BUCCANEER IN FORM

Press, Volume LXXXIX, Issue 27191, 7 November 1953, Page 4

BUCCANEER IN FORM

TROTTING

RICCARTON STAKES ON TUESDAY HIGH-CLASS FIELD OF THREE-YEAR-OLDS The Riccarton Stakes should result in one of the most interesting races on the opening day of the New Zealand Trotting Cup meeting on Tuesday. The 15 horses engaged are of good class and it is difficult to select a likely winner. However, the bracket of Buccaneer and Brahman will probably be a firm favourite. Buccaneer was the best-performed two-year-old last season and, although he failed badly in the Canterbury three-year-old Stakes at Addington in August, it will be surprising if he fails to reach at least a place on Tuesday. Last term he won the Timaru and New Zealand Sapling Stakes and the Canterbury Park Juvenile Handicap from four starts. His only failure was in the New Zealand Welcome Stakes, in which he met trouble in the running. • The Wayfarer-Queen’s Treasure youngster showed that he was near his best at New Brighton last Tuesday when he finished a close fifth against older and more experienced pacers. He will only need to race as well on Tuesday to win. His stablemate, Brahman, is the problem horse of the field. The Gold Bar-Haughty colt has more speed than anv of his opponents, but in none of his races to date has he really filled his hopples and kept to his gait at the start of his races. Brahman, which took a mile record of 2min 2 l-ssec

last season, has shown brilliant speed once properly balanced in his races. One of his finest performances was his second to Invicta in the Canterbury Three-year-old Stakes. He lost I almost half a furlong at the start and his effort to finish so close up m a I fast-run race was one of the highlights of the meeting. If Brahman 'begins reasonably well he should win, but, if as has been the case m most of his races, he fails to start properly, I his owner-trainer, B. Grice, should be worthily represented by Buccaneer. Invicta’s Prospects Invicta, winner of the Canterbury Three-year-old Stakes, in a most decisive manner earlier in the season when. making his first appearance in public, has trained on well as he showed at the Ntew Brighton trials last Tuesday. The Sandydalc colt has also been placed in two of ms other lour starts this season. Invicta is highly regarded and with a good trial : on Tuesday, he could easily bring about the downfall of the favourites. The North Island will be strongly represented by the Übakim gelding Bounden Duty, one of the hardiest and best three-year-olds seen in the North Island for some time. The manner in he has ’ thrived on two hard races a day against older and more experienced horses is a credit to his young Pukekohe trainer, J. K. Hughes. , • • At the recent Auckland meeting Boun- ’ den Duty won the Northern Challenge mnst riprisivelv from Caduceus,

Stakes most decisively from caauceus, i and on the second day of the meeting he was narrowly beaten by Teller in the Junction Handicap after pacing the mile • and a half in the smart time of 3min> 15 l-ssec. Later the same day he was : mixed up in an accident in the Auckland Stakes. Last Saturday he showed brilliant speed when he was narrowly beaten ’ by Antares in the President’s Handicap at the Franklin meeting. He might have been a little unlucky, as he was hope- ’• lessly hemmed in on the rails, and when he got clear he did not have enough time left to catch the winner. He will be handled by the leading Auckland reinsman, M. Stewart, and he should win a race during the meeting if he strikes form.

Likely Improver Interest will be taken in the performance of Bobby Brigade, a half-brother by Light Brigade to Black Douglas. He has been placed in his two starts to date m maiden company, and has improved considerably as a result of those runs. He is not as experienced as some of his opponents on Tuesday, but he should make a bold showing. He has been workig well at Addington lately, and he won his heat at the New Brighton trials on Tuesday in.-a most decisive manner. The Southland-owned and trained Scottish Brigade is assured of solid support. The Light Brigade colt had a win and four placings from his five starts last term, his win being in the New Zealand Welcome Stakes. He looked to be well forward when worked quietly at Addington on Thursday morning, and he will be a fit horse on Tuesday. Scottish Brigade does not appear to have grown much since last season, but he has filled out considerably and looks in great order for hard racing at Addington. Lynberne, a brother to Rupee, has been a disappointment in his races this season. The Gold Chief pacer has more ability than most in his races, but he seems to have his own ideas about racing. If he reproduces the good efforts he showed m some of his races last season he would have bright prospects of extending his record.

Young Wexford, a member of J. Young’s team, has not run a bad race against horses of his own age. and off the front he will have to be respected. The Young Bob three-year-old is very fit, and he will only need to begin smartly to have

prospects. Grand Monarch, a member of C. R. B< kett’s team, is a smart pacer on i day. He has not been rushed this seas

and he will have prospects of being placed. He is usually most reliable at the start' of his races, a decisive factor in three-year-old races over one mile and a

quarter. He will be bracketed with a speedy but unreliable pacer in Scotch Girl, a winner at Greymouth recently. She hardly seems up to this class. J. D. I.itten will be represented by a likely candidate In Caduceus, which is closely related to Highland Fling. The U. Scott pacer looks to be a high-class performer in the making. If he begins smartly he will have bright prospects of being placed, but he will not be able to give a start to horses of the calibre of Buccaneer. Lucky Spot, a half-brother to Soangetaha, was a winner at Motukarara recently, and he may improve. Santa Amada showed ability in her races last season and this U. Scott filly may be the best of her sex this Hyperbole, the other starter, does not appeal, and if track conditions are favourable Buccaneer, Invicta, and Bounden Duty should fill the places.

Hutt Park Scratching Global Voyage has been scratched for the Suburban and Stewards’ Handicaps at Hutt Park today.—(P.A.) Qualifying Trials Ashburton

Owners and trainers are reminded that nominations for trials and other events as advertised in New Zealand Trotting Calender, October 28th, 1953, will close on Monday, November 9th, 1953, at 5 p.m. with L. E. Carter, secretary Mid-Canter-bury Owners’ and Breeders’ Association. Telephone 348. Box 10, Ashburton. Advt.

WYNDHAM TROTTING CLUB.’ NOMINATIONS. NOMINATIONS for all events on the Club’s Programme, to be held on November 28, 1953, close with the undersigned on MONDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 1953, at 4 p.m. Sharp. Telegrams: "Wilson, Wyndham.” ’Phone: Office, 73; Res., 1. A. A. WILSON, Secretary, Wyndham Trotting Club. Advt.