Trotting Thunder May Again Race Well At Oamaru Meeting

Press, Volume XCII, Issue 27795, 21 October 1955, Page 5

Trotting Thunder May Again Race Well At Oamaru Meeting

Thunder, a winner at two’ of his three starts to date, will probably be at a short price in the October Handicap on the first day of the Oamaru Trotting Club's spring meeting tomorrow. The Light Brigade gelding !L C t° r ~ d S, bri 'hant effort at Methven last month, when, after losing his h^Xa 17 ’ C-, Devine, at the start, he came from last place with one mile to run to wm the Mount Harding <l an^ lca ?‘ J°°ks well placed on \5 e *u Ont _c an d’ ** h e araces up to his Methven form, he will only have to begin reasonably to gain a comfortable win.

os * av PP°siti° n to him may come &?JP.. the Grattan Loyal gelding, Battalion, which has been rather disappointing in his races so far this season. He has had seven starts for three thirds and three fourths. He has not reproduced the brilliant speed he showed at times last season, but ne should not be long showing win™ng form for his Yaldhurst trainer, M. Holmes, who has had a lean time so far this season. Clemency paced a sound race last Saturday at Forbury Park when nar-’ rowly beaten by Grey Towers. She made most of the pace and was not aisgraced when beaten. The Van Logan mare has always shown a useful turn of speed, and she looks on tpe verge of worthwhile form. Anxiety was a convincing winner over a sprint distance at Geraldine last Saturday and even though he will have to cover an extra three furlongs ‘ *3v W s elc ’ he should be prominent. All In and Band Queen will form a strong bracket for their Oamaru trainer, F. Oliver. Both have the ability to show to advantage in this type of race and it will not surprise if one of them wins. Reveille, which will be making a fresh start, and Legislate will form another popular bracket. Legislate disappointed at Forbury Park last Saturday, but that may have been only a temporary lapse. , Lady Wexford, Dinnie Daley, now a member of J. M. Bain’s team, and Genghis Khan make most appeal of the others.

False Step May Win False Step, one of the leading contenders for three-year-old honours, has won at his two starts this season and he is. entitled to be favourite for the Weston Handicap. The Fallacy colt will not be set a very easy task from 12 yards in a big held, but he has such great stamina that he should be running on better

than most of his opponents at the finish.

Rosiere was not disgraced when beaten by Double Talk and Golden Marino in a similar race at Methven last month. A week later, at Ashburton, she was an unlucky eighth over one mile and a half after starting from 24 yards. Off the front again tomorrow, her prospects must be highly rated. Gay Cobra has not raced since he failed at Methven. He was left in front too soon that day or he may have been harder to beat. He has a short finishing sprint, and, if he can be restrained until inside the final furlong, he may finish too well for most of the remainder.

Kyle Lass was a most convincing winner at Methven, but she failed at Ashburton. The Emulous mare has a useful turn of speed and she may show to advantage. Synchronise, Kingsdown Grattan and Golden Marino make most appeal of the others. Great Caution, a stablemate of Thunder, is selected to win the Oamaru Handicap. The Precaution gelding was runner-up to the promising Mercury Light at Methven and with the benefit of that race, he is expected to do better tomorrow. Hazel Grattan showed considerable ability when she won over one mile and a half at Ashburton in 3min 23 2-ssec, a smart effort for a horse of her class. The Josedale Grattan mare has a useful turn of speed and she should extend Great Caution. Mercury Light failed . over two miles at Ashburton after her good win at Methven. The shorter journey tomorrow will be to her advantage and she should be placed. Quite Contrary seldom trots a bad race and even from 36 yards, her prospects cannot be overlooked. Assure, a disappointment this season, may be the pick of the others. The Second Leg Brenda Dillon, an impressive winner over two miles at Ashburton on October 1, will be one of the hardest to beat in the second leg of the double, the Tapui Handicap. The Dillon Hall mare ran out the two miles in very solid style after being handy to the leaders all the way. She has drawn wide out tomorrow, and, if she escapes trouble in the early stages of the race, she is certain to be prominent. Reality will appreciate the sprint journey. She has not had the best of luck in her races to date this season, but should not be long showing winning form. She is a stablemate of Covrex, one of the probable favourites for the George Bruce Memorial Handicap, the first leg ’of tomorrow’s double.

Scottish Fair showed to advantage at the recent Hororata matinee meeting. He is another exoected to appreciate the mile and a quarter journey. If allowed to make his own rules, he will take catching. Kelso failed badly at Ashburton after his good second to Thunder at Methven, out he should soon make amends. He has a fair turn of speed and may take part in the finish. Historic finished a fair third in his race at Forbury Park last Saturday, but was well beaten. The shorter distance of tomorrow’s race should suit him and he may show up. Gainesway, a winner at Hororata, Royal Leaf and Syndicate are other useful sprinters likely to bring about a surprise, but if Brenda Dillon, Reality and Scottish Fair race up to their best, they should dispute the finish.

Selections are:— 11.15 a.m.—Welcome Handicap: With You, Cottlesmore, Jean Able. 11.55 a.m.—First Redcastle Handicap: Van Dyke, Lauder Lady, Hunter’s Luck. 12.40 p.m.—George Bruce Memorial Handicap: Covrex, Mighty King, Roving Gypsy. 1.25 p.m.—Second Redcastle Handicap: Snowball, My Gold, Rey Derby. 2.10 p.m.—Tapui Handicap: Brenda Dillon, Reality, Scottish Fair. 2.55 p.m.—Oamaru Handicap: Great Caution, Hazel Grattan, Mercury Light. 3.40 p.m.—October Handicap: Thunder, Battalion, Clemency. 4.30 p.m.—Weston Handicap: False Step, Rosiere, Gay Cobra. Fields, with form, for the doubles races are:— GEORGE BRUCE MEMORIAL HANDICAP, Of £BOO. 4min 37sec class. Two miles. 0 Esquire (2> .. .. . .. scr 43 Mighty King (1) .. ..scr 0001 Hyperbole (3) .. .. ..12 0000 Lodestar (4) .. .. ..12 Loraine (1) .. .. ..12 0000 Magic Mist (5) .. .. .. 12 0000 Triple Crown (2) .. ..12 0000 Captain King <(2) .. ..24 3430 Covrex (3) .. .. ..24 0000 Bedivus (4) .. .. ..24 000 Gay Lad (1) .. .. 24 0 Invicta (1) .. .. ..36 000 Red Anthony (2) .. .. 36 0102 Roving Gypsy (1) .. ..48 Bracket: Lodestai* and Loraine. TAPUI HANDICAP, Of £350. 2min 56sec class. One mile and a quarter. Adriatic (3) .. ..scr 1 Brenda Dillon (14) .. .. scr 000 Capull (11) .. .. .. scr Ellenella (9) .. .. .. scr 20 Gainesway (13) .. .. scr 003 Historic (12) .. .. ..scr 20 Kelso (7) .. .. ..scr 0 Linendale (2) .. .. ... scr 0040 Lord Kinnola (6) .. .. scr 0100 Prometheus (16) .. .. scr 0000 Quicksand (6) .. .. .. scr 01 Quite Probable (10) .. .. scr 0300 Reality (15) .. .. ..scr 00 Scottish Fair (1) .. .. scr Springvale (4) .. .. ..set 0 Syndicate (17) .. .. .. scr 00 Timber Miller (5) .. .. scr 0002 Royal Leaf (1) .. ..12

AUCKLAND CLUB "The Rress” Special Service AUCKLAND, October 20. The Auckland Trotting Club’s spring meeting will be opened on Saturday, when several visiting horses, including Johnny Globe, will add interest to the racing. The double will be run on the F. J. Smith Memorial Handicap and the Steward’s Handicap. The going is likely to be easy. Selections are:— 10.45 a.m.—Waitemata Handicap: Pelorous, Waipapa, Bruce Likely. 11.35 a.m.—October Handicap: First Division—Chief Vilo, Good Time, Joseville. Second Division—Daniel’s Pride, Lucky Belwin, Celestial. 12.20 p.m.—Northern Challenge Stakes: Great Evander, Singlena bracket, Ruth Again. 1.10 p.m.—Smith Memorial Handicap: Patrick Earl, Scotch Orator-Reko bracket, Garry o wen. 2 p.m.—Mountain Handicap: Vagus, Chippy, Scottish Legion. . 2.50 p.m.—Epsom Handicap: Bobrack, Scotch Girl, Manoa. 3.40 p.m.—Stewards’ Handicap: Dillala Direct, Lee Scott, Mavis Dillon. 4.30 p.m—Electric Free-for-All: Johnny Globe, Laureldale, General Grattan. Fields, with form, for the doubles races are:— F. J. SMITH MEMORIAL HANDICAP, Of £llOO. 3min 36sec class. One mile „ and five furlongs. 00 Belair (5) .. scr 220 Patrick Earl (1) .. ’’scr 004 Prince Polka (3) .. .. scr 0023 Rowan Star (6) .. .’scr 0 Sisley Wood (2) ,* scr 00 Wayward Peter (4) .. .. fiC r 03 Garryowen (1) .. 12 0000 Highland Flirt (4) .. ”12 0030 Lassoloc (7) ”12 0000 Reko (5) .. <0 .12 014 Scotch Orator (3) ” ”12 COOO Scottish Star (2) ”12 0030 Tui Scott (64 .. .. 19 4300 Beau Marier»3) .. ’*24 Cavandale (1) .. .. ”24 00 Goldina (2) .. .. ”24 4302 Bar Tender (1) .. **36 Wayward Peter and Highland Fhrt, Reko and Scotch Orator.

STEWARDS’ HANDICAP, Of £B5O. 3min 21sec class. One mile and 1 a half. 130 Blazeworthy (10) .. scr Dandy McLean (7) .. *’ scr “I? Dillala Direct (5) .. ..scr 01 Faux Pas (4) .. scr 0® Jimmy Carlton (11) .. scr 400 Logan Dell (1) .. . scr 000 Modem Globe (2) .. scr 0040 Red Shade (12) . . *' Jcr 01 Sandy Sutherland (9) ” S cr Tarzan Grattan (8) .. .. scr 300 Te Koi (3) ” ’scr 04 Wrackdale (6) .. .. *’ scr 01 Beldene (4) .. ” " To 000 Douglas Derby (1) .. 2’ 12 10 Headmaster (6) .. ..12 022 Lee Scott (3) .. ” J2 103 Mavis Dillon (5) .. ” 12 000 Paean (7) .. .. ..12 00 Te Atatu (8) .. 12 0 Whispering Smith (2) .. ”12 Zrackets: Blazeworthy and Te Atatu, Modern Globe and Te Koi, Sandy Suther■feS? a " d Wrackdale, Headmaster and Whispering Smith.