MAIDA DILLON

Press, Volume LXXXIX, Issue 27010, 9 April 1953, Page 5

MAIDA DILLON

TROTTING

GOOD WINNER MAY BE RETIRED

Maida Dillon probably ran her last race when she finished a good fifth in the Au Revoir Free-for-all on the final day of the New Zealand Metropolitan Trotting Club’s Easter meeting on Saturday. The Dillon Hall mare was unlucky not to win a race at the meeting, as she was racing better than ever. Earlier on Saturday, she overcame a check in the running in the Easter Handicap to finish fourth in a fastrun race. She had at least nine horses in front of her at the straight entrance, and finished with a brilliant run along the rails once she got clear. On the second day of the meeting, she finished a good fourth in the Williams Handicap, won by Masterpiece. Maida Dillon had her most important successes when raced, on lease by Mr R. A. Bainbridge, of Christchurch, and trained by L. C. Frost at New Brighton. She has now been returned to the Invercargill trainer, J. H. Winter. In almost seven seasons of racing Maida Dillon had 92 stars for 13 wins, 19 placings and £9540 in stakes. She did not win a race this season, but She was placed seven times in 16 starts. Her placings included a third to Maori Home and Lady Rowan in the Dunedin Cup and a second by half a length to Soangetaha in the Wellington Free-for-all in February. Maida Dillon did not start racing until she was a four-year-old, and she then won three races. The next season she was transferred to M. Holmes’s stables, from which she won twice. As a six-year-old, she was leased to Mr Bainbtidge, who placed her with Frost. It was not until she was an eight-year-old that she really struck form, and won five of her 15 races. Her first win was in the Hornby Handicap at Addington, when she paid £257 12s 6d for a win and completed the double with Red Emperor, the return for £1 being £7948 9s. That season she also won the Champion Free-for-all at Forbury Park from Dragoman and Chamfer.

Maida Dillon should prove a valuable brood mare if Winter decides not to race her again. She is out of Otapiri Lee, by Lee Norris from Miss Hector, by Sir Hector from Miss Fortune, the founder of a grand winning family. Otapiri Lee is also the dam of Grattan Lee, Dahlita, and Loyal David. Maida Dillon is closely related to Pollyapolis, Mandrake. Glengarry, San Fernando, Erinack (the dam of the champion Sydney two-year-old, Vari Hall). Loyal Peter. Roulette, Jason’s Quest, and Belshazzar. Left At Greymouth Dealer’s Choice was left at Greymouth after the meeting on Monday. The halfbrother to Triple Play has plenty of ability, but he has not shown it in his recent races. He usually races best when fresh. Thelma Globe The brilliant but unreliable Thelma Globe is to be given a spell. The Springfield Globe mare was fractious at the start of her two races at the recent Addington meeting, and lost winning chances through breaking. In both races she finished close to the placed horses, and showed tremendous speed in fast-run races. If J. B. Pringle can make her race solidly next season, she should win at least one major handicap.

Outstanding Two-year-old Lynberne was most unlucky not to win the New Zealand Welcome Stakes on Saturday, as he broke and lost about 36 yards before he settled down. Once he became properly balanced, he ' gave a grand display, and did well to run Scottish Brigade to half a length. Lynberne was timed to pace his last mile in 2miri 5 4-ssec, the last half in Imin 2sec. and the last quarter in 31sec—a smart effort for a two-year-old. Lynberne, a brother to Rupee, should soon win, and he is not likely to be allowed to go out 3, 3 in the betting again this season. Battleground Makes Amends Battleground made amends for his defeat by Patrick Earl on the first day of the meeting, when he easily beat Red Fancy and Dillala Direct in the Waimate Plains Handicap at Hawera on Monday. The Prebbleton-trained Light Brigade— Jane Worthy five-year-old entire has now had three wins and one placing in his last four appearances. He would probably be better suited by a firmer track than he had at Hawera. Battleground is a good type of pacer, and he should ract well in the next few weeks. I Change Of Stables Brucus, the winner of four races this I season, is now being trained by D. G. Jones at Templeton. He will probably have his first start from his new quarters at the Forbury Park meeting on Saturday week. Brucus raced brilliantly in the Monte Carlo Handicap at Addington on Saturday, when he finished very fast for fifth after being almost knocked down with six furlongs to run. A five-year-old stallion by Jack Potts from Cherry Maid, he can both sprint and stay. This young pacer should develop worthwhile form for his Christchurch owner, Mr A. Todd. Speedy Pacer Centennial Globe impressed when he won twice at the Greymouth Trotting Club’s meeting on Monday. The Springfield Globe gelding gave trouble at the start of the Richmond Handicap and broke. R. Young soon got him back to his gait, and he “raced up to trail d’Artagnan. He soon overhauled him in the straight, and won with a lot in reserve. In the Autumn Handicap, he began much better and waited on the field until two furlongs from home, when he went right away and won easing up by 15 lengths. It was a most impressive effort. Centennial Globe should have become more solid as a result of the trip and racing, and he should win his next race. Few 'improvers will be able to match his speed. He also appears to have plenty of stamina.

For Sydney The Winchester trainer. T. H. Gunning, left Christchurch yesterday on the first .stage of another trip to Sydney He has taken Top Mast. Daredevil, Lillian Mac, Sinai, White Oaks, and Nova Ann. Top Mast, which has not raced this season, is a six-year-old stallion by Black Globe from Tudena. He has a fair turn of speed and may more than pay his way on the trip. Daredevil Is a speedy but unreliable trotter. The first time he starts correctly in Sydney, he should win, as he has more ability than most others in his class. Lillian Mac is another trotter. She has a great turn of speed, but has not always shown much stamina in her races here. The small, turning tracks in Australia should suit her. White Oaks, a four-year-old brother to Tiberius and Merrymaker, is a speedy young pacer and Gunning should find little difficulty in placing him to advantage in Sydney. Nova Ann, which has had five placings this season, is another trotter likely to do well in Sydney. The Casanova mare is a maiden trotter, and she will take catching off the front mark in her races in the next few weeks. Sinai, the sixth member of the team, is a four-year-old gelding by Dillon Hall from Becky Parrish, which is closely related to Allanah and Duralium. a good winner in Australia.