TROTTING Smart Three-Year-Olds Produced At Addington

Press, Volume XCIV, Issue 28130, 20 November 1956, Page 5

TROTTING Smart Three-Year-Olds Produced At Addington

While there may be no False Step among the three-year-olds produced at the New Zealand Cup meeting, the general standard appeared to be as good if not better than last season. Bon Ton, the star performer among horses of his age at Addington, is a grand colt well endowed with speed and stamina. Bon Ton has not been an easy youngster for D. A. Morland to get to the races. However, he has not been rushed and to date has contested eight races for six wins and two placings worth £3535 in stakes. If Bon Ton reverts to handicap racing, he will have to meet very strong opposition. Earlier in the season he beat a useful handicap field at New Brighton and he should more than pay his way in the company he will meet. None of the other three-year-olds produced at the meeting are nearly so tightly assessed as Bon Ton and several of them look to have great prospects of early success in handicap events.

One of the brightest prospects looks to be Lookaway, runner-up to Bon Ton in the Derby Stakes. He lost his chance in the Riccarton Stakes when he broke early and in the Metropolitan Challenge Stakes, his other start at the meeting, he made most of the pace and drifted to sixth. The fast pace he set in this race resulted in False Step pacing the mile and a quarter in 2min 35 4-ssec.

Lookaway, like Bon Ton, drew the second line in the Derby. He was not as fortunate as Bon Ton, which received a perfect run through on the inside. Lookaway began safely, but he had to be pulled about to avoid tangling horses and was a good way back at the end of a furlong. He put in a great run approaching the straight and over the final furlong forced Bon Ton to give of his best. Owned and trained by his breeder, C. L. Rhodes, Lookaway is a gelding by Light Brigade from a speedy mare in Raceaway, which won several races a few years ago. Raceaway was by U. Scott from Loyal Bonny, the dam also of Loyal Scott and Friendly Scott, tracing back to the imported mare, Bonilene, founder of a most successful winning family. Lookaway’s only win to date was at Greymouth last month, but he should not be long winning again, especially when he gains confidence at the start of his races. By Fallacy Dignus, a son of Fallacy, the sire also of False Step, has created a big impression in the little racing he has had. He raced most generously at the cup meeting and he looks likely to improve still further in the next few weeks. On the first day of the meeting he was a fine fifth in the Riccarton Stakes after losing a big stretch of ground at the start. Two days later he was third to False Step and Aldora in the Metropolitan Challenge Stakes, finishing on in grand style to record 2min 38 3-ssec for the mile and a quarter, 1 3-ssec outside Johnny Globe’s New Zealand record for a three-year-old.

Dignus may have been feeling the effects of his other hard racing when he started in the Derby. Nevertheless, he paced a fine race. He was never far away ahd finishd a sound third. Dignus began racing this season and so far has had nine starts for two wins and three placings. Raced by Mr G. A. Templeton, who bred him, Dignus is out of Alouette, which showed plenty of ability on the training track a few years ago. However, she did not reproduce those efforts in her racing. Dignus is expected to be one of the best winners of his age this season and later on he should be capable of extending Bon Ton and Lookaway, which finished in front of him in the Derby. Golden Hero, winner of the New Zealand Sapling Stakes last season, did not race as well as expected in the Derby following a sound sixth in the Riccarton Stakes. Golden Hero, a brother to La Mignon, has plenty of ability and when he reverts to handicap racing in comparatively slow-class fields he should show to advantage, especially over a distance as he impresses as a likely type of staver. The Gore-owned and trained" Gentry is another three-year-old expected to reach the best classes. He was havin” only his second start at a totalisator meeting when he held off Bon Ton and Finestra in the Riccarton Stakes At his other start he had been beaten by Scotch Glen in a maiden race at Invercargill. In that event he may have been harder to beat had he received a more favourable run. At Addington Gentry was always handy and finished on gamely to win

Gentry did not start on the second day at Addington, and in the Derby he paced a sound race for an inexperienced horse to finish fifth. Gentry i\ as ’ c V”' ned to Gore with hi s trainer. D. M. Kerr, and he is to have an easy time for a few weeks. A lean colt he should eventually furnish into a grand type of horse. He is a very sensible pacer and with more experience is expected to develop into a high-class pacer.

Gentry is by Dillon Hall from a New Zealand Derby Stakes winner in Scottish Lady, which was by U. Scott from Rustic Maid, dam of a number of including Chamfer, Free Fight Slavonic, Highland Scott Gallant Maid (the dam of Crimea) 'Helali and Eden Bridge. Gentry has the breeding to graduate to the tightest

classes, and his future racing for his breeder, Mr G. youngson, will be watched with interest. Likely Type The West Eyreton trainer F. G. Holmes, produced a likely type of colt in Aksarben. He finished tenth in the Riccarton Stakes and sixth in the Derby. Those were his only starts for the season. Last term he had one start, in the New Zealand Sapling Stakes. He handled the heavy track at Ashburton in fine style and finished fifth. A colt by Light Brigade from Blue Revue. Aksarben has a pleasing style of pacing, and with more time should develop into a high-class winner. Of the other three-year-olds, Johnny Guitar, Overdrive, Shantung and Sextant all look prospects for early wins. Johnny Guitar, which showed considerable promise in his racing last season, was a sound fourth in the Riccarton Stakes, but he failed badly in the Derby. A colt, by U. Scott from a useful race mare in Windermere, he is trained by C. R. Berkett for Messrs R. Dunlea and E. Rooney. Johnny Guitar has plenty of ability, and with more race experience he should more than pay his way.

Not Up to Expectations Overdrive, a winner at Oamaru last month, did not race up to expectations at Addington. Last season she was most consistent in classic races, but at Addington she was seventh in the Riccarton Stakes and eighth in the Derby without really threatening danger in either of her races. She is more capable than those efforts suggest, and D. L. McGregor should not find it hard to place her to advantage. Shantung, winner of the Canterbury Three-year-old Stakes in near-rtecord time earlier in the season, has been disappointing since then. She has seldom begun smoothly, and, although she has not had much luck in some of her races, her form has been well below her best. The Croughton filly has plenty of ability, and the next time she begins smoothly, she should go close to winning. She will probably have her next start in the New Zealand Oaks at New Brighton on December 1.

Sextant will also be a candidate for the New Brighton race. She failed in her two starts at Addington, losing ground at both appearances. She is by Jaunty from Single Star, a dam of a champion young pacer in Riviera, and also Petro Star. Sextant has a good style of pacing, and looks as though she will be a good winner for her breeder, Mr B. Grice, for whom she is trained by C. S. Donald.

ACCEPTANCES WANGANUI CLUB

(New Zealand Press Association) WANGANUI, November 19. The double on the first day of the Wanganui Trotting Club’s meeting on Saturday will be run on the Victory Handicap and the Liverpool Handicap. Acceptances:— 11.15 a.m.— RUTLAND HANDICAP, of £200; trotters; 3min 56sec class; one mile and five furlongs.—Astrona (4), Bobbin Head (1), Lady Pippen (6), Laurel Scott (2), Marauder (5), Perosay (3) scr; Lalla Scott (1) 36; Astrakhan (2), Perekop (1) 60. 11.55 a.m.— ARAMOHO HANDICAP, of £200; 3min 56sec class; one mile and five furlongs.— Alchemist (14), Annual Balance (8), Doral’s Joie (12), Follow On (11). Fore (5) Gail Smith (4), Karaka Jack (7), Larkish (3). Red Terra (9), Scandal (10), Scotsman (1), Swift Flight (2), Vesta (6), Victory Lee (13) scr. Bracket: Scotsman and Vesta. 12.45 p.m.— EASTERBROOK HANDICAP, of £225; 3min 52sec class; one mile and five furlongs.—Edinburgh (10), Gay Wanderer (6) Golden June (7). Highland Hall (4), Joe Logan (8), Kewpie Doll (3), Maharanee (2), Neon Amigo (9). Springfield Grattan (1), Tamahere Lad (5) scr. 1.25 p.m.— VICTORY HANDICAP, of £325; 4min 45sec class; two miles.—Great Brittania (7) Happy Future (2), Heather Mary (1), Kierlock (4), Laurel Princess (6), Silent Scot (3), Teddy Logan (5) scr; Bronze Arrow (2), Paikotiro (3), Rambling Wren (4). Short Circuit (1) 12. 2.10 p.m.—

PRESIDENT’S HANDICAP, of £200; trotters: 4min 53sec class; two miles.— Astrona (1), Bobbin Head (3), Lady Pippen (5), Laurel Scot (4), Pukatutu (2) scr; Lalla Scott (1) 48; Astrakhan (1), Perekop (2) 72. 2.55 p.m.—

LIVERPOOL HANDICAP, of £450, 3min 45sec class; one mile and five furlongs.—Adan (7), Adriatic (1), Bonnie Princess (6), Mighty Briton (5), Shenandoah (2), Snow Prince (4), Wha’ Hae (3) scr; Lady Augusta (3), Marcella (2), Pip White (1), Sambo (5), Simon (6), Sure King (4) 12; Friendly Smile (2), Silver Son (T.) (1) 24. Brackets: Marcella and Silver Son, Sambo and Friendly Smile. 3.40 p.m.— SPRINGVALE HANDICAP, of £200; 2min 59src class; one mile and a quarter. —Alchemist (11), Annual Balance (13), Doral’s Joie (1), Follow On (16), Fore (4), Gail Smith (8), Karaka Jack (10). Larkish (5), Pukatutu (P.) (9), Royal Trail (14). Scandal (2), Scotsman (15), Silver Image (6), Sweet Gin (7), Swift Flight (12), Vesta (17), Victory Lee (3) Bracket: Scotiiman and Vesta. 4.25 p.m.— WESTMERE HANDICAP, of £300; 2min 54sec class; one mile and a quarter.— Epsom Hall (6), Great Brittania (9), Happy Future (2), Heather Mary (8), Kierlock (3), Laurel Princess (5), Oblige (1), Silent Scot (7), Teddy Logan (4) scr; Bronze Arrow (3), Paikotiro (1), Short Circuit (2), Special Feature (4) 12.