FINAL DAY OF GRAND NATIONAL MEETING

Press, Volume LXXXIX, Issue 27124, 21 August 1953, Page 4

FINAL DAY OF GRAND NATIONAL MEETING

TROTTING

Masterpiece Expected To Win Main Race

SURE CHARGE SELECTED IN WINTER HANDICAP Masterpiece is expected to graduate to open class over two miles in the National Handicap, the main race and first leg of the double on the final day of the New Zealand Metropolitan Trotting Club’s Grand National meeting at Addington tomorrow. The Light Brigade entire will have very limited opportunities subsequently to be eligible for the next New Zealand Trotting Cup.

On Wednesday, in the Louisson Handicap, Masterpiece was most disappointing when he finished fifth. He began reasonably well for him, and was fifth at the end of a furlong. He was pushed down on the rails and drifted back another three to four places until he was hopelessly hemmed in. His driver, J. G. Hampton, will need to have him clear and closer to the leaders tomorrow if he expects to win.

The run on Wednesday will have improved Masterpiece, and, unless he gets hemmed in again, it is difficult to see him beaten.

Petite Yvonne is also likely to show further improvement. Her second placing to Adorian was a sound effort in the Louisson Handicap. She also finished second to Burns Night in the Lightning Handicap. The U. Scott mare thrives on racing, and if she has a good trail in tomorrow’s race, she could easily win.

Adorian won most convincingly on Wednesday, and a repetition of that effort would make him hard to beat again. He is certain to improve more than some of the others in the race. Adorian will meet Petite Yvonne on 12 yards worse terms tomorrow, and he may find the mare too good for him over the last bit. Van Dieman surprised by his forward showing when he finished brilliantly for third behind Adorian and Petite Yvonne, and he will not be at any fancy price tomorrow. He is right back to his brilliant best, and should soon show winning form. The veteran Dillon Hall gelding, Maori Home, may surprise. He has been working with great dash in the last few weeks, and is very fit. He will not be well placed on 48 yards, and his task will be a difficult one. However, if there is a lack of pace in the early stages of the race, as in Wednesday’s Louisson Handicap, he is certain to be right up at the finish. Heather Dillon was narrowly beaten into fourth place on Wednesday. She appeared to be better than ever, and will have to be considered here. Te Maru and Blue Mist are likely to be more improved than some of the others as a result of their race on Wednesday, and they should be prominent. Soangetaha cannot be overlooked. However, Masterpiece. Petite Yvonne, and Adorian should do best, if their prospects are judged on performances on the opening day of the meeting. Sure Charge is selected to win the Winter Handicap, the second leg of the double. He was handy to the leaders, in about fifth place, with five furlongs to run in the Christchurch Handicap qn Wednesday, but Rewa Scott broke and checked him, causing him to lose his chance. The extra distance of tomorrow’s race should suit him admirably and, though he will concede starts of up to 48 yards, he should not find the task too difficult. Syre Charge has been trotting excellently in his trials, and he will be a fit horse. Vodka’s Chances Vodka is the problem horse in the field. He made an outstanding effort at the Addington trials recently, when he began much better than usual. Provided he does not lose too much ground, he should go close to winning. He has drawn No. 1 at the barrier, and this will not be in his favour. There are few trotters in commission capable of competing with Vodka for sheer speed. He has improved out of all knowledge since being trained in Canterbury, and he has some outstanding performances to his credit. If he races more solidly this season, as his effort at the trials suggested, he should develop into the best stake-winning horse of his gait for the year. Swanee River was far from disgraced when he finished second to Gold Horizon in Wednesday’s race. He was well clear of the others, headed by Father’s Wish. He should be placed again. Correction ran, a fair race on Wednesday, and it should have improved her. At her best, she will have prospects. Captain Cuddles and Ascot were both heavily supported on Wednesday, but neither flattered his followers. Both broke very badly at the start, and they were never in the contest. Both are capable trotters, but are too unreliable. Bonus and Fair Isle make most appeal of the others, but Sure Charge and Vodka should dispute the finish. Battleground will be solidly backed in the Queen Mary Handicap to make amends for his defeat by Countermark in the Heathcote Handicap on Wednesday. The Light Brigade pacer is in excellent order. He will need only to begin reasonably well tomorrow to win. A high opinion is held of .this Dunedin-owned pacer. He should graduate to the best classes in the next few months. Poranui gave a sound display when sne won the Ribbonwood Handicap on Wednesday, and the shorter distance of tomorrow’s race should suit her. She will be handily placed on the front mark. Girl Black’s placing on the first day of the meeting was full of merit, and she should again be prominent. So should the fourth horse in the same race, Paia Royal. He may even prove superior to Battleground. N. L. Berkett will parade a useful bracket in Aladdin ana Schwanda, both of which are most capable pacers. Sea Rover made up ground for fifth in Wednesday’s race, and he may be near a return to form. Tribal Song and Gay Lyric faded because of lack of condition on Wednesday, but they may give improved displays tomorrow. Their chances of beating Battleground, however, do not look bright. Petite Yvonne Favoured Petite Yvonne may gain a well-deserved win in the Farewell Handicap. She was not disgraced by being beaten by Burns Night on Wednesday, because she was forced to go to the front too soon, as a result of the very slow pace set in the early stages of the race. She is more than capable, and should be hard to beat here. Bums Night won so easily on Wednesday that he cannot be overlooked here. He will not have an easy task from 48 yards, but if there is again a slow pace over the first half-furlong, he will be hard to beat.

Duncraig won well over two miles on Wednesday, and the mile and a quarter tomorrow should suit him. He could surprise. Johnny Globe was not well served in the running on Wednesday, and he is expected to improve tomorrow. Gay Dene and Tactics are selected to do best of the others.

Brucus, which was beaten by Duncraig on Wednesday, may win the Wildwood Handicap. He should have benefited by his two runs on Wednesday. Tactics had a good placing in the sprint on Wednesday. She will need only to begin smartly to be prominent. Countermark, a first-day winner. First Mate, Red Chase, and Fallacy may also show up.

Black Douglas will be a firm favourite for the Metropolitan Stakes, He has done well since last he raced, and his track efforts have been of a high standard. Scottish Note performed with credit at the Addington trials, and he could easily beat Black Douglas. Dancing Years and Excelsa are likely improvers, and they are certain to be well supported. King’s Order and Distant Star have useful records, and they should do best of the others. Franquin, runner-up to Blue Admiral on Wednesday, Quick Silver, and Branford are a likely trio for the Addington Handicap. The others in the race do not make much appeal, and the best of them, may be Concord and Madam Grattan. ~ Merval will need only to be near her best to win the Improvers’ Handicap. Most opposition to her may come from Trout Stream, which was checked and sent to a break in her race on Wednesday. Retard was running on in the same race in fifth place, and she may improve. Au Revolt, Esquire, and Brava may do best of the others. * Kerry Girl has been scratched from the Addington Handicap. The following horses will be bracketed on the totalisator:— Improvers’ Handicap: Gretna Green and Fair Annette. Queen Mary Handicap: Aladdin and Schwanda, Scott Wrack and Gay Lyric. Farewell Handicap: First Mate and Johnny Globe, Empire Lady and Realm Again. Selections are:— 10.45 a.m.—lmprovers’ Handicap: Merval, Trout Stream, Retard. 11.28 a.m.—Addington Handicap: Franquin, Quick Silver, Branford. 12.13 p.m.—Queen Mary Handicap: Battleground, Poranui, Girl Black. 12.58 p.m.—National Handicap: Masterpiece, Petite Yvonne, Adorian. 1.43 p.m.—Wildwood Handicap: Brucus, Tactics, Countermark. 2.28 p.m.—Winter Handicap: Sure Charge, Vodka, Swanee River. 3.13 p.m.—Metropolitan Stakes: Black Douglas, Scottish Note, Dancing Years. 3.58 p.m.—Farewell Handicap: Petite Yvonne, Burns Night, Duncraig.