MIGHTY SONG AND ADORIAN

Press, Volume LXXXVIII, Issue 26869, 23 October 1952, Page 4

MIGHTY SONG AND ADORIAN

LIKELY FAVOURITES AT AUCKLAND

The South Island pacers Adorian and Mighty Song, both of which will start from 12 yards, are expected to dispute the finish of the F. J. Smith Memorial Handicap on the first day of the Auckland Trotting Club’s meeting on Saturday. Both have shown good form in their racing this season, and they should be a class above the others in the race. Adorian is expected to race better than Mighty Song over this distance, though the Springfield Globe mare won the September Handicap on the course last month, when she beat Morano in 3min llsec. Adorian gave a glimpse of his class when he finished a close fifth, about three lengths from the winner, in the Lightning Free-for-all at Addington on August 16. Vedette won the race from Johnny Globe, Young Charles and Soangetaha. Adorian was a fair way back at the straight entrance and he finished on in fine style in a fast-run race. He has had only one start since then —in the Henry Mace Handicap at New Brighton on September 20, when he finished a good second to Realm Again over two miles. Adorian has done well since then, and F. G. Holmes has him very fit for his immediate engagements. After being placed twice at Addington in August, Mighty Song won the September Handicap at Epsom. She did not race with the same dash in her other races at the meeting, althaugh she finished close Up in all three. She has had time to freshen up since then, and should extend Adorian. Both horses are by the Aus-tralian-bred sire Springfield Globe. They should graduate to the very best classes in the next few weeks. The Methven-owned and trained Kunlai Kahn was unlucky at the last Auckland meeting. He graduated to open classover two miles when he won the Wildwood Handicap impressively at Addington on August 30. The Marco Polo gelding has a useful turn of speed, and if he leaves the mark reasonably well, he should take part in the finish of Saturday’s race. Margaret’s Own won well in fast time at Epsom last month, and if she races up to that effort she will have good prospects over the week-end. Billy Boy and Laureldale, both of which are near their best again, will have to be respected from 24 yards. The' others In the field do not make much appeal, and Scimitar and Shirley Lawn may be the best of them. However, it is difficult to see them bothering Adorian or Mighty Song. Wee Raider

Wee Raider would need to show very little improvement on his recent efforts to win the Oamaru Handicap at the Oamaru Trotting Club’s meeting on Saturday. The Skyraider gelding is small, but he is a speedy trotter. F. E. Newfield has him very fit. Strong Bracket

The Pukekohe trainer, J. K. Hughes, will parade a formidable bracket for the North Island Challenge Stakes at Epsom on Saturday in Heroism, Big Shot, and Scottish Star, all of which have won races this season. Heroism is one of the most promising three-year-olds in the North Island. Big Shot and Scottish Star, recent graduates from maiden company, have also shown considerable promise. The combination will be at restricted odds on the place totalisator.

Should be Improved Faro, which is owned and trained at Belfast by T. H. Gleeson, should be improved by his race in the Winchester Trot Handicap at the Geraldine Racing Club’s meeting last Saturday. He is expected to pay his way at the Greymouth meeting next week-end. Faro is a five-year-old gelding by Gamble from Afterglow, by Native King from a winner in Wild Child, the dam of winners in Royal Parade, Streamline, Sure Potts, Catalpa, and Volo Lad.

Likely Favourite The Oamaru-trained Master -Tony, a brother to Heather Dillon, will probably be favourite for the Redcastle Handicap No. 2 on the second day of the Oamaru Trotting Club’s spring meeting next Monday. At his only appearance so far this season, the Dillon Hall gelding finished third to Chandelier and Waihl Princess in the Domain Handicap at Orari on September 22. He was carrying plenty of condition in that event, and the race should have improved him. Master Tony has been given plenty of time to mature, and he - should develop worthwhile form this season. Lauder Hall Turned Out

Lauder Hall, runner-up to Heather Dillon in the Metropolitan Handicap on the first day of the recent Forbury Park meeting, and a miserable failure on the second day of the meeting in the President’s Handicap, has been sent to her owner’s farm in Central Otago for a spell. The Dillon Hall mare showed outstanding form when she first joined M. Holmes’s team towards the end of last season. Although she was placed in three of her six races early this season, she was not racing with much I dash, nor was she pacing kindly. At her best Lauder Hall is more than useful. She may soon return to form when she resumes racing. Promising Maiden Pacers O. E. Hooper should be successful at the Greymouth Trotting Club’s meeting at the week-end with his maiden pacers Consul and Magellan, both of which have more. ability than most others in their dass. However, they have lost several winning chances by failing to start correctly. If they are on their best behaviour at the week-end they should gain more than one win each.

Magellan has had spme outstanding placings this season in strong company. Both horses are engaged in the Blaketown Handicap on Saturday. Magellan has also been entered for the two mile Midland Handicap. They will be at cramped odds in their races,

Should Dispute Finish The contest among Fearless Peter, Loyal Jane, and Kissing’ Cup in the October Handicap should be one of the highlights of the first day of the Oamaru Trotting Club’s spring meeting on Saturday. All three have shown useful form this season, and it will be difficult to choose among them. Loyal Jane, which will start from the front mark, has had a win and two placings in her three starts so far this season, and she should add to her record on Saturday. At her most recent appearance she was not troubled to beat Direct Link and Tosca at Ashburton. Fearless Peter was beaten by Coniston at Ashburton at his most recent appearance, but he might have finished better if he had had a more favourable run. He will be handily placed at No. 6 on 12 yards on Saturday, and is almost certain to reach a place. Kissing Cup finished second to Imperial Lord on the first day of the recent Forbury Park meeting, | when she appeared in need of a race. She is a brilliant pacer and looks set to win her way quickly through the intermediate classes. She will not have an easy task from 24 yards, but her ability to accelerate smartly should enable Jier to secure a good trail. She should pay her way on the trip.

A number of other promising pacers are engaged in the race, but it is hprd to see them troubling Loyal Jane, Fearless Peter, and Kissing Cup on Saturday, although there could easily be an upset. A Bargain Horse

The Colossal gelding, Mac’s Mistake, has proved a bargain horse for Mr C. Oremland. He showed rare dash when he won ove¥ two miles in 4min 28 2-5 sec at the Te Awamutu meeting, and later in the day he established a new course record of 2min 41sec for one mile and a quarter when he beat a useful field in the sprint. Mac’s Mistake was sold as an untried two-year-old by his Invercargill breeder, Mr W. G. Smith, to Mr D. J. McAlpine, of Te Awamutu, for £4O. At the same time Mr McAlpine bought Brilliant Light from Mr W. R. R. Cruickshank. Brilliant Light was a good winner, which was sold last season to a Sydney sportsman at a price reported to be £2500.

Mac’s Mistake did not start racing until he was a five-year-old. He was placed on a number of occasions befpre he won twice. He failed to strike form last season, but has made a good start this term. By Colossal, he is out of Real Cap, tracing back to the thoroughbred mare, Cassandra, the second dam of Etta Bingen, which founded a good winning family for Mr J. A. Edwards, of Otikerama, Southland. Among the best of these have been Duncraig, which was recently sold to a Melbourne sportsman. Coliseum, Scatterbrain, Dance Hall, Peccadillo, and Eynsford Oak. Etta Bingen had her first foal in 1929, and she missed only twice between then and 1950. Mac’s Mistake is now eligible for good handicap races in the North Island, and he should continue to pay his way. Greymouth Brackets

Bracketed horses on the first day of the Greymouth Trotting Club’s meeting are as follows:—Diggers’ Handicap: Make Way and Dogger Bank. Advance Handicap: Make Way and Dogger Bank. Blaketown Handicap: Consul and Magellan; Air Raider and Proximity.

Rangiora Marks Spike and Lucky Wrack will start from 12yds, not from 24yds, in the Rangiora Trot Handicap at- the North Canterbury Racing Club’s meeting on Monday.