TROTTING Phantasy Likely To Win Methven Feature Event

Press, Volume XCI, Issue 27639, 21 April 1955, Page 4

TROTTING Phantasy Likely To Win Methven Feature Event

In the absence of the Dominion’s leading juvenile pacer, Pointer, Phantasy has a strong winning chance in the Two-year-old Stakes, a feature event at the Methven Trotting Club’s autumn meeting on Saturday. A U. Scott filly from Princess Maritza, raced by her trainer’s wife, Mrs N. L. Berkett, Phantasy has shown in her four races that she possesses great speed. Bad beginnings have marred what could have been a much better record. She made her best beginning in the Timaru Nursery Stakes last month, and led all the way to win easing up by 12 lengths. At her only start since, when favourite for the New Zealand Welcome Stakes at Addington, she broke in the first furlong, and lost all chance. At the Addington trials on Monday, Phantasy again failed to move away correctly, but after losing about 101 yards she showed brilliance to beat her three rivals home. She will start from 12 yards on Saturday, and as there is only one other runner on this mark, she will have ample room in which to move off. Glint is the other starter on 12 yards, and she is expected to be the most difficult for Phantasy to beat. This Geraldine-trained daughter of Whipster and Spangle has improved with each of her three races, and her latest effort, to beat Pointer in the New Zealand Welcome Stakes, was very impressive. Glint is reliable, and Phantasy will not be able to make any serious mistake if she is to beat her. Consistent

False Step, which has gained thirds in the Canterbury Park Juvenile Stakes, Timaru Nursery Stakes and New Zealand Welcome Stakes, may be placed in the Methven event. This Fallacy colt was at first fractious, but he has become steadier with experience. Guard’s Brigade is a speedy colt, but he has a lot to learn, and he will have to be taken on trust in an event such as this. His best effort from four starts was to finish second to the North Island two-year-old, Great Evander, in the Hawera Juvenile Stakes. Even on that occasion, he lost a lot of ground at the start. The only other youngsters in this field with any placed form are Fiord and Girl Brigade. Fiord finished second to Pointer in the Canterbury Park Juvenile Stakes at her first start, but she has been disappointing at her three subsequent starts. Girl Brigade finished fourth in the Canterbury Park classic, but was a disappointing sixth in the Invitation Stakes at Geraldine. Of the other two-year-olds, Suzendi (U. Scott—Leeston Lass) has shown ability at trials, and Lillium (Light Brigade—Liliaceae) and Reason Why (Light Brigade—ln the Mood) are bred to race well. However, Phantasy, Glint and False Step are expected to prevail in what should be another interesting contest. In Foal to Fourth Brigade The Josedale Dictator—-Dulux mare, Eileen Lillian, has ended her race career, and is in foal to Fourth Brigade. Raced by Mrs E. L. Stanton, of Kaiapoi, Eileen Lillian was a useful pacer, and she had 'her last success in the £750 Dominion Handicap at the Wellington Trotting Club's autumn meeting at Hutt Park in May, 1954. Kissing Cup Wins Again Starting odds-on favourite at 4 to 5, Kissing Cup won her second race in succession at Harold Park, when she scored a clear-cut victory in the Northern Districts Handicap last Friday evening. She made light of her 48-yard handicap over the llj furlongs, and finished strongly to win going away by three lengths. The New Zealand-bred First Variety (Attack—Variety Girl) finished a close second to Frisco Sky in the Second Three-year-old Stakes, after breaking badly at the start and tailing off early. Progeny Have Won £500,000 Dillon Hall recently became the second sire in the Dominion whose progeny have won more than £500,000 In stakes. In November, U. Scott passed this figure, and broke all records. Dillon Hall has also been represented by several big stakeearners in Australia. Jack Potts and Grattan Loyal, both now dead, have reached about £450,000 and £440,000 respectively. Grattan Loyal still has progeny racing, and he should pass Jack Potts's record. Improved Trotter

Mr Noel Simpson’s imported Italian trotter. Vernaccia, has shown fine form since being trained at Pukekohe by H. M. Allen, and she was unlucky not to win a double on the first day of the Manawatu meeting. In the City Handicap, she made all the running and

held on to win by a nose. Rehandicapped 36 yards over two miles later in the day, she appeared likely to score another victory, but she tangled with a furlong to travel. She settled down almost immediately, and secured third, placing, but she would definitely have troubled the winner, Merrie Scott, if she had stuck to her gait. Vernaccia will be at short odds among the trotters on the second day of the Manawatu meeting on Saturday. Totalisator Company For Sale

The directors of Automatic Totalisators (U.S.A.), Ltd., are negotiating with American interests to sell the company’s assets and business, it was stated in Sydney last week. The negotiations had reached the stage where it appeared that satisfactory arrangements would probably be made. Formed in Sydney in 1950, the company has a paid capital of £807,602. including £lOO,OOO in deferred shares, mainly held by Automatic Totalisators, Ltd. Losses have been incurred every year. Last year’s deficit raised the debit balance to £139,748. Impressive Winner

The Robert Earl—Clockwise mare, Golden Chimes, which was formerly trained in Canterbury, was having her first start from the Ashhurst stable of G. A. Collison when she won the first division of the Broadway Handicap on the first day of the Manawatu meeting on Saturday. She was handy all the way, and won by three lengths. She was one of the most impressive winners at the meeting, and her handicap of 24 yards in the second division of the Pohangina Handicap this Saturday may not prevent her from succeeding again. Clockwise is the dam of other winners in Patrick Earl and Scotch Alarm. Beau Marie’s Breeder

After Beau Marie’s success in the Autumn Stakes at Addington on April 9, it was wrongly stated in “The Press” that she was bred by Mr R, A. South. Her breeder was Mr L. Pierce, of Orari. Mr South bought Beau Marie from Mr Pierce when she was about seven months old, and subsequently sold her at the yearling sales.