TROTTING Au Revoir And Our Roger Race Impressively At Addington Trials

Press, Volume XCII, Issue 27735, 12 August 1955, Page 4

TROTTING Au Revoir And Our Roger Race Impressively At Addington Trials

Au Revoir and Our Roger, candi- « dates for the main races at the New j Zealand Metropolitan Trotting Club’s ’ Grand National meeting on August 20 | and 27, recorded impressive efforts at trials held at Addington yesterday by the Canterbury Owners’ and Breed- ] ers’ Association. Other pacers to < record smart trials were Midday, ’ Crimea, Glint, and False Step. Vodka ’ and Slipstream were outstanding J among the few good-class trotters pro- < duced. j The racing was held in pleasant conditions, and the track was in per- ] feet order. There was an attendance .] of between 1500 and 2000. < Au Revoir, driven by M. Holmes, finished strongly under a hold to Win ’ the first heat of the free-for-all. Our ; Kentucky began best, with Au Revoir just behind him. Caduceus raced to the front with six and a half furlongs to run, and he led into the last round from Our Kentucky, Au Revoir, Rellek, Flight Commander, Masterpiece, Starbeam, Merval, Lassoloc, and ; Kuhla. Au Revoir moved up to be 1 on terms with Caduceus at the twofurlong post, and he had an advan- ; tage of half a length over him at the straight entrance, with Our Kentucky close up, and five lengths to Master- ' piece, Merval, Rellek, Lassoloc, and ( Starbeam. Au Revoir and Our Kentucky drew away in the straight. Au Revoir won comfortably by half a length, with six lengths to Merval, which just shaded Lassoloc and Caduceus. Starbeam and Rellek were next. Au Revoir looks to have had plenty of work and he will strip a fit horse for his engagements at Addington. Our Kentucky, which will contest intermediate-class events,, should also do well. Merval’s finishing run from the middle of the field was a smart effort. Lassoloc did well to finish so close up after a slow beginning. The winner paced the mile and a half in 3min 13sec, the last four furlongs in Imin 1 2-ssec and the last quarter in 30 4-ssec. Our Roger’s Win Our Roger, a candidate for the same races as Au Revoir at Addington, finished boldly to beat the fast-finishing Rowan Star by a length and a half in the second heat of the free-for-all, after pacing the mile and a half in 3/nin 13sec, the last half-mile in Imin 1 2-ssec, and the last quarter in 31sec. Excelsa, Brave Company, Rowan Star, and Magellan gave ground at the start, and Gay Lyric went to the front. With a round to go, he was joined by Johnny Globe, with Our Roger, Ohio, Dancing Years, Rowan Star, and Roy Grattan handy. Johnny Globe was shading Our Roger racing to the straight, with Gay Lyric next, clear of Dancing Years and Rowan Star. Ohio brokg a hopple at this, point, and interfered with Roy Grattan. Johnny Globe was headed by Our Roger early in the run home. Our Roger finished on well to be clear at the post. • He should pay his way at Addington next week. Rowan Star finished with a fine sprint in the straight, and her effort was fulL.of merit. She was a length and a half in front of Gay Lyric, with two lengths to Johnny Globe. The latter was carrying plenty of condition, and he should be improved by the run. He will have his first race for the season on the second day at Addington. Roy Grattan made up ground in the straight for fifth, ahead of Dancing Years, which also looked in need of the run. Midday Pleases Midday gave his opponents in the second heat of the 3min 23sec class pace a lesson in pacing. The Gold Bar five-year-old, which is now trained by his part-owner, A. Holmes, begain brilliantly from 36 yards, and at the end of two furlongs, he had raced round a big field to the front, and took control from Malabella. Midday and Malabella were well clear throughout the race, and once into the straight Midday strode clear with ease, and he was slowing down at the post, four lengths in front of Malabella. Midday i has not raced since last January, but he looks ready to run well in his early engagements. A pleasing feature of his effort was the smooth manner in which he began.

Malabella, one of the best three-year-old fillies or last season, did well to finish so close to her more seasoned opponent. The Doral’s Derby mare will be a candidate for the Metropolitan Stakes on the second day at Addington. Prince Polka, which had been well back early after beginning from 48 yards, finished on after covering extra ground approaching the straight, and he was third, a head in front of Count Grattan, with Arriba, Aula, Moko Boy, and Sydney Victor next. Prince Polka should race well at Addingtoh. Midday paced the mile and a half m 3min 15 l-ssec, the last half-mile in Imin 4sec.

The first heat was won narrowly but most convincingly by Royal Minstrel, with Crimea a good second, followed by Covrex, with Esteem and Radiant Diamond right up next, clear of Roving Gypsy, Blacksmith, Barcola, and Bedivus.

Royal Minstrel was first out, but at the end of two furlongs Barcola took over. Royal Minstrel drifted slightly over the next half-mile, and racing to the straight he was behind Radiant Diamond, Barcola, Esteem, Crimea (wide out), Covrex, Blacksmith, and Pointer. When pulled out, Royal Minstrel finished with a fine burst of speed and won well, suggesting that he is right back to the fine form he showed last spring. Crimea, which had been third to last with six furlongs to run, did well to finish so close up. His new ownertrainer, C. L. Rhodes, should not have to wait long for a return from him. Pointer, after moving up in the middle stages of the race, was not hurried in the straight, and he was eleventh at the finish, not far from the leaders. The run should do much to bring him to his peak for his engagement in the Canterbury Three-year-old Stakes. Light Nurse Wins

Light Nurse, which will race in the Metropolitan Stakes, finished well to beat the trotter, Precaution, in the first heat of the 3min 29sec class pace. Light Nurse was always handily placed, and she had half a length-to spare over Precaution, which had coni ceded her a start of 24 yards. She paced her mile and a half in 3min 22 4-ssec, the last half-mile in Imin 4sec. Most impressive was Vodka, which trotted brilliantly from 72 yards to be a length behind Precaution in third place. Vodka began smoothly, and he looked to be trotting better than ever. He was timed over his last mile in 2min 8 3-ssec, his final half-mile in Imm 0 2-ssec, his final quarter in 30sec. Though he will concede long starts in his races at Addington, his prospects will be highly rated. Lucky Spot was a useful fourth, half a length behind Vodka, with Legislate, Thunder, and Dresden Lady next. The last-named was rather disappointing. but she should do better on race day. Scotch Girl, a stablemate of Light Nurse, won the second heat after pacing her mile and a half in 3min 22 2-ssec, the last half-mile in Imin 4 4-ssec. She was checked soon after the start, and lost a lot- of ground. She moved up gradually, and won by a head from Recruit, which had broken several times in the running. He also broke as he crossed the line. Loyal Jane, which has not raced for some time, was always handy and was a length back, third, three lengths in front of Slipstream, which had started from 48 yards. Slipstream drifted early, but finished solidly. He is certain to race well at Addington.: Demimonde, Rosiere, and Gay Cobra followed Slipstream. Gainesway. a prospect for an early win in maiden class, led practically all the way in the first heat of the 3min 37sec class pace, pacing his mile

and a half in 3min 18sec, and his last half-mile in Imin 3 3-ssec. He was two lengths in front of Amen Ra, with a similar distance to Powersaw, and three lengths to Highland Air. Glint’s Success Glint, a candidate for the Canterbury Three-year-old Stakes, was an easy winner in the second heat, beating Rocochet, a candidate for the same race, by half a length, with Keryn a length back, third, a head in front of Battle Fling. False Step, which started from 60 yards, was right up, fifth, ahead of Bracken Brae and Camber. Glint, which looks very well, paced her mile and a half in 3min 22 l-ssec, her last half-mile in Imin 6 l-ssec, and last quarter in 32 2-ssec. False Step was hemmed in for most of the way, and he did well to finish so close up. He should be a good winner this season. Manana gave a sound display to win the 3min 41sec class trot bv a length from Dan’s Choice, with Buller’s Pride third, clear of Superfortress. Superfortress started from 120 yards, and was not extended to trot her mile and a half in 3min 22sec. She will be a candidate for the slowclass trotters’ races at Addington, and she should go close to winning at the meeting. Waihora Queen, off the front, was fifth, ahead of Citronella, which trotted a fine race from 144 yards. The latter appears to have done plenty of work.