SAPLING STAKES AT ASHBURTON

Press, Volume XC, Issue 27373, 11 June 1954, Page 4

SAPLING STAKES AT ASHBURTON

G. B. NOBLE TO PARADE STRONG BRACKET

LUCKYLAST LIKELY TO WIN HANDICAP

Royal Minstrel and La Mignon will form an excellent bracket for the Yaldhurst trainer, G. B. Noble in the New Zealand Sapling Stakes, the feature race on the final day of the Ashburton Trotting Club’s winter meeting tomorrow. These two horses have won four of the five two-year-old events decided in the South Island this season, and unless something unforeseen occurs they should finish first and second. If only one of the bracket is placed, it is expected that place betters will lose some of their investment.

Both Royal Minstrel and La Mignon have shown great stamina in their races, and both should run out the mile and a half solidly. On their efforts to date, there does not appear to be much between them, and which is the better of the pair will be shown in tomorrow’s race. None of the others in the race should trouble the bracket for first money. Lady Vai appears to have brightest prospects of winning some of the minor money. The Whipster filly failed to start in the Juvenile Handicap at the Canterbury Park meeting last month, but it may have been only a temporary lapse. Lady Vai has a useful turn of speed, and it will be surprising if she fails to show up. Dresden Lady has been a most consistent pacer during the last few months. The Light Brigade filly has shown her best form on firm ground, and conditions may not suit her tomorrow. Also, it is likely that she will find the mile and a half too long for her. Free Agent and Light Nurse have both shown plenty of ability in their races to date. The former was most impressive when he qualified against older horses last month. Another two-year-old in the race to impress in a qualifying trial is First Attack, which should do best of the others in this race. Luckylast’s Record Luckylast will attempt to win her fourth successive race in five weeks when she parades in the Ashburton County Handicap. The Blaydon mare had little difficulty in beating a useful field in the Rakaia Handicap last Saturday, and off 12 yards tomorrow, she will have' bright prospects. All her wins have been most decisive, and she appears to be improving all the time. Luckylast will be bracketed with Trout Stream, which last week encountered trouble at the start and was soon out of the race. She looked well forward, and may make a bold showing.

Another bracket likely to be in demand will be Lindy Lou and Mighty Falla. Both horses raced well last week to finish second and fourth respectively in the Durbar Handicap. If they are not forced over too much extra ground in the middle stages of tomorrow’s race, they should again be prominent. Scottish Note has raced well in hiS two appearances since resuming racing after a spell. His fifth in the Durbar Handicap after losing a lot of ground at the start was most impressive. He will be handily placed on 12 yards tomorrow, and he could easily surprise.

Lodestar also suffered interference at the start of the Durbar Handicap. The Josedale Grattan, four-year-old will appreciate the distance of one mile and a half in tomorrow’s race, and he may make amends. Camdon was unlucky in last week’s race, as he could not get clear racing to the straight, and he was forced back through the field. He appears to be near his peak again and is capable of surprising. Fair Annette has been racing consistently for'A. M. Purdon, and on the strength of her third to Ice Drift and Lindy Lou last week, she must be conceded a chance. She will be bracketed with peace Pipe, which has been a disappointment since being trained in Canterbury. This is a particularly strong field of intermediate class pacers. Others likely to show up include Straight Eight, Rowan Star, and Dillon d’Oro. Chance for Air Command Air Command gave an outstanding performance to finish fourth in the Rakaia Handicap last Saturday, after being well back and hemmed in on the rails racing to the straight. He has drawn wide out on 12 yards tomorrow, and this should enable him to escape trouble in the early rush for position. He is overdue for a win. Sonlight will be better suited by the shorter distance of tomorrow’s race. His seventh placing, not far from the placed horses, in last week’s race suggested that he was near winning form. He has plenty of ability on his day, and he may show to advantage tomorrow.

Royal Crown did not have much to spare over Coincident when he won last week, but the margin could have been increased if he had been driven out earlier in the run home. The Direct Heir pacer seems on the way to useful form, and he may extend his record tomorrow.

Luminous, Speed King, Lexeter, Young Sam, and Super Nurse are other smart pacers likely to add interest to an open race.

Stadium Chief, which was unlucky In his race last week, is selected to make amends in the Acton Handicap. The Dillon Hall gelding should run out a solid two miles, and it will be very surprising if he fails to reach a place tomorrow. Stadium Chief’s strongest opponent may be another Gore candidate, Fiona, which created a good impression when she came from towards the rear of the field at the straight entrance to win the Autumn Handicap last Saturday. The Dillon Hall mare is a good type of pacer, but unfortunately she hits her knees badly. Tomorrow she will be bracketed with Direct Hall, which is also likely to show to advantage. Scottish Song will only need to begin smoothly to be one of the hardest to beat. His placing in the Autumn Handicap last week was full of merit. Brahman, which was checked at the start of the New Zealand Futurity Stakes last week, Band Queen, Goldship and Moko Boy are others likely to show up. The double will be run on the Ashburton County Handicap and the Acton Handicap. Selections are:— 11 a.m.—Longbeach Handicap: Daybreak, Barravey, Circlette. 11.45 a.m.—Trial Handicap: Coronation Hall, Pursuance, Gainesway. 12.30 p.m.—Ashburton County Handicap: Luckylast bracket, Lindy Lou bracket. Scottish Note. 1.15 p.m.—New Zealand Sapling Stakes: Royal Minstrel bracket, Lady Vai, Dresden Lady. 2 p.m.—Acton Handicap: Stadium Chief, Fiona bracket, Scottish Song. 2.45 p.m.—Mayfield Handicap: Amigo, Caliph, Seaforth. 3.30 p.m.—Tinwald Handicap: Historic, Cassado, Sandy River. 4.15 p.m.—Winter Handicap: Air Command, Sonlight, Royal Crown. Fields, with performances, for the doubles races are:— ASHBURTON COUNTY HANDICAP, Of £750. 3min 23sec class. One mile and a half.

Scratched: Defiance. Brackets: Dillon d’Oro, Retard and Waihi Princess, Fair Annette and Peace Pipe, Lindy Lou and Mighty Falla, Luckylast and Trout Stream. ACTON HANDICAP,

Brackets: Direct Hall and Fiona, Romanesque and' True Friend. Ashburton R.C. Nominations Nominations for the Trotting events for the Ashburton County Racing Club’s winter meeting will close on Monday, Junq 14, at 4 p.m. —Advt.

0256 Barcola (6) .. scr 8090 Camcfon (3) .. scr 8100 Lodestar (8) .. scr 0007 Melva Grattan (9) .. scr 0304 Mighty Falla (5) .. scr 4040 Peace Pipe (11) .. scr 4008 Rajah (1) .. scr 1004 Real Class (10) .. scr 1910 Rowan Star (7) .. scr 0020 Straight Eight (2) .. scr 6600 Waihi Princess (4) .. scr 7029 Retard (8) .. Scr 2739 Dillon d’Oro (5) .. 12 2523 Fair Annette (2) .. 12 0502 Lindy Lou (3) .. 12 6111 Luckylast (7) .. 12 4900 Trout Stream (4) .. 12 0075 Scottish Note (6) .. 12 0250 His Majesty (1) .. 24 4201 Ice Drift (1) .. 36

Of £375. 4min 44sec class. Two miles. 0000 Annie Dillon (2) .. .. scr 0910 Band Queen (4) .. .. scr 0256 Currency (1) .. .. scr 1201 Fiona (5) .» •• .. scr 9003 Goldship (3) ** ..scr

9075 Hinepo (7) .. .. .. scr 8300 Moko Boy (8) .. .. scr 4000 Pipe Dream (9) .. .. scr 5440 Red Hackle (10) .. ..scr 2123 Scottish Song (6) .. .. scr 0007 Brahman (4) .. .. ..12 5262 Coincident (3) .. ..12 6090 Direct Hall (6) .. ..12 2107 Double Talk (7) .. *.12 2050 Moor (5) .. .. .. 12 2209 Reyleen Hall (8) .. ..12 2870 Romanesque (9) .. ..12 2214 Stadium Chief (2) .. ..12 0043 Vera Scott (1) .. ..12 0 Green Spear (1) .. ..24 8060 True Friend (2) .. ..24 0000 Bourbon Lass (1) .. .. 36 7030 Isla Devan (2) .. .. 36