TROTTING Dresden Lady Favoured In N.Z. Futurity Stakes

Press, Volume XCI, Issue 27674, 2 June 1955, Page 4

TROTTING Dresden Lady Favoured In N.Z. Futurity Stakes

Provided the track is firm, Dresden Lady is selected to, win the £lOOO New Zealand Futurity Stakes, the feature race on the first 'day of the Ashburton Trotting Club’s winter meeting on Saturday. Dresden Lady showed that she was at the peak of her form when she finished brilliantly from an awkward position at the straight entrance for second behind Silver Wood in the Ellesmere Handicap at Addington last Saturday. The Ellesmere Handicap was Dres* den Lady’s first test for ptamina, and she passed it with honours. She paced the two miles in 4min 19 4-ssec, 1 4-ssec outside Snowflake’s two-mile record for a three-year-old. Dresden Lady has developed considerably since the beginning of the season, and has become a fine type of filly.

After her good effort on Saturday, the mile and five furlongs of the Futurity Stakes should not worry her unduly. She won the New Zealand Pacing Stakes from Light Nurse at Addington in April, pacing the mile and five furlongs in 3min 32 l-ssec. She then won the L. L. Richards Memorial Handicap at Methven, pacing the mile and a quarter in the very good time of 2min 44 3-ssec. One of the most improved three-year-olds in commission, Dresden Lady is not at home in easy going, and unless the track is really firm, her prospects will not be bright on Saturday. The Ashburton track is in excellent order, and heavy rain will be needed to make the going easy.

Don Hall, which can succeed on any type of track, may be the hardest for Dresden Lady to beat. The Whipster gelding won the New Zealand Champion Stakes at Ashburton last December, but since then his form has been rather disappointing, though he beat a strong field of improvers at Addington in April. Don Hall will appreciate the small field and the roomy track at Ashburton, and he is certain to take part in the finish. On a heavy track, it would be almost impossible for him to be beatenBack to Form

Royal Minstrel indicated that he was right back to the outstanding form he showed at Addington last November by finishing with a brilliant run for fifth in the Fendalton Handicap at Addington on Saturday. Had he been able to work clear earlier it is probable that he would have returned a dividend. On the strength of that effort, he is entitled to respect on Saturday. Light Nurse has paced some fine races this season, and she also is expected to appreciate the smallness of the field on Saturday. The Light Brigade filly has plenty of speed and stamina, but unfortunately she is not always reliable at the start of her races. If she moves off with her field on Saturday, she will be prominent.

Trueco is one of the problem horses in the field. The Light Brigade gelding has shown fine form in open handicap races, and is one of the most promising horses of his age. He had no luck in the running, in the Ellesmere Handicap at Addington on Saturday, or he would have been placed. He is a fine stayer, but prefers firm footing. He could easily upset calculations on Saturday. Malabella has not had the best of luck in her races since she won the Riccarton Stakes last November. The Doral’s Derby filly finished third in the New Zealand Derby Stakes, and second in the New Zealand Oaks,

New Zealand Champion Stakes and Charles Cross Stakes. With a little luck, she would have won at least one of these races. She appeared to trail off late in the autumn, but showed that she was returning to her best when she finished close to the placed horses in the Advance Handicap at Addington last Saturday. She was at no stage closer than three out from the fence, and in the circumstances did well to finish so olose up. With a good trail on Saturday, she could be prominent.

The lightly-raced Sierra Madre has shown considerable ability, and if at her best’she will have prospects. She is a sister to Santa Amada, another speedy but unlucky pacer. Count Renaldo, Gold Moana and Prometheus complete the field. Count Renaldo has shown speed in some of his races, but he may find the class in Saturday’s race too rich for him. Gold Moana was a winner earlier m the season on a heavy track, but his recent efforts have been nothing to enthuse over. Prometheus, a son of Whiptsper, qualified recently at Addington. He will have his first race experience on Saturday, and, although he has plenty of speed, will probably find the others too experienced.

In a very open race and on a firm track, Dresden Lady, Don Hall, and Royal Minstrel may dispute the finish. Dual Acceptor

Flywheel is an acceptor for the Durbar Handicap and the R. A. Armstrong Memorial Handicap, the first legs of the double at the Ashburton and Wallington meetings respectively, on Saturday.

Strong Bracket The Templeton trainer, W. R. Butt, will parade a strong bracket of three —Coincident, Kingsdown Direct apd Kingsdown Grattan—in the Rakaia Handicap at Ashburton on Saturday. All three are capable sprinters, and it will not surprise if. more than one of them is placed.

To Resume Racing Sure Wood, a candidate for the Harvest Handicap at the Ashburton Trotting Club’s meeting on Saturday, will have his first start since he was unplaced in the Rangiora Cup Handicap in December, 1952. An eight-year-old brother to Sure Terra, Sure Wood gained his last placing at New Brighton in September, 1952, when he finished second to Mayenga in a race for probationary drivers. Extra Day Sought The Invercargill Trotting Club has applied for an extra permit for next season. The club hopes to hold a special centennial meeting at Invercargill, probably in April. The New Zealand Trotting Conference has one “floating” permit. Two years ago, it was used for the Royal meeting at Addington, and this year it was given to the Auckland Trotting Club for its Inter-Dominion Championship meeting. Camille in Foal

Camille, a good fourth in the Advance Handicap at Addington last Saturday and a candidate for the Harvest Handicap at Ashburton this week, was last year served by Light Brigade, but was thought not to be in foal. She was tested recently, and this showed that she was in foal, so her races at Ashburton at the weekend will probably be her last race appearances. Camille should appreciate the distance of one mile and a half in the Harvest Handicap on Saturday, and she will have prospects of

reaching a place if she races as well as she did last week.

Spring Walk Spring Walk has been placed in her five most recent appearances and she may gain a long-overdue win in the Durbar Handicap, the first leg of the double at on Saturday. The Light Brigade mare overcame a check in the running to finish third to Unite and Aula in the Fendalton Handicap at Addington last Saturday. She received a shocking run for most of the race, and was forced to cover a lot of extra ground. If her trainer, P. P. Gallagher, receives a reasonable run with her on Saturday, she should go close to winning. She has more ability than most others in the race. Ashburton Brackets

The following horses will be bracketed on the totalisator on the first day of the Ashburton Trotting Club’s winter meeting on Saturday:— Allenton Handicap: Midlothian and Thumberlina, Sure Maggie and Te Waihopi, Worthy Admiral and Heather Walla.

Durbar Handicap: Barcola, Belle Renarde and Count Grattan, Lodestar and Flywheel. Harvest Handicap: Pennyfare and Stylish Grattan. Autumn Handicap: Battalion and Kelso.

Rakaia Handicap: Ductile and Double Talk, Kingsdown Grattan, Kingsdown Direct and Coincident, Nil Desperandum and Master Tony. Hutt Park Withdrawal

Danniel's Pride has been withdrawn from the Au Revoir Handicap at Hutt Park on Saturday.—(P.A.) Hutt Park Brackets Bracketed horses at the Wellington. Trotting Club's winter meeting at Hutt Park on Saturday will be:—Otaki Handicap: Jolly Nikola and Our Amy. R. A. Armstrong Memorial Handicap: Headmaster and Whispering Smith. Randwick Handicap: Hazel Grattan and Russell Grattan. Port Nicholson Handicap: Ted Scott ahd Johnny Ray.—(P.A.)