Soangetaha Ready For Grand National Meeting

Press, Volume XC, Issue 27425, 11 August 1954, Page 5

Soangetaha Ready For Grand National Meeting

TROTTING

D. G. Jones, of Templeton, has a team of 12 horses in work, but only three of them —Soangetaha, Rewa Scott and Factotum—will race at the New Zealand Metropolitan Trotting Club’s Grand National meeting at Addington on August 21 and 28. Some of the others may race at New Brighton, but most of them are young, unraced horses.

. Soangetaha, which failed to win a race last season, is well forward for his engagements at Addington. He is in excellent order. Although he failed to win a race last season, he more than paid his way with five placings worth £2OOO from 13 starts. He finished fourth to Johnny Globe, Burns Night, and Van Dieman in the All Aged Stakes at Ashburton in October, and a month later was third to Adorian and Johnny Globe in the New Zealand Trotting Cup, after pacing the two miles in 4min 13 l-ssec.

He was then taken to Auckland, and attempted to win his third successive Auckland Cup. He encountered trouble in the running, or he might have finished closer than third. However, it is most unlikely that he would have

beaten the winner, Thelma Globe. On the second day of the Auckland meeting, Soangetaha gave another brilliant performance when he lost by half a head to Thelma Globe in the Champion Handicap. His only other placing last season was a third to Tactician and Thelma Globe in the Electric Stakes at Addington in April. Soangetaha is now an eight-year-old. The Light Brigade stallion is on a 4min 20£sec mark for two miles, and he will not' find it easy to concede starts to a number of improving pacers. He has an outstanding record, but is unlikely to race after this season. Rewa Scott’s Record

Rewa Scott, which is raced by Messrs R. Curragh and W. A. Craddock, has progressed well since she raced last. She will strip a fit horse for her races at Addington, when she will meet some of the best straight-out trotters in the country. Last season. Rewa Scott showed fair form. From 16 starts, she gained one win and three placings, all at Epsom. At the Auckland Cup meeting, she was second to Conquer in the Association Handicap, and to Vodka in the E. G. Bridgens Memorial Gold Cup. She then beat Unique Wonder by a nose, with Vodka third, in the J. Rowe Memorial Gold Cup. Her other placing was a third to Fairy Dell and Indian Parrish in the St. Andrews Handicap at Epsom in February. On her day, Rewa Scott has plenty of speed and stamina. If the U. Scott mare is in a generous mood at Addington, she may earn some place money. Factotum will race against the slower-class trotters. The Grattan Loyal gelding gained two wins and seven placings from 20 starts last season. With a little luck, he would have won at least one other race. He beat Fingal’s Cave in the Tahuna Handicap at Forbury Park on October 17. and in May he beat Oaktree and Moccasin in the Kelburn Handicap at Hutt Park. Factotum is particularly smart in bad ground, and he may have conditions to suit him at Addington this month. The former Southland trotter should develop useful form this season. Trixie Miine A recent addition to Jones’s team is the Grattan Loyal mare Trixie Milne, a half-sister to Black Douglas and Bobby Brigade. She gained two placings last season. Her best effort was a second to Denbry in the Au Revoir Handicap at the Canterbury Park meeting on January 2. Trixie Milne is a nine-year-old this season, and she is at an age where very little improvement can be expected. However, if Jones can get her back to her best, she could pay her way when the class is not too rich. Pacific Pace, the winner of two races early last season, is being prepared for the New Brighton meeting next month. His most recent success was in the Express Handicap at Hutt Park last September, when he beat Heroism and Lucky Scholar. Pacific Pace has his share of ability over sprint distances, and he may pay his way at minor meetings this season. Young Soong will be a candidate for maiden races early this season. Owned in Dunedin by Mr C. B. Foon, she is a four-year-old mare by an Australianbred horse, Young Bob, from Jane Worthy, the dam also of a speedy pacer, Battleground. Daughter of U. Scott A four-year-old mare by U. Scott from Holly Potts is showing promise in her work. Her dam, a Jack Potts mare, is also the dam of Quick Trick and Christmas. Spirit, both of which were winners. A three-year-old gelding by Light Brigade from Regalare is a half-brother to winners in Sowden Beck and Monitress.

Jones is also training two other three-year-old fillies by Light Brigade. The first is out of the U. Scott mare Ngaire Scott, a half-sister to a grand pacer in Jackie Guy and another useful performer in Authie. The. second is out of Rendezvous, a daughter of Dillon Hall and Rocks Ahead, the dam also of Barrier Reef, Navigate and Global Voyage. She was nought at auction last season for 430gns. Jones also has Camber- in work. Camber, which has yet to race, is a three-year-old brother to a smart pacer a few seasons ago in Beckleigh. Camber has shown promise at matinee meetings, and he may soon show form this season. A start has been made recently to prepare the trotter Barrier Reef for racing later in the spring. Barrier Reef last season was three times placed from 13 starts. He finished third to Jack’s Luck and Bronze Indian in a race for pacers at New Brighton in the spring, and then failed to show form until he finished fourth to Vodka. Swanee River and Dictation in the Fergusson Handicap at the Royal meeting in January at Addington. His only other placing was a third to Precaution and Indomitable in the Crescent Handicap at Forbury Park last February. - Barrier Reef has not raced since he was bought at auction for 325gns by Mr F. Jamison, of Aylesbury. He is now an 11-year-old, but he has not yet reached the end of his run. If he returns to form, he should win a good handicap later in the season.