TROTTING Pointer Likely To Race Well In Manawatu Stakes

Press, Volume XCI, Issue 27634, 15 April 1955, Page 5

TROTTING Pointer Likely To Race Well In Manawatu Stakes

The South Island’s best-performed two-year-old pacer, Pointer, travelled north on the inter-island steamer express on Wednesday evening, in company with Count Grattan. A great deal of South Island interest will be taken in the performances of these two pacers on the first day of the Manawatu Trotting Club’s meeting at Awapuni tomorrow. Pointer is engaged in the Seventh Manawatu Futurity Stakes, after which a decision will be made on whether he will be taken to the Auckland Trotting Club’s May meeting, or return south.

The first of the progeny of Intruder to race, Pointer has, from four starts, won the Canterbury Park Juvenile Handicap and the Geraldine Invitation Stakes, and secured a fourth in the Timaru Nursery Stakes and a second in the New Zealand Welcome Stakes. This record is far better than that of any opponent he will meet tomorrow.

The distance of the Manawatu Futurity Stakes is nine furlongs. Pointer is a brilliant beginner and smart front-runner, and these qualities should stand him in good stead against the capacity field he will meet. Pointer will be driven by his trainer, W. D, Robinson, who races him in partnership with A. Holmes. The Manawatu Futurity Stakes is the second leg of the double. Another southern visitor engaged in this event is the Gore-trained Guard’s Brigade, and this well-bred Light Brigade colt will also receive a fair measure of support. Guard’s Brigade showed ability at trials before Appearing in public, but at his first two race starts he ruined his chance by breaking badly at the start He performed much more sensibly at Hawera last Saturday, and finished strongly to secure a second placing over one mile and a quarter in the Hawera Juvenile Stakes. If he could be relied on to move away smoothly tomorrow, his prospects would be bright. The most likely of the North Island two-year-olds to extend Pointer should by Great Evander, a Bill B. colt raced and trained by J. S. Herring, of Kumeu. Great Evander, has raced twice. He was narrowly beaten by Red Monarch in the Thames Juvenile Stakes on February 5, and he easily won the Hawera Juvenile Stakes last Saturday. He is reliable, and is reported to Be still improving. Bonny Medoro, a bay colt by Medoro from Gallant Pointer, which finished third in the Hawera Juvenile Stakes, and Unkoba, a chestnut gelding By Übakim from Tidy Lady, which finished fourth, are the pick of the others.

Dual Acceptor Count Grattan, a member of O. G. Oakley’s Yaldhurst team, is engaged in the Manawatu Trotting Handicap, which is the first leg of the double, and the Flying Handicap. This Grattan Loyal five-year-old can both sprint and stay. He has been unplaced at each of his three latest starts, but luck has not been with him. He should acquit himself well against the field he will meet tomorrow. H. Brosnan’s Trevor de Oro gelding, Dione, which scored a surprise win for the south on the final day of the Hawera meeting on Tuesday, is also engaged in the Manawatu and Flying Handicaps tomorrow. The shorter distance of the latter race may suit him better. His Washdyke trainer. P. P. Gallagher, seldom returns from this meeting without winning a race. Gallagher also has Hunter’s Luck engaged in the Kaifanga Handicap and Linton Handicap. Another Can-terbury-trained horse engaged at the meeting is the consistent Mercury Light, which is to Contest the trotters’ events. Selections are:— 11.15 a.m.—City Ttot Handicap: Merrie Scott, Vernatecia, Mercury Light. 11.55 a.m.—Kairanga Handicap: First Division—Golden June, Logan Dawn. Second Division—Marylight, - Hunter’s Luck.« 12.40 p.m.—Broadway Handicap: First Division—Ted Scott, Hula Rose. Second Division—Lucky Belwyn, Grattan Dillon. I. p.m.—Manawatu Handicap: Count Grattan, Sandy Sutherland, Imperial Scott. 2.5 p.m.—Whyte Memorial Trot Handicap: -Knighthood, Mercury Light, Merrie Scott. 2.45 p.m.—Manawatu Futurity Stakes: Pointer, Great Evander, Guard’s Brigade. 3-25 p.m.—Linton Handicap: Hunter's Luck, Yvonne’s Own, Marylight. 4.5 p.m.—Flying Handicap: Dione, Celestial. Count Grattan. The fields are:— CITY HANDICAP, of £2OO, 4mln class; trotters: one mile and five furlongs.— Belle Tonian, Kaipaki Jack, Mary Dillon, Tambourine, Tyrone Bell, Vernaccia, Windsor Girl scr; Great Caution, Lady Terence, Mercury Light, Merrie Scott, Pelorous 24; Philworthy 36; Fort Knox 48, Regulus 72; Knighthood 84. KAIRANGA HANDICAP, Of £200; 2min 3lsec class: one mile and one furlong.—First division: Autumn Fair, Bronze Ray. Craven Lady, Edinburgh, Fast Change; Golden June, Impala, Kumeu Boy, Logan Dawn. Mighty Briton, Old Bill. Pedlar, Puketutu, Rawene’s Son, Waville Grattan scr. Ssecond division: Brayton Hall, Continental, Earl Louise, El Sayed. Flying Saucer, Hunter's Luck, Kewpie Doll, Little Robin, Loyal Ciss, Marcella, Mary Light, Nicketai. Platinum Gold, Sonny Lawn, scr. BROADWAY HANDICAP, of £225; 3min 52sec class; one mile and five furlongs—First division: Bill Grace, Emma, Empyrean, Golden” Chimes, Hula Rose, Jonathan, Karamai, Maharanee, Milldoria, Mission Bells, Noble Jessie, Piccadilly Boy, Satin Slipper, Ted Scott, Telford, scr; Fire Brigade 12. Second division: Callie Mac, Flying Bill, Grattan Dillon, Lady Content, Lucky Belwin, Medorosa. National Star, Noel Potts, Queen Carnival, Rhapsody, Social Justice, Sweet Jewel, True Laird, scr; Royal Arrow, Shannon Gift 48; Captain Sam 84.

COLONEL WHYTE MEMORIAL HANDICAP, of £200; 4min 57sec class; two miles.—Belle Tonian, Kaipaki Jack, Tambourine, Tyrone Bell, Vernaccia, Windsor Girl scr; Great Caution, Logan Quest, Merrie Scott 24; Lady Terrence, Mercury Light, 'Pelorous 36; Philworthy 48; Fort Knox 60; Remodel 96; Knighthood 108. MANAWATU FUTURITY STAKES,

LINTON HANDICAP, of £200; 3min 56sec class; one mile and five furlongs.— First division: Brayton Hall, El Sayed, Flying Saucer, Hunter’s Luck, Kewpie Doll, Loyal Ciss, Marcella, Mighty Briton, Pedlar, Sleepyhead, Threadneedle scr; Continental 12. Second division: Edinburgh, Fast Change, Golden June, Impala, Kumeu Boy, Logan Dawn, Mary Light, Old Bill, Paritutu, Platinum Gold, Yvonne's Own scr. FLYING HANDICAP, of £300; 2min 34sec class; one mile and one furlong.— Bardora, Celestial, Count Grattan, Dione, Imperial Scott, Jolly Wilkes, Michele, Onward Peter, Native Power, Robert Junior, Sandy Sutherland, Watchguard scr; Dandy Maclean 48.

MANAWATU SCRATCHINGS

(New Zealand Press Association) PALMERSTON NORTH, April 14. Scratchings received for the first day of the Manawatu Trotting Club's autumn meeting on Saturday Include:— Kairanga Handicap: Platinum Gold. Broadway Handicap: Jonathan and Sweet Jewel. -Futurity Stakes: Red Kitty and Sandora. Linton Handicap: Platinum Gold. Flying Handicap: Bardora.

SYDNEY HANDICAP TODAY

KISSING CUP MADE FAVOURITE

The New Zealand mare, Kissing Cup, winner of the £5OOO Lord Mayor’s Cup at Harold Park last week, is a hot favourite for the £7OO Northern Districts Handicap, to be run at Harold Park this .evening. She will start from 48 yards over 11 furlongs.

Kissing Cup won the Lord Mayor’s Cup impressively, but there were several hard luck stories after the race. P. Hall, the driver of Bruce Hall, said that his horse appeared to have a good chance of winning, when, in a slight mix-up on the home turn, a sulky wheel was crushed. The stewards reported that Brucus (A. Picken) was "climbing over” the horses in front of him at the home turn, and would almost certainly have participated in the finish but for the mix-up.

However, a Sydney publication, "Trotguide,” considers the greatest performance in the race—arid one of the best ever seen at Harold Park—was that of the run-ner-up, Active Ayr. He lost about 100 yards through breaking at the start and again in the first half-mile, and was forced to racq three horses wide throughout the running. In spite of this, he reached the front in the run home, only to be caught by Kissing Cup in the last 20 yards.

Potlaze, a brother to the New South Wales sire, Conflagrate, is showing considerable promise in Western Australia. His latest success was in a heat of the Easter Handicap at Gloucester Park on April 2. When he was being taken to the

course to contest this race, a car struck the left-hand side of the float, causing extensive damage. Fortunately, Potlaze had bpen led into the float in the partition on the right-hand side. Had he occupied the other parition, he could not have escaped serious injury. The mishap apparently caused Potlaze no harm, because

in the Easter Handicap heat he was always racing comfortably, and won by tw< yards.

The New South Wales Trotting Club has beebme interested in a new-patented ihoving start barrier.

The New Zealand mare, Vivantl, has fared particularly well in Sydney, and over the Easter holidays she was at the peak of her fotm. In. eight days, she secured six wins at the Royal Easter Show.

MANAWATU HANDICAP, Of £500. 4min 41sec class. Two miles. 0001 Captain Sam .. SCI 3000 Conquer (T.) .. scr 4000 Count Grattan .. • • .. scr 3044 Imperial Scott .. •• .. scr 0000 Jolly Wilkes •• • • • • scr 1321 Native Power •• .. .. scr 0204 Robert Junior .. •• .. scr 0001 Dione ■ • • • .. scr 0000 Watchguard .. .. .. »cr 0022 Sandy . Sutherland •• 12

Of £500. Two-year-olds. Nine furlongs. 3 Bonny Medoro .. .. .. scr 0 Cashier .. .. .. scr 0 Cerebus .. .. .. scr 30 Grey Label .. .. .. scr 00 Great Brittanla .. .. scr 21 Great Evander .. •• ..scr 002 Guard’s Brigade .. ..scr 0 Midland Star .. ... •• scr 0 Northern Glow .. •• .. scr 1142 Pointer .. .. .. scr 0 Red Kitty .. .. .. scr 0 Ricochet .. .. .. scr Ross's Way .. .. ..scr Sandora ./ .. .. scr 00 Short Circuit .. .. ..scr 00 Skydale .. .. .. scr 00 Tenacious .. .. .. scr 4 Unkoba .. .. .. scr