DOMINION STAKES

Press, Volume LXXXV, Issue 25970, 25 November 1949, Page 4

DOMINION STAKES

BLACK DIAMOND’S BIG ADVANTAGE

Black Diamond, one of the most consistent four-year-olds seen out this season, has a big advantage under the special conditions for the Dominion Challenge Stakes, the feature event on the piogramme for the concluding day of tne Wellington Trotting Club’s meeting tomorrow.

The conditions of the race, which is for all three-year-old pacers and lor four-year-old pacers that have been placed first in a race before the time of nomination, provide that three-year-oids will be handicapped on scratch, but three-year-edds that prior to the time when Handicaps are published have won more than two races will be handicapped on 24 yards behind. Four-year-old pacers that have won not more than two races will be handicapped on 24 yards behind; four-year-olds that have won three races as at the time of handicaps will be handicapped on 36 yards behind, and four-year-olds that have won more than three races as at the time of handicaps will be handicapped on 48 yards behind. Under these conditions, the field will start as follows:—Cellophane, Flight Commander, Green Spear, Impel ial Lord, Monty Jason, Morano. Soangetaha, Stuart Earl, Tiberius scr; Logan Fame, Springbok, Vedette 24; Bronze Gold 36; Black Diamond 48.

In a handicap event, the field would be assessed as follows:—Flight Commander, Green Spear, Imperial Lord, Monty Jason, Tiberius. Stuart Earl scr; Logan Fame 36; Soangetaha, Cellophane 48; Vedette 60; Springbok 84; Morano 108; Bronze Gold 156; Black Diamond 216. On this basis, Black Diamond must be conceded a good chance. One of P. G. O’Reilly’s team at Highbank, Black Diamond has been placed in six of his seven races this season, his record including wins over Perpetua in the Metropolitan Stakes at the New Zealand Metropolitan Trotting Club’s meeting on September 3, over Victory Dale in the Bowhill Handicap at the New Brighton Trotting Club’s meeting on September 24. and over Indian Triumph in the Epsom Handicap at the Auckland Trotting Club’s meeting on October 22. At his last start, Black Diamond finished fast in third place to Gold Strand and Fabric Silk in the Manchester Handicap on the fourth day of the Jubilee Cup meeting at Addington.

Most opposition to Black Diamond may come from Morano, Vedette, and Soangetaha. Morano, which was the winner of the New Zealand Metropolitan Challenge Stakes on the third day of the Jubilee Cup meeting at Addington, raced well on the first day of the Wellington Trotting Club’s meeting to finish second to Soangetaha in the Wellington Three-year-old Stakes. A well-bred black colt by U. Scott from a consistent performer in Coquette. Morano appears to have bright prospects. Vedette, which finished a nose behind Red Emperor after breaking with about a furlong to go In the Metropolitan Stakes last week, is above the average. In what should be an interesting race. Vedette should be handy to Black Diamond. Morano. and Soangetaha at the finish.

Has Some Ability Anitra may leave the maiden classes at the Reefton Trotting Club’s meeting next week. A U. Scott filly, Anitra showed some ability to finish third to Young Charles and Soangetaha in the Canterbury Three-year-old Stakes at Addington on August 27. May Do Better

Loyal Scott, which weakened after setting the pace in the early stages of the Woburn Handicap, of two miles, on the first day of the Wellington Trotting Club’s meeting last Saturday, should be seen at his best over the mile and a quarter -distance in the Discovery Handicap this week. Out of First Axworth

Once she settled down to do her best work, Sirius showed some speed to finish fourth in the Silverstream Handicap at Hutt Park last Saturday. A six-year-old daughter of Josedale Dictator and First Axworth. Sirius would not need to show much improvement to win a race for Messrs D. W. and P. R. Hansen. By Dillon Hall Roseland Hall, the winner of the Ohai Harness Trot at the Wairio Jockey Club’s meeting at Invercargill on Saturday, is a six-year-old gelding by Dillon Hall from the Frank Dewey mare, Francis Cole, which left a winner in Frances Grattan to Grattan Loyal. Brackets

The following horses will be bracketed on the totalisator at the Wellington Trotting Club’s meeting at Hutt Park to-mor-row:—Eastbourne Handicap: Rowan McCoy and Signal Light, Dalcassian and Lochinvar; Discovery Handicap: Alcove, Golden Prince, and Kopara Lass; Belmont Handicap: Admiral Peterson and Petty Officer, Coliseum and Sirocco; Port Nicholson Handicap: Prince Hall and Black Machine; H. J. Palmer Memorial Handicap: Dalcassian and Lochinvar; Taita Handicap: Alcove and Kopara Lass: Dominion Challenge Stakes: Imperial Lord and Bronze Gold; Kia Ora Handicap: Black Machine and Prince Hall, Trustee and Baby Grand, On Approval and Sir Peterson.

Promising Young Trotter A. Holmes’s promising three-year-old trotter, Precaution, will probably have his next race at the Reefton Trotting Club’s meeting next week. A place-getter in two of his three races at the Wanganui Trotting Club's meeting last month. Precaution is a solidly made colt by Casanova from a winner in Margin. New Brighton T.C.

Nominations for all events at the New Brighton Trotting Club’s meeting, to be held on December 10, will close at 5 p.m. on Monday. Advt.