TROTTING GRAND FINALS OF CHAMPIONSHIPS

Press, Volume XCI, Issue 27593, 25 February 1955, Page 4

TROTTING GRAND FINALS OF CHAMPIONSHIPS

Caduceus Selected To Beat Pacers BATTLE CRY CHOSEN IN TROTTERS’ EVENT (From Our Own Re-porter)

AUCKLAND, February 24. In spite of failures in their heats last Saturday, the West Melton-trained/ pair, Caduceus and Our Roger, will probably be favourites' for the £lO,OOO Pacing Grand Final. This will be the climax to the 1955 Inter-Dominion Championships, and will be run at the Auckland Trotting Club’s grounds at Epsom on Saturday.

The brilliant four-year-old, Caduceus, is expected to do the better of the two, but it must be remembered that Our Roger finished a creditable fourth in the last New Zealand Trotting Cup, and recorded 4min 12 3-ssec for the two miles.

Caduceus has had only two starts over two miles for two wins. He beat Aladdin in the Henry Mace Handicap at New Brighton last September, and Bartender and Goldina in the Auckland Trotting Cup in December. Both those wins were achieved with the minimum of effort, suggesting that he wouid not be troubled to run out a solidly-run two miles in the best company.

If he wins on Saturday, Caduceus will create a record, as no horse of his age has ever won the Championship series. Soangetaha (in 1951) and Ribands (1953) were four-year-olds when they finished second in the championship finals of those years. Caduceus, if successful, will have every right to be acclaimed the greatest four-year-old ever raced in New Zealand.

Caduceus’s failure last week could be attributed to the shifty nature of the track. On Saturday, unless there is rain, the going should be flint-like, and with a favourable run he should win. Our Roger will prove a useful second string for J. D. Litten, who will drive him. He has worked well since his miserable failure last Saturday, and looks right back to his best. Another bold showing can be expected from this hardy Dillon Hall gelding. Johnny Globe is again in favour for the final, after two very fine workouts at Epsom this week. The Logan Derby stallion appears to be back to his best, but whether he is really as good as when he won the New Zealand Cup Or the Inter-Dominion Trial Free-for-all at Thames earlier this month is doubtful. In a truly-run race he will not find it easy to concede starts of up to 48 yards. A win for Johnny Globe would be a fitting climax to a career studded with brilliant efforts.

If the favourites are beaten, Thelma Globe may win. The Springfield Globe mare finished a good second in her heat on the first day of the meeting. Last Saturday she finished well back after being in a hopeless position at the straight entrance. She is a brilliant pacer and a grand stayer. Many of her best races have been run at Epsom. She should at least be placed on Saturday. Tacticians’s Chance

Tactician entered discussions after his convincing win last Saturday. He has brilliant speed if allowed to make his own rules, but at; times he has been found wanting at the end of a searching two miles. He was well beaten in the last New Zealand Cup, after setting a scorching pace for one. mile and a quarter in the middle stages of the race. He is certain to be among the favourites on Saturday and may be prominent. Ribands, the sole Australian representative in the race, does not make much appeal. The Lawn Derby stallion worked well this morning, but he does not appear to be as good as when he won at Addington in November. He is certain to lose some ground at the start of the race, and this will be against him at the end of a staying contest. A better prospect is the consistent Hamilton pacer, Laureldale, which *»as not been out of the money in his last six starts. He has been running on well at the end of his races so far at the meeting, *and may be placed on Saturday. Petite Yvonne, the favourite of Auckland crowds, may find two miles too far for her, especially if the pace is on all the way. She worked well this morning, and looks fit. Dancing Years, Prince Polka, and Recent Choice are all well, but are out of their depth in a race of this class. Their chances of beating Caduceus, Jdhnny Globe, or Thelma Globe look far from bright. The Trotters

Battle Cry looks certain to bring his record since Boxing Day to four successive wins in the Trotting Grand Final, and he will be a short-priced favourite for the race. He has taken no harm from his races so far at the meeting, and off the front on Saturday appears unbeatable. He will probably attempt to lead throughout, as he did in the Ashburton Trotting Cup, and it is doubtful whether the others will catch him. Battle Cry, a five-year-old, is the youngest horse in his section.

Vodka disappointed in his race last Saturday when, 'after a good beginning, he drifte'd badly. He bas progressed well lately, and as he is such a grand stayer, he should be better suited by the two miles than most of his opponents on Saturday. The Dominion Handicap winner, Fair Isle, got her tongue over the bit in last week’s race, so it was no wonder she failed to run on. She is a fine stayer, and with a favourable run may be prominent. Indomitable has not run a bad race this season and he is certain to be popular with place investors. The others in the race appear to be out of their class and make no appeal. A poor-class field is .carded for the Pacing Consolation Race. Margaret’s Own, a good fourth last Saturday, may be favourite. If allowed to make her own rules she will take catching. Single Direct finished fifth in his two heats and recorded fastest time in each of them. He is far from being a spent force and may surprise here. Lauder Lass has at times shown fair form. On her day she is more than useful and she may be placed. Au Revoir, Lady Rowan, and Moss Hall make most appeal of the others, but there is plenty of room for a

surprise. South Island horses again appear to dominate the minor events, and Cara Nelson (Railway and Richmond Handicaps), Unite (Massey Stakes), and Secure (Ranfurly Handicap) should be prominent in their respective races. The leather has been fine in Auckland this week and no break is expected before Saturday. The track should therefore be in excellent order. The doubles will be on the Pacing Grand Final and the Ranfurly Handicap. Ths following horses will be bracketed: February Handicap: Jocelyn Grattan and Pukepoto, Denny Dillon and King Dix. Railway Handicap: Michele and Peter Boy, Sandy Sutherland and Dandy Lad. Massey Memorial Stakes: Kortan and Scottish Bingen. Pacing Grand Final: Caduceus and Our Boger. Richmond Handicap: Single Medoro and Ivy’s Pride. Selections are:— 10.45 aan.—February Handicap: Denny DUlon-King Dix bracket. Chippy, Morning Mist. 11.35 a.m.—Railway Handicap: MichelePeter Boy bracket, Cara Nelson, Welsh Machine. ~IX2O pjn.—Massey Memorial Stakes: i Unite, Royal Minstrel. Celestial.

. 1.10 p.m.—Pacing Grand Final: Cadu-ceus-Our Roger tracket, Johnny Globe, Thelma Globe. 2 p.m.—Trotting Grand Final: Battle Cry, Vodka, Fair Isle.

2.50 p.m.—Richmond Handicap: Cara Nelson, Faux Pas, Beldene. 3.40 p.m.—Ranfurly Handicap: Secure Te Atatu, Highland Flirt. 4.30 p.m.—Pacing Consolation Race: Margaret's Own, Single Direct, Lauder Lass. The fields, with form, for the main races, and drivers engaged for the Pacers’ Final, are listed below:— PACERS' GRAND FINAL, Of £lO,OOO. Two miles. 1434 Dancing Years (3), M. Holmes scr 0032 Prince Polka (2), J. Butcher .. scr 2020 Recent Choice (1). D. G. Jones scr 0013 Caduceus (1). D. C. Watts .. 6 0410 Our Roger (2), J. D. Litten .. 6 1232 Laureldale (3), F. Smith, jun. .. 18 0441 Petite Yvonne (1), P. Wolfenden 18 2401 Tactician (2), M. C. McTigue ». 18 3103 Ribands (2), J. D. Watts .. 30 2220 Thelma Globe (1), J. B. Pringle 30 4314 Johnny Globe (1), D. G. Nyhan 48 Bracket: Caduceus and Our Roger.

STARTING PROBLEM AT EPSOM CLUB’S COMMITTEE MEETS CONFERENCE MEMBERS (From Our Own Reporter) AUCKLAND, February 24. The Auckland Trotting Club’s committee met at Epsom this morning and discussed with members of the New Zealand Trotting Conference how the problem of starting a second line on the front mark within a six-yard barrier could be overcome. When approached later, members of the committee declined to make any statement other than to say that “everything would be right on race day.” The committee had thought of arranging for an official to hold a short barrier at the start for Precaution, the only horse on six yards, but the Rules of Trotting state that every start shall be by mechanical means, and this would not permit anyone to hold a barrier. It is unofficially reported that there will be no second line on the front mark on Saturday, but how the club intends withdrawing two horses from the race is not known. CAPTAIN SANDY’S . DRIVER K. WEBSTER ENGAGED (From Our Own Reporter) AUCKLAND, February 24. K Webster, of South Australia, who is on holiday in Auckland, has been engaged to drive Captain Sandy in the Pacing Consolation Race on Saturday. Webster drove one of T. H. Gunning s horses at Addington in 1951, when the championships were held there. N. Gath, who drove Captain Sandy earlier at the meeting, has returned h °Captain Sandy’s stablemate, Para Rip, has been scratched from the Trotting Final, as he is still very sore. This will leave only two horses on the second line on the front mark in this race. Five other starters are engaged earlier in the day in the February Handicap and may not start in the final. SCRATCHINGS

Scratchings issued for tomorrow’s meetings are:— Auckland Trotters’ Grand Final: Para Rip. Ranfurly Handicap: Prince Polka. Te Aroha Waitoa Hack Handicap: Pur Sang. Herries Memorial Cup: Rebound. Waihou Handicap: Intuitive. Hot Springs Handicap: AqueUo. Levin Trial Race: Sports Model, Hassoun. Levin Handicap: Nottingham, Sublime, Tricorne, Cambridge. 1 Champion Hack Handicap: Pinnacle Ridge. Wellington Gracefield Trot Handicap: Barravey. Taita Handicap: Stylish Linda. Utility Trot Handicap: Barravey. Tasman Handicap: Stylish Linda. Geraldine Introductory Handicap: Sheffield’s Beauty. Invitation Stakes: Starwise. Waihi Handicap: Laughlin’s Lass. Stewards' Trot Handicap: Gay Tune.

TROTTERS’ GRAND FINAL, Of £3000. Two miles. 0003 Anxious Moments (2) .. scr 3111 Battle Cry (10) .. scr 0000 Captain Cuddles (7) .. scr 0040 Conquer (4) • .. scr 1000 Ecosse (9) .. scr 4000 Glen Star (12) .. .. scr 3000 Indian Parrish (13) .. scr 4332 Indomitable (3) .. scr 0000 Major Scott (6) , .. scr 0000 Mountain Range (1) .. scr 0000 Old Scotch (14) .. scr C300 Pay Boy (8) .. scr 0040 Tapuwae (11) .. scr 0000 Precaution (1) .. 6 4404 Fair Isle (1) .. .. 18 2020 Vodka (1) .. 36 Scratched: Para Rip. RANFURLY HANDICAP, Of £1250. 3min 38sec class One mile and five furlongs 0 Dandy MacLean (3) . scr 0100 Logan Dell (1) . scr 0000 Parklight (4) . scr 0302 Whispering Smith (2) . scr 4000 Barbara Gaillard (6) . 12 001 Doradel (1) . 12 0000 Douglas Derby (5) . 12 0000 Logan Fame (4) . 12 0113 Secure (2) . 12 0140 Tte Atatu (3) .. . 12 0300 Brave Company (1) . 24 0324 Highland Flirt (3) . 24 Scratched: Prince Polka. PACERS’ CONSOLATION HANDICAP, Of £1500. One mile and five furlongs. 0000 Au Revoir (1) .. . .. scr 3000 Bartender (5) . .. scr 0300 Brave Company (7) . .. scr 0000 Lady Rowan (3) . .. scr 1100 Lauder Lass (4) . .. scr 0100 Moss Hafi (8). .. . • • scr 4000 Princess Jewel (2) . .. scr 0000 Rellek (9) . •. scr 0000 Scottish Star (6) . .. scr 00 Tennessee Sky (1) . .. 6 0000 Soangetaha (1) . .. 12 0200 Zulu (2) . .. 12 0304 Margaret’s Own (1) . ..18 0000 Single Direct (1) . .. 36 00 Captain Sandy (1) . .. 48 ■ r