TROTTING EVENTS AT ASHBURTON

Press, Volume LXXXIX, Issue 27071, 20 June 1953, Page 4

TROTTING EVENTS AT ASHBURTON

DANCING YEARS SHOULD RACE WELL Two useful fields are enggaed in the Lyndhurst Handicap and the Winchmore Handicap, the events for pacers at the Ashburton County Racing Club’s winter meeting today. Dancing Years and King’s Order, second and third in the Gold Bar Stakes at Addington last Saturday, are expected to be prominent in their races, but they are opposed by a number of horses with worth-while form.

Dancing Years, which appeared a little unlucky when he was beaten by Black Douglas in the Gold Bar Stakes at Addington last Saturday, will be a short-priced favourite for the Winchmore Handicap. The Dillon Hall gelding did not get clear until too late in last Saturday’s race and he appealed to be hampered by King’s Order over the last few yards. He also lost ground when he was checked near the two furlong post. Dancing Years, which is raced by Mr J. W. G. Irving, is trained by V. Leeming at Prebbleton and he will again be driven by D. C. Watts.

Timber Miller, a useful sixth in the Gold Bar Stakes, is expected to do better under handicap conditions. He is a useful type of three-year-old and he should eventually develop fair form. He is a colt by Josedale Grattan from Pretty Wrack and he is trained ut Pleasant Point by N. W. Cook. Moor, a convincing winner on the Ashburton course on May 30 and a good fourth over two miles on the second day of the meeting, is expected to extend his consistent record. The Indianapolis gelding has improved with age.

Excelsa failed in the Gold Bar Stakes after receiving none the best of the running. If he begins well today, he should be prominent as he has more ability than most in the race.

Wha’ Hae’s Prospects Wha’ Hae, a member of G. B. Noble’s Yaldhurst team, is overdue for a win, and if he races generously he could easily upset calculations. The U. Scott gelding ran a great race to finish second to his stablemate. Black Wings, in the Rangiora Handicap at Rangiora on June 6. He lost a big stretch of ground at the start and showed a great turn of speed to be handy at the furlong. He ran on well under pressure to cut Dancing Years out of second place. Lady French is gradually regaining form. She was a good second to Joshua at Hutt Park on June 1 at her most recent appearance. She will probably appreciate the firmer going expected at Ashburton today and she should give a good account of herself. The Temukatrained Grattan Loyal mare has a useful turn of speed. Lady Jane was a good fourth in her race at Rangiora after being one of the leaders throughout. She may give an improved display. Royal Present, Sir John, and Hinepo are others in the race with a fair measure of ability, and any of them could surprise. King’s Order May Win

King’s Order, which finished very fast from a good way back at the straight entrance to take third place in the Gold Bar Stakes at Addington last Saturday, should be hard to beat in the two-mile Lyndhurst Handicap. He has to concede starts of up to 36 yards to some smart pacers, but the task should not be beyond him. King’s Order has taken time to become solid, but his most recent effort suggests that he is near his best. He should not be troubled by the distance of today’s race, and if he races up to his best he should go close to winning. Magic Mist, a half-brother to Real Globe, showed more than average ability when he finished a good second to Misty Grattan in the First Trial Handicap at Rangiora on June 6. The Light Brigade gelding has not been extensively raced, but he looks to have a bright future. Sandy Rey. a good third over two miles at the Rangiora meeting early in the month, has been racing consistently recently. He has proved his ability to master a distance, and if he is kept handy to the leaders in the middle stages of the race he should take part in the finish. Gold Light was backed and beaten at Rangiora. Apparently a high opinion is held of this Gold Bar gelding, which was pulled up after breaking a hopple at Rangiora, when making his first appearance in a race. Camille finished solidly for second behind d’Artdgnan at Rangiora over two miles, and she will have to be respected here if she races as well again. Colena, Child’s Play. Pacific Pace, and Supreme Prince are others to have shown ability in their recent races and they may be prominent. However, they will not find King’s Order easy to dispose of if he begins smartly.

Well Bred Interest will be taken in the performance of Nightingale in the Waitoa Handicap at the Waikato Trotting Club’s meeting today. She will be making her first appearance in a race, and according to northern reports she is expected to show to advantage. She is a three-year-old filly by Light Brigade from Seaworthy, by Man o’ War from May Tracey, by Captain Tracey. Seaworthy, which Was foaled in 1926, left a number of winners, including Heliopolis, Acropolis (Dunedin Centennial Cup). Marshall Ney. and Orcades. Ker first foal was a mare by Wrack which left Sandyetta (the dam of Sandyshore).

Trotting in Scotland Mr J. Malloch, of Woodlands, owner of Blue Mist, in a letter to a friend in Southland, says that an attempt is being made to make trotting more popular in Scotland. A meeting to be held at Stepps, five miles from Glasgow, had attracted the interest of the Swedish Trotting Owners’ Association with the result that 50 Swedish trotters will be brought over for the meeting. “Nine trainers (or drivers) and 50 horses—worth from £5OO to £lOOO each—have arrived from Stockholm,” says a newspaper report. “Every day since, the drivers have braced themselves to their sulkies and raced round the Stepps track getting their horses in shape. There has been trotting in Scotland, but not like Sweden, which leads the world in the sport, France, Italy, and Germany. Here trotters, pacers and riding horses are mixed, but in Sweden only trotters are raced. It is intended to run the Stepps meeting under Swedish rules and it is essential that they are obeyed so as to keep the sport clean. It is hoped that the sport catches on and We will be able to train Scots boys Us trainers.” The statement that Sweden leads the world in trotting is not correct. This honour must go to the United States. Waikato Scratching

Lady Mutiny has been scratched from the Coronation Handicap at the Waikato Trotting Club’s meeting today.—(P.A.)

PROSPECTS FOR TODAY

PROSPECTS FOR WAIKATO MEETING "The Press’* Special Service AUCKLAND, June 19. The Waikato Trotting Club's winter meeting will be opefied at Claudelands on Saturday when the course is likely to be holding. The double Will be run on the Reid Memorial Handicap and the Members* Handicap* Selections are:— 10.45 a.m.—Waitoa Handicap: Chippy, Sheryl Scott, Worthy Gift. 11,25 a.m.—Berescourt Handicap: Worthy Chief, Covrex, Gold Charm. 12.15 p.m.—First Te Awamutu Handicap: King Brow, Laura Hall-Shoeshine bracket, Panopoly . 1;5 p.m.—Reid Memorial Handicap: Patrick Earl, Watty Lawn, Barbara Gaillard. 1.45 p.m.—Coronation Handicap: Unique Wonder, Josedale’s Son, Apple Cider. 2.35 p.m.—Members’ Handicap: Joshua, Scotch Alarm, Headmaster. 3.20 p.m.—Second Te Awamutu Handicap: Beeline, Gyspy Queen, Nifty Jewel. 4.10 p.m.—City Handicap! Teller, Dillala Direct,’Peggy Scott.