MATCH RACE AT ASHBURTON

Press, Volume LXXXIX, Issue 27165, 8 October 1953, Page 4

MATCH RACE AT ASHBURTON

FOUR FINE TROTTERS ENGAGED GOLD HORIZON SHOULD BE PROMINENT The Ashburton Trotting Club will stage one of the greatest attractions for many years when the four horses invited by the club—Barrier Reef, Dictation, Gold Horizon, and Vodka — parade in a flying mile match race at the club’s spring meeting on Saturday. The race, which has aroused considerable interest among trotting enthusiasts throughout New Zealand, will be run after the second race, about 12.15 pjn. It is doubtful whether New Zealand has ever had a stronger representation of straight-out trotters. Though it is unlikely that Worthy Queen’s 19-year-old mile record of 2min 3 3-ssec, established at Addington, will be broken, it is expected that the winner of Saturday’s race will take about 2min ssec if track and atmospheric conditions are favourable. Rain during the last few weeks has improved the Ashburton track, and it should provide first-class footing on Saturday. Nevertheless, the Ashburton track will not be nearly as fast as Addington at its best The Ashburton track is undulating, and a dip in the straight has brought about the downfall of more than one high-class performer when travelling at top speed. Also it must, be remembered that the four horses down to race on Saturday are being prepared for the New Zealand Cup meeting, which will open in less than five' weeks, and they may not be right at their peak. They should be near their best, however, and a very fast time should be returned. The four horses engaged on Saturday have all trotted one mile in their races in better than 2min ssec and, from a moving start, they should set a merry pace for the full distance. All four .horses have outstanding records, and, except Vodka, each has earned more than £lO,OOO in stakes. Vodka, a six-year-old, is the youngest of the four. Dictation is nine, Barrier Reef 10, and Gold Horizon 11.

Gold Horizon’s Record Gold Horizon is the best-performed of the four, and he is expected to win the event. Although he is nearing the veteran stage, he retains all his old brilliance, as he showed when he gained an easy win over Sw r anee River and Father’s Wish in the Christchurch Handicap at Addington in August. The Quite Sure gelding has never been extensively raced, and his heaviest season was as a nine-year-old, when he had 14 starts for five wins, five placings, and £6195 in stakes. He did not start racing until he was a six-year-old, and since then he has had 49 starts for 16 wins, 11 placings, . and £14,195 in stakes.

Gold Horizon did his early racing for his Ngaruawahia breeder, J. G. Gillard, and he showed more than average ability. The big-striding gelding showed fair form in the Auckland district, and it was not until he was leased to the Leeston trainer, W. J. Doyle, after the interDominion championship meeting in 1951, that he really showed his worth. In a little more than two seasons under Doyle’s guidance, he has had 25 starts for 10 wins and eight placings, and has earned £11,340 in stakes. His wins have included the Ashburton Trotting Gup, the New Zealand Hambletonian Handicap twice, the Oamaru Wishful Handicap twice, the Hambletonian Handicap, and the Greyhound and Christchurch Handicaps and the Stewards* Trotting Stakes, all at Addington.

Gold Horizon has brilliant speed, as he showed in his recent Addington wins, and, although he holds only one New Zealand record—the winning record of 3min 27 4-ssec for one mile and five furlongs—he has gone close to record figures on more than one occasion. If he is given the-opportunity it would not be surprising to see him toe first trotter in New Zealand to trot a two-minute mile or, better under favourable conditions at Addington. Holds Six Records Dictation, holder of six of the 10 records shown in official statistics, should appreciate the moving start, , Whereas Gold Horizon is brilliant from a standing start, Ditcation is usually very slow to become properly balanced. The Josedale Dictator gelding has shown a preference for dirt tracks in the past, but he is now trained on the Ashburton course, and may do better this time. He has not raced since last Easter at Addington, but he is reported to have progressed well during the last few months, and he should-be a fit horse on Saturday. Dictation has been one of the glamour horses among the trotters for several seasons. He started racing as a four-year-old, but he was not hurried by his owner-trainer, J. Wilson. It was not until he was a six-year-old that he showed a glimpse of his best form. Since then he has shown outstanding ability ovg_r all distances. He has never been extensively raced, and in six seasons he has had 59 starts for 14 wins, 17 placings, and £12,435 in stakes.

His best times have been 2min 7 2-5 sec for one ’mile (against time at New Brighton), 2min 38 2-ssec for one mile and a quarter, 3min 10 4-ssec for one mile and a half, 3min 27sec for one mile and five furlongs, and 4min 15 4-ssec for two miles. His wins have included the Auckland Stewards’ Handicap, and (at Addington) the Sockburn Sprint Free-for-all, Dominion Handicap, New Zealand Trotting Free-for-all, and the Christchurch, Winter, Worthy Queen, and Reta Peter Handicaps.

ownea in souiiuana The Invercargill-owned Barrier Reef has been a great winner, and is well up to the best cesses. He proved his ability as a sprinter over one mile when he recorded 2min 6 2-ssec against time at Invercargill last season on a track not conducive to speed. He has been a consistent performer throughout his career, although his best form has been shown since he was taken over by tae B Templeton trainer, D. G. Jones. He started racing as a four-year-old, and in 68 starts he has had 12 wins and 25 placings for £11,265 in stakes. Barrier Reef’s wins have included the Forbury Park Otago Handicap, toe Worthy Queen Handicap, Dominion Handicap, and the Stewards’ Trotting Stakes at Addington. He also won a heat at the inter-Dominion champioitehip meeting, and finished fourth in the final. With a little luck, his record would have been much better, • He has had only one start this season, and looked most unlucky to be beaten by Jack’s Luck and Brbnze Indian over one mile and a half at New Brighton on August 29. He looked well forward that day and if he has made the progress expected of him, he should be hard to beat on Saturday. Barier Reef does not hold any New Zealand records, but he has recorded 2min 41 2-ssec for one mile and a quarter, 3min 17 4-ssec for one mile and a half, 3min 27 2-ssec for one mile and five furlongs, and 4min 17 l-ssec for two miles. „ , m Vodka’s Brilliance Vodka, the youngest horse of the four, is a brilliant young trotter, and the best has yet to be seen of him. He has trotted some phenomenal races, and would have won many more if he had been more reliable at the barrler. He was educated as a pacer by J. K. Hughes al Pukekohe, and had five starts at thal gait as a two-year-old before being converted to trotting, his natural gait. The Logan Derby gelding has had a; fall amount of racing, and from 58 starts hr has had 10 wins and 11 placings foi

£ He did his early racing in the interests of Mr W. Hosking, of Waluku, who later passed him on to his driver, J. S Siaw, of Riccarton. Shaw has had a great record as a trainer and driver Jrotting horses. In recent years he has been one of the leading trainers of gallopers at Riccarton. He is well known as the driver of Worthy Queen when she established her record 19 years ago. Vodka is a great stayer, and if he ■ moves oft on terms with his opponents on : Saturday there is no doubt that he will ! extend them. Once he has become prol perly balanced in his races Vodka has ► Sown phenomenal speed, a JJ d more than ! once he has trotted the last mile and a half of his races in better than 3min i lOsec. Several times he has trotted one i mile in about 2min 4sec—an amazmg i effort for such a young horse. , The Logan Derby gelding is expected to show further improvement, and he , should win a rich handicap later in the ; season for his driver, for whom he is t trained by N. K. McKenzie t Vodka’s wins to date include toe Ad- . dington Trotting Stakes and the Certtssimus and Fantom Handicaps at Ad- - dington. „ x. » t The four horses in Saturday’s race represent toe best class available in New i Zealand, and the contest should be a memorable one.

TE AWAMUTU SCRATCHINGS (New Zealand' Press Association) AUCKLAND, October 7. Scratchings posted for the Te Awamutu Trotting Club’s spring meeting on Saturdav are:— First Kihikihi Handicap.—Peter Boy, 1.30 p.m. today. Second Kihikihi Handicap.—Champion Scott, 9 a.m. Tuesday. Ohaupo Handicap.—Peter Triumph, 2 pan. Tuesday.

Dredging at Lyttelton.—During September the Lyttelton Harbour Board’s dredge, Canterbury, dredged nearly 150,000 tons of spoil from the harbour. A total of 128,310 tons was removed from the channel and channel turn, and 16,380 tons from the inner harbour.