TROTTING Strong Southern Team For Auckland Meeting

Press, Volume XCIV, Issue 28150, 13 December 1956, Page 4

TROTTING Strong Southern Team For Auckland Meeting

A team of 15 South Island horses — about the same as usual—will race at the Auckland Trotting Club’s summer meeting at Epsom on December 27, 29 and 31. The team appears to be a very strong one, with seven horses down to contest the £5OOO Auckland Cup and other major handicaps at the meeting. The majority of the southern horses will be flown to Auckland, flights having been arranged for December 23 and 24.

The Yaldhurst trainer, G. B. Noble, will have three representatives at the meeting. Highland Air will contest the major distance events, his main mission being the Auckland Cup on the first day of the meeting. He showed that he was rapidly approaching his best when runner-up to False Step in his heat of the free-for-all at Hororata on Tuesday. Scotch Paree, which has raced against the pacers in recent weeks, will race in the principal events for trotters. She looks a very fit horse at the moment and it will be surprising if she returns empty-handed from Auckland. Air Command, a half-brother to Highland Air, is r.n acceptor for the slow-class pacers’ races. He has paraded both as a pacer and a trotter this season. He showed speed at the pacing gait at Hororata on Tuesday and may pay expenses. H. Stafford, who seldom travels outside Canterbury without winning at least one race, will have Mighty Fine to represent him in the Auckland Cup and Marshall Foi in the races for intermediate-class horses. Neither horse has shown winning form this season, but both have placings to their credit. Their form last season was of a high standard and it will not surprise if both win on the trip. Mighty Fine is one of the best stayers in commission. and. even though his form background is not strong, he will be a formidable candidate for the Auckland Cup.

Trained at Templeton The Templeton trainer, D. G. Jones, who has had considerable success on the Auckland course, will have Trueco in the Auckland Cup and Centennial Star in the main trotters’ races. Trueco has undergone a special preparation for the Auckland Cup, a race Jones

• on twice with Soangetaha. His racing this season has been restricted to sprint events and he has shown pleasing form. Last season he showed himself to be a most promising stayer and it will not surprise if he makes a bold showing in the Auckland race. Centennial Star has been a winner at Auckland this season. He will be meeting stern opposition this trip, but with a little luck, he may pay his way. C. L. Rhodes, who will have Secure and Lookaway, is the only other trainer with two representatives. Secure was runner-up to Prince Polka in the Auckland Cup 12 months ago and he will start from 12 yards this year. Lookaway, runner-up to Bon Ton in the New Zealand Derby Stakes, will be a candidate for the North Island Challenge Stakes on the first day of the meeting, with the Great Northern Derby Stakes to follow. Lookaway is a highly-promising young pacer and he looks well forward for his Auckland engagements. He was just starting a run in his race at Hororata on Tuesday when a hopple broke and he tangled. M. Holmes, who will no doubt have several outside drivers, will have Recruit in the main trotters’ races. He will be one of the backmarkers in his races, but if he reproduces the brilliant speed he showed at Addington in November, he should be prominent in the distance events. Distant Star, which has shown fine form this season, will race in the main events at the meeting. The Sir Michael gelding has been a fine winner for his owner-trainer, L. G. Tisch, and he has not yet come to the end of his winning run.

Cun Candidate Unite is one of the favoured southern candidates for the Auckland Cup in spite of his failure at Hororata on Tuesday. He is unbeaten in his last three race starts.

Brahman will be C. S. Donald’s sole representative at the meeting. He will start from 48 yards in the Auckland Cup and even this may. not prevent

him making a bold showing. He has become more solid with racing this season and looks a great prospect for the trip. Belle Renarde, which has raced most consistently this season, will race in the sprint event on the first day of the meeting. The Dillon Hall mare will only need to receive a reasonable run to take part in the finish. The southern team is completed by the New Zealand Oaks winner. Overdrive. which will meet Lookaway in restricted age races. Overdrive last season proved one of the best fillies of her age, and again this season she has proved little inferior to the colts and geldings. Her ability to hold a prominent position throughout her races will entitle her to respect at Auckland. Rangiora Brackets Brackets for the Rangiora Trotting Club’s annual meeting on Saturday are:—

Parnassus Handicap: Medetta and Diilmation, Marawiti and Superway. Hurunui Handicap: Cinderella and San Jacinto, Cottlesmore and Delight. Rangiora Fields Dansey Lady has drawn No. 16 at the barrier in the First Introductory Handicap at Rangiora on Saturday and Dandy Daisy No. 14 in the Second Introductory Handicap. Entered for Gore

Among the Canterbury horses entered for the Gote Trotting Club’s meeting on December 22 and 26 are Jackaleen, Procrastinator, Mickey Galindo, Lord Mackworth. Powersaw, Compo Jack, Ayrland’s Pride, Gold Moana, Jimmy’s Fortune, First Lady, Triad and Landfall.

Trip Cancelled Plans to send Gay Lad to Perth next, year to contest the InterDominion Championship series have had to be cancelled. Gay Lad has gone amiss and will now be spelled lor several months. He will not race again until next season. It is bad luck for his owner, Mr A. E. Ison, and trainer, W. K. Tatteron, as Gay Lad had proved his ability under Australian conditions. Timaru Free-for-all

The Timaru Trotting Club has dropped the Timaru Challenge Stakes from the programme for the second day of its summer meeting at Washdyke on January 19 and replaced it by a race to be known as the Timaru Free-for-all. Run over one mile and a quarter for a stake of £9OO, the race will be a 2min 44sec class event. The remainder of the programme is much the same as it was 12 months ago.

£ 2000 Dunedin Cup The Forbury Park Trotting Club has decided that the stake for the Dunedin Cup, to be run at Forbury Park on the first day of the club’s summer meeting on January 26 and February 2. will be £2OOO and a trophy valued at £75. The race will be run over two miles for horses assessed at 4min 27sec and faster. The 4min 30sec class Summer Handicap will carry a stake of £lOOO. and the Forbury Handicap, which will be run over one mile and three furlongs, the same stake. Altogether. £7500 will be distributed in stakes that day. Stakes totalling £4500 have been allocated for the second day when the main race will be the 4min 33sec class Irwin Handicap, which will carry a stake of £9OO. Classes generally have been let out several seconds for that day.

REEFTON TROTTING CLUB (INC.). Nominations for the above club’s annual race meeting, to be held on Saturday, December 29, 1956, close at 5 o’clock p.m. on WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 19. 1956, with the Secretary, P.O. Box 34. Reefton.

Telephone No. 22. Telegrams: “Charterist,” Reefton. —Advt