TROTTING DIAMOND HANOVER’S EXCELLENT PROSPECTS

Press, Volume XCVI, Issue 28397, 2 October 1957, Page 4

TROTTING DIAMOND HANOVER’S EXCELLENT PROSPECTS

Diamond Hanover showed he will be a formidable candidate for classic races this season when he fought off Tobacco Road in the T. S. Harrison Three-year-old Stakes, one of the feature races at the Methven Trotting Club's spring meeting on Saturday. His second win in two starts this season, it advanced his total stake-earn-ings to £1235, the result of two wins and four placings from 10 starts. On Saturday, his driver, D. J. Townley, had Diamond Hanover restrained in the middle of the field most of the way. He sent him past the tiring leaders with just under two furlongs left, and he was soon clear. He fought back courageously when challenged by Tobacco Road, and had his measure with about 30 yards left. Tobacco Road was not knocked about over the last few yards when his driver realised he could not win, and Diamond Hanover came on to win by half a lengtn. Diamond Hanover had outclassed Tobacco Road on the other occasion on which they had met this season. That was in the Canterbury Three-year-old Stakes at Addington in August. Diamond Hanover revelled in tne heavy track conditions prevailing that day, and he came right away from his field in the straight to win unextended. A pleasing feature of Diamond Hanover’s racing this season is the marked improvement he has shown at each start. He has developed a lot since he began racing last summer, and it is predicted he will show further improvement during the next few months. Trained at Gore Raced by Mr J. Peterson, of Gore, and trained by H. R. Reid. Diamond Hanover has been driven in most of his races by Townley, who in recent years has been associated with high-class classic winners in Rupee and Riviera. Diamond Hanover is a brown colt by Lucky Hanover from Bashful, the dam also of the outstanding North Island pacer, G'.ii-

seppe. and Reticent, another useful winner. Bashful traces back to the imported mare, Bonilene founder of one of the best winning families in the Stud Book. Diamond Hanover was bred by Mesdames D. T. McCormick and E. G. O. Rutherford, of Christchurch, and sold for 550gns at the yearling sales. Last season Diamond Hanover stood up to hard racing in splendid style. He had three unplaced starts before he finished third to Seafield Lad and Rosalinda in the Tlmaru Nursery Stakes. He was beaten half a head by Sebanu in the Two-year-old Stakes at Methven; was runner-up to Tobacco in the New Zealand Welcome Stakes; and he was third to Seafield Lad and Tobacco Road in the Oamaru Juvenile Stakes. Tobacco Road was far from disgraced when beaten on Saturday, as he gave the winner a Start of 24 yards. Tobacco Road did not look to be pacing too freely over the first furlong or two. but stretched out better la; er on. He did not set out after the leaders until near the straight entrance. He fought on gamely, but found his task too great. He should soon make amends for that failure, especially when racing against horses of his own age from an even mark. Sebabu 's Effort

Sebabu paced a sound race for third, although over the last 75 yards he did not threaten the two which finished in front of him Sebabu was just in front of Tobacco Road most of the way, and he ran on strongly for his placing. That was his first run for some months, and he is certain to improve. He looks a fine type of youngster now, and he should be a big winner this season. Anne Peterson recorded a useful effort to finish fourth. The U. Scott—lvy Peterson filly started earlier in a division of the Westward Ho Handicap, but was not really dangerous. She was close to the lead all the way in this event, and held off the tiring pacemaker. Space Patrol, by half a length for fourth prize. Anne Peterson should show improvement, and she will be a strong contender tor future classic events.

Space Patrol made all the pace, and it was not really surprising that he tired a little over the final stages on the searching Methven track. Space Patrol has not had the best of luck in his recent racing, and he may not be long showing worthwhile form, especially when raced over sprint distances. This son of Johnny Globe is still developing, and with more time he should develop into a good winner. 1 None of the other three-year-olds produced on Saturday looked early winners. However' a number of them were having their first race starts or making their first appearances for some months, and they may improve at short notice. But. unless some of them improve more than expected, the immediate three-year-old events should be dominated by Tobacco Road, Diamond Hanover, and Sebabu.

The new chairman of stewards of the Trotting Control Board in

Melbourne (Mr W. Weight) has served notice on trainers and drivers that he intends “to see that people who pay at the gates get a run for their money." Races will not be allowed to start until he has been given starting prices. If there are betting moves that he does not like, he will go to the start and speak to the drivers of the horses concerned. Horses which misbehave at the start a second time will be banned. These are his first steps in the difficult job of restoring public confidence in trotting. Qualifying Trial Of the five maiden pacers which started in the qualifying trial held by the Buller Owners', Trainers’, and Breeders’ Association on Saturday, three qualified to start at a totalisator meeting by pacing the mile and a half in under 3min 30sec. The trial was won decisively by the Reefton horse, Kulameana, trained and driven by C. Murcott in 3min 26.65ec. Second was the Greymouth pacer, Our Charles, driven by J. Quinn, which recorded 3min 28 l-ssec. The third horse, Queen Audrey (K. J. Powell), recorded 3min 28 2-ssec. The other starters were Marybok and Pitterpat. Doubles Betting Somerset Lad, winner of the Methven Cup, the first leg of the double at Methven on Saturday, was the 13, 14 favourite on the win and place totalisator, but he was sixteenth favourite in a field of 23 with doubles investors. He carried 1161 10s tickets in a pool of 44,263. Vierosa, which finished second, carried 2359 tickets and was eighth favourite. Bobby Brigade, the 8, 7 favourite, finished third and was twelfth favourite on the double w’ith 2138'. tickets. Responsive was thirteenth favourite with 2091 tickets and Banjo, which finished fifth, was eighteenth favourite with 622 tickets. Genghis Khan was favourite on the double with 69191 tickets, followed bv Quo Vadis, with 3723, Fourth Edition, with 3293. Overdrive, with 2760, and Loyal Cis. with 2695 j. Quibble was a firm favourite on both totalisators in the second leg and had 2441 of the 1161 tickets on Somerset Lad redeemed on his prospects. The successful combination returned £149 12s 6d for £l. Technician, the 13, 12 favourite in a field of 16, was ninth favourite on the double with 33J tickets. He finished within a head of the winner, Quibble. Catamaran was fourth favourite on the double with 115 tickets, while the fourth horse, White Caps, was fifth favou”ite W’ith 81J. Rey Derby was second favourite on the. double with 172 tickets, and Tourie was third favourite with 125.