TRACK WORK AT ADDINGTON

Press, Volume LXXXVI, Issue 26032, 8 February 1950, Page 7

TRACK WORK AT ADDINGTON

TROTTING

VICTORY SONG IN FORM Victory Song, the favourite for the Harewood Handicap at the Canterbury Park Trotting Club’s meeting on Saturday, gave a pleasing display at Addington yesterday morning, when she beat Proprietor at the end of a mile and a half in 3min 25 4-ssec. Victory Song, which was always going easily, sprinted the last half-mile in Imin 3 2-ssec. An aged Light Brigade mare. Victory Song, which races in the interests of Messrs G. Aitchison and F. G. Holmes, has an unbeaten record. Her "four starts this season have yielded easy wins in the second division of the Cronadun Handicap at Reefton on December 3, in the Wakanui Handicap at Ashburton on December 26. and in the Electric Handicap and the Telegraph Handicap at the Forbury Park Trotting Club’s meeting last month. Just how good Victory Song is probably only her trainer, F. G. Holmes, knows, but on what she has shown in public she should not be troubled to give away starts of up to 24 yards in the Harewood Handicap at Addington on Saturday. As F. G. Holmes is in Melbourne, where he will drive Captain Sandy at the Inter-Domin-ton Championships on Saturday evening, ms son, Graham, will drive Victory Song In her races. Graham Holmes, who has driven several winners this season, appears to have inherited the family ability as a reinsman.

The weather w r as fine at Addington yesterday, and the track was in good order. All work was done on the outside of the trestles.

Dandy Grattan and Duncraig, from V. Alborns stable, showed that they were at the top of their form when they sprinted a mile and a quarter in 2min 42sec, the last four furlongs in Imin 3 2-ssec. If he would race up to the form he shows in training. Dandy Grattan should earn some of the money in the Harewood Handicap at Addington on Saturday. Looks Well

Victory Globe, which appears to have been improved by his recent racing, pleased by his effort when working over two miles with Suzerain in 4min 43 3-ssec, the last half-mile in Imin 7sec. Crougnton and Maida Dillon joined in with six furlongs to go. Croughton, which recently resumed work after a long spell, is well forward in his preparation. A fine performer over all distances. Victory Globe may race well from the scratch mark in the Otley Handicap at Addington this week.

Dolly Fraser set the pace when working with Merry Man over two miles in 4min 55 2-ssec, the last four furlongs in Imin lOsec. A five-year-old daughter of Logan Fraser and Formality, Dolly Fraser raced well at her last start to finish half a head behind Empire Lady in the Fairlie Handicap at Washdyke on January 14. Gantree and Maori Home, which are both engaged in the Otley Handicap at Addington on Saturday, were worked over a mile. Gantree set the pace, but Maori Home shaded him at the finish. Maori Home took 2min 7 l-ssec, the last halfmile in Imin 2sec, the last two furlongs tn 31sec. Finished on Well

Statesman was much too good for Grey Streak at the end of a mile and a half tn 3min 17sec. Statesman, which finished on well, covered the last half-mile in Imin 4sec.

Monty Jason finished clear of Lucky Bill, which broke under pressure, at the end of a mile and a half in 3min 35sec, the last four furlongs taking Imin 6sec. Ivondale trotted a mile and a half in 3min 25sec, the last half-mile taking Imin Bsec. The surprise winner of the Shirley Trotting Handicap at the New Brighton Trotting Club’s meeting on September 24, Ivondale will have his next start in the Yaldhurst Handicap at Addington on Saturday.

Bessie Grattan and Relight were let off with an easy two miles in 4min 56sec, the last half-mile taking Imin lOsec. Fair Isle led all the way when covering a mile and a half with Billy McElwyn in 3min 36sec. Fair Isle, which is a promising trotter by Light Brigade from Betty Wrack, sprinted her last half-mile in Imm 6 2-ssec.

Scott Wrack set the pace for Tiny Scott and Trustee when covering two miles in 4min 47sec, the last half-mile taking Imin ssec. The winner of two of her first five races for the season. Tiny Scott is engaged in the Advance Handicap at Addington on Saturday. Lady Mavourneen was much too good for Ipso Facto and Hilda Scott at the end of a mile and a half in 3min 23sec. Lady Mavourneen, which.will start from the 36 yards mark in the Harewood Handicap at Addington on Saturday, sprinted the last four furlongs in Imin 3 3-ssec. Acclamation, which looks a model of condition, was not allowed to stretch out when worked by R. Young. Large Entries

Entries totalling 307 have been received for the Auckland Trotting Club’s meeting at Epsom on February 18 and 25. Several South Island trotters and pacers are included in the nominations for the Otahuhu Handicap and the February Handicap, the main events on the first day, and for the Great Northern Trotting Stakes on the second day. The following are the fields:— OTAHUHU HANDICAP, of £1500: 4mln 31sec class; two miles.—Silent Knight, Proprietor, Bexdale, Petite Direct, General Manager, Fitnesse, Starshell, Kilcash, Fortuna, Entrust, Caledonian Gold, Fabric Silk, Mandrake, Ikaroa, Likely, Chedworth Hall, Marshall Ney. FEBRUARY HANDICAP, of £1000; trotters; 3min 32sec class; one mile and a half.—Sure Charge, Loyal Lass, Bessie Grattan, Don Parrish, Sandyshore, Roderick Dhu, Signal Light, Not Quite, Implacable, Sandyetta, Big Guy Cyone Man, Nero, Sandy Duval, Gay Belwin, Ripcord.

GREAT NORTHERN TROTTING STAKES, of £750; two-year-olds; one mile and a quarter.—Carol Grace, Lunette, Parkland's Star, Native Power, San Rosita, Red Slipper, Flying Pilot, Logan Triumph. Johnny Globe, Great Lark, Prince Charming, Private Scot, Timothy, Übakim—Kewpie’s Bond g., Peter Smith— Kaiwaka f.

Racing at Claudelands Willie Roger, which finished third in the first division of the' Fairfield Handicap at the Waikato Trotting Club’s meeting on January 21, may leave the maiden classes with a win in the first division of the Hillcrest Handicap at the same club’s meeting on Saturday. A six-year-old gelding, Willie Roger Is by Bill B. from Gypsy Light (3min 28 2-ssec), by Jewel Pointer from Halgana, by Bingana from a Hal Zolock mare. Tima.ru Nursery Stakes

To reduce the size of the field to the safety number of 16, the Timaru Trotting Club has advised owners who have horses nominated for the Timaru Nursery Stakes to be decided at the March meeting that, after final forfeits, elimination trials will be held on the New Brighton course on February 28 for horses north of Ashburton, and on the Washdyke course on March 21 for horses south of Ashburton. Horses which are placed in the Great Northern Trotting Stakes at the Auckland Trotting Club’s meeting on February 25 will automatically qualify to race in the Timaru Nursery Stakes. Answer to Correspondent

“Inquirer, Ashburton.”—Sheriff Hall carried £2l on the win machine and £l7 10s on the place machine in the Coalgate Handicap at the Hororata Racing Club’s meeting.