TROTTING Count Grattan To Race At Addington Meeting

Press, Volume XCII, Issue 27733, 10 August 1955, Page 6

TROTTING Count Grattan To Race At Addington Meeting

Count Grattan, onfe of the best winners produced toy the stable last

season, will toe one of Uhree representatives of O. G. Oakley’s Yaldhurst team at the New Zealand Metropolitan Trotting Club’s Grand National meeting, which will open at Addington on Saturday week- The other two horses to race at Addington are Barcola and Attack. ®aced by Messrs C. M. Walden and J. N. Scott, Count Grattan had 27 starts last, season for five wins and .ei£it placihgs worth £1728 in stakes. The Grattan Loyal gelding showed his best form on firm clay tracks, and with conditions to his liking at Addington, he should extend his record. Count Grattan won twice at Greymouth last October; and shortly afterwards at Kaikoura, he won the President’s Handicap. His form fell away until May, when he won a double at the Forbury Park club’s winter meeting. He beat Marshall Foi and Light Nurse in the Domain Handicap on the first day of the meeting, and a fortnight later he beat Air Command and Signet Ring in the Peninsula Handicap. A six-year-old gelding by Grattan Loyal from BelhaH, by Dillon Hall. Count Grattan is a half-brother to Our Amy, a promising North Island mare. . .

Barcohi, which is raced by the president of the Invercargill Trotting Club (Mr G. C. Cruickshank), has pro-

gressed well during the winter, and if he races up to the good form he showed in Southland a season or two ag®, he should soon make a return for his new trainer. Barcola has shown plenty of speed in race trials, but he has not always produced his belt in his races. He is an ayed gelding by Dillon Hall from Triestina, the dam also of Signor. By Attack Lady Attack, which may race in the Canterbury Three-year-old Stakes, is a filly by the Light Brigade horse. Attack, from Seepage, by Quite Sure from Seadown Lass, by Peter Moko. Lady Attack has yet to race, but she has shown a fair amount of ability in private. Rosiere and Belle Renarde, both of which more than paid their way l*st season, are being prepared for racing at the New Brighton Trotting Club’s two meetings next month. Rosiere won two of her three races from Oakley’s team toward* the end of last season. The Dillon Hall mare needs plentv in her favour In her races, but with a favourable run when the class is not too rich, she should not be troubled to extend her record. By Dillon Hall from Luronne. she is closely related to Caudray, Belle'

Renarde, Pierre, and other useful winners. Belle Renerde had 15 starts last season for three wins and seven placings. She proved her ability over all distances, and on all types of track. Like she is by Dillon Hall. This season, she should again be a useful winner. King’s Order, the winner of one race last season, is still turned out. He appears to be making a good recovery from the soreness that restricted his career last season. The half-brother to Pointer has more ability than most others in his class, and. if Oakley can get him back to his best, he should soon show form. Oakley has a number of young booses in work, including a four-year-old- mare try U. Scott from Erehom, the dam also of likely, Landmark, First Victory, and Good Time. A threo-year-oSd gelding by Globe Direct from a smart mare in County Clare, is also showing promise. A five-y ear-old mare by Lisht Brigade from the imported mare. Fantine, is being trained as a trotter. She is a sister to Fourth Brigade and Seaforth, and a half-sister to Fantom, Valola, Lucky Meg, and Fantan. Oakley is educating a two-year-old velding by Attack from First Issue, by Worthy Bond from First Author, by Author Dillon irom First Water. This you neater is a half-brother to Primeval and Direct Issue, and is closely related ♦o Nell. Grattan, Tactics, Mightv Song. First Lbord. Barrier Reef, and other winners. At WintSon Master- T’ony, which has b°en trained throughout his career by J. M. Bain, will be brought back into work shortly at Winton by H. W. Cox. The Dillon Hall gelding has been off the winning list since June. 1954. when he beat Tarza.p Grattan and Con Scott in the Au 'Revoir Handicap at Hutt Park. Lest rteason. his form was only fair, and one second placing and three fourths were his efforts. The brother to He .'ether Dillon has a fair turn of speed on his day, and Cox should not find ft hard to place him to advantage thir season. Gay Pretender,, a four-year-old brother to Master- Tony and Heather Dillon, is also a member of Cox’s team. The Dillota Hall nelding is being worked at the trotting gait. Attempts over the last 12 months to induce him to pace- have been to no avail. Cox has handled end gaited a two-year-old filly by the Light Brigade horse. Free Fight from Little Ada. the dam of Caduceus. the outstanding four-vear-old pacer of last season. She is owned by Mr R. W v lie, of SeaIward Downs, who bred her.