TROTTING Aula Should Race Well In Ashburton First Leg

Press, Volume XCI, Issue 27675, 3 June 1955, Page 5

TROTTING Aula Should Race Well In Ashburton First Leg

Aula, runner-up to the brilliant three-year-old, Unite, in the Fendalton Handicap at Addington last Saturday, is selected to win the Durbar Handicap, the main race and first leg of the double on the opening day of the Ashburton Trotting Club’s winter meeting tomorrow. Aula was a most convincing winner over two miles on the first day of the For bury Park Trolling Club’s winter meeting last month, and she should not be troubled to run the distance of tomorrow’s race out solidly, even though the class is much richer than at Forbury Park. Raced by . Mr B. Rushton, of Nightcaps, Aula is a five-year-old mare by Dillon Hall from Pleasant Guy. She is a sister to Jocund, a winner at Addington last week, and a candidate for the Rakaia Handicap tomorrow. Aula races well on any type of track. It will be very surprising if she falls to show up tomorrow.

The consistent, but lightly-raced Cassado, a stablemate of Rupee and Daybreak, has never run a bad race. Off the front tomorrow, she may be Aula’s strongest opponent. Cassado is a grand stayer, and will only need to receive a reasonable run to return a dividend.

Spring Walk, which will concede starts of up to 24 yards, is long overdue for a win. The Light Brigade mare has been placed in her five most recent appearances, and with a little luck she would have won long ago. The roomy Ashburton track should suit Spring Walk, which may win a race al the meeting. The Yaldhurst trainer, O. G. Oakley, will parade a strong bracket of three horses—Barcola, Belle Renarde, and Count Grattan. Barcola will be having his first start for Oakley. He has shown fair form in Southland, and is particularly smart in bad ground. Belle Renarde has run some useful races this season, and she may have the best prospects of the three. Count Grattan, a dual winner at Forbury Park, had bad luck in his Addington race last week. He has run his best races on clay tracks, but may do well tomorrow. Change of Driver Silver Wood, a good winner in fast time at Addington last week, will not have the services of M. Holmes tomorrow. Nevertheless, she must be respected. She makes most appeal °f the others on the front mark. Bedivus was an impressive winner at Oamaru last month at her most recent appearance. The Icevus mare is a fine stayer, and from 12 yards her task will not be impossible. Rola Veyor, which wil share the 24-yard with Spring Walk, Is a very speedy pacer. If he begins smoothly ne could cause an upset. If the track is heavy, Captain King will have to be respected, and he may do best of the others. On a firm track, Legislate is entitled to be favourite for the Harvest Handicap the second leg of the double. Ihp Light Brigade four-year-old won well at Oamaru last month, and then beat all but Kingsdown Direct at Forbury Park On the strength of these efforts, he must be conceded a great chance at Ashburton. • as a most decisive winner in the Peninsula Handicap at Addington last Saturday. Her time of 3min 33sec for the mile and five furlongs was a smart effort for a mare in her class. Tomorrow’s race will be one furadvlntaje ’ a “ d thlS should be to her Camille wm an unlucky fourth In her race last Saturday, as she was forced back through the field by a tirmg horse with two furlongs to run. Under the circumstances, she did well to finish so close up. The Josedale Grattan mare will be hard to beat tomorrow if she has a more favourable run.

Blazing Sun, runner-up to Jocund last Saturday at Addington, will be well placed on the front, and once again he will have prospects of reaching a place. Scotch Girl has paced several useful races lately, and if her driver can make her begin smartly,-she will be prominent. She has more ability than most in . her class, once she gets into her stride.

Stavanger has shown tremendous speed m some of his races. However unless he can get to the front without much effort and hit out freely, he does not run on too solidly? With the race run to suit him, he would have prospects.

If started, Adan cannot be left out of calculations on a firm track. He has raced well in recent months, and is due for a win. The others in the race make little appeal, and the best of them may be Tapestry and Sir Roger. Bracket Favoured W. R. Butt’s bracket of Kingsdown Direct, Kingsdown Grattan, and Coincident is expected to be a firm favourite for the Rakaia Handicap, the main sprint race. Kingsdown Direct may do best of the three: He finished on well for fifth over two miles at Addington last Saturday, and with a better run, he would have reached a place. The long Ashburton straight should suit his strong finishing burst. Kingsdown Grattan, which has not raced for almost two months, is a capable sprinter, and he has previously raced well at Ashburton. If forward enought, he may win. Coincident had her first race for some time at Forbury Park last month, and she finished a close sixth after making most of the pace. The sprint should suit her admirably. Air Command faded to ninth over two miles at Addington last Saturday, but, as that was only his third race for the season, it should have improved him. The sprint should be appreciated by this well-bred gelding, and it will be most surprising if he fails to show up. Jocund, a winner at his two most recent starts, will have his most serious test to date. He has won so well recently that the richer opposition should not prove too much for him.

Gay Cobra, a sprint winner at Oamaru, Chance, Signet Ring, and Nil Desperandum are others expected to race well. Dark Echo will have prospects if the going is really heavy.

Stewards’ Handicap Ailsa Craig, which has marred two good winning chances in recent weeks by breaking hopelessly at the start of her races, is selected- to make amends in the Stewards’ Handicap. The U. Scott mare has plenty of speed and stamina, and she should lead the others a merry chase if she begins smoothly.

Kowhai, runner-up to the speedy Daybreak at Addington last Saturday, has progressed well since being trained by A. M. Purdon, and another bold showing can be expected from her.

Lancewood, • a member of M. Holmes’s team, trotted a fair race for fourth in the Addington Handicap last week. With very little improvement, he should return a dividend.

Prestbury, Jimmy Pride, and Quite Contrary have been rather disappointing lately, but on the roomy Ashburton track they should race well. They will all be well placed on the front mark, and should be hard to beat. The other handicapped horses have little to recommend them, and Suredale and Don’t Regret may be the pick of them.

There was heavy rain at Ashburton yesterday, but if there is good drying today, the track should be in good order tomorrow. Selections are:— 11 a.m.—Allenton Handicap: With You, Sure Maggie-Te Waihopi bracket. Worthy Admiral-Heather Walla bracket. 11.40 a.m.—lmprovers’ Handicap: Santa Amada, Scoot, Skean Dhu. 12.25 p.m.—Durbar Handicap: Aula, Cassado. Spring Walk. 1.10 p.m.—New Zealand Futurity Stakes: Dresden Lady, Don Hall, Royal Minstrel. 1.55 p.m.—Harvest Handicap: Legislate, Rosiere, Camille. 2.35 p.m.—Stewards’ Handicap: Ailsa Craig, Kowhai, Lancewood. 3.20 p.m.—Autumn Handicap: BattalionKelso bracket. Reality, Local Power. 4.5 p.m.—Rakaia Handicap: Kingsdown Direct - Kingsdown Grattan - Coincident bracket, Air Command, Jocund. Fields, with form, for the doubles races are:—

FAIR ANNETTE MAY WIN

Fair Annette, which has been racing well from awkward marks in recent months, may gain a long overdue win in the R. A. Armstrong Memorial Handicap, the main race and first leg of the double 1 bn the first day of the Wellington Trotting Club’s winter meeting at Hutt Park tomorrow. The Dillon Hall mare will be favourably placed on 12 yards and, with a reasonable run, she should be very hard to beat.

General Sandy has not raced since he won at Wyndham in March, but he is reported to have trained on in fine style, and he will be one of the favourites tomorrow. A very high opinion, is held of him, and as he is partial to heavy ground, he should take part in the finish. Graticulate has taken a new lease of life recently, and he is entitled to respect. He is very fit, as he showed when he finished ninth from 24 yards in a big field in the Fendalton Handicap at Addington last Saturday. He will probably be driven by T. L. Thomas, for whom he has paced some of his best races. The horses on the front mark make little appeal, but on a soft track. Camdon may be hard to beat. Cara Nelson, an impressive winner at Epsom last month. Catkin, and Whispering Smith are expected to do best of the others. The promising three-year-old. Super Brigade, will probably be favourite for the second leg of the double, the Port Nicholson Handicap. The Light Brigade colt was unlucky not to win at Forbury Park, and with a better run tomorrow, he should win. Silver Casket and Triad were winners at Oamaru recently, and they should show to advantage. Marshland Scott, Spotlight, and Ted Scott make most appeal of the others. • Selections are:— 11 a.m.—Rongotai Handicap: Lady Baffelan, Russell Grattan, Highland Flame. 11.45 a.m.—lmprovers’ Handicap: Super Brigade, Racemaster. Spotlight. 12.30 p.m.—Otaki Handicap: Dunfern, Cobina, Parable. 1.15 pjn.—R. A. Armstrong Memorial Handicap: Fair Annette, General Sandy, Graticulate. 2 p.m.—Randwick Handicap: Lady Baffelan, Vernaccia, Russell Grattan. 2.45 p.m.—Port Nicholson Handicap: Super Brigade, Silver Casket, Triad. 3.30 p.m.—Clareville Handicap: Francora, Mighty Briton, Craven Lady. 4.15 p.m.—Au Revoir Handicap: Albert Hall, Fatima Lady, Scottie’s Glow. Fields, with form, for the doubles race?,

Artburton T.C. Withdrawals

DURBAR HANDICAP, Of £800. 4min 36sec class. Two miles. 1012 Aula (10) ■ scr 0000 Barcola (1) 1120 Cassado (8) 0000 Grand Monarch (2) • scr 0000 La Fey (9) . scr 0000 Lodestar (5) • scr 0000 Magic Mist (4) .. scr 0000 Sedate (7) scr 0000 Silver Circle (6) scr 0001 Silver Wood (3) scr 0000 Sure Terra (11) scr 0010 Bedivus (4) . 12 4100 Belle Renarde (2) . 12 0000 Captain King (7) . 12 00 Denver Hall (6) . 12 0002 Dunvegan (1) . 12 2110 Flywheel (8) .. . 12 0040 Frigate (5) . 12 0 Virginia Scott (3) . 12 0000 Young Sam (9) .. . 12 0400 Rola Veyor (1) .. . 24 2333 Spring Walk (3) . 24 4110 Count Grattan (2) . 24 0000 Mighty Fine (1) . 48 Brackets: Barcola, Belle Renarde and Count Grattan, Lodestar and Flywheel. HARVEST HANDICAP, Of £400. 3min 29sec class. One mile and a half. 00 Band Queen (6) . scr 0002 Blazing Sun (10) . scr 104 Camille (9) . scr 4100 Clemency (4) , scr 1000 Dauntless (14) .. < scr 0400 Gold Direct (5) .. a scr 012 Legislate (7) . scr 0201 Rosiere (11) . scr 0330 Red Hackle (13) r scr 4040 Scotch Girl (8) .. . scr 0100 Stavanger (12). .. . scr 10 Tapestry (3) . scr 0300 Victory Nelson (1) . scr 0000 Virtuous (2) . scr 0000 Ayrland’s Pride (5) 0000 Direct Hall (6) . 12 . 12 0000 Final Glow (1) . 12 0000 Grattan Bay (2) . 12 0000 Sir Roger (8) . 12 4400 Stylish Grattan (3) . 12 Sura Wood (7) 12 4300 Adan (1) . 24 0300 Tiki Napu (2) .. . 24 Bracket: Stylish Grattan and Pennyfare.

R. A. ARMSTRONG MEMORIAL „ . HANDICAP, Of £800. 3min 39sec class, five furlongs. 0000 Camdon (7) .. 1000 Headmaster (fl) One mile and *» •• scr 0010 Jimmy Carlton (B) 0020 Lee Scott (2) .. *• scr 0000 Paramount (4) 0000 Tarzan Grattan (1) 0001 Cara Nelson (4) «» scr scr 12 0320 Fair Annette (1) 0121 General Sandy (2) •• 12 2010 Graticulate (3) .. 0000 Te Koi (5) .. 0003 Barbara Gaillard (5) 0003 Catkin (4) .. •• <» 12 12 24 4000 Doradel (7) 0020 Douglas Derby (1) 0002 Ice Drift (2) .. 0030 Te Atatu (3) .. 0000 Woodstock (1) •• 24 24 24 Bracket: Headmaster and Smith. Whispering

Scratched: Flywell, Whispering Smith. _ PORT NICHOLSON BANmcan Of 0000 003 0100 4m^x 49sec cIass - Two miles. :: rS Harewood's Pride (8) .. iX 0300 Lucky Belwln (1) 3100 Marcella (S> .. ” 3100 Marshland Scott (10) .. 0421 Sliver Casket (6) .. 2010 Sound Barrier (7) .. 2000 010 .. •• fi Cr 0000 Karamat (4) ,, ** 0003 Racemaster (8) .. 2042 Spotlight (1) .. 102 Super Brigade (7) 0440 Ted Scott (2) .. __ 3220 Volo’s Jewel (3) 3040 Warranty (5) .. „ 0100 Derry Brownne (2> 3000 Johnny Ray (1) Bracket: Ted Scott and Johnny Ra^ 8