TROTTING Chance For Esteem In Addington Second Leg

Press, Volume XCII, Issue 27824, 24 November 1955, Page 4

TROTTING Chance For Esteem In Addington Second Leg

Esteem, winner of the Hayward Handicap on the second day of the meeting, wMI probably be a firm favourite for the Flying Mile Handicap, the second leg of the double on the final day of the New Zealand Metropolitan Trotting Club’s cup meeting at Addington on Saturday. The Josedale Grattan mare is usually most reliable—a deciding factor at the awkward mile start at Addington—and it is predicted that she will be among the first three throughout Saturday’s race. Raced by Mr C. P. Agar, and trained at Prebbleton by V. Leeming, Esteem has had one win and three placings from eight starts this season. With a little luck in several of her races, her record would have been much improved. Esteem did not race last Saturday, and she has had a chance to freshen up since last she raced. Count Grattan and King’s Order will form a useful bracket for their Yaldhurst trainer, O. G. Oakley. Count Grattan failed to begin correctly in the Le Lievre Handicap last Saturday, but he. finished third in his previous two starts at the meeting. Usually he is most reliable, and Saturday’s disappointing effort may have been only a temporary lapse. Count Grattan has some smart sprint efforts to his credit, and, if he moves off smoothly, he will have a chance of extending Esteem. King’s Order has failed to reach a place in seven starts so far this season, but he looks an improved horse now. He made up some ground for sixth in the Le Lievre Handicap last Saturday, after starting from 36 yards, and he was not far from the winner, Loraine, at the post. King’s Order could easily upset calculations on Saturday. On his day, there are few more capable pacers.

Spring Walk’s Prospects The Washdyke-owned and trained Spring Walk will be better placed on the front in the Flying Mile Handicap than she has been in many of her races this season. The Light Brigade mare was most impressive when she finished third to Loraine and Kingsdown Direct in the Le Lievre Handicap last Saturday. She was well back early, after starting from 36 yards, but was handy to the leader at the end of one mile. She ran on well in the straight, and it was only in the last 50 yards that she began to weaken. Spring Walk lost by half a length to Lynberne in the Canterbury Handicap on the first day of the meeting, after being one of the leaders throughout. She broke at the start of her race on the second day of the meeting, and was not a possibility. With a smooth beginning, Spring Walk should take a prominent part in the finish of Saturday’s race. Lynberne, one of three horses on 12 yards, has not paced a bad race in three starts at the meeting. The brother to Rupee is a smart sprinter, and, if he can get a reasonably clear run in the first two furlongs on Saturday, he should make a bold showing. However, the odds are against horses starting behind the limit in mile races at Addington. Mighty Fine has been rather disappointing in his three races so far at the meeting. He has shown his best form as a stayer, but his racing has suggested that he would be equally at home over sprint distances. If he has suffered no ill effects from three hard races, he may show to advantage. Stadium Chief will have his first start for W. R. Butt in this race. In most of his appearances this season, he has begun brilliantly, and in several sprint races he has made a bold showing. If he begins with his usual dash and is allowed to make his own rules in front, he may take catching. Vapour Trail, Crimea, and Brave Company have all shown speed in their races at the meeting, and they could add Interest to the finish of an open race, in which the chances of Esteem, the Count Grattan—King’s Order bracket, and Spring Walk are most highly regarded. Broke Twice

Lady Baffelan broke twice in the early stages of the Certissimus Handicap, for which she was the win favourite at Addington last Saturday. The Baffelan four-your-old was twice g laced in earlier starts at the meeting, he is engaged again in the Utility Handicap on the final day of the meeting, and it will not surprise if she gains an overdue win. Lady Baffelan is one of the most promising young trotters about, and it is expected that she will win her way to the best classes. Well Related

Pacemaker, which will probably be a firm favourite for the first division of the Mokoreta Trial Handicap at the Wyndham Trotting Club’s meeting on Saturday, was most impressive when he qualified recently in Southland. Raced by the wife of his trainer, J. Walsh, of Gore, he is by Dillon Hall from Oleda Derby, dam of a brilliant mare in Kissing Cup, a good winner in

New Zealand when trained first by Walsh and then by J. B. Pringle. She was later sent to Australia, where she has shown fine form. A high opinion is held of Pacemaker, which should develop useful form. Quick Return

After the Wellington Trotting Club’s meeting earlier in the month, the Methven owner-trainer, M. C. McTigue, leased the Marco Polo mare. Adriatic, to Mr J. de Courcy and the Otaki trainer, T. Webster. She had her first start for her new connexions in the Bebbington Handicap at the Otaki meeting last Saturday, but she broke badly at the start. Four races later, she was produced again in the Publicans’ Handicap, which she won decisively by half a length from Mighty Briton and Highland Hall. She was a 10, 11 favourite, and paid £44 18s for a win. Her win was the first credited to Webster as a trainer. Extra Stands

The New South Wales Trotting Club proposes to erect stands to accommodate 7000 extra spectators during the Inter-Dominion Champion carnival at Harold Park, Sydney, next February. A tubular steel stand, which.will seat 4500 persons, will be constructed in the Leger reserve, and a second tubular steel stand providing seating for 2500

will be erected in the Paddock. The club will also open the middle area of the track to hold the surplus crowds expected during the four nights of the carnival. The club will give £36,500 in stakes for the four days—the largest amount paid out at a meeting held in Sydney. The final of the pacing section will carry a stake of £12,500, and there will be a gold cup valued at £3OO. Two Wins

Silver Son. which had finished third in two starts earlier in the season, made short work of the trotters in the Waitohu and Castlehill Handicaps at the Otaki Trotting Club’s meeting on Saturday. He galloped for almost two furlongs at the start of his first race, but rapidly made up ground and won in a walk. He trotted more solidly later in the day, and won by 20 lengths, after trotting the two miles in the smart time of 4min 38sec.

A six-year-old gelding by Master Lawn from Grey Mist, he is trained at Ashhurst by G. A. Collison for Mr R. Mudgway. Silver Son is engaged in the two races for trotters at the Wanganui meeting this week, and he should not be troubled to extend his record.

May Race Well .* Rowan Star, a good winner In the Express Handicap at Addington last Saturday, will be in demand in the Smithson Handicap on the final day of the meeting this week. The U. Scott mare finished brilliantly from an awkward position for her win, and the extra distance in Saturday’s race should not trouble her.

She is raced by Mr H. W. Drury, of Christchurch, and is a six-year-old mare by U. Scott from a smart race mare m Margaret Hall. Rosslyn Rowan, a three-year-old sister to Rowan Star, is now back in work with W. R. Butt, who also trains Rowan Star. She has had a long spell. Mr Drewery recently named a two-year-old colt by Light Brigade from Margaret Hall, Rocky Rowan. He is being trained at Yaldhurst by M. Holmes, and made his first public aopearance at trials held by the MidCanterbury Owners’ and Breeders’ Association at Methven recently. Rocky Rowan created a good impression by winning his heat. Mr Drewery has a yearling colt by U. Scott from Margaret Hall, and the mare is expected to foal any day to the same sire.

Answer to Correspondent “Wager,” Hornby.—False Step has won £3OOO in stakes, and Pointei £2740.