AT ASHBURTON ON MONDAY

Press, Volume LXXXV, Issue 25995, 24 December 1949, Page 4

AT ASHBURTON ON MONDAY

TROTTING

FANTOM MAY WIN MAIN RACE

VAN DIEMAN IN FORM FOR N.Z. STAKES Record holders in Fantom, Jimmy Dillon, and Acclamation may fight out the finish of the Ashburton Trotting Cup. the main event at the Ashburton Trotting Club’s meeting on Boxing Day. The £1750 Ashburton Trotting Cup, which is one of the feature events of the holiday racing, has attracted all the best trotters in training, and it should provide a spectacular contest. . _ .... Fantom looked a model of condition when he paraded at the, Roydon Lodge matinee meeting, and he should be at his best in the big event on Monday. A 10-year-old son of U. Scott and Fantine, Fantom, which won the 1946 Ashburton Trotting Cup for Mr J. R. McKenzie, has a mile and five furlongs record of 3min 28 3-ssec and a two miles record of 4min 16sec to his credit. A place-getter in five of his eight races this season, Fantom may not find his 48 yards handicap insurmountable.

Acclamation, which has a winning record of 4min 20 l-ssec, will start from the 48 yards mark with Fantom. A grand stayer, Acclamation, which has raced well for three wins and a second in her five starts this season, should keep Fantom doing his best all the way. The back-marker. Aerial Scott, which is giving away starts of up to 60 yards, has been placed in his last three races. The winner of four free-for-alls, and the biggest stake-winner at the trotting gait. Aerial Scott must be conceded a chance.

Jimmy Scott and Great Venture, which are on 36 yards, both have some fine performances to their credit. Great Venture has been unplaced in six graces this season, but he appears to have benefited by his recent racing. On looks, he may prove capable of winning for T. T. Taylor, for whom he was successful in the 1948 Ashburton Cup. • Jimmy Dillon makes more appeal than Keen Blade from the 24 yards mark. A quick beginner, Jimmy Dillon, which has a winning record of 3min 30sec for a mile and five furlongs, showed fine form at the Jubilee Cup meeting at Addington to win the Holmwood Handicap in 4min 23sec, and the New Zealand Trotting Championship from Jimmy Scott and Fantom. If he repeats that form, Jimmy Dillon should have most, of the field struggling to keep up with him at the finish.

Beverley Volo, which' will start from 12 yards with Morning Wings, raced well at the trials at New Brighton on Tuesday.

C. R. Berkett’s bracket, Belshazzar and Desworthy, look the best of the .scratch horses. The winner of seven races last season, Desworthy has two seconds and two thirds to his credit this term. An improving six-year-old son of Desmond’s Pride and Ruth Worthy, Desworthy should be in the picture with Fantom, Acclamation, and Jimmy Dillon at the finish.

The £lOOO Boxing Day Handicap, the main event for pacers, has drawn a strong field of 22 useful performers. On recent form, Systematic, which has gained a win and three minor placings in his last four starts; Ikaroa, the runner-up to Zulu in the Members’ Handicap at New Brighton on December 10; and Gold Strand, Gay Piper, and British Machine, which were all winners at the Jubilee Cup meeting, may have the best prospects. Crystal Light, the winner of the first division of the Drayton Trot Handicap at Methven on October 1, gave a solid display at her last start to finish fourth after setting the pace for most of the way in the H. J. Palmer Handicap at Hutt Park on November 26. On that form, she should go close to winning the Mitcham Handicap. Kerry Girl, a winner at Oamaru on Labour Day, and Little Ann, Sure Charge, and Strathspey, which were all winners at the Reefton meeting, may be the best of the others. Victory Song’s easy win at Reefton has brought her into favour for the Wakanui Handicap. Other likely types in the field include Lucky Dan, Lady Joss, and Hemisphere. The last-named won impressively at the trials at New Brighton on Tuesday. Colinette, which gave a dashing display to finish- third to Vedette and Te Maru, after giving away starts of up to 36 yards in the Weston Handicap at Oamaru on Labour Day, is nicely placed in the McLean Handicap. Centenary Boy. Bonny Brogue, Kid Dale, Tradition, and Perfect Trail have all shown some ability. They should be handy to Colinette at the finish.

The absence of Young Charles will rob the New Zealand Champion Stakes of some interest. High-class three-year-olds in the field include Morano, Burns Night, Van Dieman, Flight Commander, Farlena, and Gay Lyric. An evenly-matched lot, they should provide an exciting race. Scots Fusilier gave nothing else a chance when, after leading all the way, he won the Improvers’ Trotting Handicap in 3min 22 4-ssec at New Brighton on December 10. If he begins quickly. Scots Fusilier should not be extended to win the Winslow Handicap. Casameter, Li’ian Mac. and Globe Son may fill the minor placings. South Wind and Fanciful, which were both winners at Wellington recently, and Ben’s Son, Lady Mavourneen, Constellation. Great Wonder, and Peggvdale. which have shown recent form, look the best of the field in the Mid-summer Handicap. Big fields are carded, and investors will be set some hard tasks to select the winners. Horses in form include:— Mitcham Handicap: Crystal Light, Kerry Girl. Strathspey. Wakanui Handicap: Victory Song, Hemisphere, Lucky Dan. Ashburton Trotting Cup: Fantom, Acclamation, Jimmy Dillon. McLean Handicap: Colinette, Bonny Brogue, Tradition. New Zealand Champion Stakes: Van Dieman, Burns Night, Morano. Winslow Handicap: Scots Fusilier, Casameter, Lillian. Mac. Mid-summer Handicap: South Wind Lady Mavourneen, Ben’s Son. Boxing Day Handicap: Systematic, Ikaroa, Gold Strand. The following is the programme:— 11.20 a.m— MITCHAM HANDICAP, of £300; trotters; 3min 41sec class; one mile and a E ?L al ,16) ’ Bishop's Cleeve • 9 >’ ? I 2 ’’ Dal ®sboy (11), Gallant Effort (4), Golden Chariot (7), Kind Regards (3), King Pin (6), Krakatoa (13). My Gain (5), Hewa Scott (1), Sandy Guy (2). Sandy Shore (10), Sir Josedale (15), Steel JS' or < £* Veracity scr; Little Ann (3) Strath Spey (2), Sure Charge (1) 12Crystal Light (8) Encircle (2). tichlnvaJ (1) Sand Wrack (3), Strathosphere (4), Stray Shot (5) 24; Dame Durdin (2). Kerry 12.5 p.m.— WAKANUI HANDICAP, of £300; 4min 53sec class; two miles.—Agricola (14) Bav Jack (12), Bright Lad (3), Clean Sweep (4) Counter Claim (7), Esperanto (5), Free Alecia (13), Hemisphere (1), Hoity Toity (H), Inherit (16), Kimberley (0), Lady Joss (15), Novatone (10), Pocket Money (0), Sergeant Major (S), Waituna hl Em P‘ re Bady (1), Lucky Dan (2) 12; Victory Song (1) 24.

12.55 p.m.— ASHBURTON TROTTING CUP, of £1750; trotters; 3min 43sec class; one mile and five furlongs.—Bancor (2), Belshazzar (5), J l ?’ S? s y orth 7 (6 >- Min » Host (4), Mistydale (7), Morning Wings (3) scr; Beverley Volo (1) 12; Jimmy Dillon (1), Keen Blade (2) 24; Great Venture (2) Jimmy Scott (3). Will Cary Cl) 36; AcScott 8 <'l) n 60 <1> ’ Fantom m 48; Aerial 1.45 p.m.—

McLEAN HANDICAP, of £400; 3min 33sec class; one mile and a half.—Aristocrat (5), Birthstone (15), Bonny Brogue (9), Centenary Boy (3), Chance (8), Collinette (4), Emondale (7), Gallian (14) M l )’ Kelvin Lass (12), Kid Dale (13), Mischievous (2), Monty Frisco (1), S U * s £ ir } in S Gold (10), Special Match (16) scr; Golden Slipper (2), Noble Jack (3), Perfect Trail (1), Tradition (4) 12; Lucky Irish (1) 24; Alcove (2), Economist (1), Phyllis Gold (4), Swaledale (3) 36; Gold Nip (1) 48.

2.30 p.m.— NEW ZEALAND CHAMPION STAKES of £1000; three-year-olds; one mile and a half.—Anitra (11), Burns Night (17), Chief Eagle (13), Clifton Star (6), Farlena (5), Flight Commander (18), Gay Charter (9), £t a X_ H , e £ ita 4 e (4) - Ga y L y ri c < 3 ). Gowan Globe (8), Green Spear (1), Imperial Lord (16), Linda Grattan (7), Morano (2), Roschana (10), Special Globe (14) Tiberius (15), Van Dieman (12), Youne Charles (19),

3.20 p.m.— WINSLOW HANDICAP, of £550; trotters; 3min 36sec class; one mile and a half.—Alandale (4), Bashaw (7), Dame Durdin (3), Dictation (9), Klatoa (6), Loyal Wrack (5), Rowan McCoy (8), Sure Peg (2) Wairiri Girl (1) scr; Casameter (1), Lucrative (5), Mack Sure (2), Scot’s Fusilier (3), Who Knows (4) 12; Globe Son (3) Lord Grattan (2), Rakautika (1) 24; Lillian Mac (1), Passive (4), Roderick Dhu (3), Terrytoon (2) 36; Bessie Grattan (1) 48; Quite Right (1) 84. 4.5 p.m.—

MIDSUMMER HANDICAP, of £700; 3min 26sec class; one mile and a half.— Ben’s Son (3), Fanciful (4), Grand Fleet (2), Honest Peter (10), Ipso Facto (1), Locknit (5), Merrymaker (6), Super Scotch (9), Waroonga (8), Wee Logan (7) scr; Bronze Gold (3), Constellation (7), Expensive (12), Great Wonder (14), Hall Ace (8), Highland Dale (2), Kahurangi (16), Melton (4), Lady Mavourneen (11), Peggydale (13), Sirocco (15). South Wind (5), Te Arawhata (10), Temple Star (9), Worthydale (1), Worthy Jack (6) 12; Relight (1) 24; Cultivator (1) 36. 4.50 p.m.— BOXING DAY HANDICAP, of £1000; 3min 20sec class; one mile and a half.— Beckleigh (8), Carisbrook (9), Direct Heir (5), Fabric Silk (1). Ikaroa (13), Jack

Peterson (10), Loyal Nelson (2), Pirouette (11), Proprietor (7), Quite Happy (4), Remlap (3), Systematic (6), Wayfarer (12) scr; Ada Scott (2), Gold Strand (3), Positive (1) 12; British Machine (2), Gay Piper (4), Make Believe (3), Sir. Peterson (1) 24; On Approval (1) 36: Dragoman (1) 60.