JUNE GRATTAN IN FORM

Press, Volume LXXXVIII, Issue 26857, 9 October 1952, Page 4

JUNE GRATTAN IN FORM

SUCCESS LIKELY. AT WEEKEND N. L. Berkett has June Grattan at the peak of her form, and she is expected to race well again on Saturday. She is engaged in the Royal Handicap at Forbury Park and the President’s Handicap at Ashburton, and she will be one of the favourites for the event chosen for her. Last Saturday June Grattan was most impressive when she beat Knightmare and Alkin in the Southland Handicap at Dunedin. She raced round the field into the lead at the end of -two furlongs, and from then on she was always in command. Knightmare was the only horse to offer June Grattan any serious opposition, but at ho stage of the last furlong did she look like winning. At her only other appearance this season June Grattan came from well back in 'the middle stages of the race to finish seventh in the Bowhill Handicap at New Brighton on September 20.

Last season June Grattan had 12 starts for two wins and six placings. On several occasions she lost winning chances through breaking at the start of her races. She appears to have become more solid this season, and should do good service for her Christchurch breeder, Mr W. A. Pope. June Grattan is an eight-year-old mare by Grattan Loyal from Hope Worthy, by Travis Axworthy from Hope Dillon, by Harold Dillon from Raven’s Girl, by Ravenschild. Hope Worthy was not a good brood mare, and her 1946 foal. Sagacious, is her only other living progeny. Hope Dillon, which was a winner, left an outstanding pacer in Pot Luck, and another winner in Wishful. June Grattan is at an age where little improvement is likely, but she should more than pay her way in her present class. Crimea

Crimea will be well backed to win his third race in as many starts for the season in the President’s Handicap at the Ashburton meeting on Saturday. The Light Brigade gelding is at the peak cd his form, and he should graduate to the best classes this season. Won at Bulll

Vigilant, a half-brother to Morano and Adorian, won the Eighth Divided Handicap at Bulli, New South Wales, on Saturday. The Light Brigade gelding was not troubled to beat All Spirit and another New Zealand-bred pacer, Sailor’s Globe. Vigilant, which had had one other win at a minor meeting in New South Wales, started at the surprisingly long odds cri 7 to 1. Ashburton Brackets

The following horses will be bracketed on the totalisator at the Ashburton Trotting Club’s meeting on Saturday:—Chertsey Handicap: John Sydney and Beryl Scott, Morning Mist and Super Claim. Elgin Handicap: Fearless Peter and Gallant Satin. President’s Handicap: Bonny Brogue and Saga, Nature Girl and Punt. Hinds Handicap: Special News and Tosca. Seafield Handicap: Douglas Derby and Rajah, Au Revoir and Loyal Scott, Magician and Gretna Green.

Westport Prospect Atomic Power, a half-brother to- Radiant Night, will be at a short price in the Denniston Handicap on the first day l of the Westport Jockey Club’s meeting on Saturday. The Pacing Power gelding has not had much racing, and in his three starts he has finished Second each time. He was »to have started at Reef ton recently, but his trainer had an injured back, and rather than allow any c-ther driver to handle him, he had Atomic Power withdrawn. Atomic Power should soon graduate from maiden company. Demimonde

Demimonde will have her first start since joining M. Holmes’s team in the Chertsey Handicap at Ashburton on Saturday. The Wayfarer four-year-old has not started since she ran second to General Lee in the New Zealand Trotting Stakes at Addington last March. She was produced at the Addington trials in August, but was not impressive. The Wayfarer mare has a grand style of trotting, and she may soon strike form. She is bred to> go a long way at the trotting gait. She is a half-sister to Acclamation, one of the finest trotting mares ever raced in New Zealand, and Rewa Scott, a winner at the recent Auckland meeting. Sydney Victor Outclassed Sydney Victor, impressive winner of the Methven Trotting Cup a week earlier, was outclassed in the Flying Handicap at Forbury Park on Saturday. The Indianapolis gelding received a perfect trail, but was well beaten at the straight entrance. He gradually lost ground and was beaten off in seventh place. This week, he will meet weaker opposition in the Victory Handicap, and his contest with Masterpiece should be one of the highlights of the day.. Masterpiece was a little unlucky to be beaten at Methven. He is expected to turn the tables on Sydney Victor on Saturday. To Resume .Racing

Qualified and Scutari, the best two-year-old filly and colt respectively in the North Island last season, will resume racing in the Paterangi Handicap at the Te Awamutu Trotting Club’s meeting on Saturday. Scutari, winner of the Great Northern Trotting Stakes, trained off towards the end of last season, but he is reported to have done well in recent weeks, and may make a bold showing first time out. The Light Brigade colt will be on hand for semi-classic events at Epsom at Labour week-end. He is a stablemate of Greek Brigade, which has had to be put aside for a long spell because of splints.

Qualified, a fine type of filly by Logan Derby, showed good form last season, when she had one win and three second placings from four starts. A daughter of a good mare, Hilda Potts, Qualified is expected to show outstanding form this season.

Record Stake Earnings When Good Time recently created a new world record for one mile and a quarter on a half-mile track he paced the journey in 2min 31 3-ssec, which is equal to just over a 2min Isec mile rate. The win brought his earnings to 250,286 dollars, and he was then close to Proximity’s record as the world’s greatest money-winner in the light-harness sport. Later, Good Time increased his earnings to 252,985 dollars by winning a free-for-all. A week later, the son of Hal Dale and On Time added to his record when he’ gained another win on a half-mile track, recording just over 2min for the mile. He gained the main portion of the 10,000-dollar stake and brought his total to 257,486 dollars.

Proximity, probably the greatest trotting mare produced in the United States, earned nearly 253,000 dollars, and it was thought her record would stand for longer than it did. Pleasant Smile Impresses

The Josedale Grattan gelding, Pleasant Smile, the only North Island horse likely to be selected for the next New Zealand Trotting Cup, showed that he was well forward for his immediate engagements when he won the President’s Free-for-All at the Kumeu matinee meeting last Saturday. Pleasant Smile was not opposed by a good lot, but he outclassed them, and beat Lady Belwin, Convoy, and Scimitar effortlessly. Conditions were not good, but Pleasant Smile revelled in the heavy going. C. Hadfield said after the race that the horse would probably have another race or two before being sent to Addington. He will probably be on hand for the Auckland meeting later in the month, with a sprint at Hutt Park to follow as the final part of his preparation. Pleasant Smile’s form this season has not been outstanding, but his racing has been planned to have him at his peak for the New Zealand Trotting Cup. Whether he will measure up to the class remains to be seen. He has raced successfully against some good South Island horses, but so far he has not met any horse of a class approaching that of Johnny Globe, Burns Night, or Vedette. Disappointed Radiant Night, the 2, 1 favourite, was a disappointment in the Flying Handicap at Forbury Park oh Saturday. He did not begin as well as usual, but with one mile to run he was handy to the leaders. He gradually lost ground over the final furlong, and had only Aqua Lady behind him at the post. Radiant Night is more capable than that effort would suggest, and he should soon make amends. He has pulled hard in some of his races this season, and has choked and fallen twice. He should not take long to recover confidence. Formerly raced in partnership by Messrs V. Caldwell and R. Marshall, he is now raced by Mr Caldwell. J. B. Pringle has him in good condition, and he may do better if the track is hard at Dunedin this week.