AT NEW BRIGHTON TOMORROW

Press, Volume LXXXIX, Issue 27148, 18 September 1953, Page 4

AT NEW BRIGHTON TOMORROW

TROTTING

Aladdin Chosen To Win Mace Handicap CHANCE FOR EXCELSA IN FIRST LEG Aladdin is selected to win the Henry Mace Handicap, the second leg of the double at the New Brighton Trotting Club’s meeting tomorrow. The Grattan Loyal gelding is a grand stayer, as he showed when he beat Gay Lyric in the Johns Handicap on the New Brighton course three weeks ago. This season he has had two wins and one placing from three starts. Raced by his breeder, Mr P. A. Watson, of Methven, Aladdin is trainjed by N. L. Berkett at Taldhurst He will need only to reproduce his best to win tomorrow. He will be handily placed on 12 yards, with only Forward to start in front of him. If Heather Dillon has made the improvement expected of her since the Addington meeting last month, she may be the hardest for Aladdin to beat The Dillon Hall mare was narrowly beaten into fourth place in the Louisson Handicap behind Adorian, Petite Yvonne, and Van Dieman on the first day of the meeting, and the following Saturday she looked unlucky to finish no eloser than third to Adorian and Petite Yvonne in the National Handicap. • Those two performances were worthwhile efforts, and the two miles of tomorrow’s race should not trouble her greatly. Heather Dillon requires one more win to qualify for the next New Zealand Trotting Cup and tomorrow’s race will be one of her last opportunities.

Tactics, which also requires one win to graduate to New Zealand Cup company, shares the 48-yard mark with Heather Dillon. She is not always reliable at the start of her races, but there is no doubt about her stamina, as she showed when she easily beat Countermark in the Wildwood Handicap at Addington last month. In that race she recorded 4min 17 4-ssec for the two miles, and won with a lot in reserve. Forward is a likely improver. He appeared unlucky to finish no closer than fifth in a sprint race" at New Brighton three weeks ago, and he should be much improved as a result of that run. He is particularly smart over middle distances, but he should not be troubled to run out two miles solidly.

Countermark has been racing most generously this season. -He will meet Tactics on 12 yards better terms than when the Light Brigade mare beat him easily at Addington, but this may not be enough for him to turn the tables. The Springfield Globe six-year-old is better than average, and he will have prospects of being placed. First Mate and Gay Dene have shown fair ability in their races this season, but they should be safely held by Duncraig, which has trained on well since his win at Addington last month. The other acceptors do not make much appeal over this distance. A useful field of improvers is carded for the Introductory Handicap, the first leg of the double, and betting will probably be well spread, with Excelsa selected to start favourite. The Young Bob mare has been working keenly at Addington and has revelled in the . light tasks she has been allotted. Excelsa made a fine effort when she beat two promising pacers in Royal Cameo and Scottish Note in the Cambridge Handicap at New Brighton on August 29. Few of the others opposing her today have the ability of those she beat at her last start, and she will only need to begin smartly to bring her record to two successive wins. Rola Veyor is a likely improver. He showed speed when he finished a close fourth behind Jack’s Luck, Bronze Indian. and Barrier Reef in the Avon Handicap at New Brighton last month. He is likely to show more improvement than most others in the race. Chance for Sure Charge Sure Charge, a winner against some of the best trotters in commission at Addington last month, has been working with rare dash at Addington, and he should be prominent tomorrow. The Light Brigade gelding has some outstanding performances to his credit in races against pacers, and he won-a similar race at Timaru last season. It will not be because of lack of condition he fails to show up. Waihi Princess is a much-improved pacer. She has not raced for some time, out has run some of her best races when fresh. On her day, she is more than useful, and she win have a strong following tomorrow. Mighty Maori was a consistent performer last season, and. if he is forward enough, he should be hard to beat. Mighty Falla, Young Salute, and Young Sam are expected to do best of the others.

The Templeton trainer, C. R Berkett. should be well represented in the Pacific Handicap, with Brave Company and Countermark engaged. Brave Company may need the race to bring him to his peak, but, nevertheless, he should be one of the hardest to beat. Countermark will be more seasoned than most of the horses opposing him tomorrow, and from 12 yards he will have particularly bright prospects. Battleground has been a disappointment so far this season, but he should do better tomorrow. It will be surprising if he fails to reach a place. Forward is another likely improver. He was a close fifth in a similar race last month at New Brighton, and, if started again here, he will have to be respected. Gay Lyric has been running sound races over longer distances in recent weeks, and off the front here, he should be prominent. .The others in the race do not make much appeal, and the best ct them may be Paia Royal, Brucus, and Gay Dene. Poranui la Form The Grattan Loyal' mare Poranui is selected to extend her record in the Farewell Handicap. At her most recent appearance. her finishing run to take third place behind Aladdin and Schwanda in the Queen Mary Handicap at Addington was one of the features of the race. In that event, she was at the rear of the .field running to the straight, and she finished brilliantly. She will only need to receive a favourable run to win tomorrow. W. R. Butt will parade a strong bracket in Fair Annette and Spring Edition. The better of the pair may be Spring Edition, which was most impressive when she finished second to the brilliant Mervll at New Brighton three weeks ago. Girl Black, a member of L. C. Frost’s team, is a better-than-average pacer, and she may appreciate returning to racing on a grass track. Although she will be awkwardly placed on 12 yards in a big field, she should be hard to beat. '

Alkin should be improved by his run at New Brighton last month, and he may do better tomorrow. Mayenga and Retard both looked well when worked at Addington yesterday morning,* and they may be the pick of the others on the front mark. The handicapped horses appear to have the best credentials. Defendant and Tribal Seng may show up. One of the most open fields of the day is carded in the Nicoll Handicap. Battle Cry and Fingal’s Cave will form a strong bracket, in spite of their recent failures. Battle Cry’s form at New Brighton three weeks ago was too bad to be true, and he is selected to make amends tomorrow. Fingal’s Cave is a grand staying mare, and she may show up. but she may find her bracketed mate too good for her. Another strong bracket is that of Ecosse and Quick Silver, both of which have raced well on grass tracks. Deportment should be improved, by his race at New Brighton last month, and he, too. should take part in the finish. Battle Royal will have to be respected after his win on the course last month. Flammula, Madam Grattan. General Lee, and Black Light may also show to advantage. Distant Star Favoured Distant Star, which was narrowly beaten by Black Douglas and Dancing Years in the Metropolitan Stakes at Addington, may win the Seaview Handicap. The Sir Michael four-year-old has done well during the last few days, and his track efforts have been most impressive. He will only need to begin smartly to be prominent. Valour, a member of V. Leeming’s Prebbleton team, has not raced for some time, but this may not be against him. Valour had two wins and one placing from three starts last season, and, if he fe near his best, should be one of the best candidates tomorrow. If King’s Order has taken no harm from his trip to Wellington and his fall to a race at Hutt Park last Monday, he will have to be considered. His win on three weeks as ° was ’ r:OSt im- _ Grattan Bay, Sally Walla, toe race with bright prospects. Black Pegasus, a good third in a similar

race at New Brighton last month, is selected to win the Shirley Handicap, in which he may receive most opposition from Crystal Light, Royal Marine, Fairy Dell, and Combateer. ' x If Direct Link is on her best behaviour she may gain On overdue win in the Bowhill Handicap. The U. Scott mare is more than useful, and she is the outstanding entrant in a weak field. Lady Jane and Royal Hall, both of which have shown speed in their- recent races, will form a popular bracket, and either could be placed. Robin Gay raced well enough at New Brighton last month to suggest an early return to form. Sir John, Royal Present, and Manai make I most appeal of the other*,