WASHDYKE TROT HANDICAP

Press, Volume LXXXIX, Issue 27096, 20 July 1953, Page 5

WASHDYKE TROT HANDICAP

TROTTING

PACIFIC PACE WINS NARROWLY

Pacific Pace won the last event of the 1952-53 light-harness season, the Washdyke Trot Handicap at the South Canterbury Hunt Club’s meeting on Saturday, holding on in a tight finish to beat the fast-finishing Kingsdown Grattan. Sandy Rey, which ran about under pressure in the straight, was four lengths back third, a length and a half clear of Lady French. Then there were gaps to Sure Terra, Princess Dawn, Rowan Star, and Rapid Rival, which headed the others.

Horace Roy broke badly at the start, and Princess Dawn, Clemency, and Rowan Star were also slow. Pacific Pace uas the best to begin, but he was headed by Rapid Rival at the end of a furlong. Rapid Rival made the running to the six furlongs, where Lady French moved round the field to displace her. Lady French led into the straight from Rapid Rival, Sure Terra, Rowan Star, Sandy Rey, and First Lass, with Pacific Pace showing up wide out, and Kingsdown Grattan improving along the rails. Rowan Star appeared to be hampered for room inside the furlong, and she tangled. Pacific Pace raced through to take the lead, and looked likely to have an easy win until Kingsdown Grattan challenged on the inside. Driven out, Pacific Pace held on. J. D. LITTEN’S TEAM BRIGHT PROSPECTS FOR NATIONAL MEETING The West Melton trainer, J. D. Litten, is preparing Fallacy, General Lee, Brava. Arriba, and Caduceus for engagements at the New Zealand Metropolitan Trotting Club’s national meeting in August. These five horses form a particularly strong team, and Litten has bright prospects of early success in the new season. Fallacy was last season’s leading three-year-old. From 10 starts he won six races, including the Riccarton Stakes, New Zealand Derby, New Zealand Champion Sakes, and the New Zealand Futurity Stakes, and he finished second to the champion Johnny Globe in the New Zealand Metropolitan Challenge Stakes and the All-Aged Stakes. At his first start this season Fallacy never appeared to be pacing well. That was In the Metropolitan Stakes at Addington in August, and he finished a disappointing fourth. The event was won by his stablemate Brava. After that performance Fallacy was given a long spell. The Light Brigade horse reappeared at Addington last May, but the best he could do in the Canterbury Park Club’s Winter Handicap was to finish a poor sixth. He showed a good deal of his original brilliance at his next start to record 3min 9 3-ssec for fourth placing in the Haughty Handicap, won by Imperial Trust, at the Metropolitan Club’s June Meeting. Later the same day, when 2. 4 favourite for the sprint, the Highland Fling Handicap. Fallacy broke at the start and finished last. Owned by Litten, Fallacy is rising five years. If he can be produced at his best at Addington next month he will have little trouble in extending his already fine record. General Lee and Brava General Lee and Brava will also be i five next season. General Lee is a trotter by Light Brigade from Suzy Lee, owned by Mr F. Ball, of Christchurch. As a three-year-old the gelding won the New Zealand Trotting Stakes. He was un- , reliable in some of his races this season, and from 15 starts gained four seconds ’ and one fourth. Brava, an entire by U. J Scott from Protege, owned by Mr G. , Francis, last season won an impressive I double at Hutt Park and followed that with a third placing behind Fallacy and : Borxyard in the New Zealand Futurity ; Stakes at Ashburton. Early this season he won the Metropolitan Stakes at Addington and the Cambridge Handicap at • New Brighton. He has been twice placed at his three latest starts, and should be in good order for his next engagements. L Arriba, a three-year-old gelding by ! Josedale Grattan from Huia Potts, owned 1 by Dr. B. Nixon and Mr E. W. Miller, j has started seven times, for one win, two seconds, and one third. His success was over two miles at Ashburton. He 1 has a good private reputation, and will have many opportunities to show his ability early in the new season. Caduceus is a bay colt by U. Scott from Little Ada, the dam of a winner at tlie trotting gait in Crystal Light. Rising three years, Caduceus had his only start this season in the Timaru Nursery Stakes in March. In that event he impressed by the manner in which he paced _■ to make up ground in the final stages . for fifth placing. With a little more exJ perience he may develop into a good j winner. i INQUIRY AT WASHDYKE 1 The following official report was issued after the running of the Washdyke Trot Handicap at the South Canterbury Hunt Club’s meeting on Saturday:— “An inquiry was held into the incident of crowding about a furlong from home in the Washdyke Trot. It was found that Pacific Pace swerved slightly under the whip, but was immediately straightened up. In swerving he crowded but did not touch Sandy Rey, Lady French, or Sure Terra. It was unanimously de- [ cided that this did not affect the result . of the race in any way.”