NELSON CLUB

Press, Volume LXXXVI, Issue 26026, 1 February 1950, Page 7

NELSON CLUB

TROTTING

FLIGHT COMMANDER MAY WIN MAIN RACE Flight Commander, Fleethoof, Maori Queen, and Alcove, which were winners °a J. e first . day of the Nelson Trotting Club s meeting on Saturday, may divide the prize-money in the President’s Hand!cap, the main event on the programme to-day 6 concludin g day of the meeting

The showy three-year-old colt, Flight Commander, which gained four minor placings in his first nine races this season, has done well on the northern trip, nis record including two wins at the Marlborough Trotting Club’s jubilee meet“?g. r nd a win over Fleethoof in 3min 18 3-ssec after giving away starts of up to J B , yards in the Wakefield Handicap at Nelson on Saturday. Flight Commander is an acceptor in the Waimea Handicap and m the President’s Handicap to-day. He should be hard to beat whenever he starts.

m^t t ? r^ being be aten by half a length by Flight Commander in the Wakefield Handicap, Fleethoof gave a good display to beat Bondage by half a length in the faster class Stoke Handicap Imer in the afternoon. A four-year-old son of Lucky Jack and Ann Parrish, Fleethoof, which is h d gh & rated by his trainer, S. T. Webster, should be placed in the main event today. Maori Queen, a well-bred mare by GratJ an L°yal from Queep Maud, has won three races in good style this season. She may eventually win her way to good company for G. Cameron, who trains her at New Brighton. Alcove, which was placed in fast times earlier in the season, topped off her list ot minor placings with a decisive win oyer Robin Adair in the Pugh Memorial Handicap on Saturday. Although she is not big, Alcove has much ability. She should take a tighter mark before the

Of the others in the President’s Handicap, Almeta and Robin Adair appear to have the best prospects. On Saturday, Almeta, which was placed at the Blenheim meeting, gave a solid performance to dead-heat with Robin Adair for second in the Nelson Cup. Later in the afternoon, Robin Adair finished second to Alcove in the Pugh Memorial Handicap. On that form, Alcove and Robin Adair should be handy to Flight Commander, Fleethoof, and Maori Queen at the finish of the President’s Handicap.

The Sprint Most of the horses in the President’s Handicap are also in the sprint, the Louisson Memorial Handicap, and form shown in the main event may prove a good guide. Badminton and Nature Girl, which are not engaged in the main race, both have recent wins to their credit. They should be prominent all the way in the Louisson Memorial Handicap. A daughter of U. Scott and Great Muricata, Nature Girl finished third in 2min 48sec in the Pugh Memorial Handicap on Saturday. On the strength of that form, she may be sent out favourite for the Louisson Memorial Handicap.

Minor Events The Quite Sure trotter Sandyshore, which has won at his last four starts for Miss N. Loveridge, for whom he is trained at Templeton by L. F. Berkett, may add to his record in the Retailers’ Handicap and the Tasman Handicap, the races for trotters. Most opposition to Sandyshore may come from Flicka Boy. Inherit, and Highland Kilt. C. R. Berkett will parade a strong bracket in Ellesmere Boy and Emblazon in the Waimea Handicap, in which other types 4 include Sandan, Gold Key, and Flight Commander. The last-named is handicapped to give away starts of up to 84 yards. He may be reserved for the President’s Handicap, in which he will start from scratch. Recent place-getters in Gallant Day, Trouville, True Friend, Badminton, and Gallian look the best of the field in the Appleby Handicap. Most horses at the meeting have two engagements, and form shown in the first four races should be a good guide for the last half of the programme. Selections are:—

Retailers’ Handicap: Sandyshore, Flicka Boy, Highland Kilt.

Waimea Handicap: EmbTazon-Ellesmere Boy bracket, Sandan, Gold Key. Appleby Handicap: Trouville, Gallant Day, Roy don Derby.

President’s Handicap: Flight Commander, Maori Queen, Fleethoof.

Tasman Handicap: Sandyshore, Slipstream, Inherit.

Richmond Handicap: Gold Key, Ellesmere Boy, Sandan.

Moutere Handicap: Bondage, Trouville. Sure Catch.

Louisson Handicap: Nature Girl, Kopara Lass, Robin Adair. *