ON APPROVAL IN FORM

Press, Volume LXXXV, Issue 25933, 13 October 1949, Page 7

ON APPROVAL IN FORM

TROTTING

LIKELY FAVOURITE AT FORBURY PARK

On Approval, which returned his supporters a double-figure dividend when he won the King George Handicap on the first day of the Forbury Park Trotting Club’s meeting last week, will probably be sent out favourite for the President’s Handicap, the main event on the concluding day of the meeting on Saturday.

In the King George Handicap, On Approval was pocketed until less than a furlong from home. Once in the clear, he soon settled the issue, winning nicely by half a length from Whipster with another two lengths to Duncralg. Whipster and Duncraig are not acceptors in the President’s Handicap, in which On Approval is nicely placed on the 24 yards mark. Of the horses seen out last week. Prince Hall, Premier Royal, and Dragoman may prove the hardest for On Approval to beat.

Ace of Diamonds and Attack, which did not race last Saturday, should add interest to the President’s Handicap. Ace of Diamonds, which is trained at Methven by M. C. McTigue, gained four wins as a six-year-old in the 1947-48 season, but he has been lightly raced since then. A Gamble gelding, Ace of Diamonds is out of Nessie, by Nelson Bingen from Nona Dillon, by Harold Dillon from Nona, by Electioneer from a Brooklyn mare.

With the possibility of a slow pace being set in the early stages, Attack, which is handicapped to give away starts of up to 96 yards, must be conceded a chance.

Attack, which is one of the favourites for the Jubilee Cup to be decided at Addington on October 29. has shown splendid form this season to win the Louisson Handicap from Commander Scott in 4min 17 2-ssec, finish fourth in 4min 18sec in the National Handicap, and to win the Speedway Handicap in 2min 39 2-ssec at the New Zealand Metropolitan Trotting Club’s National meeting at Addington. A brilliant performer over all distances. Attack may not find his handicap insurmountable on Saturday. May Make Amends

Level Best meets Temple Star, which beat her by two lengths and a half in the Wanganui Handicap on the first day of the Wanganui Trotting Club’s meeting on Saturday, on 36 yards better terms in the Liverpool Handicap, the main event on the concluding day of the meeting. A likely improver, Level Best may reverse placings with Temple Star this week.

A double-gaited son of Josedale Dictator and Farida, Temple Star showed good form at his only start as a three-year-old in the 1946-47 season to win the New Zealand Trotting Stakes from Conceit at the New Zealand Metropolitan Trotting Club’s Easter meeting. Two Easy Wins

Roderick Dhu showed that he was a class above the opposition when he won the Rutland Handicap by 10 lengths from Falamai. and the President's Handicap by 15 lengths from Devadus. at the Wanganui Trotting Club’s meeting on Saturday.

A half-brother by Jewel Thorpe to a fine trotter in Keen Blade, Roderick Dhu may. not be troubled to win the City Handicap on the second day of the meeting. Broke Up

Allanah, the favourite for the Peninsula Handicap at the Forbury Park Trotting Club’s meeting on Saturday, lost her chance when she broke at the start. Allanah may make amends for her mistake with a win in the Royal Handicap at Forbury Park this week. Disappointed

Sent out 2-3 in the betting, Hemisphere disappointed his supporters when he broke up in the Winchester Trot Handicap at the South Canterbury Jockey Club’s meeting on Saturday. If he has been improved by the experience, Hemi-

sphere may race well for V. Leeming, who trains him at Prebbleton, in the Geraldine Trot Handicap at the Geraldine Racing Club’s meeting on Saturday. Left at the Post

A large-scale plunge went astray when David’s Pride was left at the post in the Cowra Handicap at Harold Park (Sydney) on Saturday night. David’s Pride,

which won in New Zealand as a three-year-old in the 1947-48 season when trained by T. H. Gunning for Dr. A. Cotter and the late Mr E. F. C. Hinds, started a hot favourite at 5-4. After losing about 60 yards at the start of the Cowra Handicap, David’s Pride was forced to race on the outside of the field, and in the circumstances he did well to finish a neck behind the winner, Pay Walla. May Win at Orari Castlelight, the winner of the First Trial Handicap at the Cheviot Trotting Club’s meeting at Rangiora on March 19, gave an impressive performance when, after setting the pace for most of the way. he finished third to Artless and Kopara Lass in the Mount Harding Handicap at the Methven Trotting Club’s meeting on October 1. One of H. Greenhorn’s team at Addington, Castlelight should prove hard to beat over the sprint distance in the Orari Trot Handicap at the Geraldine Racing Club’s meeting on Saturday. Trained at Templeton Driven by W. R. Butt, who trains her at Templeton. Nature Girl finished third to Desert Flight and Mystery Dillon in the St. Clair Handicap at the Forbury Park Trotting Club’s meeting on Saturday. If she strikes a fast track. Nature Girl may win the St. Kilda Handicap at the same club's meeting this week. Not Accepted for Forbury Park Passive should not have been included in the list of acceptances for the second day of the Forbury Park meeting.—(P.A.) Owners and Breeders’ Assn. Entries for the Canterbury Owners’ and Breeders’ Association’s trials at Addington close to-day at 5 p.m. A collection will be taken in aid of the association’s injured drivers’ fund. Advt.