N.Z. CUP CLASS LEFT OPEN

Press, Volume LXXXVII, Issue 26529, 18 September 1951, Page 4

N.Z. CUP CLASS LEFT OPEN

HORSES THAT CAN DO 4MIN 21SEC

FIELD OF FOURTEEN MAY PARADE

The class for the next New Zealand Trotting Cup has been left open and it will be for horses “that can do 4min 21sec or better for two miles.”

This was decided at a meeting of the committee of the New Zealand Metropolitan Trotting Club last evening. During the last few years the cup has been “for horses assessed al 4min 21sec or faster.”

This year’s limit allows any horse assessed looser than 4min 21sec to start in the race, but it is doubtful whether many owners would be prepared to give away time to start. If a horse assessed slower than Im in 21sec for two miles should start and reach a place it would be rehandicapped as though it was assessed at 4min 21sec at the time of starting. No doubt the club will exercise the right to select the field as it has for otner races on its programmes in the past. The stake for the race remains the same—£7soo and a gold cup valued at £250. The total stakes for the meeting amount to £45,000. At present there are 15 horses in training which are assessed at 4min 21sec or faster. Of these the only one unlikely to start in the cup is Captain Sandy, which would be required to give away starts of up to 72 yards. He will probably be reserved for the free-for-all "events at the meeting. Seven of the 13 horses which started in last year’s race have been retired or sent to Australia. Plunder Bar, runner-up to Chamfer, Lady Averil, which finished fourth, Globe Direct, Navigate and Attack have been retired. Single Direct, which finished third, and Doctor Ted will do their future racing in Australia. Globe Direct, Commander Scott and Congo Song were the only horses assessed at 4min 21sec or faster at the start of last season to win one race. Single Direct was a winner in Perth during the season. Horses at present assessed at 4min 21sec or faster and their marks for the cup are: Congo Song, Gantree, Maori Home, Van Dieman scr; Checkmate, Good Review, Parawa Derby 12; Commander Scott, Gough’s Pride, Maudeen, Victory Globe 24; Chamfer, Dundee Sandy 36; Veaette 48; Captain Sandy 72. Vedette, the outstanding pacer of last season, when he had seven wins and four placings In 11 starts for £14,260 in (takes, Victory Globe, Parawa Derby, Good Review, and Maori Home qualified for the race last season. Van Dieman, the best staying four-year-old last season, won his way to a 4min 21sec mark for two miles when he won the Loulsson Handicap at Addington last month. Commander Scott, which won the National Handicap at Addington on August 25. was penalised 12 yards over two miles. First Lord and Real Sdott are on the verge of New Zealand Cup company, being assessed at 4min 22sec. With the change in class for the race it is likely that they may start. Horses assessed at 4min 23sec are Zulu, Indigo, Whipster, and Seacraft, while Mobile Globe, Dragoman. Systematic, Worthy Gold and Young Charles are assessed at 4min 24sec The only meeting where any of the horses outside 4min Jlsec could tighten their assessments will probably be the Auckland Trotting Club's meeting next month. The classes have not been announced, but in the past the club has run races for this type of horse. Presentation

After he had driven Parawa Derby to win the Metropolitan Free-for-all at Hutt Park on Saturday J. B. Pringle was presented with a trophy by the New Zealand Horsemen’s Association for his success as leading trainer and driver last season. A presentation was also made to Mrs Pringle. The presentations were made by the Deputy-Prime Minister (Mr Holyoake). Alteration to Handicaps

As a result of the alteration to the placings in the Rakaia Trot Handicap at Ashburton on Saturday, Gallant Satin has been transferred to the Seaview Handicap at the New Brighton meeting this week. She is on the limit. The Gallant Knight mare has been rehandicapped to 36 yards in the Orari Trot at the Geraldine meeting on Saturday. Wen -BuekoO" - - —*— First Lord was surprisingly well backed in the Metropolitan Free-for-all at Hutt Park on Saturday, and he was the 3, 4 favourite. The Dillon Hall stallion was slow away, but he was handy at the mlle post. From then on he started to give ground and he was well beaten with one furlong to run. A. J. Motz has him looking very well, but he has failed to reproduce the promise he showed in his racing last season. Fairy Dell

The four-year-old trotter. Fairy Dell, recorded two sound efforts at Hutt Park for such a young horse. She finished third in her race on the first day of the meeting, and on Saturday she tired to fourth in the straight in the Eastbourne Handicap. She might have been harder to beat had she not broken with five furlongs to run. At present she appears to lack a finishing spurt in her races, but she should develop this with age. She should eventually win her way to the best classes. Venetian Wins at Last

The Marco Polo gelding, Venetian, had an overdue win in the Selma Trot Handl, cap at the Ashburton meeting on Saturday. He received a perfect trail behind Springwater all the way, and he came on to win narrowly from the promising Royal Cameo, which had been handy throughout. Chippewa. Top Mast, Goldessa, and Attractive Girl were next. Venetian, which should continue to pay his way at minor meetings, was placed in seven of his 12 start* last season. He is owned and trained at Methven by M. C. McTigue. Venetian Is out of Double Measure, by Gaillard, tracing back to Pearl Child. North Island Winners

Sirius and Sleepy Valley were the only North Island-trained winners during the two days of the Wellington Trotting Club’s spring meeting. Sirius, which started from 96 yards, gave a solid exhibition of trotting to win the H. J. Palmer Memorial Handicap in the last stride from Ingenuity. The Josedale Dictator mare is owned and trained at Palmerston North by D. W. Hansen. Sleepy Valley, which Is owned and trained at Lower Hutt by R. J. Humphries. was one of the best conditioned horses at the meeting. Although he had raced prominently at his other appearances at the meeting, he was allowed to go out the 10, 7 favourite in the Sharpe Handicap on Saturday. He responded gamely in the straight and came on to win going away. The Sandydale gelding should win again soon.

New Brighton Trotting Club Withdrawals for all events at the New Brighton Trotting Club’s September meeting to be held on Saturday next, must be received by 5 p.m. to-day. Advt. Trials at Addington

The first race at the Canterbury Owners' and Breeders’ Association's Trials at Addington to-day commences at 11 a.m. A collection will be taken In aid of the St. John Ambulance. Advt