AT ASHBURTON TOMORROW

Press, Volume XC, Issue 27367, 4 June 1954, Page 4

AT ASHBURTON TOMORROW

TROTTING

LODESTAR FAVOURED IN HANDICAP '

STADIUM CHIEF SHOULD WIN AGAIN

The Belfast trainer, C. S. Donald, who has Brahman engaged in the New Zealand Futurity Stakes, will be well represented- in the Durbar Handicap, the main handicap on the first day of the Ashburton Trotting Club’s winter meeting tomorrow. Donald has Lodestar and Jaunty engaged. Both have been recent winners, and they will be handily placed. Lodestar was a most convincing winner at Forbury Park early last month, and at his only start since then, he was badly checked at Addington. He has developed into a fine type of horse, and he should show' up. Jaunty has not raced since the Hawera meeting in April, when he won the Hawera Cup. He is a grand stayer, and with a favourable run tomorrow he should be prominent. Straight Eight, which was/ beaten by Gay Heritage after making all the pace in his race at Addington last month, is another smart improver. If he can be kept in behind in tomorrow’s race, he may be more difficult to beat.

Rowan Star created a good impression when she finished very fast to beat Lexeter at Addington recently. If she races as well again, she may win. She is a sound stayer, but she is not always reliable. However, she has been racing more solidly in her recent appearances, and she should make a bold showing tomorrow. Barcola will be much better placed on the front mark tomorrow than for some time. The Invercargill-owned pacer has fair ability. Others , expected to show up in a very open race are Fair Annette, Dillon d’Oro, and Scottish Note. Scottish Note may surprise. He appears to be right back to his best. Won at Amberley Stadium Chief won well at the Amberley Racing Club’s meeting last Saturday, and if he reproduces that effort he should win the Harvest Handicap. Before his Amberley success, Stadium Chief finished a good second to the much-improved Luckylast at Oamaru. He will not be opposed by a very strong field tomorrow. Royal Crown has his share of ability, and he will need only to begin smoothly to have prospects of being placed. At his most recent appearance he finished second to Luckylast over two miles at Addington on May Bdnd Queen, a sister to Paia Royal, has shown speed in her races this season. She won at Ashburton last December, and also at her most recent appearance at Hutt Park hast mohth. The Dillon Hall mare should be prominent if she is allowed to make her own rules here. _ •

Currency has run two fair races in recent months, and he may make a bold showing. Moko Boy, Direct Hall, Romnaesquq and Coincident- jnake most appeal of the others. Another very open field is engaged in the Rakaia Handicap, two miles. Luckylast, a winner at her two most recent appearances, will be a firm favourite. She has done well since joining M. Holmes’s team. She has more than average ability.

Lexeter may have been unlucky to be beaten at Addington last month, as he covered a lot of extra ground. The Indianapolis gelding has a fair turn of speed and, if the track is easy, he will have very good prospects. Green Label, a disappointment lately, worked well at Addington on Tuesday. If he is allowed to hit out freely in front, he will be hard to catch.

Air Command has some fine efforts to hjs credit this season, and he will also have to be respected; so will Luminous, Sedate, Speed King, Super Nurse and Young Sam.

Chance for Caliph Caliph, one of the best young trotters produced this season, will have a chance to make amends for several unlucky defeats when he parades in the Stewards’ Handicap, which has drawn a very unwiedly field. Caliph finished a close fourth in the race won by Anitra at Addington last month, after racing wide out on going which did not suit him for most of the race. Caliph should develop jnto a highclass performer.

The Prebbleton trainer, A. M. Purdon. will have a strong bracket of three in Demimonde, runner-up to Anitra at Addington, Remodel, and General Lee. All have a fair share of ability, and they are capable of showing to advantage in this class. Factotum did not run on as strongly as expected at Addington last month, but he should <fo better tomorrow. He will not have an easy task from 48 yards, but should run well. Kowhai, an unlucky runner at Addington, Moccasin, Moth, Don’t Regret, Sure Phoebe, Anitra, and Madam Grattan are other smart trotters with form to recommend them.

A useful field of improvers will meet in the Autumn Handicap, a race for probationary drivers. Eighteen horses have been accepted for it. The consistent Scottish Song, run-ner-up to Stadium Chief at Amberley last week, will probably be a firm favourite. He is one of the most promising pacers to graduate from maiden company in recent months, and he should win. Sandy River was unlucky at Amberley. If his probationary driver can get the best from him, he should be placed. He has a fair turn of speed, and runs on solidly in his races. Final Glow won impressively at Awapuni recently, and he may be prominent. Kingsdown Grattan, Kjlcullen, Preston Lad, and Fiona ace expected to do best of the others. Lucky Spot (New Zealand Futurity Stakes) has been withdrawn. The double will be run on the Durbar Handicap and .the Harvest Handicap. Selections are:— 11 a.m.—Allenton Handicap: Daybreak, Primavera, Circlette. 11.45 a.m.—lmprovers’ Handicap: Historic, iviandoza, Jocund. 12.30 p.m.—Durbar. Handicap: Lodestar bracket. Straight Eight, Rowan Star. 1.15 p.m.—New Zealand Futurity Stakes: Caduceus, Brahman. Grand Monarch. * P™—Harvest Handicap: Stadium Chief, Royal Crown, Band Queen. 2.45 p.m.—Stewards’ Handicap: Caliph, Demimonde bracket, Factotum. 3.30 p.m.—Autumn - Handicap: Scottish Song, Sandy River, Final Glow. 4.15 p.nr—Rakaia Handicap: Luckylast, Lexeter, Green Label. Fields, with performances, for the doubles races are:— DURBAR HANDICAP, Of £750. 4min 36sec class. Two miles.

Brackets: Lodestar and Jaunty, Mighty FaUa and Lindy Lou, Waihi Princess and DfUon d’Oro, Denver Hall and Fair AnHARVEST HANDICAP, Of £375. 3min 29sec class. One mile and a half.

5025 Barcola (5) 8809 Camdon (4) 7810 Lodestar (9) 7000 Melva Grattan (7) 7030 Mighty Falla (0) 8400 Rajah (1) 7191 Rowan Star (8) 1002 Straight Eight (2) 3660 Waihi Princess (3) , 1008 Denver Hall (4) 4420 Ice Drift (5) .. 8012 Jaunty (6) : J! 3050 Lindy Lou (3) . 12 0264 Swanee River (T.) (2) 4490 Trout Stream (1) . 12 1273 Dillon d’Oro (3) . 24 0252 Fair Annette (1) 9007 Scottish Note (2) 0000 Maestro (1) 36

Annie Dillon (9) 3091 Band Queen (2) .. •• scr 5490 Cherry Queen (5) 0025 Currency (3) .. • • scr 2108 Gold Direct (6) * scr 0900 Goldsliip (1) ~ • • scr 2907 Hinepo s '4) .. 0830 Moko Bc/y (8) .. 0400 Pipe Dream (7) 9360 Shillelah (10) .. scr 4526 Coincident (9) .. •« 12 609 Direct Hall (2) .. • . 12 0210 Double Talk (4) •• 12 Green Spear (5) • — 12 0205 Moor (8) .. •• 12 4287 Romanesque (3) — .. 12 0012 Royal Crown (1) .. 12 0221 Stadium Chief (10) .. 12 806 True Friend (7) .. 12 5000 Bourbon Lass (1) • 24 Brackett Tru® Friend and Romanesque.