TROTTING Starwise—Isidorus For Double At Greymouth

Press, Volume XCV, Issue 28167, 4 January 1957, Page 4

TROTTING Starwise —Isidorus For Double At Greymouth

(From Our Own Reporter)

GREYMOUTH, Jan. 3. The Russley trainer, O. E. Hooper, has bright prospects of winning the Greymouth Trotting Cup and the Empire Handicap, the doubles races on the second day of the Greymouth Trotting Club’s summer meeting at Victoria Park on Saturday. Hooper has his own horse Starwise engaged in the cup and Mr C. L. Rhodes’s Light Brigade mare Isidorus in the second leg. Starwise, a four-year-old gelding by Springbok from Star Ace did not start on the first day of the meeting but on Tuesday, at Addington, he paced a grand race for second. Beaten by a nose by Reason Why in the Lyttelton Handicap, he looked to have that race won but in the last stride Reason Why came on to win. Starwise’s opposition at Greymouth is not so strong and his prospects are very good. Most opposition will come from N. L. Berkett’s bracket, Phantasy and Bracken Brae. Phantasy won the main handicap yesterday. Outclassing her field, she was always pacing well within herself and finished on strongly. It appears unlikely that the extra three furlongs on Saturday will trouble her unduly. But she will have to concede a start of 48 yards to Starwise and this may be too much. Can Race Well Bracken Brae will not be without prospects. He won well at his first start yesterday but later in the day was badly checked. He seems near his best again and should race well. It will be no surprise if both Phantasy and Bracken Brae are placed. Coronation Hall, a winner at Reefton, was a useful third in Phantasy’s race yesterday and he too, is a strong possibility. He will be bracketed with Johnny Derby which, at times, has shown useful form. Chances of a West Coast win will rest with Charleston. He finished on for fourth in his race yesterday. He stays well and if there is any easing in the track he may add to his win at Westport last month. Red Hackle, which did not race yesterday, makes most appeal ol the others.

Isidorus will probably be favourite for the second leg, the Empire Handicap. She ran two sound races on the first day of the meeting. She won narrowly over two miles at her first start and, after giving away 36 yards in a sprint race, she made up a lot of ground in the straight to finish third in a photo finish. She should not have taken any harm from those races and should not be troubled to win.

Shorter Journey Johnny Hall, a close second to Count Renaldo on the first day, will appreciate the shorter journey on Saturday. He has speed and should be in the finish. Prim, Dominion Monarch and Tony’s Cobber will form a useful bracket for A. M. Purdon who won the second leg of the double on the first day with Crisette. Prim did not start on the first day but showed form earlier on the West Coast circuit."

Tony’s Cobber showed speed on the first day and he has bright prospects.

Brittania was disappointing on the first day. His performances earlier in the season suggested he was more than useful and he could easily surprise.

Punakai, Weekender ana Mighty Midas will be popular with place investors. All have shown useful sprint form and ?ould reach a place. Rene Lou and Gold Bransen make most appeal of the renainder. Another Win Likely Count Renaldo will have a great chance of winning his second race for the meeting in the Dominion Handicap which has drawn a disappointing field of seven, including a bracket Count Renaldo previously failed to show much stamina but in this weak field he should not find it difficult to run out the two miles. Most opposition will come from Reticent which is bracketed with Bypass. Reticent showed gameness in a hard finish to win the Paparoa Handicap on the first day and given a good trail to the straight he could outsprint the others.

Bypass makes little appeal. She stopped very badly after having every chance in the Paparoa Handicap and the two miles is certain to find her out. Punakai will make sure there is no loitering in the early stages but he is unlikely to carry on over the final half-mile. Speedy Caprice A better prospect may be Caprice which showed speed to take third place in the Paparoa Handicap. Caprice met trouble in the race or he may have been much harder to beat. It seems likely the finish will be disputed by Count Renaldo and Reticent with Caprice most likely to upset calculations. Rene Lou, a useful third to Count Renaldo and Johnny Hall on the first day, may gain an overdue win in the Railway Handicap. Rene Lou has had a number of useful placings this seasan but her only win was gained at her first start. She is not meeting a very strong field on Saturday and should win. Brittania which is engaged later in the shorter Empire Handicap was fifth in a similar race on the first day. He may finish closer on Saturday. Tony’s Cobber, Technician, and Disraeli should also add interest to the race while Dan Derby could win if he raced solidly. He has more ability than most in the race but he is unreliable. Yesterday, he broke hopelessly in the first furlong and was never a possibility. Selections are:

11.30 a.m.—Runanga Handicap: Spotless. Superway, Crisette. 12.15 p.m.—Railway Handicap: Rene Lou, Brittania. Tony’s Cobber. 12.55 p.m.—Dominion Handicap: Count Renaldo. Reticent. I. p.m.—Greymouth Cup: Starwise. Phantsy. Coronation 'Hall. 2.25 p.m.—County Handicap: Crisette. Superway. Buller’s Pride. 3.10 p.m.—Empire Handicap: Isidorus, Johnny Hall. Prim. 3.55 p.m.—New Tear Handicap: Solemnity, Scrooge, Gay Alabama. 4.40 p.m.—Electric Handicap: Phantasy, Charlotte Bell, I tarwise. The fields, with form, for the double races are:— GREYMOUTH TROTTING CUP, Of £5OO. 4min 41se< class. Two miles. 0010 Bracken Brae (3) .. scr 0000 Carntyne (2) .. .. scr Red Hackle (1) .. .. scr 0002 Star wise (4) .. .. scr 00 Brigadier Grattan (3) .. 12 2310 Coronation Hall (4) .. 12 0400 Johnny Derby (1) 12 000 Synchronise (2) .. ..12 0300 Pibroch (1) .. ..21 0010 Charleston (3) .. ..48 1001 Phantasy (2) ..43 2 Radiant Diamond (1) .. 48 Brackets: Bracken Brae and Phantasy, Brigadier Grattan and Radiant Diamond, Coronation Hall and Johnny Derby. EMPIRE HANDICAP, Of £250. 3min 13sec class. One mile and three furlongs. 0001 Ben Lee (10) .. .. scr 0000 Brittania (15) .. .. scr 0000 Dan Derby (11) .. .. scr 0030 Disraeli (12) .. .. scr 0000 Dominion Monarch (3) .. scr 2030 Gold Bransen (4) .. scr 3000 Half Back (13) .. .. scr 1222 Johnny Hall (9) .. .. scr 0012 Prim (6) .. .. scr 0013 Isidorus (4) .. .. scr 000 Mighty Midas (2) .. .. scr 3203 Rene Lou (5) .. .. scr 0100 Technician (8) .. .. scr 2010 Tonga (14) .. .. scr 0010 Tony’s Cobber (1) .. rcr 0100 Weekender (16) .. .. scr 0030 Punakai (1) .. ..24 Brackets: Disraeli and Tonga. Dominion Monarch, Prim and Tony’s Cobber: Mighty Midas, Weekender and Punakai. CAMBRIDGE “The Press” Special Service AUCKLAND, January 3. With a firm track and a forecast for fair weather, prospects for a good day’s racing at the Cambridge Trotting Club’s meeting on Saturday are excellent. The double will be on the Hannon Memorial Handicap and the Cambridge Gold Cup. Selections:— 11 a.m.—lntroductory Handicap: Langside, Jewel Derby, Knighthood. 11. a.m.—First Fencourt Handicap: lowa, Knight Commander, Te Kawerau. 12.30 p.m.—Stewards’ Handicap: Black Lace, Karaka Jack, Streamliner. 1.20 p.m.—Hannon Memorial Handicap: Frontier Lad, Swift Flight, Bronze Arrow. 2 p.m.—Second Fencourt Handicap: Sleek Line, Kewpie's Gift, Silver Wings. 2.40 p.m.—Leamington Handicap: Gay Ranee, Langside, Super Snipe. 3.25 p.m.—Cambridge Gold Cup: Guiseppe, Dune, Vesta. 4.10 p.m.—Windsor Memorial Handicap: Superior Air, Happy Future, Reciprocate. The fields, with form, for the double races are:— R. HANNON MEMORIAL HANDICAP, Of £450. 4min 41 sec class. Two miles. 2104 Bronze Arrow (4) .. scr 0221 Frontier Lad (3) .. scr 1004 Laurel Princes (11) .. scr 00 National Star (8) .. scr 0330 Shenandoah (7) .. scr 000 Noble Jessie (2) .. .. scr 0 Sandy Lawn (9) .. .. scr 0003 Scottie's Glow (10) .. scr 2000 Scottish Ensign (1) .. scr 000 Speculation (5) .. .. scr 1041 Swift Flight (6) .. scr 0000 Pip White (4) .. ..12 0242 Sambo (2) .. ..12 1010 Sandiglo (3) .. ..12 044 Sure King (1) .. .. 12 0000 Watchguard (1) .. ..24 0000 Bonnie Princess (1) ..36 Brackets: National Star and Shenandoah, Speculation and Swift Flight. CAMBRIDGE GOLD CUP, Of £425. Three and four-year-olds. One mile and a quarter. 2332 Dune (5) .. .. scr 31 Vesta (2) .. .. scr 2100 Gaillard Direct (7) .. scr 1203 »Night Reveller (1) .. scr 300 Panui (4) .. .. scr 0 Sevandcr (3) .. .. scr 010 Slip Along (2) .. 12 0041 Scottish Command (3) .. 12 000 Tomorata (1) .. ..12 0000 Great Brittania (3) .. 24 1131 Guiseppe (1) .. ..24 0000 Singlena (2) .. ..24 3000 Cashier (2) .. ..36 0221 Frontier Lad (1) ..36 Bracket: Vesta and Dune.