TROTTING ELECTRIC STAKES AT ADDINGTON

Press, Volume XCV, Issue 28251, 12 April 1957, Page 4

TROTTING ELECTRIC STAKES AT ADDINGTON

Tactician And False Step Meet Again

The meeting between Tactician and False Step in the Electric Stakes will be the highlight of the second day of the New Zealand Metropolitan Trotting Club's Easter meeting at Addington tomorrow. Last week, Tactician beat his younger rival by a nose in the Rattray Stakes, but this week False Step is expected to avenge that defeat.

False Step, a four-year-old, is the youngest horse in tomorrow’s field. He was great in defeat last week as he finished on after being headed and appeared to be doing slightly better than the winner at the post. His two minutes for the mile is a New Zealand and Australian record for a horse of his age. The longer distance tomorrow should suit the Fallacy pacer and if he has taken no harm from last week’s race, he is confidently expected to win.

Tactician, the oldest horse in the field, is one of the best sprinters in the Dominion on his day. However, he had a very hard race last week and he may not show the same dash tomorrow. If he has held his form, Tactician should again be prominent and he may be the one for False Step to beat. General Sandy tired to sixth in the Rattray Stakes after setting a scorching pace for six furlongs. In spite of that failure he must be considered in this race, in which it is unlikely he will have to work so hard to get to the front. General Sandy has proved his worth over all distances and he could easily make amends for last week’s failure. He will be bracketed with Scottish Brigade, which paced a disappointing race in the Bryndwr Handicap last week. Super Royal, a good second to Derive in last week’s sprint, will be meeting much sterner opposition this week. Her placing last week was full of merit as she was late working clear. She could take part in the finish if she races as well this week. Brahman, which will be making a fresh start, has plenty of ability and he could surprise. He has drawn towards the outside of the field and this may help him to begin smoothly. Excelsa, which did not start last week, and Te Koi, a fine fifth in the Rattray Stakes, make most appeal of the others. Lookaway and Derive appear to dominate the field for the Williams Handicap, the first leg of the double. Lookaway is expected to be a firm favourite after his stylish win last week. The twomile journey is not expected to trouble the Light Brigade three-year-old, which will be having his most serious test to date. He looks handily placed on the front and should be prominent. Courageous Winner Derive was most impressive when he won last week. He fought back gamely when challenged and won narrowly. The Dillon Hall gelding it a better stayer than sprinter and the twomile journey should suit him. With a reasonable run, he should extend Lookaway. Don Hall is expected to be an improved horse as a result of his race in the Bryndwr Handicap. his first start for over 12 months. He made most of the pace and it was only over the last furlong that his condition gave out and he drifted to seventh. At his peak. Don Hall •would be a great prospect in this field and it is expected that he wil not be far from his best tomorrow.

Count Grattan. Belle Renarde and Dresden Lady may also add interest to the finish, but they should be safely held by Lookaway, Derive and Don Hall. Dignus will be a firm favourite for the second leg, the Plains Handicap, following his easy win on the first day of the meeting. The Fallacy three-year-old is right at his peak at present and he should make a bold showing.

Most opposition to Dignus may come from Loyal Cis. which has had a third and a fourth since joining M. Holmes’s team. Loyal Cis was a fast-finishing fourth in her race last week after starting from 36 yards. She looks favourably placed this week and should be placed. Gay Cobra, a good fifth in last week’s race, has worked keenly at Addington since then. He looks very fit and should take part in the finish. Plenty of Dash Lauder Lady recorded a sound effort when she finished second to Lookaway last week. The U. Scott mare has worked with plenty of dash this week and even from 24 yards she cannot be overlooked.

Overdrive, winner of the Wyndham Handicap last month, Captain Star, which looks a likely improver, and Scottish Fair are others expected to race well.

Alight, the only three-year-old trotter with winning form, is expected to credit her Ashburton owner-trainer, J. Wilson, with his second win in the New Zealand Trotting Stakes. He won the race in 1954 with Highland Flame, a sister to Alight. Alight has not raced since she beat Estelle at Orari in February. She worked at Addington last week and is reported to have shown plenty of dash.

Superway, which was most impressive at the recent Addington trials, may be the hardest for Alight to beat. She had raced consistently without much luck. The sister to Supervise has plenty of ability and as she is most reliable, she will be popular with place investors. Estelle has been placed in three of her four starts. The Medoro filly has a splendid style of trotting and R. H- Negus has her very fit. She has broken several times at trials recently, but trotted most solidly when worked at Addington this week. She stays on strongly and should take part in the finish.

Auckland critics have a High opinion of Annual Report, which has not been placed in any of his races. He is raced by Mr N. Simpson. who won the New Zealand Welcome Stakes last week with Tobacco Road. He may do better on the Addington clay track than he has on the grass track in the North Island. Nalder, a half-sister io Macall and Culture, is another promising young trotter. She has plenty of speed and looks capable of a bold showing. Rockn Roll, which has shown speed at trials, worked well at Addington yesterday and she should do best of the others.

La Mignon met trouble in her race last week and was never near the leaders. She appeared to be racing generously, and if she goes as well tomorrow, she may be placed. The Ashburton Cup winner. Glint, is another expected to be improved as a result of her race last week. The Whipster mare looks handily placed on 12 yards and she should be prominent.