr E. G. Mitchell. County Antrim, which looks well, was given strong work by L. O. Thomas. CALEDONIA GOLD LIKELY FAVOURITE AT ADDINGTON Driven by I. R. Morrison, who trains him at Epsom for Mrs L. A. Stormont, Caledonia Gold gave a sterling performance to finish third to Sea Craft and Victory Globe in the fast time of 3min 26sec. after being forced to cover a lot cf extra ground in the Heathcote Handicap on the first day of the New Zealand Metropolitan Trotting Club s National meeting at -Addington on Saturday. On the strength of this performance, Caledonia Gold will probably be sent out a good favourite for the Queen Mary Handicap on the concluding day of the meeting on Saturday. Caledonia Gold, which raced unsuccessfully when brought to Addington last season. was given his final trials at Methven. Morrison stated on Saturday that Caledonia Gold has done well since arriving from Auckland.

A Gaillard gelding, Caledonia Gold began his career as a four-year-old in the 1945-46 season with two wins and three seconds in eight starts. Caledonia Gold improved rapidly, and in the following season he added three wins and five minor placings to his record. After gaining two wins and four minor placings in his 12 starts in the 1947-48 season. Caledonia Gold subsequently lost form, his 13 starts last season yielding only two seconds.

A good stayer, Caledonia Gold is out of Greta Parrish, by Great Parrish from Limosa, by Denver Huon from Princess Dolly, by Prince Imperial from Lady, by Perkin Warbeck 11.

Now that he has returned to his best form. Caledonia Gold should be seen at his best over the two miles distance in the Qufeen Mary Handicap. By Peter Smith

Our Smith, which beat Blair by five Lengths in the Second. Te Rapa Handicap at the Waikato Trotting Club’s meeting on Saturday, is by Peter Smith from Our Princess, by Rey de Oro from Bingen Crest, by Worthy Bingen from Edna. A Promising Trotter

C. R. Berkett will be represented in the Addington Trotting Stakes at Addington on Saturday by a promising trotter in King’s Brigade, which showed good form as a three-year-old last season to be placed in four races, his record including a win over Forearmed in the New Zealand Trotting Stakes at the New Zealand Metropolitan Trotting Club’s meeting on April 2. King’s Brigade, which Is bred to win in the best company, is by Light Brigade from Roydon’s Gift, the dam of other winners in Sure Gift and Sandy Duval. By Great Bingen, Roydon’s Gift is out of Roydon’s Pride, which also left Certissimus and Desmond’s Pride to Quite Sure. May Win at New Brighton Foreign Lady, the winner of five races last season for P. P. Gallagher, who trains her at Washdyke, will probably have her next start in the J. R. D. Johns Handicap at the New Brighton Trotting Club’s meeting next week. A five-year-old daughter of Dillon Hall and Foreign Mission, Foreign Lady appears destined to race in the best company. Finished Fast The four-year-old mare. Level Best, gave a pleasing performance at the Waikato Trotting Club’s meeting on Saturday when she finished fast to beat Auto Chimes, which set the pace for most of the way, by a length and a half. A Josedale Grattan mare, Level Best is out of Revision, which took a record of 2min 27sec. Bred at Marshland by Mr W. Crozier, Revision is out of Olive Turmoil, which left other winners, including Repeal, Plymouth, and Sir Julien. Weakened Ingle Belmer was handy to the leaders for a mile and a half in the Louisson Handicap at Addington on Saturday, but she weakened when the pressure was applied. and she was eighth to finish. Sale of Gear Messrs H. Matson will hold a sale of trotting sulky and gear in the estate of the late C. H. Goodall at the Show Grounds, Addington, at 2.30 p.m. on September 2. Advt.